In the secluded chambers of Katerina, an atmosphere of peace and serenity reigned — untouched by the political intrigues and malicious rumors of the outside world.Her beloved children, like precious pearls, grew within a cocoon woven from their mother's endless love and care.
Each day was filled with the warmth of tender smiles and the bright laughter of children, echoing softly off the walls of their cozy sanctuary.The boy and girl grew more active and cheerful with each passing day, their eyes sparkling with curiosity and an unquenchable thirst for discovery.
A year had quietly passed since that fateful assembly — the moment that had become the final straw for Katerina.Only Cassia and the newborns had witnessed her bitter tears that day, when her world had finally collapsed.
Adam had never once come to see the children.His absence spoke louder than words — he had apparently accepted the slander about her without even seeking the truth.This final betrayal shattered Katerina's heart, leaving it hollow and cold.
From that moment, she withdrew completely from the world of nobles and courtly affairs, devoting herself entirely to her little ones.Time seemed to stand still in their tiny oasis of happiness, shielded from the world by an invisible, impenetrable wall.
Anger and resentment toward her husband dissolved into a blanket of complete indifference.Their relationship became a hollow formality — a shell of what once was.Only the twins, two small suns, kept her tethered to the capital.
Thankfully, faithful Cassia was always by her side, ready to listen without judgment, like a silent confessor.Her constant presence became another anchor — a quiet pillar of support for Katerina.
The twins grew, surrounded by the boundless love of two women for whom they were the entire world.It was no surprise that after timidly learning to say "Mama," the second word both children mastered was the playful "Cassie."Hearing their innocent voices melted the young maid's heart into a puddle of love.
The twins' first steps turned into grand adventures — clumsy chases after Cassia's mischievous tail often ended in bumps and bruises.Katerina, half-terrified and half-amused, constantly summoned the court healer.
Eventually, the exhausted healer, worn thin by the endless calls, dared to make a desperate suggestion:He begged Katerina to install a soft carpet in the nursery, claiming — with a certain amount of cheek — that his salary did not justify the frequency of visits.
That plea was the last straw.
For the first time in years, Katerina's long-restrained anger erupted.Her aura surged like a tsunami, shaking the very walls of the estate.
"What is the point of maintaining a royal healer if he cannot even handle requests like this?!" she roared, her voice a blade of righteous fury.
The situation quickly spiraled out of control — so much so that Adam Starlight himself was forced to intervene, much to his own irritation.
It was the first time he had even glimpsed his children — children he had all but forgotten existed.
Privately, Adam agreed with the healer that such trivialities were beneath a royal physician.However, faced with Katerina's wrath, he dared not voice such thoughts aloud.
With forced politeness, he assured her the matter would be resolved immediately, then beat a hasty retreat.
Back at the palace — under the contemptuous glare of his wife's personal maid — Adam barked out orders to have carpets delivered to Katerina's chambers at once and commanded the healer to obey all her requests without question.Poor fool — he had dared to anger the strongest being in the Province of Light...
In a strange, unsettled mood, Adam dismissed the rest of the court but asked Cassia to stay behind.
He sat heavily on the throne, silent and brooding.
He pondered why he felt so painfully uncomfortable in Katerina's presence.She was brilliant, kind, beautiful beyond measure — to be loved by such a woman was a blessing for which generations of his ancestors would have gladly taken holy vows.
And yet...
Whenever he was near her, he was overcome by waves of shame, guilt, revulsion, even fear.
He understood that such feelings were far from normal — but he could not control them.The internal war exhausted him, driving him further into the arms of his other wives and concubines.He even welcomed tedious paperwork — anything to avoid thinking about Katerina.
Although Cassia's impertinent attitude irritated him, Adam did not dare reprimand her.She was his only tenuous link to Katerina and the twins.
Finally, he summoned his courage and spoke:
"Cassia, I know I'm devastatingly handsome, but could you please stop glaring at me like that?"
"As you command, Your Excellency. Did you wish to speak with me?" she replied coldly, bowing slightly.
"Tell me about the twins. How are they?"
"They are well, Your Majesty," Cassia answered with the same detached tone.
"I want details," Adam insisted, his voice tightening.('I know you're angry — but I'm still the damned governor! Show some respect, little servant girl. If not for Katerina, I'd have you executed for that attitude,' he fumed inwardly, crushing the armrest of his throne.)
Cassia exhaled and relented:
"Grey is growing into a bright and focused boy. He loves building towers from the wooden blocks Lady Katerina carved herself. He's always taking apart magical devices... though he has yet to successfully reassemble one."
"Enough," Adam interrupted sharply, grimacing at the mention of the boy."Tell me about Grace."
Cassia's fists clenched at the insult, but she forced herself to stay composed, her mind quickly drifting back to the children — her source of endless joy.
"Grace is a lively, carefree girl. Always laughing or sleeping with a blissful smile. She loves playing with our hair and speaks surprisingly well for her age. She adores games of hide-and-seek."
"Just recently, her favorite toy — a big plush horse named Bonnie — tore at the seam. I was sewing it up, and Grace kept twirling around me, warning: 'Cassie, don't hurt Bonnie! If he says "neigh," you must stop immediately!'"
Cassia chuckled at the memory:
"I nearly died laughing. If that stuffed horse had actually said 'neigh,' I would've dropped dead right there!"
She caught herself, remembering where she was, and hastily grew quiet.
Adam sat motionless, thoughtful.After a long pause, he finally dismissed her with a wave of his hand.
As Cassia walked back toward the estate, her mind raced.
'Is this man finally waking up?' she wondered.'I must not lose myself when talking about the twins... I still want to be the perfect maid! I must not reveal my Lady's secrets.'But then she sighed.
'Ah, who cares. That pompous governor can think he's won... but he'll never know how much the twins love each other.''He'll never see Grey anxiously reach for his sister at night, or Grace refuse to sleep without her brother by her side.'
'He'll never understand how Grey's small hands rest protectively on Grace as they drift to sleep... how deeply they already cherish each other.'
'That man may rule the Province, but he's a worthless husband!'
Cassia's pace quickened as she neared the estate — the place where her true family waited: Katerina, Grey, and Grace.
Meanwhile, something had shifted within Adam after their conversation.
Like a man awakening from a long sleep, he finally gathered the nerve to visit Katerina's estate a few days later.
Their meeting was stiff and strained.Katerina said nothing — her silence as cold and sharp as ice — but she allowed him to spend time with the children.
The visit was brief, but it was a start.
From then on, Adam began visiting once a month — fulfilling, at least outwardly, his duty as a father.
Sometimes Katerina caught herself wondering:'Maybe... maybe I should give him another chance?'
Memories of their first meeting flooded back — when she had been so young, so free...
She had come to the grand Church of Light to learn about the most powerful Empire's culture — and there, she had felt his gaze.
A man whose eyes glowed with divine warmth, undeterred by her illusions — the magic she used to conceal her celestial beauty.
Intrigued, she had allowed him into her world.
For a year, Adam had pursued her with endless patience and gentleness — while manipulating the province's political chaos with ruthless brilliance.
He had loved her once.Or so she had believed.
Now, as she watched him move awkwardly among their children, she wondered where that love had gone — and if it could ever return.
Time marched on.
In that strange mix of hope, sorrow, and bittersweet longing, two more years passed.
Today, the twins — so alike yet so different — were turning three years old.
Grace sat happily before her mother, allowing her silky white hair to be brushed and braided.
Grey, unwilling to be left out, massaged his mother's back with clumsy little hands.
The scene was idyllic, filled with soft laughter and warmth.
"Mama's hands are so nice," thought Grace blissfully."Not like silly Grey who always tangles my pretty hair!"
The moment was shattered by a sharp knock on the door — and before anyone could answer, Adam Starlight entered.
He hesitated for a moment, a fleeting smile crossing his face, quickly replaced by his usual distance.
Clearing his throat, he addressed them in a formal, commanding tone:
"I am glad you are ready. It is time for your Awakening Ceremony."
Satisfied that he had their attention, he continued:
"As you know, three years marks an important milestone for young citizens of the Roman Empire. By this age, the skeletal structure is complete, basic reflexes are stabilized, and a foundational vocabulary for communication is developed."
He paused, studying their solemn faces before going on:
"This foundation is necessary to awaken the magical core — the essential conduit for mana circulation and personal development. The core is unique to each individual and hidden deep within your bodies."
"Our great Empire is famed for its laws protecting its citizens. Under the Universal Development Act, every citizen has the right to undergo a core awakening ceremony — a great honor and a crucial step in one's life journey."
"Do you understand?"
Grey and Grace nodded in unison, sensing the importance of the moment.