It's been barely a month since the last time I saw my friends, but it feels like years.

Anne Mary Wilhelm is the first to arrive. It's amazing how she doesn't care to be early, contrary to Shannon Lynn, who is always five minutes late as per custom.

«I've brought my children with me,» she states as soon as she gets in the tea room.

Children? How long has she been married?

«This one is mine mine,» she mutters while turning to a two-year-old boy with round cheeks and blonde hair.

Behind him, there is an older child with the same hair but darker eyes than the first. He looks five, maybe six years old. He's wearing bright-coloured clothes, and his hair is tied in a low tail on his neck.

Even though he's older than the first, he's simply adorable. I don't know if I've ever seen a prettier child.

Other than mine, to be sincere.

«Yours yours?» I inquire, curious. «And the other one?»

«Oh, he's Jeffrey's. But he's so adorable, isn't he?»

Indeed.

Have they split children among themselves, by the way? Is my Duke expecting something like this too? Do couples in Ethiro do it?

I don't want to have my child and my Duke's child. I want all of our children to be ours!

«I found out only after marrying that he had an illegitimate son. At first, I thought of sending him somewhere far away. But he's too cute.»

I agree. Maybe, it's common for young boys in Kyre to be cute.

«So, I kept him with me. He's incredibly obedient, and he takes care of his little brother.»

While we talk sitting around the table, the two boys play on a soft carpet nearby.

«I couldn't imagine that children could be so easy to take care of,» she giggles.

«They're so calm that it's a bit frightening,» I mutter. «Have you threatened the children to behave in front of me, perhaps?»

«Oh, it's because they're in a foreign environment. Next time, you'll see their true nature, my Lady.»

I wonder why she brought them along.

«Think about it, my Lady... If you have a daughter, we can agree on an engagement!» she giggles.

«It's too soon to think about it,» I mutter. «But have you heard anything new about me, perhaps?»

«Oh, everyone knows about it, my Lady. The whole Kyre is now waiting for a little heir or heiress.»

«News has fast legs around here.»

«I wasn't sure it was the truth, but now I'm reassured that my Lady indeed is with child.»

«Is it that visible?» I inquire, looking at my stomach.

It's round, now. It can't be hidden anymore. But it's not that big yet. I could be just fat, from a stranger's point of view.

«It's not just your belly, my Lady. Your face is even prettier, your hair shines, and your figure, well... You were so skinny before...»

Is it good or bad?

«I bet Lord Kyre is more intrigued than ever.»

He is. But his reasons are so complicated.

«I hope our children will be friends like my husband and yours are.» I smile.

«Oh, but what if it's a girl?»

It won't be. I already know.

«I don't plan to bind my daughter to marriage even before she's born. As long as I'm alive, she'll have some freedom to choose for herself.»

«It would be difficult to maintain your intention, my Lady. Young girls are asked for marriage long before puberty. I was sent to the Wilhelms when I was fifteen, the day after my birthday. I've been married after a quick engagement, without even meeting my fiancée before the wedding. I was just sold off at the last moment. That's what happens to girls that don't have a prior engagement.»

«I was in a similar situation. I don't want my children to be forced into marriage.»

«But it worked out for you,» Anne Mary shrugs. «Hasn't it?»

«It worked,» I nod. But it was terribly painful. «I don't mean that my children will all marry for love. But at least, they'll be able to have a saying. I won't force them, and I won't let anyone else do it.» Not even the Lord of Kyre.

I believe I would have fallen for Alexander even if we met by chance, without constraints to be together. I will never know because that opportunity was taken away from us.

«Marriage is a contract,» Anne Mary comments. «It binds two families to one another.»

«It doesn't change a thing. It's a temporary alliance, and it can be broken the exact moment something goes wrong. Two families aren't united by marriage, just linked,» I scoff. «They will pretend to get along as long as it's profitable, but not a minute more than that.»

Anne Mary lifts her eyebrows, observing me with a confused look.

«Have you ever heard of in-laws helping each other in time of difficulty?» I ask her.

«I can't think of a case on the spot.»

«See? All the great alliances work during peaceful periods. I don't need to sell one of my children to achieve an alliance like that.»

It's easy to help each other when everything goes well and power flows within one's fingers. The moment someone falls from grace, it's over, and they're alone.

«It's better to build a friendship without asking each other anything else in return. We don't need a contract, Anne Mary, do we?»

«Of course not!» She nods, showing me she understood the point.

Shannon Lynn walks in at this exact moment, and we turn to her, smiling. She's politely late, as always, and she's as disappointed as usual for losing an interesting part of the conversation.

«I would have brought my girl too if you told me,» she exclaims, gazing at the pair of boys that stare back at her in amazement.

«It's a surprise,» I explain, noticing Anne Mary's sudden change of expression.

«How old is your girl?» she inquires. Is she at it again? She just wants an engagement for her son, doesn't she?

«A few months older than your younger,» the other replies.

«Oh, so she must have stopped biting things. I don't know what to do anymore! Tobias sticks in his mouth everything he gets his hands on if I don't look at him for the whole time.»

«It will pass soon,» Shannon says, and I start to feel like an outcast.

I don't know what to say. I don't have any experience with children. Except for Olly, but he doesn't count as he never makes any trouble.

However, soon, I will be able to talk about my baby with my friends. To ask for advice and talk about the little tricks I figured while experimenting with my child.

They seem so happy while talking about their problems with children. I can't wait to hold my baby in my arms, to hear him cry and giggle before falling asleep.

How longer is it?