Chapter 10

The day after the armies from our vassel states arrive, my husband and I hold a ball amongst all the nobility of the empire to announce that I'm pregnant with triplets, one son and two daughters, and everyone is ecstatic at the news 

I'm wearing a black gown covered with red roses. The gown was a raven-black gown that rustled with every movement, as if the midnight fabric was shedding thorns. But instead of thorns, delicate, hand-stitched red roses climbed its length, their petals a velvet counterpoint to the subtle, gilded thread that wove through the hemline. 

There's plenty of food and laughter as the nobles eat and dance. I see Laguna approaching, and I smile. "How are you doing?" Laguna asks me.

"I'm still a little sad about my mother's death and upset at Soren's treason, but other than that, I'm alright. I'm excited for the triplets. I'm glad you're here. I haven't seen you since the coronation."

"Yes, well, now that I've graduated from Olympus Academy, my mother has been teaching me how to run a kingdom since it's almost time for me to take the throne of Oceana."

"Yes, the last few months before my coronation were spent learning how to run a kingdom as well. I'm sure that you'll make a wonderful Queen someday, and hopefully, if we're lucky, you're future children will be fast friends with my children."

She smiles when I say that "Hopefully." After our conversation, she walks away, and Storm comes up to me, so we start dancing.

"I know you've been talking to the generals, how's it looking?" Storm asks as we dance

"His army is stronger than ours, but we still have a chance because they don't have any good strategists, and we have a whole legion filled with descendants and children of Athena, so they may be stronger, but with a good strategy, we can still win."

"That's good, hopefully the main battle doesn't happen until after you give birth because you're the only one who can defeat Soren."

"If he's smart, he'll attack while I'm in labor, but we made arrangements for that probability," I say

He nods, looking relieved that I seem to have that handled, and as the song comes to an end, we break apart, and I start going around talking to the guests.

Everyone I talk to congratulates me on my pregnancy, wishing me well and telling me that they'll pray to Artemis that I'll have healthy children.

After the ball is over, I go to my room, and my ladies in waiting help me change into my nightgown.

The next morning, I wake up, and after I eat, I get dressed in a black gown. I tell Marina to bring Revdea, and thirty minutes later, she shows up in a yellow and white dress.

" You called for me, Your Majesty," she says as she bows.

"Yes you'll be turning eleven soon which is the enrollment age for Olympus Academy so I want you to go there you will graduate right after you turn sixteen and then you will be an adult and make your debut into noble society because until you are sixteen the only thing protecting you from your uncle marrying you off is your age but once you turn sixteen I can't protect you from him unless you have made your debut as a noble because you can't become my official lady in waiting until you make your debut and the only way for a noble to make there debut is to graduate from Olympus Academy"

"I can't possibly afford the tuition for that school, Your Majesty," she says quietly.

"Don't worry, the palace will fund it. You are the only living child of Nyx, a goddess that even Zeus is afraid of; you must be protected, so we will spare no expense to make sure that you are." I say, and her face lights up.

"Thank you so much, Your Majesty. I've always wanted to go to Olympus Academy, so I gladly go, Your Majesty," she says with a big smile.

After that, I dismissed her. Not long after that, Venus comes in and tells me that Soren recruited the lycans, which are like werewolves but much stronger, and that he also recruited werewolves and dwarves.

"Ok, go inform the generals also. I want you to go to the daughter of Hephaestus that we have in the royal forge and have her start working on gear for the vampires, because a werewolf bite is deadly to vampires. Inform the Transylvania Royal families of this as well," I tell her, and she nods as she heads out to do what I said, and I go over to a map and add werewolves, lycans, and dwarfs figurines to Soren's growing army.

After that, I leave my room and go to the barracks to make sure that the province and vassal state armies are settling in alright, and when I see that they are, I return inside and go to my study to work on some paperwork.

Suddenly, a note lands on my desk. I don't know where it came from, but I picked it up and read it.

To Atia

Congratulations on your pregnancy, just know that I'm coming for your husband and children. I am the son of Zeus. I deserve the throne. If you get in my way, I will kill you as well. Good luck, you're going to need it for what's to come. Consider this my official declaration of war.

                                                      From Soren

When I read the letter, I get angry. How dare he threaten my unborn children? "Venus," I call, and she enters the room moments later, bowing.

"Take this to my husband, I need it delivered ASAP, don't read it and don't let anyone else read it except my husband," I say as I fold up the letter and hand it to her.

"Yes, Your Majesty," she says with a bow as she takes the letter, leaving the room.

I lean back in my chair and put my hand on my still flat stomach. "Don't worry, Mommy will protect you. I won't let anything happen to you," I say quietly while looking out the window.