Chapter 492 - Nic and The Twins' Scheme

At Medici Castle, after the guests left in their vehicles, Caspar and Finland came to Lauriel to say goodbye.

"It's been a very nice party. The star of the party also thankfully came," Caspar commented with a laugh. "Uh, I don't see Ned or Portia. They couldn't come?"

Lauriel was stunned. He turned towards Aleksis. "Uhm ... I forgot to tell you to invite Ned and Portia. Portia is Luna's cousin. I'm sure they would have been happy to meet Nicolae. Oh my God..."

"You didn't invite them ??" Caspar shook his head, "I know for sure Portia would be very offended."

"Ugh ... I told you I'm not good at throwing parties," Lauriel reasoned. "I will invite them to the next event."

"Which next event will that be? Your son won't be having his 100th birthday every year," chided Caspar.

"Hmm ... who knows? Maybe at the wedding?" Lauriel answered, throwing Aleksis a meaningful look.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" exclaimed Aleksis, astonished.

"No ... no meaning at all. Don't mind me," Lauriel chuckled. He took a glass of wine from the waiter who passed by and finished it in one gulp.

His eyes discreetly fell on Nicolae's figure who was sitting and chatting with the twins. He saw that they seemed to be getting just fine, even laughing very happily.

He had kept the desire from six years ago when he first found out Nicolae was his son. But he really wanted to see Nic married Aleksis. Unfortunately Aleksis had fallen in love with someone else and even got married. Feeling heartbroken, Nic went away for years to heal himself.

Lauriel believed there would come a time when Aleksis' heart would heal. By then, she would open herself up to new people. When that time comes, who else would be a better choice than Nicolae? He loved Aleksis, he also loved her children.

And her children loved Nicolae too. It was visible from the instant closeness that they had when they met today.

Lauriel would be patient, but once that day arrives, he wanted to see Aleksis and Nicolae end up together.

Aleksis realized what her godfather was thinking and instantly felt sad. What Lauriel was hoping was something she could not give. Until the day she died, she would not forget Alaric.

Seeing how her two children were clinging to Nicolae, she felt guilty. She knew it was time to talk to Altair and Vega about their father.

"Uhm ... I want to go home with my father and mother," Aleksis said, saying goodbye to Lauriel. Her clothes still felt sticky on her skin due to the wine the stupid guest intentionally spilled on her. She couldn't wait to take a shower and change her clothes.

"Don't you want to stay overnight? The children seem tired," Lauriel commented. He pointed at Vega who was lying on Nicolae's lap and Altair leaning his head against the man's shoulder.

"Eh ...?" Aleksis was shocked. She narrowed her eyes, trying to get a better look, and found that her two children were already sleeping.

She was very surprised ... 10 minutes ago, the two kids were still joking around with Nicolae. How come they could sleep so fast?

She hurried over to them and apologized to Nicolae as her children had been quite a bother to the man.

"Ouch ... sorry, my children have given you a hard time," Aleksis murmured apologetically.

"Sssshh ... lower your voice," Nicolae said. He gestured to Aleksis not to make a sound. Using his lips, he signaled Aleksis to carry Altair who was leaning on his shoulder as he would be carrying Vega who was asleep on his lap.

Since there was no other choice, Aleksis slowly raised Altair from the man and carried him. She walked alongside Nicolae into the castle. From a distance, the two look like a couple carrying their two sleeping children.

"Where is your bedroom?" Nicolae asked when they got inside.

"Eh ..." Aleksis shook her head. "I've never lived here. Uncle Rory doesn't like this castle and rarely come here. I usually stay with him in his conservation in Kenya or other places, for example, his house in San Francisco and the farm in Colorado. He just came here this week because of you."

"Oh, is that so?" Nicolae had no idea that Lauriel was not frequently staying in Medici Castle. All this time, during his adventures, he thought Lauriel was living here and often invited Aleksis and her children to stay over. "Sorry, I did not know."

"It's okay. I understand. Since my children are already asleep, I shouldn't wake them up." Aleksis commented. "We can sleep in the guest room."

"Yes, of course, there are plenty of guest rooms here," Nicolae called Luca and asked him to lead them to the best guest rooms.

His family staff immediately guided them to the largest one overlooking the rose garden. There was a large and beautiful four-poster bed in the room and Nicolae immediately put Vega down there. Aleksis also laid Altair there and then thanked Nicolae.

"It's my pleasure, they are very lovely children," commented Nicolae. He then noticed that Aleksis' clothes were stained with wine and frowned. "What happened to your shirt?"

"Ugh ... there was a careless guest who spilled her wine on my dress. I actually didn't bring a change of clothes. Maybe I should borrow a staff's clothes here first ..." complained Aleksis.

"You can take a shower and sleep in robe. I think there are some in the cupboard. Let the maid wash your clothes so you can wear it again tomorrow. Later in the afternoon, we can shop for new outfits," Nicolae suggested. "How about that? You can't possibly sleep in those, right?"

"Hmm ... you're right. I will do as you advised." Aleksis nodded.

"You can take a shower now and give your clothes to the maids. I will accompany the children until you return. If they woke up in a strange place and you are not there with them, I'm sure they will be worried."

"Eh ...?" Aleksis stopped in her tracks when she heard what Nicolae spoke so casually. She then nodded and hurried to the closet to find a kimono which she then brought into the bathroom. Before crossing the doorway to the bathroom, she told the other, "... thank you and sorry, I keep bothering you."

"I'm glad to be bothered by you," Nicolae replied with a thin smile.

When Aleksis disappeared into the bathroom, Nicolae approached the two children who were lying in bed and whispered to them, "Pssshh ... Mummy has agreed for you two to stay overnight here. You can stop pretending to be asleep."

Altair's eyes opened, followed by Vega, and they both got up, giggling.

"Ahhh ... I really like staying here," Altair softly whispered. "Tomorrow, let's go to the Butterfly Hill, Uncle Nic. You promised."

"Yes, of course," Nicolae responded, lifting his left pinky finger that Altair enthusiastically welcomed.

"And we will learn to make pizza," Vega added. "I love eating pizza."

"Yep, tomorrow we will be very busy. We also have to accompany Mummy in shopping for your clothes. If you want to stay here for a week, of course, we have to buy lots of clothes."

"Awesome!!"

Nicolae looked at the two children lovingly. After six years of trying to forget about Aleksis, he returned home only to realize that his feelings did not change at all.

Earlier, when he embraced Altair and Vega for the first time, all his denial and defenses collapsed without a trace. He finally decided to stop avoiding his feelings. He would start fighting for Aleksis. Especially now that Alaric Rhionen was gone.

One day, Aleksis' heart would be healed and she would be ready for a new love. When that time comes, he wanted to be there for the girl.

He decided to be here starting today and he would never leave again.

He hugged Altair and Vega and kissed their hair. He would be very lucky to be a father to these two children. Even though they were the children of another man, he did not hate them. The only feeling that he had in his chest for these two children was bottomless affection.

One day, once Aleksis was able to love him, even if she did not want to have children with him, Nicolae would not mind it one bit. Altair and Vega would be enough for him.