Chapter 157 Unexpected Guest

Chapter 157 Unexpected Guest
E L E A N O R

Bernadette opens the door, and my face brightens into a real smile for the first time in weeks. She looks healthier, her eyes clearer, though she still moves with a slight carefulness that speaks of recent pain.

“It’s so nice of you to finally join us,” she says warmly, pulling me into a firm hug. She rubs my back gently before letting me step inside. Behind me, maids follow, carrying beautifully wrapped presents which they carefully set down on the large sofa in the sitting room.

I pause just inside the doorway, staring around. The house feels entirely different from the last time I was here—it’s brighter, airier, more lived-in. Light streams through clean windows, and there’s a sense of warmth that wasn’t here before.

My eyes catch on a large portrait hanging in the hallway leading toward the garden. It’s a painting of a little girl with brown hair and a brilliantly bright smile. Flanking it are two other portraits just as large—one of a silver-haired girl with a calm, observant expression, and another of a blonde-haired boy with curious blue eyes. I recognize them instantly—Hildegard, Eliza, and James. A surprised laugh escapes me. I can’t believe Severus actually followed through on Hildegard’s demanding request.

“Hildegard is going to love the presents you brought. Thank you so much, Eleanor,” Bernadette says, her grin genuine.

“Oh, it’s nothing,” I laugh, though my voice comes out a bit nervous.

She leads me through the house and opens the back door, revealing a beautifully arranged outdoor garden picnic. The space is decorated mainly in shades of pink—streamers, ribbons, pink roses woven into arches, and clusters of balloons. I know this must be Bernadette’s touch; it’s too thoughtfully arranged to be anyone else’s. Long tables are laden with remarkable dishes, and at the center sits a large, beautifully decorated pink cake.

James is in a corner, completely absorbed in blowing bubbles that catch the light. Eliza stands near the butler, quietly supervising a maid who is roasting pig ribs over an open stove.

“Can you please use a glove, Miss?” Eliza asks the woman politely but firmly. The maid glances toward the butler, who gives a slight, almost imperceptible nod that clearly means, 'just do what she says'. A smile touches my lips despite myself.

Then I see them—Severus and Hildegard are standing near a rose bush, carefully selecting flowers. Hildegard holds a small basket while Severus hands her a deep red bloom.

“So which do you prefer?” Hildegard asks him, her tone serious. “Father, Daddy, or Dad?”

“Whatever you want, Princess,” he sighs, though I don’t miss the fondness in his tired eyes.

“Whatever I want? It should be specific to the moment. Father for when you’re being serious, Daddy for when you’re being nice, and Dad for when you’re making the birthday girl pick up flowers on her special day.”

“For the millionth time, Hildie, I couldn’t find roses at the flower shop. We had to pick them.”

“That sounds like not seeing the sun in summer,” she blurts out, utterly serious.

I can’t hold back a sharp laugh. They all turn toward me at once.

“She’s here!” Bernadette announces happily, walking over to Severus and pressing a light kiss to his cheek.

“Good morning, Luna,” Eliza says, offering a perfect, polite bow. James mimics her clumsily beside her.

Hildegard hands her basket to Bernadette and marches straight up to me, her eyes wide and assessing.

“And you must be Hildegard?” I ask, leaning down slightly to her level.

“Yes, I am,” she giggles, a sound full of mischief and charm. “I can’t believe you got my invitation.”

“Well, we live just a few blocks away. I had to come.”

“You look amazing and beautiful too,” she gushes without a hint of shyness.

“Thank you,” I reply, genuinely touched. “You look very pretty too. I love your dress.”

“I know,” she says matter-of-factly. “I love it too.”

“Wow. That’s amazing.”

“It’s a pleasure meeting you,” she says, executing a surprisingly graceful curtsy.

“The pleasure is all mine. All of you,” I say, meaning it.

Hildegard immediately grabs my hand and drags me to sit next to her at the picnic table as the meal begins. Severus watches me, and his expression is complex—like a piece of him has been torn away, yet somehow, a weight has also been lifted from his shoulders.

We move through the birthday program Eliza clearly drafted. Severus delivers a short, heartfelt speech for Hildegard—as per her specific request—and we play a few simple games as the sun begins its slow descent toward the horizon. The party winds down gently. James and Severus roll up their trousers and kick a ball around on the grass. Bernadette heads inside with the butler to bring out more food, and I find myself alone with the girls.

“Do you know what baby you’re having, Auntie?” Hildegard asks around a mouthful of blueberry.

“I don’t know exactly,” I tell her. “But I do know there are three.”

“Triplets?” Hildegard’s eyebrow shoots up.

“Three babies at one birth,” I clarify.

Her eyes go wide. “Wow. So they share the same birthday and everything?”

“Same birthday, yes. But they’ll have different clothes, different shoes… maybe even different rooms.”

“Reminds me of a friend of mine, Antoine. She has two brothers, Anthony and Andrew. I thought she made it up when she said they all share the same birthday,” she scoffs, reaching for a piece of pie.

“Auntie?” Eliza’s voice is softer, more observant. I turn to her with a smile. “You haven’t eaten anything.”

My lips quiver as her words sink in. “It’s just…”

“You don’t like the food?” Eliza asks, concerned. “My side of the cake is nice, you can have it. I don’t recommend the first batch of ribs, though,” she adds, leaning in to whisper conspiratorially. “She didn’t use gloves to make them.”

“You should eat, Auntie,” Hildegard chirps in, not missing a beat. “You have three babies. They must be hungry.”

I try to hold back the sudden sting of tears, letting their simple, kind logic seep into me. Eliza serves me a slice of cake, her movements careful and deliberate. I haven’t eaten properly in days—surviving on sips of water and the occasional spoonful of whatever William managed to bring me.

It hits me then, with painful clarity: they see right through me. And they care. I wasn’t just starving myself—I was starving them, too. My children. And that isn’t helping anyone.

I accept the spoonful of cake Eliza offers me, blinking away tears as the sweet flavor hits my tongue.

“See? I told you it was good,” she says, a small, proud grin on her face.

“It really is. Thank you.”

Hildegard quickly feeds me a piece of her pie, then pats my stomach gently. “Eat up, little Grace.”

“Little Grace?” I repeat, finally helping myself to a larger plate of ribs and rice.

“Hildie, she’s not going to name her baby after you,” Eliza rolls her eyes, though there’s no real annoyance in it.

“Why not? Grace is a lovely name for a girl.”

“I haven’t decided on any names yet,” I admit, taking another bite.

“Well, you’ve come to the right place,” Hildegard smirks.

“That is something the mother and father decide, Hildie,” Eliza reminds her gently.

“Fine. I’ll wait for Uncle Perseus, then. But before he returns from his trip, I can at least help with names you shouldn’t use. First—Rose, Lily, any flower name. It shows little effort. You can’t tell me you saw a flower and decided that should be a person’s name.”

“I have to agree with her on that one,” Eliza whispers to me.

I keep eating as they debate name choices, committing a few of their better suggestions to memory. I’m grateful Severus told them Perseus is away on a trip—it spares me the pain of explanations. With them keeping me busy and engaged, I find myself cleaning multiple plates without even realizing how hungry I truly was.

Hildegard eventually falls asleep mid-argument, and Severus comes to carry her up to her room. The other children trail after him.

“They really like him,” I comment as Bernadette and I step off the picnic mat so the maids can clear the tables.

We decide to take a slow walk through the garden. I slip off my shoes, enjoying the cool tingling sensation of the dewy grass under my bare feet.

“They really do,” she agrees. “I can’t believe he didn’t want them at first.”

“It’s not something you just accept,” I say softly. “It could’ve taken him time. What if they weren’t as amazing as they are? What if they hadn’t accepted him so easily?”

“I never thought of it that way,” Bernadette admits. “I just thought he was being cruel.”

“He’s a great father. He just needed time to get comfortable. Even the council started gossiping about him taking in ‘dragon shifter kids.’ There was a lot at stake for him.”

“Thank you, Eleanor. Really. I should apologize to him. We’ve been avoiding that conversation.”

“Thank you,” I reply sincerely. “Your children are wonderful. I’m really glad I came today.”

“Hildegard will be delighted to hear you said that.”

“Eleanor!” Severus’s voice calls out from the patio. I turn to look at him.

“You have a guest.”

“A guest?” I ask, confused. I wasn’t expecting anyone.

“Yes. She’s waiting for you at the palace.”

“Who is it?”

“Beersheba.”