LILLIAN

The palace had finally come to life. Servants walked around with smiles on their faces, guards shared jokes while patrolling the hallways, and the kitchen smelled of all kinds of treats being prepared for the upcoming celebration. Sophie was in the final stages of her pregnancy, and Darian couldn't stay away from her. Though his overprotective behavior often drove her crazy, she loved it—she loved him.

That evening, they sat together in his chambers. He was massaging her feet while she lay on the bed, hands resting on her belly.

"You know, my dear wife," Darian said seductively, "I think we should spend the night as a married couple should."

Sophie raised an eyebrow, glancing at him from beneath her lashes. "Oh? And what exactly do you propose, my king?"

"I think you know," he smiled, gently pulling her hand and kissing her fingers.

Sophie laughed. "Well, if you insist…"

As always, Darian was gentle. He kissed her neck, her shoulders, and stroked her stomach with the utmost tenderness, as if holding the most precious gift in the world. She ran her hands through his hair, savoring their moment together.

And then—a pain.

"Ah!" Sophie cried out, clutching her stomach.

Darian froze, panic flashing in his eyes. "What did I do?! I haven't even touched you properly yet!"

Sophie blinked, feeling warmth beneath her. She looked down and felt her heart skip a beat. "I think my water just broke…"

Darian stared at her. "What?! Now?!"

"No, Darian, tomorrow morning. I'm just practicing now," she said sarcastically through the pain.

Darian jumped off the bed as though struck by lightning. "Servants! Doctors! Midwife! Somebody! Help! My wife is having a baby!"

Sophie rolled her eyes. "Could you stop screaming like you're the one giving birth?"

Darian didn't listen. He dashed out of the room like a madman, yelling in all directions. The servants panicked, and the older midwife they'd called earlier came calmly into the room.

"You, young man, could you please move aside?" she said sternly, but Darian didn't budge.

"No! I'm staying! This is my child too!"

"Then sit and be quiet!"

Sophie laughed despite the overwhelming pain.

The labor lasted for hours. Darian was by her head, holding her hand, but when the pain became too intense, Sophie squeezed his hand so hard that the king yelped.

"Woman, you're breaking my bones!" he whined.

"Just wait until this baby comes out, then I'll show you!" she yelled through the pain.

Darian paled when he saw the blood. "I… I think I…"

Before he could finish his sentence, one of the servants poured a bucket of cold water over him.

"Get a grip, Your Majesty! The baby is coming!"

And then—the cry of a baby.

Sophie lay there, breathless, exhausted, but smiling as they placed the child on her chest.

"A girl," the midwife said proudly.

Darian looked at his child, and then at Sophie. He couldn't find the words to describe the feeling that overwhelmed him. His heart had never been fuller.

After a few hours, Sophie fell asleep, and Darian sat beside her, holding their daughter in his arms.

"You're a miracle," he whispered to the baby. "We'll call you Lillian."

The baby breathed softly, peaceful in his arms.

He looked at Sophie and smiled.

"You know, in the end, you two saved me."

His gaze drifted to the window.

"My family. My world."

Dear readers,

Life is unpredictable. Sometimes, what we think is a mistake turns out to be destiny. Darian was meant for someone else, but he got Sophie. It turned out he hadn't lost anything—he'd found everything.

Love doesn't choose the path it will take to us. It might break us first, make us doubt, lead us astray… but in the end, true love always finds its way home.

And perhaps that's the lesson of this story: what we think we want and what we truly need are often two entirely different things. True happiness comes when we stop chasing illusions and embrace what's right in front of us—imperfect, honest, and real.

Thank you for living this story with me.

May your own fairy tale find its happy ending.