Extra Chapter 25 – Learning to Be a Mother (POV Luna)
The soft morning light filtered through the high-arched windows, casting a golden glow across the nursery. The scent of lavender lingered in the air, mingling with the faint sweetness of milk and linen.
I took a deep breath, steadying myself. Today, I was determined to do something on my own.
Since our daughter's birth, the palace's attendants had been an ever-present force, ensuring that not a single need of hers went unnoticed. They were skilled, patient, and endlessly devoted.
But I wanted to be more than a queen who merely watched over her child—I wanted to be a mother in every sense.
And so, with quiet resolve, I had sent them away for the morning.
Today, I would bathe my daughter myself.
She lay in my arms, blinking up at me with wide, curious eyes, her tiny fists grasping at the air. Her delicate features held so much of Rhydian—his strong brow, the shape of his lips—yet there was something undeniably wild about her, something untamed. She was ours.
"Alright, little one," I murmured, brushing a stray curl from her forehead. "Let's see if we can manage this without too much disaster."
I had seen it done countless times before. The warm water, the gentle touch, the careful balance of supporting her fragile body while keeping her comfortable.
Simple, in theory.
I lowered her into the basin, letting her tiny toes skim the water first. She gasped at the sensation, her mouth forming a perfect little 'O.'
Then she kicked.
Water splashed everywhere—over my arms, onto my dress, across the pristine white marble floor.
A startled laugh escaped me. "Oh, you think that's funny, don't you?"
My daughter giggled—a real, breathtaking little sound that filled my heart with warmth so fierce it almost hurt.
I adjusted my grip, cupping water in my hand and gently pouring it over her stomach. Her tiny fingers reached for the ripples, fascinated.
I could do this.
I found a rhythm—one hand supporting, the other gently cleaning, murmuring to her as she blinked up at me. The weight of my responsibility as a mother didn't feel so daunting in that moment.
Instead, it felt natural.
As if I had been meant for this all along.
A quiet chuckle drew my attention.
I turned my head to find Rhydian leaning against the doorway, arms crossed, watching with an amused expression.
"How long have you been standing there?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Long enough to see you get completely drenched," he teased.
I scoffed, flicking a few droplets of water in his direction. "Careful, My King, or you'll be next."
He smirked but said nothing, his gaze softening as it drifted back to our daughter.
I saw it then—the pride in his eyes, the quiet reverence in the way he looked at us.
For all his strength, his command over his people, this was the side of him only I got to see.
The man who would tear apart kingdoms to keep us safe.
The father who watched, in silent awe, as his daughter giggled in her mother's hands.
I met his gaze, feeling a quiet certainty settle in my bones.
We were learning, growing.
Not just as rulers, but as parents.
And no matter how many mistakes we made along the way, as long as we had each other, I knew we would be just fine.