Chapter 378 - Epilogue 1 (1) (unedited)

It has been three and a half years since the battle on the eastern sea was over. Atlantia has risen from the depths of the sea and we started to bring Atlantians back there little by little. The whole continent has been united and a whole empire was born.

Like promised, the kingdom of Jennovia is governed by the Grand Duchess Satiana while the kingdom of Alvannia is governed by Grand Duke Richard. Regaleon and I was named emperor and empress of this united continent.

The newly risen Atlantia was decided to be divided in half because of the big land mass. It was decided that Gladiolus will be the monarch to govern the northern part while the south will be governed by Dimitri. Both of them were given a grand duke title. Because Atlantia was submerge in sea water for more than two decades, the land had become barren and was not ready for cultivation. In this past three years, many researchers together with George made efforts to make the soil rich once more to grow crops and other vegetation that is needed for Atlantians to survive. Slowly but surely, parts of Atlantia can now be habitable.

I was now living in Grandcrest, at one of the summer vacation villas owned by the imperial family. I am here now because I am in my last month of pregnancy to our third child. This was my second pregnancy, but it felt like my first because I had a magic pregnancy with the twins.

I suffered from intense morning sickness and was not able to keep down food in my first trimester. At my later months, I was getting cranky more than usual and was often stressed within the palace in the capital. The doctor advised that I get a break from the stress of the capital and take a vacation in my last trimester. He said it will be good to also give birth while there.

"Your majesty, is it not cold outside." Tricia who came with me to the summer villa asked.

I was currently out in the gardens under the shade of a big tree. Tricia laid out a cloth on the grass and I was having a nice time enjoying the breeze outside while eating snacks.

"I am fine Tricia." I replied. "It is not that cold. The breeze feels perfect." I smiled.

"But just in case, use this your majesty." Tricia covered my exposed legs with a blanket.

"Thank you very much." I replied.

Regaleon comes here in the summer villa every three days and goes back to the capital after spending three days with me and the twins. Of course, he still works when he is here but he makes sure to do urgent work while in the capital so he can spend quality time with us.

The empire is just newly established, and work piled up every day in his office as if it is not diminishing even after working until the day ends every single day. At the first years I have assisted Regaleon with his work and we shared the burden. But when I got pregnant with our third child, I was not able to help him. Thankfully, Chris who was given a title Marquis was promoted as his personal assistant. He displayed exceptional skills in managing and politics that helped Regaleon a lot. Dimitri also helped at first but when South Atlantia started to take in people, he was also busy.

"Where are the twins?" I asked Tricia.

"They are currently playing with Philip not far from here." Tricia replied.

Philip was Alex's brother. When Alex died, Regaleon promised to take care of his brother that was left orphaned. Regaleon took him under his wing and gave him the needed education that he deserved. Philip was a good and smart boy and my twins loved him as a big brother. I as well treated him as part of our family.

"Prince Alphonse… Princess Aerith… wait…" I heard Philip yelling.

I saw the twins and Philip running in the garden. The twins were giggling while Philip was panting hard trying to keep up with the twin's stamina. I also giggled seeing this scene.

"Now, now… Al and Rith." I called out to my twins. "Don't tease Philip too much."

"Hahaha… bwodew Philip is swow… (brother Philip is slow…)" Alphonse said.

"Downt wowy bwodew Phil… I will let yow catch me. (Don't worry brother Philip… I will let you catch me.)" Aerith said.

The twins were still having their tongue tied with baby talk and hearing them was music to my ears. Aerith used wind magic to lift herself up and flew towards Philip. Philip on the other hand was shocked with Aerith's sudden movement but was able to catch the little one with his arms. He wrapped little Aerith in his arms protectively.

"Haha, gotcha…" Philp said with a smile.

"Hehehe." Aerith giggled melodiously. "I wowve you bwodew Philip. (I love you brother Philip.)" She hugged him back.

"I love you too." Philip pinched Aerith's chubby cheek.

"Hey… no fwew. (Hey… no fair.)" Alphonse was hugging Philip's waist. "Downt be sewfish. I want to pway wid bwodew Philip too. (Don't be selfish. I want to play with brother Philip too.)" He said while pouting his lips.

"Of course, I am going to play with the both of you." Philip replied with a smile.

"Philip!" I called out. "Come here and take the twins with you to eat some snacks."

Philip quickly carried Alphonse as well and headed towards me. Once they arrived, he carefully put the twins down near me.

"You are really strong Philip." I complimented. "You can still carry the both of them even though they got bigger."

Philip is now twelve years old. He entered the knight's training just months ago and I can see the improvement in his body muscles just after only training a few months.

"Thank you for the compliment your majesty." Philip scratched his head in embarrassment. "But I am still far away from Sir Dimitri and Sir Chris. I want to get even stronger to be able to serve the highnesses in the future."

"I know." I replied with a smile. "But do not over do it okay?" I reminded him.

"Of course, your majesty." Philip replied. "It is the least I can do after you and his majesty had taken me in after my brother's death. I promise to be a worthy knight and serve his and her highnesses."

"You know that we took you in not because we want you to serve us." I said with honestly. "I have already considered you as family and I only ask for you to do the same with us, especially the twins and this one inside." I stroke my bulging belly lovingly.

"I am extremely grateful to you and his majesty." Philip replied. "I have already considered the prince and princess as my own siblings, and I will always respect you and King Regaleon. I will forever be grateful to you and his majesty."

I felt touched with Philip's words. I already felt thankful that Philip will be there for the twins and my little one inside.

"Come and sit down as well." I patted the space beside me and the twins. "And do not think to refuse. You are already a part of our family." I reprimanded.

"T-Thanks your majesty." Philip scratched his head awkwardly and sat down next to the twins. He was still shy around me and Regaleon and that made me giggle.

"Tuway dis bwodew Philip. (Try this brother Philip.)" Aerith was holding a cookie and was trying to feed Philip. "Sway ahh… (Say ahh...)" She tried to reach Philip's mouth to feed him.

Philip bent down so that Aerith can reach his mouth. He opened his mouth and Aerith put the cookie in.

"Yummy, wayt? (Yummy, right?" Aerith waited for Philip to reply.

"Hmm, yes princess." Philip replied with a smile.

"Yey…" Aerith gave a sweet smile to Philip.

Alphonse on the other hand was stuffing his mouth with brownies.

"Take it easy Al." I said while looking at his cute chubby cheeks that was filled with brownies. "Take a bite one at a time."

I wiped the crumbs from his lips with my handkerchief. I gave him some iced tea to down the brownies in his mouth.

"Its twasty. (Its tasty.)" Alphonse replied.

"Of course, it is because Tricia made it for you." I smiled.

"Twank yow, Twisia. (Thank you, Tricia.)" Alphonse said to Tricia.

"You are most welcome, your highness." Tricia replied with a sweet smile.

I was happy to see my family all having a good time. The only one missing here is Regaleon. I missed him instantly after thinking about him. I sighed knowing that I still need to wait for tomorrow to see him.

Once the twins and Philip are finished with their snacks, they stood up and readied themselves to go back to the villa. The sun was starting to set in the west and the temperature is starting to get cold.

Tricia helped me to get up from the ground when I felt something gush out from below me.

"W-What the…?" I was surprised to see the lower part of my dress and the cloth that we were sitting on the ground all wet.

"Y-Your majesty?!" Tricia was alarmed at once. "Philip quick, call for the midwife! And tell Captain William to send a message to his majesty in the capital at once!"

"Y-Yes…" Philip stood in attention and carried both Alphonse and Aerith in his arms and ran towards the villa.

"Wat is wong with mommy? (What is wrong with mommy?)" Alphonse asked.

"Her majesty is about to give birth to your sibling." Philip explained.

When Philip and the twins vanished inside the villa, I then felt a bout of pain in my lower part.

"T-Tricia…" I held her arm a little hard. "Am I…" I was no able to finish my question because of the pain I was feeling.

"Your majesty, your water just broke." Tricia said. "You are about to give birth."

I knew what this pain meant. I have felt it when the twins were born.

"L-Leon…" I called out to him after the contraction ended.

"Do not worry your majesty, I have already instructed Philip to tell Sir William to send a message." Tricia helped me walk towards the villa. "I am sure he will be here in no time."

I saw William who also came with me to the villa come out in an instant. He carried me effortlessly in his arms and moved me inside.

"I have already sent a message to his majesty." William said while carrying me to my bed. He laid me down carefully. "Just wait a little while and he will be here." He knew what was running inside my head in an instant.

It saddens me that William refused to go back to his land in Alvannia and get the title of duke that he deserves. He decided that he wanted to stay by my side as my personal knight until the very end. Because Regaleon saw his contribution in the last war, he had given him the title of leader of the Imperial Knights and remained as my personal knight as well. He still remained single to this day.

Tricia who had confessed her feelings not long after the war ended. But she was respectfully rejected by William. I was saddened that Tricia's once sided feelings were not reciprocated, but she found love after. Theon, who Regaleon gave me as a butler and now was the imperial butler in the palace wooed Tricia until she accepted him just last year. They were scheduled to be married after I have given birth as Tricia would want to be by my side to assist me.

I was lying in bed feeling the contractions. With every passing moment, I longed for Regaleon to come and be by my side.