Axel didn’t understand everything that was said but he understood what was most important at the moment. He understood that his mother had already had him and the fact that she was again pregnant meant that her life was in danger. The room fell silent and Axel’s eyes were welling up with tears. Miliana broke the silence with an announcement.

“This is something that happened, if I am going to have another child I will not regret it. First I will write a letter to my family to let them know. I will also not spend the remaining time I have being depressed. We will use it to make joyful memories of time well spent with our family”, said Miliana with a brave face.

“But!!… this is!… all my fault”, Odeus blurted out.

“No, it takes 2 to make a child”, she said while hugging Axel who was silently in tears. “Let’s make the most of the year we have left together”.

Miliana did exactly what she said she would do. She sent for a magician capable of using communication magic. There was only one person capable of using such magic. The adventurers guild leader Lady Astrid Etephyr. She was also one of the barons who worked for her husband, an unlikely relationship considering the origins of the Blackstone family. Astrid was a dragonkin, a race with few descendants remaining. 

Dragonkins mostly live in their own land, the kingdom of Suziba which lies in the western regions of the continent. They are known to be a kind race of long-living scholars that descended from dragons. Even though most of them are scholars, they are born with innate strength and can easily become devastating warriors. This is one of the reasons why their kingdom has never been invaded. It helps that their kingdom is hard to gain access to, one would have to cross a harsh desert or through sea where enemies would be sitting ducks to Aoe magic spells. Astrid was from this race and she settled down in this city for her own personal reasons.

Guild leader Astrid came to the mansion the following day. She was a tall woman with short spiky dark blue hair, she had tanned skin with a few scars on her upper arms. But what made her look somewhat different than a human was the 2 short horns that protruded from her forehead. She also had a small patch of blue scales under her green eyes. 

Miliana greeted Astrid at the entrance and they made a beeline to the grand hall– the place where Axel’s ceremony was held. There Odeus and the elders were waiting for them. Astrid pulled out a crystal ball and activated her magic. The clear crystal ball became cloudy then a voice came from it, someone had answered the call. It was none other than Marquess Klaus Xyrus, son of the Duke of the Kerath dukedom and Miliana’s brother.

“Hello Brother, nice to hear from you again… I wish it was under better circumstances, however, I needed to talk to you”, said Miliana greeting her brother.

“Hello sister, what circumstances are you referring to… what happened, you sound worried!”, Klaus exclaimed.

“I’m pregnant”, she whispered.

“Whaaat!!”, yelled Klaus. The orb rumbled, almost breaking the connection. “You- You fooool”.

“I just wanted to let you know and so you can tell father for–”

“Pack your bags at once I will be coming to get you myself”, he yelled.

“No brother… I can’t– I won’t run away from this, even if I could. I want to spend the remainder of my time here”, said Miliana.

“Why the hell not, I won’t allow this and I know for sure that father won’t either”, Klaus responded.

“Just listen to me and respect your little sister’s decision, for the last time. I’m counting on you to appease father… I doubt that he will care much but still, I beg of you Klaus”, Miliana pleaded.

“...”, Klaus fell silent. He sighs, “Fine, I won’t push you any further, I’ll– I’ll see what I can about father and those other Blackstones”.

“Thank you brother this means a lot to me”, said Miliana as she sighed in relief. 

“Odeus!!! You bastard. If this comes to pass,  just know that you will have made an enemy of me”, said Klaus as he disconnected from the call ending the magic.

“...”, there was nothing Odeus could say.

In the following days, Miliana did as many fun activities as she could with her son and husband. Axel who was quite conscious of the whole ordeal clung to his mother at every waking minute. Axel who was supposed to begin his private lessons refused to attend them only wanting to make new memories with his mother. Odeus, Miliana and Axel would spend a lot of time in the garden talking and playing. They didn’t leave the mansion grounds so as to not alert the town folk who knew of the restrictions and what that meant now. 

A few months passed and Miliana was now visibly pregnant. This made Axel and Odeus more anxious but they did their best not to let it show as much.

An early morning without warning, an envoy from the Blackstone main family rides up in an overly elaborate carriage. Everyone in the household knew the reason they were here. A tall middle-aged man exited from the carriage. He was slender with dark hair and eyes. He was in formal wear, a buttoned-up shirt and vest with an open front cloak over it. He walked up to the mansion like he owned the place, the attendants opened the door and greeted him. He had nothing to say to them, he just began talking at the top of his voice as he entered the foyer.

“Do not keep an envoy of the Blackstone family waiting”, he yelled.

“Neveen, as unpleasant as ever”, said Miliana as she walked down the grand stairway into the mansion's foyer.

“Hmph… look at you, I guess the report was true”, said Neveen as he looked at her from head to toe. He smirked, “Well, I hope you understand the ramifications of your actions”.

Miliana sighs, “Yes yes, now that you have confirmed it with your own eyes, you can find the exit by yourself right”

“Ha!!, aren't you chipper!. Your tongue won’t mean much when we meet again… at the guillotine”, said Neveen.

Miliana’s eyes flared red.

“Watch your mouth, a messenger dog should know his place”, said Odeus glaring at Neveen as he joined Miliana’s side.

“Tsk”, Neveen looked away and began judging the walls of the mansion that showed signs of wear and tear.

Neveen noticed as Axel entered the room and joined his parents. 

“Oh, isn’t he precious, how unfortunate for him to be born into this dump”.

Axel looked up at the man. “A dump?… I guess this place could use some tidying up, random trash just blows through the door these days”. Axel was a bit irritated as he had heard the conversation they were having.

Odeus, Miliana and Neveen’s mouth was floored.

“Mother, Father shall we take our leave. It has become rather… unpleasant here”, Axel continued.

“You little–”, mumbled Neveen.

“A-ah- yes let’s go have tea shall we”, Miliana stuttered.

“Tsk. Not so fast. I also would rather not be here so let me conclude my business”, yelled Neveen.

The family of three who were already leaving stopped and faced Neveen once again.

“I have messages from the Blackstone family”. Neveen began smirking, revealing that he was again up to no good.