Two Years Later
"She already has four hair bands," Zaid said one afternoon, arms crossed, watching his mother fasten a gold plait into his daughter's hair.
"Ah, what's one more?" Empress Mina replied, not looking up.
Zaid rolled his eyes.
"Zaid," his father cut in, feigning offense, "you would deny your own daughter?"
Sofia and Zaid's had named their daughter Aria. Despite both parents being omegas, Aria presented early signs of being an alpha, a trait that traced back through both sets of grandparents.
Zaid sighed, watching Aria beam up at her grandparents. He had long since resigned himself to being the only one in the family capable of telling her no, and even then, only sometimes.
The Emperor, the Empress, and Zaid were all overjoyed when the doctors confirmed Sofia was pregnant again.
King and Queen Asterion made the journey to the imperial capital, staying a month before she was due and a month after the birth.
