Page 58 of Royal Love
“True,” Tristan agrees, leaning forward. “But that doesn’t make it easy. And most women aren’t also the queen of Haldonia.”
I laugh softly. “There is that small detail.”
He sets down his mug and moves to perch on the ottoman beside my rocking chair, close enough that I can see the flecks of gold in his brown eyes.
“Lia,” he says softly, using the nickname only he is allowed. “You know you don’t have to do this yet, right? If you want more time, it’s yours. No one would question the queen taking a longer maternity leave.”
The offer is tempting—more mornings watching Ellie’s face light up when she sees me, more afternoons spent singing to her as she kicks her legs during tummy time, more evenings like this, rocking her to sleep while the world carries on without us.
But there’s something else pulling at me, too. A responsibility that extends beyond the walls of the nursery.
“I want to do this,” I say, surprising myself with the conviction in my voice. “I need to.”
“Why?” Tristan asks, not challenging but curious, wanting to understand.
I take a moment to find the right words. “Because I want to be the kind of queen our people can relate to. A woman who loves her child fiercely but who also has ambitions and responsibilities beyond motherhood.” I look down at Ellie, now sleeping peacefully against me. “I want her to grow up seeing that it’s possible to be both—a mother and a leader.”
Tristan’s eyes shine with understanding and something deeper—pride, perhaps. “You’re remarkable, you know that?”
“I’m terrified,” I admit. “What if I can’t do it all? What if I fail at both?”
“Then we’ll figure it out together,” he says, reaching for the bowl of ice cream and offering me a spoonful. “That’s what partners do.”
I accept the bite, savoring the cool sweetness as it melts on my tongue. “Partners,” I repeat. “Not exactly what we signed up for when our parents arranged this marriage, is it?”
Tristan laughs quietly. “Not even close. I was expecting a political alliance at best, constant warfare at worst.”
“And instead?” I prompt, already knowing the answer but wanting to hear him say it.
He takes the empty mug from my hand and sets it aside, then reaches out to brush a strand of hair from my face. “Instead, Ifound the love of my life and the mother of my child. I’d say we got extraordinarily lucky.”
“We did,” I agree, feeling the truth of it settle deep in my bones. This arrangement that once filled me with dread has become the greatest blessing of my life.
Ellie stirs against me, her little body completely relaxed in sleep. “I think she’s finally out,” I whisper.
Tristan stands, holding out his arms to take her. “Let me put her down.”
I transfer our daughter carefully, watching as Tristan cradles her with practiced ease, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead before laying her in the crib. He stands over her for a long moment, his face softened with love in a way that still makes my heart skip.
I join him, sliding my arm around his waist as we both gaze down at our sleeping daughter. “She looks so peaceful,” I murmur.
“She has no idea she’s a princess,” Tristan says with wonder in his voice. “No idea the weight that comes with that crown.”
“We’ll help her carry it,” I promise. “We’ll make sure she knows she’s loved for who she is, not what title she holds.”
Tristan turns to face me, taking both my hands in his. “Just as I love you for who you are, not because you’re my queen.”
“And I love you for the man you are, not because you’re my king,” I reply, leaning into him. “Who would have thought an arranged marriage could turn into this?”
He wraps his arms around me, pulling me closer. “The best diplomatic arrangement in Haldonian history,” he murmurs against my hair.
I laugh softly, careful not to wake Ellie. “We should tell our diplomats to try it more often.”
“No,” Tristan says, pulling back to look into my eyes. “What we have is rare, Lia. A love match disguised as a political necessity. I don’t think lightning strikes that way twice.”
The conviction in his voice makes my chest tighten with emotion. “Then I guess we got extraordinarily lucky,” I whisper, echoing his earlier words.
“Beyond lucky,” he agrees, his forehead coming to rest against mine. “And tomorrow, when you step back into your royal duties, I’ll be right beside you, just as I’ve been here with you through these first weeks with Ellie.”
