Claimed By The Tyrant King

The sound of a baby wailing filled the royal chamber as Rosalind carefully tried to dress little Leander. A few maids stood nearby, ready to help if she needed them, although she insisted on doing as much as she could herself.

Gently, she slipped the tiny shorts onto him before pulling his little shirt over his head, all while trying to soothe him with quiet murmurs. The moment she lifted him into her arms, his crying gradually faded until it stopped altogether, leaving only the occasional sniffle as he nestled comfortably against her.

Rosalind let out a long sigh of relief.

Goodness... no one had ever warned her that babies could cry this much.

There were moments when she truly wondered if she was going to lose her mind, and she honestly didn’t know how mothers managed without help.

Thankfully, she wasn’t alone. The maids were always nearby whenever she needed them, yet even with their assistance, looking after two babies at the same time was enough to leave her completely exhausted.

Several weeks had already passed since Leander and Estelle had been born, and today the royal painter was due to arrive to paint the official family portrait.

Before long, the chamber door opened, and Rowan walked inside carrying little Estelle in his arms.

The maids immediately lowered their heads in greeting.

"You may leave us," Rowan said gently.

They bowed once more before quietly making their way out, leaving the little family alone.

Rosalind looked from Leander to the baby in Rowan’s arms before noticing Estelle’s unhappy little face.

"Why is she crying too?" she asked with an exhausted expression.

Rowan walked over to her. "I think she’s hungry... or perhaps she simply wants you."

He carefully placed Estelle into Rosalind’s arms, and almost instinctively Rosalind loosened her dress so she could nurse her. The little girl latched on immediately, and within seconds the crying stopped completely.

Rowan smiled faintly. "I suppose I was right."

Meanwhile, he gathered Leander into his own arms. His fingers gently brushed against the baby’s soft cheek, and Leander immediately leaned into the touch before giving a tiny coo instead of another cry.

"He only just stopped crying too," Rosalind said as she watched the two of them.

A quiet warmth settled over Rowan’s face.

"Do you think they do this on purpose?" she asked after a moment.

He turned toward her, amusement flickering in his eyes. "What exactly?"

"They always cry together. I know they’re twins, but do they really have to choose the exact same moment every single time?"

Rosalind sighed dramatically, and although there was humor in her voice, the weariness beneath it was impossible to miss.

Rowan couldn’t help smiling. He lowered his gaze to the little boy in his arms and gently stroked his cheek again. "Leander... you’ve got to stop crying and stressing my wife."

Instead of crying again, the little prince simply smiled up at him before letting out another happy little coo.

Rowan chuckled quietly.

Then he turned toward Estelle, who remained peacefully occupied with her feeding, her tiny eyes closed as though nothing else in the world mattered.

"And you too, Estelle."

The little girl paid him no attention whatsoever.

"There," Rowan declared with complete confidence as he looked back at Rosalind. "They won’t cry anymore."

Rosalind smiled despite how tired she felt.

Some days she honestly wondered whether she would grow old much sooner than expected because of these two tiny troublemakers, yet somehow Rowan always managed to make her laugh, even when she felt completely drained.

Seeing the exhaustion lingering on her face, his expression softened.

"Rosalind," he said gently, "you’re allowed to be tired, and you’re allowed to take all the time you need to rest. You don’t have to carry everything by yourself because I’m here with you. Our family is here too, and everyone loves these children just as much as we do. You’re not alone in this, and everything will be alright."

As he spoke, he reached out and carefully tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear before letting his fingers linger against her cheek for a brief moment.

Rosalind hadn’t realized how badly she needed to hear those words until that very instant.

The weight she had been quietly carrying over the past months eased ever so slightly,

"Thank you, husband" she whispered softly.

Once Estelle had finished feeding, Rosalind gently lifted her away and settled her beside Rowan on the bed. The little princess stretched her tiny fingers into the air before letting out a content little coo, while Leander answered with one of his own as though the two of them were already having a conversation only they could understand.

Rosalind watched them for a while,"When is the painter going to arrive? I’m not even ready yet," She said with a hint of urgency in her voice.

"Take all the time you need, Rosalind," Rowan replied calmly as he turned his attention to the twins, determined to keep them occupied so they wouldn’t start crying again.

He gently held their tiny hands, wiggling them playfully, and both Leander and Estelle responded with cheerful giggles that instantly filled the room. Watching them settle so easily in his care, Rosalind let out a quiet sigh of relief before taking the opportunity to get herself ready.

The maids soon helped her prepare. They carefully arranged her dark hair until it fell in soft waves over her shoulders, cascading gracefully down her back. Once they were satisfied, they dressed her in a magnificent emerald-green gown that had been specially prepared for the occasion. Her makeup was applied delicately, enhancing her natural beauty without overshadowing it, and by the time they had finished, it was almost impossible to believe she was the same woman who had looked utterly exhausted only a short while earlier. She looked every bit the elegant Queen she had always been.

It wasn’t as though Rosalind couldn’t leave the babies entirely in the hands of the maids or the wet nurses. She knew there were plenty of people willing to care for them, yet she wanted to be the one who dressed them, soothed them, and held them whenever she could. She had longed for these children with all her heart, and although motherhood was far more exhausting than she had ever imagined, every moment with them was worth it.

Not long afterward, the royal family took their places before the painter.

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