Chapter 35: Affections

Outline: This is taken place after one month of Shirayuki giving birth to Zehel and Laila.

The beautiful, starry night sky of Wistal Castle. Finally, the most awaited moment, no more winter. The citizens of Clarines were currently in the midway spring. Under the beautiful deep blue sky was the most admired couple in Clarines. They had their arms wrapped around each other, moving in slow sync, talking and laughing. It was their very special day.

"...I think it's overly beautiful if you really want an honest opinion," the elegant yet simple looking princess said.

It was their one-year matrimonial anniversary. The actual day of their anniversary was about one to two weeks gone. Taking care of their children and also having royal duties, mostly for Zen, was definitely something they never dreamt of combining. Though they hadn't had time to celebrate it, they still wished each other. And now, after hours of struggling with duties, they finally managed to have some free time.

Zen smiled. "If you say so." He smoothly brushed Shirayuki's chin with his thumb and gently advanced Shirayuki's lips towards his in a very slow moving and their lips crashed.

Without realizing time had passed after kissing in a very slow sync for about minutes, they had to leave. It was evening already.

"So," Zen started putting on a teasy smile on his face. "you actually did enjoy yourself after minutes of lecturing me how our free time to celebrate our anniversary was irrelevant."

"Well, I can't lie, you did great surprising me, but still, you shouldn't have."

They quickly released their hands from each other's palm after entering the castle. It is banned for royals to hold hands in public. They took private routes to their quarters. No one must, at least for now, see Shirayuki.

"Whatever you say, Princess."

Even though they had taken private routes to their quarters, they still responded to familiar servants' and nobles' greetings. They had discussed their last words before entering their twins' room.

"Your Highnesses," greeted Suki, Cora and Alyne with a curtsy. "Good evening."

"Evening to you, too, ladies," Shirayuki greeted back and Zen have a quick response with a sharp smile, which only lasted a second.

Just then, a titter was heard. With a happy expression on her face and clapping towards her children, Shirayuki said, "And evening to you, too, babies." Shirayuki took Zehel from Suki's arm and Zen took Laila from Cora's arm.

"Did they behave properly?" Shirayuki asked.

"Yes, they did, ma'am. Wailing once in a while, but nothing much," Suki answered, smiling.

Just days after getting meeting her appointed ladies for the first time, Shirayuki took some to examine her maids. She realized how Suki was into children. She's the eldest of many siblings. And as such, she has always taken responsibility and care of her younger siblings. After gaining experience with how to care for others, especially toddlers and even younger ones, it had once become her dream to babysit babies, but unfortunately, her dreams couldn't come true.

Suki is a very nice and kind girl with much patience and endurance. Just several weeks, before going into labor, Shirayuki had thought of a nursemaid for her unborn child(ren). And she knew Suki was an appropriate suitor for the job, aside also being a personal maid for Shirayuki herself.

Taking care of twins was something not to fool with. It was hard, complex and tough. Taking care of one child is difficult, not to speak of twins. So, Shirayuki had asked Cora to assist Suki once in a while with the twins. Alyne still remained as Shirayuki's lady-in-waiting and also as her private administrator. Her job was already tougher, so Shirayuki didn't want to bother her. But Alyne did adore being in an assistance to the twins with Suki and Cora.

"I think time my time is almost up," informed Zen after checking the time. He kissed Zehel and Laila on the forehead and Shirayuki on the edge of her lips, trying not to make a scene in front of Shirayuki's maids.

Zen had procrastinated this afternoon. Due to it, he needed to work extra hours. Shirayuki sighed. Her husband is never going to learn.

"Ma'am, may I?" Suki stretched her hands for Zehel. It was time for them to bathe. Shirayuki gladly gave Zehel to Suki.

"May I discuss the ceremony? Some proposals and topics arose during my time with the organizers," Alyne announced.

Ow, the ceremony. Shirayuki had almost forgotten about the ceremony. Just as tradition requires, every child in the royal family is christened. Her twins' christening ceremony is in about two weeks, immediately after being given permission from the midwife to resume her public life and into state affairs, that's why she's been trying to stay outside from the public eye ever since giving birth.

"Maybe tomorrow?" Shirayuki proposed. "Fill it in any vacant place in my schedule for tomorrow."

Alyne nodded.

Shirayuki fed and bathed her children, while her maids rearranged the room used for the day. It was something she started doing a month ago, though bathing children weren't something to do for a royal. The maids helped Shirayuki put her children to bed, after an hour of struggling.

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She lighted the chandelier. That sweet fragrance of their room was a mixture of hers and Zen's natural perfume.

Something caught her eyes. The very neatly wrapped package and a single rose on her King-sized bed was very attentive. There was a note on it: Happy Anniversary, My Love. It also had a heart-shaped drawing. Zen was an extremely talented artist, that Shirayuki knew very well.

She curiously unwrapped the package and smelled the roses. She almost melted. Zen really knew how to surprise her.

"You like it?" A very familiar arms wrapped around her waist.

"Very, very, my dearest husband," Shirayuki responded admiring her anniversary gift.

"I would want you to wear these accessories during the upcoming ceremony." His hands were motioning up and down on her waist, not wanting to tickle her.

Shirayuki turned to face him. "Thank you very much," Her sweet voice appreciated.

They kissed. Very gently yet passionately.

"That reminds me, aren't you supposed to be at the office?" Shirayuki asked with a questioning face.

"W-well, um, you know, I kind of, well..." Zen was really thinking hard of what to say. But with the way his beloved wife was looking at him, he knew no lie can escape. "I skipped it." Shirayuki frowned, crossing her arms over her chest, ready to scold him. "But I promise, I will wake up earlier and do it before you even wake up." Zen showered lots of kisses till he made sure Shirayuki was laughing.

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Shirayuki kept staring at her body. Everything of her body had changed. It was worth after all.

"When are you ever going to stop looking at your body like that, sweetheart?" Zen asked worriedly as put on his night pant on.

Shirayuki pouted at Zen from their bathroom's mirror. She untangled her robe revealing her baby weight. Her breasts were now two times larger than her normal. Her hips incredibly wider. She isn't sure, but she even feels like she's become taller. To speak of her weight, she was weighing quite fast, thankfully, the midwife's prescribed diet to keep her weight balanced was really working. As for her tummy... Well...

Zen hugged her from behind. "It's worth it, my love. It is."

"Of course it is, sweetie," Shirayuki quickly said.

It really amazes both Shirayuki and Zen about Shirayuki's body. Months ago, Shirayuki didn't even want Zen to breathe around her because she felt depressed and a bit embarrassed of her own body, but now she didn't even care if Zen was looking at her or not. Their love was starting to bloom again with more trust, love, and faith in each other. And towards their one-month children.

They took their long kiss into their bed.

"Please, stop teasing me," Zen said as Shirayuki jokingly started playing with his genitals. "Shirayuki my darling, please." Zen groaned uncontrollably. Shirayuki stopped, and drove herself into a spooning position with her back intentionally facing Zen, who is struggling to calm his reproductive hormones down.

Only if Shirayuki wasn't still healing after birth, Zen would've taken her right there.
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A/N:

Hello!

Pronunciation of Laila: L-ai(AI)-la(AH)

The name Laila is a variation of the name Layla, which originates from Arabic and also means "Born at night or Night Beauty" in Arabic (and Persian). In Hebrew, "Nightfall". There definitely are other meaning for this name. In Finnish and Norwegian (Sami), it means "light".

This name has lots of meanings (and spellings) that go with night and dark beauty, which really describes Laila who was born in the midnight alongside her twin brother.

Unlike Laila, a very popular name, Zehel is quite rarer. Zehel is a unisex name, that is used globally.

It is pronounced: Ze(ZI)-hel(HIL)

I know this chapter isn't worth being praised of, but a review/comment will raise my spirits.

Hope you enjoyed;)