Chapter 33 - The Dukes

Adelaide's POV

Astoria has been staring at the sleeping twins since she walked out from the bathroom. I understand if she's confused but it doesn't help if she keeps her thoughts to herself.

"I don't know what to say. There seems to be a lot of things you're hiding from me. First of all, why didn't you say anything about the kids? You should have told me about them in your letters. Hell, you even chose the name of my ancestors for our children. Are you really okay with this? Did my mother force you to name them after my ancestors?" I shake my head no.

"No one is forcing me to do anything. I wanted to name them based on your ancestors. Astoria, come have a seat on the bed. Don't you want to be close to them? They are your children. That I promise you." Astoria was contemplating if she should stay on the bed.

"What if I wake them up?" I sighed.

"The bed is large enough for the four of us. Come here and lay on your side. Aren't they perfect? They look just like us. Even the midwife who delivered you were surprised when she saw our kids. She said Astrid is the spitting image of you." Huh- is this woman crying?

"Why are you crying?" I chuckled while wiping the tears from her cheek.

"I don't know how to act in this kind of situation. I left for the borders not knowing you're pregnant. No one told me what is happening and I can't help but to blame myself for letting you go through this alone." I knew she would act this way.

That is why I didn't say anything about the pregnancy. She would make a mistake if her head is filled with the thoughts of me and the twins. Luckily Augustus did his task just the way I wanted it to be.

"This is why I didn't say anything. You'll act without thinking of the consequences and those actions will surely be your demise. And don't worry- I was not alone. My parents were here when I gave birth to the twins. And your mother has been taking care of me too. There's no need for you to worry."

I watched as Astoria reached out to our son's nose before poking it lightly.

"What happens now? Should I pretend to be a man so they would have a normal upbringing?" Astoria's question made me stunned.

"Why would you think like that? You don't have to pretend to be anyone. Just be yourself." Astoria gave me a look.

"But they wouldn't be able to live like a normal child unless there's-" I placed my hand on her mouth to stop her from talking nonsense.

"Shut up. They will both grow up with so much love that every child would envy them. Stop degrading yourself, please." Astoria nodded. I pulled my hand away and just watched this woman staring at the twins.

"Astor looks so much like you. He has the same hair and eye color as yours. I'm sure the kids will be as great as you after they grow up." I smiled.

"And they would also be as strong as you. I'm sure the moment they could talk, they would talk about your tale of slaying monsters to their friends." Astoria chuckled.

"Adelaide, tell me- is it true you're planning to destroy Tempest?" Cats out of the bag huh? Astoria has always been perceptive but this time she immediately caught on.

"Yes. You've won the war after all. There shouldn't be anything holding me back. For a year, I've been rebuilding the North to its former glory. We can say that the North is now on par with the empire. Not only do we have the Desert kingdom and the demon realm under our control, most nobles of this empire are now siding with us." Astoria stares at me with confusion.

"What did you do to the nobles of the empire?" I chuckled at how this woman reacted.

"I didn't do anything that made me less human, that's for sure. What are nobles so afraid of? Losing the favor they all crave for. At first, they blindly followed the emperor because of me. But now that the empress dowager has shown her true colors, the nobles are contemplating if siding with the imperial family is the right thing to do. In the end they choose to follow me instead of the emperor."

I notice Astoria eyes are focused on my chest instead of the twins.

"Do you like the view? After having the twins, my breast had increased in size." Astoria's eyes widened.

"Are you serious? No wonder I couldn't get my eyes off of it." I chuckled before showing a little bit more skin just to tease this woman.

"What's your next plan? Do you need me to do anything?" Astoria smiled.

"I need you to pay a visit to three dukes. They are related to the former emperor but that doesn't mean they aren't open for negotiation. Make a proposal that they couldn't refuse. They are the only ones left that stand against us." Astoria nodded without asking for much.

"That's it? You're not going to try and stop me?" Astoria shook her head no.

"Will I be able to change your mind?" I shake my head no.

"So why would I even try to stop you? I'm sure you thought it through." I smiled at how supportive this woman is. It makes me want to kiss her but-

"Don't you want to hug them?" Astoria shook her head no.

"I don't want to wake them up." I smiled before grabbing her hand and guiding her towards the twins.

"Gently- they won't wake up." I find it funny to see how awkward this woman is towards children. Can't blame her for acting this way. Since she was a child, she spent most of her time dealing with monsters. The scars on her body prove that much.

But to see her being so careful and in awe as she looks at the children made my heart flutter.

"Hey Astoria, would you like more children?" Astoria looks up to me with her eyes widened.

What? Did I say something wrong?

A few days later,

As I arrived at the meeting hall, I noticed three figures kneeling on the floor with their hands tied up at the back. As I approached them, I realized they are the three dukes I asked Astoria to meet. I was confused but from the looks of things, she might have done something to-

"Adelaide! Thank God you're here! This woman- she— she," huh? I knew this man throughout my life and he never stuttered before. So why— oh, I see now.

"Astoria, keep your sword to yourself. Also why are the esteemed dukes on the floor kneeling?" Astoria refuses to meet my eyes.

"Astoria Aspen, what did you do?" I asked with a smile on my face. Asteria sighs before she explains what she's done.

"So you threatened the dukes? But still, why would they kneel in front of you? The dukes I know would never even do such a thing unless-"

Astoria cleared her throat.

"They refused to comply with the proposal you suggested. So I— um— I might have shown a little aggression towards them. But it's okay now- they agreed to comply with your terms. They are now your servants." Servants huh?

"Astoria, go wash yourself and keep the twins company while I talk to the dukes in person." Astoria nodded before she left the hall.

"What are you three waiting for? Get up and make yourself comfortable." The three dukes look like a mess. Just what sort of things did Astoria do to them?

"Adelaide, the proposal you suggested, we can't simply comply with it. This is about our long family lineage and the future of the empire as well. If you end the current imperial family, what would happen to the long history the empire has? Are you going to destroy the empire and rebuild a new empire under its rubble?" Well, yes.

"That's the plan. Are you scared? Why? Is it because you all scared of the former emperor? Or is it because you all are blood related to him? Nonsense. Has he ever thought of you as one? I don't think so. Duke Salvatore, didn't the former emperor took your rights to the diamond mines from you? I was told that the diamond mines was given to you by your father. So why would the emperor did such a thing to his own brother?" I turned my attention to duke Pyron.

"Duke Pyron, didn't the former emperor sell your precious daughter to the barbarians and die in childbirth? I heard you were quite mad about that. So why don't you do anything to your brother for what he's done?" Duke Pyron remained silent.

"And duke Gulac, your sons died while serving the former emperor. Didn't he force your sons to go to the frontlines while he asked the current emperor to stay hidden in the palace? Weren't you sad that you lost all four of your sons in that battle?" Duke Gulac didn't say anything. I sigh.

"I did my best to warn the general and the former emperor before but they wouldn't listen to me because I am a woman and a lot younger back then. But hey, what I fear came true in the end." I chuckled just to upset him even more. I need their rage to rise.

Where do they rage from when they were betrayed by the imperial family?