Royal Cabinet Meeting

"Mommy, why can't we come with you tomorrow?" Luciana inquired, sitting in front of the vanity mirror as I gently combed her wavy brown hair she inherited from mine. Meanwhile, Lumiere and Liutrich were engaged in a playful pillow fight on my bed. Despite Liutrich being a bookworm who preferred reading, Lumiere was always more active and enthusiastic about various activities.

"Because it is a royal cabinet meeting, sweetie. Only adults are allowed there," I answered softly, as they knew I was going to the royal palace for the meeting. That would be my first debut with the rest of the members of the royal cabinet.

"Mommy, when can we visit the royal palace?"

Lumiere's question sent shivers down my spine. As I glanced at his reflection in the mirror, I noticed Liutrich frowning, still recovering from the playful beating he had received from Lumiere's pillow. Taking a deep breath, I resisted the urge to scold Lumiere and instead decided to answer his question.

"I am not certain, love. But I will tell you when." I couldn't promise. I couldn't.

If I happened to bring them, then it meant that it was not impossible for Alucard to meet my triplets. There was no way that I could let that happen.

When I was done combing Luciana's hair, I went to proceed with tidying my two sons, who got tired from playing. "Lumiere, promise me that you are going to behave while I am away." I squinted my eyes at him when I was using my hand to fix his disheveled brown hair. "Act as an older brother protecting your older sister and your younger brother, alright?" I placed my hands on his shoulders to emphasize my words. "This is your responsibility, and I need to see if you are capable of handling a task."

Lumiere might be a naughty pup, but when things such as this happen, making him act like their older brother, he could be as earnest as possible.

As soon as Lumiere's cute face glimmered, I knew now that I managed to catch him to behave. "Yes, Mommy! I will!" He kept jumping on the bed until he clung to my neck and hung onto it.

I groaned and chuckled before started showering him with kisses on his face, earning chuckles. But I stopped when I felt a gentle tug in the hem of my nightgown only to see Liutrich with his eyes pleading at me.

"Mommy, I need attention, too," he said meekly.

"I have Mommy first!" Lumiere insisted, frowning.

"I want Mommy, too!" Liutrich's forest-green eyes were brimming with tears.

"Alright, alright, boys. Let's not argue," I intervened, stepping in to separate them as they were about to start a brawl. It was frustrating to see this happening so often. "Lumiere, it's Liutrich's turn, alright?" I kissed Lumiere's forehead, trying to calm him down before turning to Liutrich and doing the same. "Liutrich, my darling, it's your turn now."

Liutrich smiled and nodded before he hugging my waist and buried his face to my chest. I kept caressing his hair, loving its scents like the first blooming of the flower buds.

"Unfair..." Lumiere's forest-green orbs were bathing tears when my attention was heeding on Liutrich who was sniffing right now. I panicked and was about to let him come near me but then I was interrupted.

"Lumiere!" Luciana chimed in with her hands on her hips.

Having Luciana interceding had brought relief to me since Lumiere was silent and did not argue, his shoulders slumping. With a sigh, I realized that I needed to equally shower them with affection. "Come here, Luciana, Lumiere," I said, gathering them in my arms and planting a gentle kiss on each of their foreheads.

My triplets looked up at me with their innocent expressions, and their adorable faces lit like the first rays of the winter sun. It melted my worries away just by looking at them.

"Now, can you promise Mommy that you will behave nicely with Omi? She wants to spend some quality time with all three of you. Can you keep Omi entertained?" I spoke gently, hoping they would understand that their grandmother wanted to spend some special moments with her beloved grandchildren.

They exchanged glances before they nodded. Their answer earned them raining kisses and tickles from me. I spent the whole night tiring them so they could easily fall asleep and whispered to them good night and sleep dreams.

The next morning, I was already prepared for my departure after taking care of my triplets, ascertaining that they had eaten their morning meals.

"Mother, I entrust you my triplets. Mind you that they are quite... handful." I glanced over her shoulders where my three pups were already playing in the garden, not wanting to leave my sight since I already had some worst-case scenarios playing in my mind.

Mother chuckled. "Silly. I can handle children. I have been in orphanages, Faya, so you do not have to worry about me."

I softened, knowing well that her longing for me, her long-lost daughter, she devoted her time volunteering in some charities and orphanages. I hugged my mother so tight before deciding to say my farewell to her and my triplets.

"I'm going, Father," I said, glancing at his portrait hanging near the entrance before mounting on the carriage.

My journey to the royal palace from Thalren, where the grand duchy was located, took one hour and thirty minutes. My heart kept hammering inside my chest as I entered the gates of the royal palace.

I could still vividly remember that I couldn't just come into this place without an appointment. I recalled how I almost begged the royal guards to let me see Alucard, but right now, I did not need to do that.

As soon as the royal guards saw the crest of the wings of butterfly indicating that I came from the House of Bellwood, an honorable member of the royal lycan family, where the heiress who was now the head of the grand duchy had come forth to finally show herself to the members of the royal cabinet. It was quite fascinating that my life turned favorably to me after that painful experience.

"Your Serene Grace, we have arrived," Expert, my knight, announced before helping me to get down from the carriage.

As I was at the entrance of the royal palace, the royal guards immediately recognized the carriage where I had come from. "Greetings, Your Serene Grace, Grand Duchess Bellwood." I only nodded as an acknowledgement before one of them escorted me to the conference room where the royal cabinet meeting was going to hold.

I was led to a grandios hallway, embellished with gold and silver in the columns. The hallway seemed to stretch on forever, and the echoes of my footsteps were drowned in its opulent silence. The intricate paintings on the walls depicted scenes from the kingdom's history, and the chandeliers that hung from the high ceiling shimmered with an ethereal glow. I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness as I walked, the sound of my heels resonating through the hall.

This was it. I was going to show myself before them.

Finally, I arrived at the conference room, where the royal cabinet meeting was in session. The royal guard, who escorted me, approached the other royal guards who were guarding that room. He said something to them before one of the royal guards stepped forward and announced,

"Her Serene Grace, Grand Duchess Faustina Bellwood of Thalren has arrived!"

The doors opened, revealing the imposing figures of the kingdom's most influential and powerful individuals. They all turned their attention to me, and I could feel their scrutinizing gazes. It was daunting to be in the presence of these seasoned politicians and advisors, but I held my head high, reminding myself of the responsibility I carried as the head of the House of Bellwood.

As my eyes settled to the man who had a brown sleek hair with an overwhelming aura that could silence everyone just by exuding his presence while beside him was the person whose attention was on the documents, not looking in my way.

Entering the room, I felt an urge to scoff at the person before me, but I maintained my stoic facade and performed a graceful curtsy before the ruling monarch. "Greetings, Your Majesty, Alpha King Azarius. I am Faustina Miles Bellwood, the current head of the House of Bellwood and the Grand Duchess of Thalren," I introduced myself with unwavering confidence.

At that moment, in my peripheral vision, Alucard lifted his gaze, eyes widening, which my smile grew wider.