Alexander slipped into a golden robe while studying himself in the mirror. The years had gone yet it fascinated him how young they both looked with Isadora. Some people said he was touched by the gods but Alexander knew it had to do with the fact about The One.

He couldn’t remember the last time he had wielded a sword. Lost in his thoughts, he felt Isadora circle her arms around his waist. He craned his neck with a smile that reached his eyes.

"Are you worried?" She asked.

"No!" His voice was a curt reply. "But when you hold me like that, I feel like making love with you all over again." He couldn’t see her face but he knew she had blushed; his shy wife.

"Don’t talk of such things when the children are here," she whispered, biting his right ear. Alexander looked at Raph who was staring at his baby sister from the morning. The little boy was obsessed by the babe.

"He’ll be a man grown one day." A picture of Raph sitting on the throne flashed across his mind. And now Beth had been born, she’d be the Queen of Crescia by right, when she became of age.

The door swung open and a knight in the emperor’s gold cloaks entered, bowed deeply and said, "All the guests have arrived Your Majesty."

Alexander looked at Raph. "I’ll be there soon." The knight bowed and left.

"Scared?" Isadora asked when she noticed his heart racing.

"They should fear me. It is for you that I fear for my love." Gently, he turned and cupped her cheeks in his cold hands, yet there was warmth in his touch. He gazed into her blue orbs, the color had never faded an ounce, and kissed her softly.

Raph saw their lips locking, pausing his play with little Beth to watch his parents with fascination.

The hall was filled to the brim, delicacies laid for the Ladies, Lords, and High Borns. Alexander had decided to throw a feast in celebration of his daughter’s birthday.

The double doors creaked, and with it the silence died. The herald, now a fairly old man announced with his unfading voice, "All Hail Emperor Alexander, First of his name, Ruler of the three kingdoms, and his wife, Empress Isadora."

The doors swung open and everyone rose to their feet. The royal couple descended the stairs in a dashing matching outfit of Gold. Little Raph trailed behind and the Queen of Valoria, Elle, with her husband consort, a taunt young man suitable for a knight. And he indeed was once her personal knight. Rumor had it that she used to sleep with him even before she named him the kings consort, rumors that Alexander would take out a tongue if he found anyone spreading them.

Everyone bowed as they passed and when they finally reached the high table, Alexander ordered everyone to sit. The music continued high in the background while women and men came to congratulate them on their second child.

"Congratulations Your Majesty," came Roselyn’s voice. Her whole envoy followed with gifts; two bastard sons and a butler whose face was relatable to those of the children. Alexander studied him up close, and indeed the rumors were true.

Roselyn had decided to remain unmarried for the rest of her life, but she had fulfilled her duty of bringing forth an heir, not one but two!

"Thank you Roselyn," Isadora said to lift the awkward silence. "Your children have grown!"

"Yours too, Your Majesty," she feigned a smile, bowed and left. Isadora was quick to release a sigh.

Then followed the never aging Zed. The smile on his face lighted up the room. Since Newton’s death, he had tried to move on, and now had a whore for a wife, the sixth one.... Isadora couldn’t guess right. But he denied her the honor of standing before his Majesty, and indeed it’d be a disgrace to the crown.

"My congratulations Your Majesty," he said, picking an apple from a passing maid. He was quick to wink at her and she literally fled blushing hard. His looks were still unrivaled. Isadora could only guess how many women had fallen for him, yet here he was, with a whore for a wife, a fucking sixth whore if she was correct.

"I guess my days in that boring Crescian throne are close to an end now that the heir is born," he pointed. Zed never liked ruling. In fact, Isadora had to persuade him first before he accepted.

"I suppose, yes," she said, giving Alexander a quick glance but his eyes were fixated on Beth. She sighed softly and dismissed Zed. Many Lords and Ladies followed, giving their well wishes and gifts too. And when Alexander stood, the music came to an abrupt end, silence accompanying it.

"A toast," he started, his goblet of wine raised high. "I wish to propose a toast to my wife." Isadora looked at him all smiles. "She has been my everything, my soulmate, the mother to my children, the wife to the emperor, and above all, my sole reason for existence. Without her, I don’t know where I’d be right now."

"A toast to the empress," Zed echoed, and the hall was filled with the voices of Alexander’s toast.

The music resumed, now a couples’ tune. "May I have this dance?" Alexander asked, kneeling before Isadora. He didn’t care about the stares of the Lords and Ladies. And when he held his hand, he led her to the floor.

"You shouldn’t have done that," Isadora shyly pointed.

"Anything for my wife," said. He grabbed her waistline as they swayed to the music, the rhythm flashing his whole life with her when he stared at her blue eyes. And when she smiled, it literally lit up his world, and he was in one of his own where Isadora was the only person that existed.

He smiled back, a smile that reached not only his eyes but every fiber of his body. And when she leaned close, he whispered hoarsely, "I love you Isa."

She stepped back, all smiles as if she knew he’d say something like that. "Come to our chambers and find out." She let go of his arm and walked out of the throne hall, a cunning smile lighting her face.

Alexander grinned evilly before he followed her out, wicked thoughts already running through his naughty mind.