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Both Merle and Leat were surprised how fast such a small child can be. Vialle was only three but she managed quite well to outrun two cat-people. Especially when she supposed to do something she didn't feel like doing at the moment.
But now all three of them had the same goal.
It's been one year exactly since the day Hitomi appeared and saved Van from the former Basramian king, and many friends gathered in Fanelia to celebrate. But those who mattered weren't present.
They came to halt in front of beautifully carved wooden door and Vialle knocked. When after several moments no sound was heard from the other side Merle opened the door slightly and glanced in, as did Leat. The nekos smiled to each other and lead the little princess back to the dining room.
When they entered Folken observed them with a smile "Where is that brother of mine? Still asleep?"
All three of them nodded and Vialle jumped in her father's lap before saying sweetly "Aunt Merle said we shouldn't bother them."
Millerna looked at the cat-girl seriously "You had no problem waking us up. In fact, you do it every time we came to visit."
"I know, it's just… It was the way he was holding her…" she mumbled.
Ms. Kanzaki smiled to the neko "What do you mean dear?"
Leat looked at the woman from the Mystic Moon and answered sadly "It was like he was afraid of losing her."
"He is." Allen said wistfully "I think Van still can't believe she is his."
Everyone agreed with the king of Asturia. They started to discuss the plans for the day when the doors anew opened and a couple walked in smiling. The king and queen of Basram sat opposite of Allen and Millerna while their son sat next to duke Chid who was having a very important conversation with his cousins about Draconians.
"I'm glad you could join us king Borzan." Folken said honestly and the newly crowned king thanked him. His wife smiled fondly "I thought all is lost when my family was murdered. I am glad I was wrong."
"Well, we are all glad to see the rightful queen on the throne again." Eries said and everyone nodded.
Celena ignored something Chid said and instead asked "And how is our favorite former royal family doing?"
Smile appeared on every face in the dining room. Queen Gabriella of Basram almost choked on her tea before looking towards the younger sister of the Asturian king "Quite well I must say."
"They were granted to piece of land close to Zeibach border. The farm there is enough for them to survive on their own." Her husband explained her words.
"I better tell the border patrols to keep a eye on them." Folken said changing the tone of the conversation from mockingly to serious "I really don't need anyone to make problems in Zeibach."
"About Zeibach…" Allen tried to find the right words "I heard a rumor they wish to form their own government and become independent from Fanelia."
"More or less." Eries answered for her husband. She was better in politic things then him anyway "They will still admit Van as the ruler of the land, but they will form a council to decide of less important matters."
"That should help Van a lot." Chid said. A nine year old knew well what the obligations of the monarch were, but Van was ruling over a larger territory. And not to forget the fact that Zeibach used to be the enemy.
"I know one person who won't mind that at all." Hikari Kanzaki joked.
Mamoru decided to play along "That is if the advisers don't find something else for Van to do in that time."
"Or they could sign their own death sentence right away." Merle said what everyone thought.
Hitomi sighed. After the metal bed at the Ispano factory ship she was glad to be able to sleep on the old fashion wooden one. Not that her bed up there wasn't comfortable, far from that, but no mattress can be compared to the one she slept at the moment.
Van smiled softly as she planted a kiss on his neck and pulled her body even closer. She was now lying on top of him, her hands on the sides of his head.
"Shouldn't we get up and go downstairs?" Hitomi asked in a whisper "They are probably already waiting for us."
"Let them wait." Van rolled them around and pressed her small body into the soft mattress as he kissed her deeply. They both panted after reluctantly breaking the kiss and Van smiled like he did quite often ever since that day she came back "Tell me."
Hitomi groaned. He asked it every morning, and every morning she repeated herself "I'm staying with you Van. Forever. The debt with Ispanos is paid off; I don't belong to them anymore. Now I belong to you."
"You belong to me." Van repeated her words and kissed his beloved once more.
"We really should go. I'm hungry." Hitomi whined.
"You are always hungry." Van joked.
"I can't help it. You tired me last night." Her words made Van blush, something Hitomi adored very much.
Even though they were married for seven months he still felt uncomfortable when she mentioned anything linked to them making love. Of course, as any male specimen, he showed no signs of discomfort while they were actually doing it.
So they stayed in bed for few more minutes simply holding each other. Simply being close, as they wanted to be for so long.
The doors of the dining room opened and everyone turned in that direction. Young Fanelian royal family walked in smiling to their guests who were simply smiling back. What else could they do?
"You really took your time to honor us with your presence." Folken said grinning.
"What good does it bring to be a king if I can't stay in bed for as long as I want?" Van asked honestly.
"I agree with you." Allen said and Millerna looked at him sternly.
"Well, you I can understand." Ms. Kanzaki said "After all you stay awake long to deal with the paperwork. But Hitomi doesn't."
"Moooom." Hitomi whined "I'm sleeping long while I have the chance."
"And what exactly you mean by that?" her mother asked seriously.
Hitomi smiles sweetly and caused almost the half of the present people to choke "I won't be able to sleep the whole night in seven months after the baby comes."
Van just started to drink tea when his wife admitted she was pregnant and was now coughing and tried to catch a breath. After few very painful moments he looked at her with a question clearly written all over his face.
"Yes, Van. I am expecting your child." She then grinned "You still plan to bug me about me constantly being hungry?"
A wide smile spread on Van's lips. If there weren't so many people in the dining room he would kiss her deeply, but he controlled himself for the sake of the young children present. Instead he calmly stood up and walked on the balcony from which many guards and people that arrived in the palace on daily basis could see him and yelled "We're having a baby!"
People in the courtyard right away started to applause and congratulate their king.
Van turned and walked back in the room where everyone observed him seriously. All accept Eries. She leaned towards her sister "I said he would do it. Pay up."
The months till birth passed fast. The nursery was decorated in neutral colors and everything was ready. But the heir wasn't in the rush.
Every day someone from the city would come to the palace to ask for the queen and the child, but every day he or she would receive the same answer. Nothing yet.
It was a cold winter day when it happened though. Two weeks after the due. Mamoru was sitting next Vialle and talked her about the book he read several years ago. Hitomi scowled him at first for telling the small girl such a brutal a story but young princess didn't mind. Neither did the others that gathered.
Van was sitting next to Hitomi comfortably and held a hand on her large stomach to feel their child's occasional kick. Mamoru was deeply in the storytelling when he started to stammer. He turned to Hitomi "What's the name of that…?"
His sister looked at him seriously "You seriously think I read that kind of books?"
"Ah, yes. To violent for your taste." he turned back to Vialle "Anyway…"
"Anyway…" Hitomi repeated his words and Van looked at her "Anyway I think it's time."
Hitomi was right. The birth lasted long nine hours and drained her strength, and Van's patience. At one moment Folken suggested to Mamoru they should restrain him to prevent the annoying pacing.
When he was finally allowed to walk in the chamber and see his wife and child Van had a problem with opening the door. He was far too much excited to even think strait. He somehow managed to reach the bed and sat on the edge.
"Do you want to hold your daughter?" Hitomi asked calmly.
"A girl?" he asked and took the small bundle from her hands "She is so beautiful."
"Do you already have a name on your mind?" Van looked at his wife and shook his head.
"I'll let you to name this little goddess."
"You have no idea how right you are." He looked at her confused "I wanted to name her after the melefs I designed for Ispanos. They are goddesses just like this one you are holding."
"So, under which name should I present her to our people?"
"Ingrid. Ingrid Elissa de Fanel."
"Elissa? Like Leat's mother?" Van asked recognizing the name.
"Do you think he would mind?" Hitomi asked "I really like the name. It's very beautiful."
"I think he would be honored." Van answered honestly and kissed her before adding "Just as I am honored to be able to call you mine."
THE END