Chapter 168

FELIX

When I was growing up, I never imagined that I would enjoy being King.

The whole thing looked dreadfully boring to a young boy. Although I knew I was the heir to the throne and would someday take over for my father, I always had far more interest in hanging out with Ignatius and running around the castle grounds.

My curse had made it harder for me to grow up. I had been so focused on living in the moment that I never really considered myself to be a viable candidate to rule.

There had been so much in the last few months that had forced me to grow up.

In those months of Mila’s pregnancy, the early times of our new magical alliance, I found that I loved being King of Fresonia. I had no desire for power, but I loved being able to help people. I loved having influence for change. It felt like I could finally be useful.

My parents were thrilled to hear about the child. They wanted us to put the nursery right by their chambers, so that they could always be close to the baby, but Mila and I refused. The baby would stay in our room for its first few weeks and then finally move to a small room just off ours.

Another thing I had learned from my relationship with Mila was the idea of being my own man. I had always been content to go along with whatever my parents wanted, but that had led them to believe that they could control every aspect of my life and I would be fine with that.

This baby was mine and Mila’s, our chance to firmly cement our legacy. Our chance to start over and make a truly functioning family.

Our family.

Our marriage was in a much better spot as well. Although Mila and I still disagreed on some things from time to time, ranging from how we should decorate the nursery to how we should handle telling Charles and Isabella about the pregnancy, we still always came to a conclusion together as a team.

That was the other thing. When I was young, I had always been under the impression that being King was an incredibly lonely position. Little did I know that I would have a partner of my own to ease that burden and to help me in my royal duties.

The people of Fresonia loved Mila, even more now that they knew she was a true-born Fresonian and the protector of magic for the realm. They adored her, and going out in public with her always served as a reminder of her popularity. I would have been jealous if I did not also think my wife was the best person in the world.

Mila and I renewed our vows on the beach in Carnea, the setting sun reflecting off the sea. We decided that once a year, for the rest of our lives, we would return to this spot and swear our love and commitment to each other once again.

It was good for the magic for us to constantly remind each other of our love for each other, but it was even more important for our relationship. We had been through so much in such a short time, and I was determined to never let anything come between us again.

And now our family was expanding.

I frequently traveled to the other magical kingdoms, wanting to continue to build my relationships with the Kings and Queens across the realm. I wanted to show my support for this new world we were all creating together, as well as be a shoulder to lean on as we all adjusted to our roles as monarchs.

Per Mila’s suggestion, we had monthly dinners with just the Kings and Queens. No politics or magic talk allowed, just people gathering together for a nice meal and an even nicer conversation. Mila and Aurelia were really hitting it off, and we would be attending the young queen’s wedding to a South Smyth Island duke the month after the baby was born.

After months of back and forth, Joseph finally got up the courage to ask Isla on a date. Mila and I were thrilled at the idea of playing matchmaker, and were eager to see our friends in a happy, healthy relationship with each other.

Things were certainly looking up for Fresonia.

One night, Mila and I traveled up into the Dragon’s Teeth Mountains for a routine check-in with the magic. She loved visiting the library, and I loved the views from this height.

“It all looks so small up here,” I remarked, gazing out on the kingdoms as Mila pressed her hand into the ground, testing the magical health.

“So small,” she agreed, “and yet it means everything.”

She rose to her feet, her baby bump starting to protrude against her sweater. She was glowing, despite the dull cold in the air.

“Do you want to hear something funny?” Mila asked. “Today is my one-year anniversary of moving to Fresonia.”

My jaw dropped. Had it really only been one year? And how had it been a full year already?

“Which means,” Mila continued, a twinkle in her eye, “that today is the one-year anniversary of us meeting and you buying me a drink.”

I tugged her close. “As I recall, that’s not the only thing we did that night.”

Mila blushed. “Don’t be naughty.”

I rested a hand against her belly. “You’re carrying my child, Mila. there’s no need to be modest about that particular aspect of our relationship.”

Mila threw her head back and laughed. It was the best sound I had ever heard.

“So much has changed in a year,” I murmured.

Mila smiled at me. “I think I knew, for what it’s worth. When we met in that bar, I think I somehow knew that I was meant to find you, that I had spent my whole life looking for you and had no idea that I was even doing it.”

“We looked for each other for a thousand years,” I said softly. “And now we finally found each other.”

Mila placed her hand on top of mine. For a moment, we stood there in silence, feeling the baby kick beneath our palms.

“I will love you in every lifetime,” Mila said quietly. “I don’t know what awaits us after death this time, but whatever is out there, we will face it together. We finally found each other.”

I raised my head upwards to look at the stars. “Do you think Sofia and Samuel found each other in the end, too?”

Mila pressed a hand against my heart. “I think so. I’d like to think that they found peace eventually, not just through us, but for themselves, too.”

“I have them to thank for finding you,” I told her. “And I will love you in every lifetime, too.”

Standing here with my wife, looking over my kingdom, our child growing in her womb, was worth it. All of those past lives, the wars, the magic, the struggles and sickness, the races against time.

It had all been worth it for me to find Mila.