Milton immediately dismounted and greeted his wives.

“I’m back. And as you can see, I’m perfectly fine.”

He first hugged and kissed Queen Leila, then Sophia, and finally, Violet. Then, he lifted Elizabeth, who had been fidgeting with shyness, high up into the air.

“It’s been a while, Elizabeth. Did you forget your dad’s face?”

She was a bit heavier than before; he realized that she had grown a lot in his absence. But more than that…

“Wel...come back, Father.”

What surprised Milton the most was that Elizabeth was speaking clearly now.

“Bess. You’re… talking now.”

“Are you surprised?”

“Ha… hahaha…”

While Milton was fighting on the battlefields, Elizabeth had begun to talk. Before he had left, she was only babbling, now that she was speaking properly, Milton was both surprised and happy. But the surprises didn’t stop there.

***

“You must be tired, but there’s something I want to show you.”

The first thing Sophia showed Milton after they entered the castle was a baby being cared for by the maids. 

When he thought about how close Sophia had been to her due date before he left… It was clear whose child this was.

“Is this child my son?”

“Yes. He’s the next in line to become...