Several months later, the halls of the Winter estate carried a soft, cheerful air.
Snow still drifted lazily outside the windows, but inside warmth filled every corner.
The servants whispered with excitement, the guards stood straighter than usual, and the maids moved quickly but with smiles tugging at their lips.
Something important had happened today, something worth celebrating.
Effie darted through those very hallways, her small boots tapping against polished stone.
Her crimson eyes shone like lanterns, her cheeks flushed pink from the cold air outside.
She clutched a steaming stick of roasted fish tightly in one hand and balanced a paper-wrapped pack in the other.
Her little face carried a grin too wide to contain.
She couldn’t help it — today was special.
Her brother’s first wife, Lady Edna, had finally given birth.
Effie’s heart fluttered at the thought.
She was about to meet her new niece.
As she turned a corner, she nearly collided with someone standing awkwardly in the hallway.
Effie skidded to a stop, blinking up at the tall figure.
It was Veyra.
Effie had grown used to seeing Veyra clad in small armor, her hair tied back, her face commanding when it needed to be.
She was a warrior, the kind who faced down monsters without flinching, someone people whispered about with awe.
But right now? Effie almost didn’t recognize her.
Veyra stood there in a simple gown, fingers twiddling nervously, her usually fierce expression softened into something hesitant.
Her lips curved into a small, nervous smile, but her eyes flicked toward the door just down the hall — the door to Edna’s chambers.
Effie tilted her head.
Was she... scared?
"Oh... Effie, what’s up?" Veyra asked, her voice oddly unsure.
Effie blinked, then beamed brightly.
"I was getting some fish for Big Brother!" She held up the stick proudly, then the little pack. "Since it’s a special day, Mr. Alani and his wife said to give their congratulations. They made this just for him!"
The warm scent wafted between them, and Veyra’s lips twitched like she wanted to laugh but stopped herself.
She nodded instead, her expression softening. "That’s kind of them. And of you."
Effie grinned again. "Mm-hm! You should come too, Veyra!"
But Veyra’s eyes darted back to Edna’s door, and her hands tightened around the fabric of her dress.
She shook her head quickly. "No... I... I’ll wait a bit longer. Go on ahead, Effie."
Effie didn’t really understand why the mighty warrior looked so shy and timid, but she didn’t push.
She gave a little wave and skipped off, her excitement bubbling all over again.
By the time she reached Azel’s chambers, her arms ached from carrying the pack.
She leaned her elbow against the door and nudged it open carefully.
"Big Brother!" she chirped, pushing her way inside.
Her eyes widened immediately.
Medusa and Anya were sitting close to Azel, their long fingers combing gently through his thick hair.
Effie blinked again.
His hair... it had grown so much these past few months.
Once short and tied in a small ponytail, now it tumbled down his back in silver waves.
It suited him, even if it made him look older like their father.
And his body... Effie puffed her cheeks.
He’d gotten more muscular, too.
The broadness of his shoulders, the sharp lines of his arms — it was obvious he had been training hard.
She’d heard from the servants that he often sparred with their father.
"Sparred" was a generous word, though.
Effie had witnessed them yelling at each other loud enough to shake the walls, only to laugh afterward like old friends.
Her grin widened as she darted forward.
Azel, already smiling, opened his arms, and she threw herself into his embrace.
He hugged her tightly.
"Effie," he said softly.
Then his eyes slid down to her hands, and he chuckled. "Wait a second... is that fish?"
Effie’s nose scrunched up.
So much for a warm reunion.
"Yes! I got it just for you, Big Brother!" She held it up stubbornly.
Azel’s eyes gleamed like a child’s.
He plucked the stick straight from her hands, sniffed it, and grinned like it was treasure.
"You’re the best, Effie. This smells amazing."
She pouted, but her heart melted anyway.
He was happy, and that was enough.
The others chuckled at the scene.
Medusa tucked a lock of silver hair behind her ear, while Anya shook her head fondly.
Before Effie could whine more about him ignoring her, there was a knock at the door.
A maid stepped inside, her expression bright with joy.
She bowed lightly.
"My Prince," she said, her voice warm and respectful, "Lady Edna is calling for you upstairs."
Azel raised his head, curiosity and nervousness flashing across his face.
The maid’s smile grew. "It’s a girl."
Effie’s breath caught.
Medusa’s lips parted.
Anya gasped softly.
But before any of them could say a word, a powerful gust of wind blew through the room.
Azel was gone.
...
Azel’s heart pounded as he strode quickly through the halls, his boots echoing like thunder.
He was sweating.
Becoming a father... truly becoming one.
Lillia was his daughter, yes, and she would always be.
But she had not been born to him.
She had been brought into his life under different circumstances, and while he loved her dearly, a part of him had always wondered... if he would ever experience this moment.
The moment when his child entered the world, small and fragile, connected to him in every way.
He swallowed as he reached Edna’s door.
His hand lingered on the knob before he finally pushed it open.
The room was warm, lit softly by lanterns.
Seated near the bed was his mother, Diana, her elegant figure calm but her eyes gleaming with pride.
Beside her was Edna, pale but radiant, her crimson eyes softened by exhaustion.
And in her arms, wrapped snugly in a white cloth, was a tiny bundle.
Azel’s breath caught.
The maids moved silently around the room, but their presence blurred in his vision.
He could only see Edna.
And the baby.
Edna looked up at him, her lips curving into a tired but proud smile.
Slowly, carefully, she lifted the bundle and held it out to him.
Azel stepped forward, his legs suddenly heavy, and reached out.
The moment the cloth touched his arms, his whole world shifted.
The baby was small, impossibly delicate, her round cheeks flushed faintly pink.
A soft tuft of silver hair peeked from the cloth, shimmering under the lantern light.
When her eyes fluttered open, they shone crimson — like Edna’s, like his.
Eyes that glimmered like diamonds.
Azel’s throat tightened.
"She’s beautiful..." His voice cracked slightly, and he looked at Edna, emotion flooding his gaze. "...Just like you."
Edna’s cheeks flushed, her crimson eyes glistening as she whispered, "She really does look like a Winter..."
Diana leaned forward, her lips curving into a proud, knowing smile.
Azel stared at his daughter for what felt like forever.
His heart was heavy, overflowing with a kind of love and fear he couldn’t put into words.
Finally, his lips parted.
"What should we name her?" Edna asked softly, watching him.
His gaze lingered on the baby’s tiny features, the way her small fingers twitched against the cloth.
A word slipped from his lips before he could even think.
"Isolde... How about that?"
The room was quiet for a heartbeat.
Then Edna’s smile deepened.
"Beautiful."
And so it was.
On that day Azel Winters had gotten a second daughter, Isolde Winters.