The afternoon sun cut across the bedroom of the estate, casting a long, unbothered ray of light directly onto the full-length brass mirror.
Zaliyah stood frozen before it, staring at his reflection with an expression of disgust, he looked wretched, who would have known taking care of kids was quite difficult than birthing them, much less two children for that matter, he wished to have a little cute chubby daughter but apparently heaven's did otherwise they gave him two boys .
He was dressed in his finest, most expensive white silks, imported directly from the high-end merchants. The fabric was supposed to pool elegantly around his frame, making him look like the divine, being he truly was. Instead, right on the left shoulder, was a giant, damp patch of milk spit-up.
His long silver hair, usually a flawless waterfall that Karas spent hours washing and combing through, was swept up into a chaotic, messy bun.
Beneath his sharp purple eyes, the most elegant dark circles had taken up permanent residence, that was the first time he had dark circles, the nights of staying up all night feeding Kiran and pampering the child back to bed was taking a toll on him , his frame had drastically reduced too , at this point he was a bag of bones and the only thing bulky on his body was his hair which Kiran had intentions of ripping it all out .
He grew tired of looking at his reflection, He simply extended a silk-sleeved finger, pointing directly at the wet spot on his shoulder.
"Karas. Look at this. I was so excited to wear this silks today but this little monster had second plans , just look at this targeted assault?"
From across the room, the sound of a weary, breathless chuckle answered him. Karas stood near the changing mat, looking even worse than Zaliyah but somehow he hadn't developed dark circles, he was sleep-deprived but still utterly lovesick.
He was bouncing a screaming, fussy Kiran in his left arm while simultaneously trying to secure a fresh diaper onto a perfectly still, silent Xian on the mat.
The children were the complete opposite of eachother, Xian seemed well behaved, less stressful and not a glutton, it was obvious which parent he took his trait from while Kiran on the other hand was a menace, He would wail at the slightest inconvenience, And at night be refuses to sleep no matter how much Karas rocked him , the only way he could go to sleep was of Zaliyah breastfed him but the thing is the child was very greedy , Zaliyah often felt dizzy after breastfeeding.
"Zi, it's just a little milk," Karas spoke softly, leaning down to press a quick, soothing kiss to Kiran's tuft of wild black hair. "He didn't mean to do it. He's just fussy today."
Zaliyah rolled his eyes ",He's always fussy, I don't know who this child takes after, is this a curse by the heavens?"
Karas sighed
Zaliyah turned around slowly, his robes swirling around his ankles elegantly. His eyes flashed with haughty indignation as he looked at Kiran, who possessed Karas's black hair and his own striking purple eyes but none of his grace. Kiran was currently flailing his tiny fists, red-faced and screaming at the top of his lungs.
Zaliyah grabbed Xian whom Karas was currently holding, immediately he held the little boy , the child smiled at him and Zaliyah returned the smile , kissing the child's cheeks "why can't your brother be like you, little Xian? Your brother gives me anxiety
'He did not mean to do it' your father says all the time but I honestly don't know if your brother is out to get me "
He carefully sat down , so as not to touch the damp silk.
He looked at Xian ,caressing the child's white hair "are you Hungry? "
Kiran whom was in Karas's hand giggled clapping his arms
Zaliyah rolled his eyes "Not you , I just fed you and you even had the audacity to vomit on my very expensive silks "
Zaliyah loosened his robes and brought the child to his chest, the baby's mouth connected with his nipples, the child was gently sucking.
At the sight of this Kiran wailed loudly, Karas gently grabbed the child and gently placed him on his shoulders rocking the child's back trying to console him , but the voice got louder and louder.
"Shhh it's okay don't cry, don't cry now Kiran" karas spoke in a gentle tone
Zaliyah sighed loudly wiping a bead of sweat from Xians forehead
"You can cry your lungs out Kiran, you're still not getting shit from me "
"Zi...you need not curse around them, Kiran just possesses a huge appetite, he's just a-"
"I really don't care what he is karas, He knows exactly how much these silks cost. Kiran looked me dead in the eye before he vomitted on them , I tell you that child is possessed"
In perfect contrast, Zaliyah's gaze traveled down to the tiny Xian whom was gently feeding he didn't even feel anything whereas if it was Kiran he would be jolting in pain because the child bites a lot. He kissed the child's forehead once more , sliding his hands up and down the child's white hair, looking at Xian's striking blue eyes, he looked exactly like a miniature clone of Karas.
When he was done feeding, Zaliyah pulled the child away from his chest.
Yet, Xian wasn't crying at all. He was simply staring up at the ceiling with quiet innocence, blowing a tiny bubble of saliva as if he were a reserved noble scholar trapped in a baby's body.
Zaliyah huffed, looking down at the child in his arms then at the crying one in karas's arms.
"Let's ship them to my parents, they're ruining the peace and order of this house most importantly they're stealing you away from me "
Karas smiled , at first Zaliyah complained that his work and the students were stealing him away from home , now he's accusing their own children, apparently his jealousy knows no bounds.
"No one can steal me away from you my love besides they're just babies, 5 month old-"
"I don't care ... they'll survive as I've survived these 5 months with them"
"Zi...."
"Okay then let's wrap them back in their baskets. We are taking them to the market today and trading them for a piece of jade. At least a bracelet doesn't scream at three in the morning and ruin imported fabric."
Karas let out a long, adoring sigh, "you've uncountable jade bracelets, in every colour design and quality"
"Okay let's trade them for gold earrings or the foreign antique fans, Zaliyah gently brought Xians tiny fingers to his mouth kissing them
"I'm sorry Xian as much as I love you and your brother I have to put myself first"
Zaliyah stood up , carrying the child towards the window looking at the lush garden just beneath.
Karas stepped away from the mat after successfully consoling the crying Kiran. He approached Zaliyah carefully, avoiding the wet spot, and gently rested his forehead against Zaliyah's shoulder, wrapping his strong arms around his husband's waist.
"My love," Karas murmured, his voice rumbling softly against Zaliyah's chest. "We cannot barter our sons for jewelry. Besides, who would take Kiran when he's screaming like this?"
Zaliyah rolled his eyes, his lips forming that familiar, stubborn pout, though his body naturally leaned into Karas's warm, comforting touch.
"We can try. I'm sure the merchants have never seen babies this pretty. We'll get a very high price. We can buy two bracelets and finally get a full night of sleep."
Karas Smiled "Zi.....We can get whatever you want without selling our Children , just name it and it is all yours"
"I just want a goodnight rest"
Karas inhaled Zaliyah's hair , tightening his grip around Zaliyah's waist
"That I cannot give you"
Zaliyah rolled his eyes into the horizon.
Despite Karas's gentle protests, Zaliyah still insisted on them going to the market but for a different reason.
The physician had informed them that to increase the breast milk flow in Zaliyah's body, he had to consume whole grains,meats nuts and seed ,which were not at home.
But he still contemplated about dumping the twins at those sisses.
Within an hour, he had packed a tiny, ridiculously luxurious silk satchel for the twins. If they were going to be "dumped" at the sisses shop for a temporary retirement, Zaliyah insisted they look expensive doing it.
The logistics of leaving the house, however, became a comedy.
Karas stepped out onto the garden path looking like a literal pack mule. He had a double-baby basket strapped securely across his front, holding both Kiran who was still whimpering and Xian who was calmly sucking on his own fist. Over his left shoulder hung a massive canvas sack filled with spare diapers, washcloths, and scented oils.
Over his right shoulder was a basket of fresh clothes. His straw hat sat tilted on his head, a calm smile on his face.
Zaliyah walked three paces ahead of him. He had changed into a fresh set of lavender robes, Karas had worked his magic on his hair, the disheveled tangled silver hair was perfectly pinned back up. He walked with his hands gracefully tucked into his wide sleeves, occasionally holding his waist and letting out a soft, elegant sigh.
"Zi," Karas called out, straining slightly under the weight of the bags as they walked down the path. "Are you sure you don't want to help carry the small satchel too?"
Zaliyah didn't look back, tilting his chin up as a neighbor passed by and stared. "Do not be ridiculous, Karas. I am already carrying the heaviest burden of all—the trauma of childbirth. My spine is still compromised from delivering those two monsters. Walking ahead and clearing the path is all I can manage."
Three local townswomen, stopped and watched the procession.
They looked at Zaliyah's immaculate, glowing face, then looked at Karas, who was sweating under four different bags while carrying two infants.
The first woman shook her head, whispering to her friend,
"Look at that poor man. Carrying all the weight while his wife -"
Her sentence was cut short by the other woman "I wish my husband could see this , I do all the chores at home and work in the fields all day yet he still still complains that I am lazy"
The third lady continued " When I was pregnant my husband didn't assist me with anything, I had to cook , go to the stream, it's a shame seeing women not respect their husbands anymore"
The first woman continued "He's carrying the entire household while his spouse walks around looking like poetry. Heavens, this is why marriages are so unsuccessful nowadays "
Zaliyah rolled his eyes, paused in his tracks. He was already used to the misgendering but people questioning his character was what struck a nerve.
His eyes narrowed as he slowly turned his head towards the gossiping women, his hand fan snapping open with a sharp crack.
"I would be a miserable gossip too if I worked like a dog and was treated no less than a slave, And for your information, my husband likes carrying my 'weight' " . His eyes darted towards the sweating man "Don't you, Karas?"
Karas, adjusting the double-basket on his chest while trying to keep Kiran from pulling his shirt, just let out a breathless laugh.
"I wouldn't have it any other way, my love."
The townswomen all hid their faces in embarrassment.
Zaliyah smirked , turning back while elegantly fanning himself, he walked towards Karas, he used his wide sleeves gently wiping the sweat on Karas's forehead.
Karas smiled "you shouldn't have done that , don't soil your silks "
Zaliyah rolled his eyes "don't be so dramatic, I feared your sweat would stain my children's silks , these are imported from the capital ,Also it's unhiegenic" Zaliyah's eyes traveled to the quiet twins in their dad's arms, he fanned them as they walked towards the market leaving the stunned women behind.
The marketplace was teeming with activities, Merchant's yelling at the top of their lungs, little children roaming around with paper toys , old women pulling him to their vegetable stalls, fruit sellers shoving fruits in his face , he looked down at Kiran and the child had finally stopped whimpering, it seemed he found solace in this noisy sanctuary, while his brother Xian was still curled up like a tangerine, sucking his thumb.
Karas was like a magnet for whispers and stares , Zaliyah was a little relieved , he was usually the freak show in the relationship but seeing Karas take up his position filled him with immense joy .The little gossips followed them with every step they took.
"Is he a widower?" A man asked
"How cruel are the Heavens, I can't imagine taking care of two infants all alone" another merchant replied
"Oh my , is that his wife ?" An older lady asked pointing a Zaliyah
"I doubt it , what woman would watch her husband struggle alone ?" A middle-aged woman added.
"His wife probably abandoned him ,but I don't blame the poor woman , men are such bums nowadays" a younger voice came through.
Zaliyah couldn't help but roll his eyes , looking at Karas who only offered him a smile.
but the moment Zaliyah crossed the threshold of the sisters' boutique, the chaotic noise of the markets instantly reduced melting into the familiar, high-end aroma of jasmine, expensive perfumes, and crushed rose petals. Finely folded silks occupied the corners, jade bracelets gleamed under the window light, and expensive lip oils in small glass bottles were lined up on the counter like rare jewels.
Crack! Crack!
The synchronized snapping of flowery hand fans announced their arrival before a single word was spoken.
"Heavens, sisters, look what the cat dragged in," Nyx drawled, stepping out from behind a rack of embroidered robes. She was dressed in flowery patterned silks and her hair was styled in an intricate bun adorned with fresh petals. She stopped, her jaw dropping as she took in the sight.
"Zaliyah, you look worse than I saw you last time But your husband , why does he looks horrible?., he looks like he is fleeing a natural disaster."
Karas stumbled into the shop, letting out a heavy, breathless sigh as he carefully maneuvered the double-baby basket through the narrow door. He was practically buried under canvas sacks, spare robes, and diaper cloths, his straw hat tilted entirely sideways.
Cressida, ethereal in her signature pink robes , her hair styled in one long braid let out a loud, delighted giggle.
"Poor Karas! It's a miracle you haven't collapsed. Is your bratty spouse making you move the entire estate?"
"He wanted to trade them for jade bracelets," Karas wheezed, finally finding a sturdy wooden bench to carefully set down the double-basket.
He wiped the sweat from his brow, offering the sisters an adoring smile. "But I managed to negotiate a trip to your shop instead."
Alessia, the tallest and palest of the three, looked up from her ledger, looking like a goddess handcrafted by the divine. She rolled her eyes,
"Honestly, Zaliyah, the whole town is talking about how you treat this poor man. If he leaves you, you'll have to learn how to cook, and we all know your food tastes like boiled grass."
"Silence, sissies," Zaliyah countered as he delicately adjusted his lavender robes.
"My husband would never leave me. And I am only here because these two monsters have compromised my peaceful estate. Look at them."
Nyx immediately abandoned her fan, rushing over to the basket. The second her eyes fell on the twins, she let out a loud, dramatic gasp. "Oh, by the gods! Look at these faces! Sisters come quickly, they look cuter than the last time I saw them"
The sisters crowded around the bench, cooing and gasping.
"Awww little Xian, I missed you so much" Cressida whispered, gently touching a soft lock of white hair. "Aunty has been so busy lately, little one "
Alessia stepped forward looking at the child. "He has Zaliyah's hair but his face... he looks like a tiny, reserved noble scholar. He's so quiet!"
"He's just like Karas" Cressida added.
"Karas smiled leaning over to gently pat the quiet baby's stomach. "He barely cries. He just watches the room."
Nyx gently carried Kiran, who was currently glaring at her with a tiny, drooling pout. "He looks exactly like a miniature, aggressive version of Zaliyah, I'm shocked he hasn't rolled his eyes yet"
Zaliyah sighed, rubbing his temples as if the mere mention of the name gave him a headache. "And he is an unmitigated mess. He spits up on my finest silks , cries all the time , refuses me peace, He has a dark malice, I tell you."
"Heavens, he's perfect, I already like him you don't have to sell him to me" Alessia grinned, reaching down to scoop Kiran out of Nyx arms. "He has your exact judgmental eyes, Zaliyah. I love him so much, such a cutie."
Karas leaned down hugging Zaliyah, pressing his lips to Zaliyah's forehead, before exiting for shopping, Zaliyah wanted to accompany him but Karas persuaded him to stay back and watch the kids .
For the next hour, the boutique turned into a circus. The sisters completely ignored their customers, entirely obsessed with the twins.
Cressida tried to wrap the silent Xian in a miniature pink silk scarf, which the baby tolerated with stoic elegance, blowing a tiny saliva bubble in response.
Meanwhile, Alessia was holding Kiran, proudly showing him off to the female customers entering the shop.
"Look at his complexion, ladies! This is what happens when you use our imported rose oils during pregnancy!"
Cressida smiled showing off Xian " take a look at this blonde hair, you'll get this results of you use out grade 3 dye hair oil , ladies look how majestic he looks ? "
Nyx smiled "don't be shy come forward and see for yourself"
A female customer gasped in awe "is it blonde?"
Another added "It looks white"
A random lady extended her hand to touch Xian's headbut Nyx quickly slapped her palms away .
She smiled covering her lower face with her fan "ladies you just can't touch my nephew with such...such unclea-"
Alessia cleared her throat, Nyx immediately stopped talking, she dragged the ladies to a different corner of the shop , showing them their hair dye oils .
Zaliyah sat on a high stool, his hands tucked into his sleeves, watching the display with a look of boredom.
Alessia was playing with Kiran , throwing the child in the air and catching him like he weighed nothing.
"Alessia, be careful , Karas won't let me hear the end of it if you drop him"
After abandoning the customers in a quiet corner in the boutique, Nyx quickly returned
"what is he gonna do? Your husband can barely speak ten words , it's not like he's gonna lay hands on you"
Cressida laughed "he literally worships the ground you walk on"
Zaliyah rolled his eyes "I'm quite aware he wouldn't lay hands on me but I can't guarantee what he would do to you "
"Oh, hush, you dramatic creature, Karas can't hurt a fly even on his most violent day" Alessia laughed, setting Kiran down on the low wooden counter near the display of new products.
"Kiran is so cute. He's a natural model, just like his dad."
That was her first mistake.
While Alessia turned around to speak to a customer, tiny Kiran, possessing his father's surprising upper-body strength and his dad's disregard for anyone else's property, flailed his arms. His little hand swiped directly across the velvet tray of newly imported, high-end lip oils.
Smash! Chatter!
Three glass bottles plummeted to the floor, shattering instantly. The thick, deep crimson liquid—made from crushed berries and expensive oils—splattered everywhere, staining the floor and the bottom of Alessia's robes.
The shop went dead silent. Cressida and Nyx darted their gaze towards Alessia's direction.
Alessia froze, slowly turning around. Her face went pale, then a bright angry red.
"Oh heavens! My imported inventory! It took three months to get those from the capital! He ruined them in a single second!"
She looked at Kiran, who was now staring at the mess with a smile on his face .
"Heavens, Zaliyah, your child is a biohazard! He is just as exhausting and destructive as you are!"
Karas just arrived holding a big bag of groceries , his eyes quickly darting to the mess on the floor, then to the smiling child in Alessia's arms , he knew Kiran only smiled whenever he did something bad .
"My deepest apologies Alessia, I'll pay for the damages—"
"Why are you apologising Karas ?" Zaliyah's voice suddenly cut through the room.
Everyone turned their gaze towards him. Zaliyah stood up from his stool, his purple eyes flashing with a sudden, fierce parental fury. He walked over to the counter, gracefully scooped Kiran into his arms, and tucked the chaotic baby securely against his chest. Kiran immediately buried his black hair into Zaliyah's lavender robes, looking pleased with himself.
"How dare you yell at my son?"
Zaliyah snapped, glaring at Alessia as if she were a lowly peasant who had insulted royalty.
"Kiran has high-end taste. He clearly looked at your inventory, found it lacking in quality, and decided to rid your shop of such cheap trash. You should be thanking him for his editorial critique."
Nyx and Cressida stared, their jaws dropping, before both exploded into a fit of breathless, hysterical laughter.
"Did he just defend his baby by insulting our makeup?" Nyx shrieked, snapping her fan .
"I can't breathe! Kiran is really his dad's son!" Cressida added
Alessia rubbed her temples, letting out a defeated sigh. "Get out of my shop, Zaliyah. Take your tiny vandals and leave before I charge you a year's worth of profit"