Lekhma returned to his chamber after spending time with his wife and requested Rohan's presence.
Rohan reported almost immediately and took a deep bow before straightening up. "Supreme Alpha, you called for me."
"Mhmm..." Lekhma slightly nodded and turned around to stare at Rohan. "The ceremony will be held in the next five days. I put it into your hands to prepare, as you're my most trusted man, so get everyone to work. " He averted his gaze from Rohan and picked up a book from his table to read.
"Yes, Supreme Alpha." Rohan turned around and exited the room.
A deep breath left Lakhma's nose as he stared blankly. This decision was not easy for him to make as he knew how much his wife would be hurt. But what can he do? He slightly shook his head and returned his attention to the book in his hand.
_______
Natasha sat inside a wooden bathtub as her head maid bathed her. She closed her eyes and took low, soft breaths.
"What did you find out?" She lazily questioned her head maid with her eyes still shut.
"Luna, Supreme Alpha, has decided to hold a ceremony for the welcoming of the princes."
"The princes, or do you mean the prince?" Natasha chuckled mockingly and opened her eyes to glance at the head maid.
"My apologies, Luna. I meant the prince." The head maid hurriedly apologized with an awkward expression on her face.
Natasha casually waved her hand at her and rolled her eyes. She stood up from the bathtub and requested "the head maid" to dress her up.
"We shall see how the ceremony goes. So many emotions shall be shown that day." She chuckled crazily and walked to take her seat at the table in front of a long mirror in her chamber.
________
Mirabel, who had heard of the news, stood motionless, staring at his sons, who were lying on the bed with their eyes wide open. Little Ileus was busy with a baby chew toy in his mouth, whilst Adrik lay staring at her. It was as though he could feel the danger ahead.
Mirabel wiped off the tears in her eyes and paced back and forth in the chamber for a while before stopping.
She glanced at her sons and gently carried them up from the bed. She left the chamber and made her way to the head maid's quarters.
There she found Mother Mary, and she welcomed her into her chamber. "Mirabel, what are you doing here?"
"Mother Mary, please, you have to help me. I don't want to lose my babies." She pleaded as tears began to stream down her eyes and kissed the twins on their foreheads. "If I lose any of them, I doubt I will be able to live through the next day."
"Calm down, child. Here, have some water. " Mother Mary handed her a cup of water, and Mirabel gulped it down and laid the babies on the bed, then sat down on a chair that was next to her. She died off the tears and raised her eyes to gaze at Mother Mary, who had a disturbed look on her face.
"Mirabel, this is too risky." Mother Mary shook her head after contemplating something for a while.
"What do you mean? What are you talking about?" Mirabel abruptly stood up from the chair and stared at Mother Mary with a questioning look on her face. "You did have a vision, didn't you?"
"Mirabel-"
"I knew it." Mirabel's eyes began to tear up, and she suddenly felt light-headed. "I don't understand why you are hiding something from me! My sons' lives are in danger and I need your help. "
She turned to mother Mary and cupped her hands together. "Please, just tell me the vision and help me save my sons. I beg of you." Mirabel moved towards her and grabbed both her hands with tears streaming down her face.
Mother Mary glanced at the twins lying on the bed in her chamber, then at Mirabel, and a long, deep breath exited her nose. "Okay, there is a chance that both your sons will be saved, but will you be able to handle the consequences and the later aftereffects?"
"Consequences? Later, after effect? What do you mean?" Mirabel gazed intently at her with confusion written all over her face.
"I do not know what the later after-effects will be, but the consequences..." Mother Mary halted her sentence and gazed at Mirabel with pity in her eyes.
"What are the consequences?" Mirabel mustered the courage and asked. No matter what the consequences are, she will do anything for her sons.
"The princes will be alive if we go according to my second vision, but..."
"But..." Mirabel cupped her hands together as she stared at Mother Mary with anticipation in her eyes.
"You will die." Mother Mary finally blurted out after a short pause.
The moment Mirabel heard her sentence, her cupped hands fell to her side, and she chuckled in disbelief.
"You're not serious, right?"
"I am sorry, Mirabel, but for your sons to be alive, your life will be sacrificed." Mother Mary cupped her cheeks and placed a kiss on her forehead. "The decision is left to you. Think wisely, don't leave your mind clouded."
Mother Mary walked out of the chamber after patting her on the head.
Mirabel's eyes fluttered in pain, and she slumped down on the chair. All her life, she has always been unfortunate. Her parents died when she was fifteen. She worked like a slave until Lakhma found her. She had thought that her unfortunate life had ended that day, but... It seemed she was wrong.
Maybe the moon goddess finally wants her to leave the earth since she has always been unfortunate since childhood.
If she sacrifices her life, her sons will grow up without a mother. But... If she doesn't sacrifice herself for them, they will die, and as she said before, she will not be able to live, so it's the same. She will still die in both cases, so the right choice is already clear to her.
If her babies end up living, it will be the greatest thing she has ever done, and she will be very happy.
She smiled pessimistically at herself and turned to glance at her babies lying down on the bed.
She stood up from the chair and walked to the bed. She sat down beside them and caressed both of them. "My babies."
Teardrops fell from her eyes onto the little Adrik's face and she scooped him into her arms and caressed his little plump cheek.
She isn't oblivious to the fact that Lekhma doesn't have that much fondness for little Adrik, and if she ever agrees to have one of them killed, he will definitely suggest little Adrik.
That is why she has decided to sacrifice herself so that both her sons will live. They are the miracles brought into her life, and she will never watch them die. She would rather give everything up than that.
A deep sigh left Mirabel's lips, and she began to rock little Adrik from side to side, humming a melody to try and get him to sleep.
Since she's going to die soon, it will be great to spend as much time as she can with her babies. Even though they won't remember or know her when they grow up, at least the little feeling of knowing your mother was once there for you will be apparent in them.
She leaned closer and kissed little Adrik on the forehead before carefully laying him down on the bed. She also placed a soft kiss on little Ileus's forehead and climbed onto the bed to lie down next to them.
Standing at the door of the chamber, Mother Mary gazed at the young woman lying beside her babies. A pessimistic sigh left her mouth, and she shook her head.
'I will find a way, Mirabel, you don't deserve any of this.' She nodded as she thought and walked into the chamber. She strolled towards them and leaned down, only to see little Adrik wide awake with his little eyes staring intently at her.
"Little Alpha." Mother Mary chuckled softly and lifted him from the bed. She rocked him back and forth, and a smile formed on little Adrik's face as he reached out his tiny hands to touch her face.
"If only." Mother Mary sighed and placed a soft kiss on his forehead. "Life will not be easy for you in so many ways, but you will be safe my dear little one." She caressed his baby hair as she said. "That I promise, sweet child." She half-smiled at little Adrik and turned to look at Mirabel, who was lying tiredly on the bed.
'I will try my best to find a way to save both you and your children. I hope a way will be revealed to me.' She gazed up at the moon through the window, as she thought.
Deep breaths escaped her nose and she gently laid little Adrik, who was now sound asleep, on the bed.
Her hands balled into tight fists and she walked to the bookshelf in her library.. She traced her fingers across the book as she stepped forward and finally stopped when she found what she was looking for.