One particular morning within Avalon turned out to be... Quite shocking, to say the least. But in a good way, as when the, by now, daily papers were out, hawked on every corner, always appearing in the hands of early morning café patrons, and delivered in neat stacks to the doorsteps of the people who subscribed to it, the news had begun spreading like wildfire. It helped that anyone who just glanced at the first page could see the bold black lettering, announcing it to the world:

"PRINCE LANCELOT TO WED EX-KHULMANI PRINCESS JILA – EXCLUSIVE, UNCENSORED INTERVIEW WITH LADY YURI ON PAGE 4."

It was no wonder that the story spread faster than anything else on that day. By midday, every tavern, tailor, merchant, foreign visitor, guard, and everyone in Avalon was gossiping about it. By evening, even the soldiers returning from leave had stopped to read and discuss it, sending the papers to their comrades still on duty as if it were a secret weapon to defeat all monsters on the continent.

So, it was no wonder that the people in question were now in separate rooms, being interrogated by their siblings.

... .... ......

Lancelot hadn't asked for this fanfare. He'd barely had time to accept the idea himself that he had made Jila pregnant... Yes, he knew that a wedding was inevitable... But announcing it without warning him first? Why did he write that letter... expecting any other answer than this...?

"Typical Dad... Damn his Shock & Awe mania..." He grumbled, thinking about his face being plastered across every sheet of paper in the capital...

"You got what you deserve!" Arthur, sprawled comfortably across the sofa, answering Lancelot's mumbling with a laugh, "Well, little brother," he continued, waving a copy of the papers in his hand, "you've officially joined the ranks of adulthood. Just… boom. You have skipped the bachelor years, Lancy, and gone straight to being a father. Respect!"

"It's commandable!" Leyla perched beside him, legs crossed, taking the papers from her brother and reading the article aloud with a way too exaggerated seriousness. "A union between bloodlines, proof of stability after Khulman's inner turmoil, a testament to Avalonian strength…" She lowered the paper, smirking at him. "You're basically a walking alliance treaty now. Congratulations! Will your kid get a Khulman name or an Avalonian?"

"Shut up," Lancelot muttered from behind his hands, rubbing his face, "Both of ya!"

"Oh, that was some Mom Yuri coming out!" Arthur giggled, watching him, "Well, that part also came into Jila... Well, at least, you didn't just pump and dump~! Fufufufu!"

"Hmph! Virgins!" He snorted at them, making the twins shrug.

"Yeah, yeah, anything else?" They answered in perfect unison.

"Come on, Lancy," Morgan leaned forward with eyes that were laughing nonetheless, sitting next to her brother, "Aw, don't sulk! This is exciting!" She patted his back, "You're going to be married before any of us! And you'll have a baby before any of us, too! That's… actually insane, now that I say it out loud. Well, I mean, if I were pregnant, that would be a scandal, hm... hm..." She giggled, then added, "Guess you'll be changing diapers before you finish growing your beard."

"What beard?" That finally made him lift his head. "Just so you know, I am shaving everywhere," he protested weakly, touching his jaw.

"Everywhere?" Arthur grinned.

"Fuck off!" Lancelot grunted, throwing a pillow at him, but Arthur just caught it, putting it behind his head, leaning back on it. "So, how does it feel? Knowing you won't be free anymore?"

"Arthur," Leyla said with a bit of mock sympathy, "don't be mean. He's not going to prison. He's just... Getting married. That's not as bad."

"Who knows?" Morgan giggled, standing up and walking over, taking the papers from Leyla, "Listen to this line: 'The Sovereign's son has found his match in valor, his heart now pledged to a warrior who fought beside Avalon's armies and saved his life.' Oh, it's so romantic! Did you write that yourself, Lancy? Or did Father dictate it while you nodded like a robot?"

"I didn't even know he was doing this thing!" Lancelot groaned again, deflating, "I didn't write anything! I didn't even know until I saw the paper! Bet you that was Mom Luna's work..."

"I concur," Arthur raised an eyebrow. "It does read like one of her fictions, but this time, it is true and real."

Lancelot opened his mouth, then closed it again because the stuff in it was indeed the truth. He shifted uncomfortably, because of course he wouldn't object to the marriage... The moment Jila had come to him, telling him that she hadn't been getting that girly thing coming at every month... He had already decided he would marry her. The announcement simply came faster than he expected... and more publicly.

"You're all insufferable," Galahad said finally, shrugging while he joined in the discussion. He had been the quietest, listening patiently, watching his siblings, and in his head, he couldn't help but think about Fila, who was now back in Ishillia... He was... Already missing her, yet they only parted a week ago. He didn't know until that day that he had gotten used to her presence so much. Throwing his own yearnings to the back of his mind, he leaned forward, meeting Lancelot's eyes. "Ignore them, Lancelot. It's a good thing that is happening, and Jila is a strong woman. You'll have someone who matches you, someone who'll stand at your side through everything, no matter what. Not everyone gets that... She won't abandon or betray you... We must celebrate that!"

"I know," Lancelot said quietly, smiling at his youngest sibling, but then Arthur's grin also returned, looking at Galahad.

"When is your wedding, little brother?"

"Oh yeah!" Leyla pounced immediately, "When? That was awfully sentimental, wasn't it? Almost like someone daydreaming about his own wedding... I noticed you were zoning out more... Is it because of Fila going home for a little while?"

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"Don't tease him!" Morgan clasped her hands, "He can't help being in pain after being separated from his future wife!"

"I'm not going to argue with you," Galahad answered in a flat tone, just looking at the trio, standing with Lancelot.

"No need to~!" Arthur cut him off. "It all makes sense now. You are already imagining the next headlines," He waved his hand in the air, "Prince Galahad marries Ishillian Princess: Diplomatic Triumph and True Love between sweethearts!"

"Stop," Galahad said firmly, but it only encouraged them.

"Oooh, that's good!" Leyla leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "What kind of flowers should we prepare for your wedding, little brother? Ishillian lilies? Or would you prefer some strong, Avalonian roses?"

"Speaking of flowers, what kind of flowers grow in Khulman? Tulips?" Morgan asked, raising her hand. "I will have to ask Meyli... And what about the dress code? Should we make some tiaras? Galahad deserves a tiara."

"What?" He flinched, looking at Morgan, finally thrown off course by her words. "Why should I get a tiara?"

"Why not?" Morgan asked back, smiling innocently.

"Lancy needs one too," Arthur threw in the finishing blow. "Make it pink."

Somehow, all it achieved was that their talks now shifted to what they would wear on the occasion, and that Galahad would look good in skirts. As for why indeed...? Just to keep teasing each other. No other particular reason at all.

... .... ......

Not that far from the siblings' room, another group was having a very similar meeting. Inside, around a low, rounded table carved from dark wood, plush cushions were scattered about the floor, and a tray of steaming tea was still in the middle of it. Spread across the rest of the table, however, were multiple copies of the newspapers, neatly folded or open and wrinkled... No one spoke, mainly because for the sisters, the news was not exactly about the wedding, but about the fact that Jila was pregnant.

"…You're what?" Rashira finally broke the silence, her voice cutting across the room like a blade, glaring at the 'culprit,' who was simply pursing her lips in annoyance. "Jila… you're pregnant?"

"And?" She shot back, raising her chin, "I am!" she said proudly, thumping her chest once. "Told you I'd make it happen. Didn't I say so? And just so you know, I think I managed to get to the finish line on the first try! Top that, hah!"

"Um... Eldest Sister..." Sitting across from Rashira, Meyli squeaked and nearly spilled her tea, trying to placate her oldest sibling, her cheeks flushing with apparent delight, "That's… that's wonderful news, don't be angry!" she tried, her eyes shining happily, "It is a baby, after all! We're going to have a baby in the family!" She bounced a little on her cushion, unable to keep still, as she looked at Jila, being the most honest of the girls, and happy for her from the bottom of her heart.

"Look..." Rashira rubbed at her temple with two fingers, exhaling through her nose. "Meyli, this isn't why—"

"Jila!" But Meyli wasn't listening, already leaning forward to grab her sister's hand, squeezing it with all the strength she had, "You'll be such a good mother! You're strong and brave and... oh! What will the baby look like? Is it a boy? A girl? Ohhh, I can't wait!"

"It doesn't matter which, not in Avalon!" Jila grinned, squeezing back, basking in her youngest sister's excitement, happy that someone was finally on her side. "My kid's gonna be strong either way! Stronger than any of yours, just watch," she promised, provoking the others.

"Jila!" Rashira raised her voice so it carried the authority of the eldest sibling, being firm enough to silence even Jila for a heartbeat. "Don't you see farther than the newspapers? This will travel back to Khulman! The way it is now... Who knows what this will cause there!"

"Do I even care about that?" Jila asked without backing down, shrugging. "No, I don't care. I already said I'm Avalonian, not Khulmani. Fuck 'em. They can shout it from the rooftops for all I care. My baby will be Avalonian too."

"You are spending too much time with Lady Yuri..." Rashira pressed her lips thin, watching her, while Seltana, who had been observing it all quietly, one hand resting against her cheek, finally joined the conversation.

"It is indeed not our issue anymore, Rashira," she agreed, giving a slight nod. "It makes no sense to worry about their opinions," she doubled down, "Jila already made her choice long ago. This only… solidifies it." Then she glanced at her younger sister with a smile, "I don't see the problem. It's natural."

"See?!" Jila shot a finger at Rashira, feeling triumphant. "Even Seltana agrees! You can't argue with her, Rashira. She's the sensible one."

"You all..." Rashira groaned and began muttering something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like a prayer for patience.

"Hm, hm." At the same time, Tarsine, who had also been silent since the announcement, finally made a noise. She was quiet, but not because she was shocked, but because she had already seized a scrap of napkin from the tea tray and was sketching furiously on it. Her brows were furrowed in concentration, her lips moving as she muttered to herself. "No, no, it can't be plain... it needs bold lines, strong shoulders. Colors... colors... Hm... Crimson, perhaps, with silver trim. Lace? Hm. Not too much lace, that would be frivolous, and Jila isn't like that... But it needs something regal to show her rank... A gown that says 'warrior queen' even if she's not one…"

"I am one!" Jila protested, leaning over, trying to see, "Oooh, and make a cutout on it! I want to show off my tummy!"

"Don't," Seltana also leaned over with a faint smile. "Keep it acceptable and presentable."

"You don't even listen to me," Rashira murmured, giving up and also leaning over to see her sketch.

"It is a wedding dress, of course, I will keep it tasteful." Tarsine said without looking up from her sketch, "It has to be perfect. Regal, strong, unmistakably Avalonian but with Khulmani patterns in the cut. I won't make it a rude display, especially not before the whole city." She paused, tilting her head, watching Jila, examining her face. "Mhm, indigo, crimson, or white, I wonder? Maybe all three…"

"I don't care what color it is, as long as I can breathe in it." Jila stretched happily, leaning back. "And as long as it's easy to rip off later. My wedding night must be a wild one!"

"Jila!" Rashira snapped, sitting bolt upright. "Think of the baby!"

"Relax, Lancy is big but not THAT big!" She added, smirking, "Also... What? You think we just did it once? Hah! We went at it all night and since then, wohooo! You think we didn't have seconds or thirds? Or fortieth? Did you know that we did—"

"Stop!" Rashira yelped as she slammed her palm flat on the table, causing the tea tray to rattle. "One more word, and I will personally march you down to your future father-in-law and make you explain every single detail to him directly! Do you want that?"

"I already told everything to Yuri. She even gave me tips." Jila stated, unbothered, "Also, I spoke to Grandma Louise. She personally summoned me to welcome me into the family and told me to make sure I would have twins. Or at least, make another the moment we had the first. I was given the task to spread Lancy's genes, whatever that means. I do spread his thing all over me anyway! It's funny and I like it when it squirts."

"..." Rashira just sat back, looking lost and defeated.

"Hehehe," Meyli giggled behind her hand, her cheeks blazing red, hearing Jila speak of it so openly, "I think it's… sweet," she whispered, though her eyes were bright with mischief.

"Nah, it's bitter." Jila hummed, pulling out another groan from her eldest sibling.

"Fucking stop already..." She muttered darkly, cursing without thinking about it, "Please..." Yet, despite her frustration, the eldest sister's tone finally softened after a moment, and she let out a weary sigh. "Listen… Jila. I'm shocked, yes... And I worry what this means for us, for Khulman's bloodline, for all the political implications. But if this is what you want... if this is what makes you happy... then… We'll stand by you."

"Of course we will!" Meyli hugged Jila tightly, squealing with happiness.

"Good." Jila smiled, watching her sisters nod their heads, "Because my wedding's going to be the loudest thing Avalon's ever seen," she declared happily, "We ought to have the biggest party... Like... Ever!"

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