Chapter 590

Chapter 590
By the time they reached the lower floor—
Ivan had already composed himself.
Completely.
No trace of the earlier panic.
No sign of blanket-related warfare.
Just—
Chin high.
Back straight.
Every inch the aristocratic knight of the crown.
Kaelan walked beside him, far less concerned with appearances, one arm secure around Lana, who remained as composed as ever—unbothered by the fact that she was about to be presented to royalty.
The main doors stood open.
And just beyond them—
Presence.
Power.
Expectation.
Varelisse stood near the entrance, poised and immaculate, already overseeing everything with quiet authority.
“Prepare the guest house,” she instructed a servant without turning. “His Majesty and his court will be received properly.”
The servant bowed and moved at once.
Beside her—
Mara.
Less composed.
More… territorial.
Her posture relaxed, but her eyes sharp, scanning everything like she was measuring threats out of habit rather than necessity.
At the threshold—
Dimitri.
Ronan beside him.
Then—
Dimitri’s gaze shifted.
Locked.
“…Ivan.”
The mothers felt it immediately.
Both of them turning at once—
And seeing.
Ivan.
Descending.
Carrying.
A subtle movement—
They stepped aside.
Space opening without being asked.
Without being spoken.
Ivan reached the final step.
Stopped.
And bowed.
Clean.
Precise.
Controlled.
Ivanna secure in his arms as though she were part of the gesture itself.
Kaelan stepped forward beside him, far less ceremonial but no less respectful.
He inclined his head.
“Your Majesty.”
A brief glance to Ronan—
“My Lord.”
Silence followed.
Not awkward.
Measured.
Then-
Eyes shifted.
Down.
To the babies.
Ronan leaned slightly forward first, curiosity overtaking protocol with ease.
“…Well,” he murmured, a smile already forming, “those are…”
He paused.
Looked again.
“…very pretty.”
Lana, in Kaelan’s arms, blinked slowly.
Unimpressed.
Already judging.
Then—
Ronan’s gaze shifted.
To Ivan.
To Ivanna.
And there—
It caught.
The ear.
Small.
Red.
Unapologetically visible.
Ronan’s expression changed immediately.
Not shock.
Not concern.
Amusement.
Bright and genuine.
“…Oh,” he said, clearly delighted. “Look at that.”
He leaned closer, openly fascinated now.
“Red hair and ears?”
A soft laugh escaped him.
“That’s new.”
Ivanna made a small sound, as if acknowledging the attention.
Ivan adjusted her slightly.
Just enough.
Controlled.
Measured.
“She is expressive,” Ivan said calmly, as though that explained everything.
Kaelan huffed under his breath.
“That’s one way to say it.”
Ronan smiled wider.
“I like her already.”
Behind him—
Dimitri watched.
Silent.
Still.
His gaze moved from one child—
To the other—
Then back to Ivan.
Assessing.
Not harsh.
Not cold.
But thorough.
Ivan didn’t look away.
Didn’t shift.
Didn’t lower his chin.
He stood exactly as he was—
Carrying his daughter—
Presenting her—
Not as something fragile—
But as something that belonged.
Dimitri’s gaze lingered on the children a moment longer before he spoke.
“I brought gifts from the crown,” he said calmly. “For them.”
A small pause.
“But those can be presented properly later.”
Ivan inclined his head with quiet precision.
“As you wish, Your Majesty.”
Dimitri stepped closer—just enough.
“Congratulations,” he added.
Simple.
Measured.
But not empty.
Ivan did not smile.
Of course he didn’t.
“…They were expected to arrive properly,” he replied.
Kaelan let out a quiet breath that was almost a laugh.
Then—
From behind—
A familiar voice.
Already tired.
Already negotiating.
“No, because if you keep grabbing it, it defeats the purpose—”
“Mine.”
“You don’t need it.”
“Mine.”
Ronan sighed softly, amused.
“They came with us.”
Dimitri stepped aside.
Ronan too.
The space opened—
And Jaden appeared, carrying Seraphim, still gently wrestling a piece of cloth out of her determined grip.
“…You’re not even using it,” Jaden muttered.
Seraphim ignored him.
Completely.
Then—
Jaden looked up.
And stopped.
His eyes landed on Ivan.
On Kaelan.
On the babies.
“…Oh.”
Everything in him softened.
Just a little.
He stepped forward.
Slower now.
More careful.
Seraphim followed his gaze immediately.
Her body shifting in his arms, leaning forward with quiet curiosity.
Jaden adjusted her slightly and nodded toward them.
“…Look.”
A pause.
His voice softer now.
“…Babies.”
Seraphim stilled.
Completely.
Then—
She leaned forward.
Closer.
Closer—
And sniffed.
Soft.
Curious.
Not rushed.
Not greedy.
Just—
Trying to understand.
Ivanna reacted first.
A small kick.
A tiny, answering sound.
Not loud.
Not demanding.
Just—
There.
Lana’s eyes opened slowly.
Calm.
Focused.
And settled—
Directly on Seraphim.
Something shifted.
Not in the room.
Not in the air.
In them.
Seraphim blinked.
Then sniffed again.
Longer.
Deeper.
Like she was memorizing something.
Her small hand lifted.
Reaching—
But not grabbing.
Just hovering in the space between them.
“…mine,” she said softly.
Jaden exhaled quietly, almost laughing under his breath.
“…We’re not doing that again.”
But his voice had no weight.
No correction.
Seraphim didn’t pull back.
She stayed leaning forward in Jaden’s arms, eyes fixed on the two small figures like she was trying to understand something important.
“…babies,” she said.
Jaden smiled faintly.
“Yes. Babies.”
A pause.
Seraphim tilted her head.
Then pointed—
First at Lana.
Then at Ivanna.
“…name?”
Jaden blinked.
“…You’re asking their names?”
Seraphim looked at him like he was slow.
“…name,” she repeated, more insistent this time.
Ivan answered.
Of course he did.
Calm.
Precise.
Proper.
“Lana.”
A small pause.
“Ivanna.”
Seraphim listened.
Very seriously.
Like this mattered.
Then she pointed at Lana—
“…Nana.”
Jaden pressed his lips together.
Then Ivanna—
Seraphim leaned closer, sniffed again—
“…Vana.”
Ivanna made a small sound.
Immediate.
Kaelan huffed.
“…She answered that.”
Seraphim smiled—small, satisfied.
She pointed again.
“Nana.”
Then—
“Vana.”
Lana blinked slowly.
Still watching her.
Seraphim leaned forward one last time, her small hand hovering near them—
close—
careful—
“…Nana… Vana…”
A soft pause.
Then—
“…mine.”
Jaden sighed quietly.
“…Of course.”
Behind Jaden—
Steps.
Measured.
Familiar.
Alaric approached, gaze moving first to Jaden, then to Seraphim leaning forward far more than she should be, then to Ivan and Kaelan—
And finally—
To the babies.
A brief pause.
Assessing.
“…What is happening.”
Jaden opened his mouth—
But Seraphim answered first.
Of course she did.
She pointed proudly.
At Lana—
“…Nana.”
Then at Ivanna—
“…Vana."
A beat.
Alaric looked at her.
Then at the babies.
Then back at her.
And laughed.
Low.
Warm.
“You’ve already made friends.”
Seraphim looked extremely pleased with herself.
“Friends,” she confirmed.
Jaden huffed under his breath.
“…She learns fast when it suits her.”
Ronan smiled.
Dimitri said nothing—
But his gaze lingered just a moment longer than before.
Then—
Varelisse stepped forward slightly, composed as ever.
“My apologies,” she said smoothly, “but Your Majesty has traveled far. It would be best if you rested.”
A small gesture.
Subtle.
Controlled.
“A servant will guide you to the guest house.”
Dimitri inclined his head.
“Thank you.”
A servant stepped forward at once, bowing before turning to lead the way.
Dimitri followed.
Ronan beside him.
Alaric turned after them—
Jaden adjusting Seraphim more securely in his arms before moving as well.
They began to walk.
Slow.
Measured.
Then—
From Jaden’s shoulder—
Seraphim twisted slightly.
Looking back.
Her small hand lifted.
Reaching.
“…Nana!”
A beat.
“…Vana!”
Ivanna kicked immediately.
Lana blinked.
Ivan didn’t react.
Not outwardly.
Of course not.
But his hold tightened—
Just slightly.
And as the royals disappeared from view—
The names lingered behind them.
Soft.
Clumsy.
But already—
Belonging.