xxxvi.

Mid September 1789,

THE ORCHESTRA PLAYED A MELODIOUS CACOPHONY—a glittering piece that spaced out and picked up with violin strings and heavy cellos, infiltrating the perfumed and gleaming ballroom air with a vigor that was both passionate and moving in equal measure. The massive crystal chandeliers hanging from the ballroom ceiling pulsed with sparkle, and lit up the entire space beneath with an encasing of golden yellow light that the footmen dimmed subtly by putting out a few sources of firelight, letting only the chandeliers show their glory upon the waltzing figures below.

It was a mesmerizing autumn night, for Angria had embraced the season with much zest and delight than any other kingdom in the lands, for its sprawling landscape was covering in muted oranges and burnt browns, leaves crunching under heels in morning walks underneath the cool daylight, and those very leaves gently accompanying the winds underneath the blinking nights.

Having unofficially taken up the mantel of throwing worthy and extravagant balls, now that her son was married, The former Queen of Angria, The Dowager Queen, or The Queen mother—as her many official titles still entailed, was now presently hosting her first royal ball of the season. It was the strangest feeling, to host such an extravagant ball for just the mere pleasure and satisfaction of it, instead of for the aim of finding a potential bride for her son and King. The Dowager Queen Ariana had already been relinquished of that duty, and had someone told of her the gratitude and pleasure she would have with the aftermath of the arrival of her daughter-in-law, and grandchild too, Queen Ariana would've made only a vague gesture and managed a smile.

She couldn't ever have predicted this bliss—this complete and blinding happiness she felt for herself for having such a daughter-in-law as she had gotten, for having such a grandchild as she had gotten, for having a son who had been more than capable of finding love just as Queen Ariana herself had been once upon a time. Lately, watching her son's immense happiness had made her miss her late husband, Rudolph.

Her man had been a King and man like no other, and as The Dowager Queen's eyes-fixated on the dancing couples, dressed in embellishments and glittering suits and gowns, on the ballroom center—fell upon the present King of Angria and his wife, she couldn't help but see herself there, being spun around by Rudolph in a yellow frilly gown—an embarrassment like no other-she had chosen for herself the first time they had ever danced together, for that had been her first formal ball as the daughter of an Angrian Duke and Duchess, when she had turned twenty. That occasion too had been the first time she had met the King.

The orchestra picked up speed, as The Queen mother reminisced. Her yes then travelled to the figure of her daughter-in-law's younger sister, Lucinda Tremaine, the girl's short and rather plump form wrapped in a startling pink color frock, with white lace and frills enveloping her hems and bodice as the girl's yellow curls bounced around her head as she enthusiastically exchanged a conversation with Queen Ariana's grandchild and the Crown Prince of Angria—Archie—as the boy held onto the girl's hand with a strange fondness in his eyes. This new acquaintance was something the Queen mother had only just started noticing recently, and though she didn't much approve of the frivolous girl, The Dowager Queen couldn't suppress an odd sensation of pleasure she felt at the girl's newfound attentions towards Archie.

For Queen Ariana couldn't deny the fact that she had once been just like the girl, once in her youth. Try as she might to believe herself to have been as elegant and beautiful and composed as Isadora was, the truth remained that Queen Ariana had been a Lucinda Tremaine in her youth. Obsessed with frills and bright colors, angry and upset when things didn't go her way, stubborn and quick to judge, and overall.. a very much of an annoyance to those around her for her meaningless indulgences and selfish demeanor. But she had grown out of it, the only slight embarrassment was the knowledge that she hadn't quite grown out of it until after a few years of meeting and falling in love with Rudolph.

But King Rudolph of Angria had been the man to tame her—to make her realize what truly mattered in life. His love had changed her, regardless of the fact that he had fallen in love with her just as she had been before, even though one of the first things she had spoken to him had been the rather stupid observation that he shared his name with one of Santa's reindeers. The Dowager Queen exhaled, smiling shyly. Alas, Rudolph's reasons for falling for her remained still a mystery to her.

The absurdity of smiling coyly to herself struck her then, and she shook her head. She had just turned sixty, for goodness' sake. Besides, she had the role of a brilliant and dignified hostess to play, and this wasn't her love story. The Dowager Queen whisked herself towards the gathered figures of the Count Louis Vladimir and the Duke Martin of Alopie and his Duchess.

"Ah, your majesty," The Count beamed as the Queen joined them, a crystal glass of drink in his hand and a grin playing on his face as his fair cheeks dimpled, complimenting the platinum messy hair on his head, the glint of his silver epaulettes seemed to reflect in his shiny teeth.

"We were just speaking of the beauty of this night. I am compelled to confess that the moon outside has nothing on the glowing balls that you host."

"Oh, please," Queen Ariana waved a hand, "I daresay the moon adds to my vision a bit."

"It must," The Duke Martin laughed over the waltz music, "For it certainly got us a new Queen from the last time you hosted a ball. I believe our Queen was in attendance back then as well?"

"She was indeed," The Count Vladimir mused, taking a sip of his drink. "I had the privilege of dancing with her, she is the moon itself embodied. I was fortunate it seems, for our King seems much too reluctant now and forever more to give up a spot of any of the Queen's future dances."

The party turned to spot the King and Queen waltzing on the ballroom floor. The lights had dimmed, and a solitary chandelier beamed in its full glory above the royals, emphasizing and highlighting only them while the other couples were encased in a gentle darkness. Except, even in the gentle darkness, their dancing forms beamed and glittered as they whisked around the King and Queen's figures.

The Queen mother smiled again, her heart full as she closed her eyes briefly.

—🥀—

The new Queen of Angria had her hands on her King's chest, his brocade embellished black suit warm under her bare palms. Both his hands were on her waist as they danced to the beautiful music, Isadora's glittering silver gown flaring like a glowing dream around their legs as Zander moved her on the floor with the rhythm of the orchestra.

Their eyes were fixed into each other's, Isa's ebony eyes entrancing Zander's brown ones in an unbreakable hold, for she believed that the only world she wanted was inside those brown orbs, and he refused to look away, for he believed that everything existed for him just because she existed. Zander didn't want to look away, he didn't want to let her go. At present, he had gotten everything he had every wanted, and there existed in him no want for anything else except the happiness of his wife and child.

The music deepened, violin strings and cello strums passionately thrumming in his ears as he raised a hand to Isadora's back, pressing her close and dipping his face into the nape of her neck. The diamond studded necklace she wore rested on her collar bones, the larger diamond resting perfectly in the gentle dip between her clavicles at the base of her neck. Isa raised her own hand to hold the back of his head, her fingers brushing against his hair as Zander pressed his lips against her skin and kissed her neck.

"Zander," She said softly, blushing as her eyes caught on the multitudes of guests at the edge of the ballroom—in between the glimpses that the dancing couples' forms allowed—watching both of them with a mesmerized awe in their eyes as they held their drink glasses close, and their significant others closer, in a bliss. The solo guests seemed to be lost in a reverie, with their eyes fixed on Isa and Zander exchanging public affection amidst a waltz, while their hands pressed against their hearts.

"Everyone is watching us," She reminded him, but he kissed her neck again, heavily breathing in her scent.

"Let them," He murmured, "Let them see how much I love you. Let them see that you're mine."

Isadora was tempted to shut her eyes and press him closer to her. She was tempted to give in to him, but they were leading the waltz, and such public displays of affection amongst royalty instead of their easy composure wasn't proper, and besides, she knew she had the rest of her life with him to melt into his embrace and lose herself in his kisses.

"Darling, we are leading this dance," She spoke, placing a kiss on his forehead as he was slowly lifting his head up to meet her eyes.

"It is the first dance of your mother's first ball of the season," She spoke with a smile, gazing into his keen brown orbs. "She would not be too happy with such informality."

Zander laughed, shaking his head. "I swear," He leaned close to her ear, "If I had a gold denier for every time you—"

He broke off, thinking better of it as he grinned cheekily, spinning Isadora around on cue of the music as she spun back into his arms, his arm grabbing hold of her waist efficiently.

"Every time I, what?" Isa asked, her lips parting as she breathed, a piece of her hair falling in her eyes having come loose from her updo and her Crown, as she peered into his eyes.

Zander grinned some more, before shaking his head.

"Nothing, my love," He managed, still grinning as Isadora narrowed her eyes in response. "Absolutely nothing."

With that he pressed his lips against hers, kissing her breathless for the brief intersection that the music provided, before the violin picked up again and he was obliged to spin her gently around again and whisk her into a circle as the couples around them glided to and fro, circling the King and Queen as though they were disciples and this was a midsummer ritual—except of course the orchestra, the music, the surroundings, the waltz itself and his wife's gorgeous form rather undermined Zander's idea of relating the first dance of the first ball of the season as a midsummer ritual.

Isadora wrapped her arms around her husband's neck, letting him pull her closer as they both slightly diverted from the required hand placements of the dance, improvising as their hearts deemed fit, with Isa secretly wishing that the Dowager Queen wouldn't mind too much upon this slight deference.

Zander kissed her neck again, dipping his head into the nape of her neck like he wanted to stay there, like he cared nothing much for the gathering he was presently in. Isa's heart thrummed to the cello strings in her chest, as she found gratitude, pleasure and an immense satisfaction in her husband's preference of her over anyone and anything else. Still, she made a mental note to speak to him about the matter gently later, for he was the King of Angria and he did indeed need to show more preference than he felt when in balls and gatherings such as this one. And besides, Isadora didn't much like the idea of being a distraction, except of course when they were alone..

Blushing, she instantly severed that train of thought, shutting her eyes briefly as Zander's hair brushed against her lips like a feathery touch.

As the other couples spun around her, she made out the figure of Lucy amongst them, adorned in a pretty purple gown and her hair done up as she danced with Louis-The late Duke of Basingstoke's estate employee. His days of being a mere gardener's apprentice were long behind him now, for the boy was undergoing training to join the ranks of the Angrian palace guards, upon his own interest and a few words in favor put forward by Isadora to Zander.

As for Lucy, the girl was now one of the three ladies-in-waiting appointed by the royal advisor for The Queen of Angria, upon the Queen's own preference. The girl had much to learn still, for her elevation from a maid to a lady of high ranking at the court had many pressures and expectations attached, though the shift had been more than deserving, and for the girl's family back in Toulouse, it was much more than good fortune—as the girl's aunt herself had claimed when she had appeared before Isadora in the throne room on a visit of gratitude two weeks ago.

But where expectations were concerned, Isadora watched Lucy dance with Louis with a certain sympathy. She watched them gaze into each other's eyes, hold each shyly other close. For a lady-in-waiting, a matrimonial match with a palace guard was not in the cards—as Eugene Flammant had so discreetly let Isa know after the advisor had witnessed the new lady-in-waiting's behavior, and Isadora intended to gently make the girl understand the matter soon. But not tonight, Isa thought firmly. She should be spared tonight.

Perhaps the girl wouldn't choose to remain a lady-in-waiting anymore, once she realized fully the attachments of all that the title entailed, and if that was to be the case, Isadora was already prepared to give her the respect of her decision, and accept it, whatever it may be. 

Somewhere behind the dancing forms of Lucy and Louis, Isadora saw the glimpse of the fairy godmother's figure, and as soon as the fairy's eyes met Isa's, the woman winked and vanished. 

"There's going to be a new constellation tonight," Zander muttered against her skin, distracting her, his lips brushing against Isa's ear as he spoke, before lifting his face to meet her eyes. 

Isa smiled. The Angrian palace observatory had quickly become one of her favorite places in the castle, courtesy of her husband dragging her to it almost thrice each week to show her something or the other. Truth be told, Isadora had long stopped caring much for the phases of the moon and the placement of the stars as seen through the intricate golden telescope, for always she found herself looking at Zander as he showed her the celestial in the sky. She looked at him when he looked at the stars, she was thinking of him when he showed her the stars. He was everything glowing and gleaming and precious, and she couldn't find the words to explain that the neither the faces of the moon nor the constellations in the sky held anything in front of him. 

"I hope you're taking me to see it," She whispered as he grinned. 

"I'd bring it to the fucking ground if I could, for it to see you," He spoke, his eyes heavy with a desire, as his eyes bore into hers. 

Isa exhaled softly, holding him close to her as they both swayed to the music and the music went onto it's last melody. She saw the figures of Cinderella and Prince Charming swirl close, both the couples dancing side by side now as Isadora's eyes met Cinderella's, the latter girl in a sky blue gown with her corn colored hair done up underneath her smaller Princess tiara. Something struck Isa about this particular eye contact, amidst music, in arms of their lovers, and without any words exchanged between the two stepsisters, Isa could almost believe that someday they could both talk to each other without an underlying reserve. She could almost believe then that one day, they could share a laugh over something or the other together. Isa was a Queen now, and her stepsister a Princess. 

Both of them had been thrust into positions where they had found themselves side by side, perhaps that was fate's way of telling Isa that one day an amiable pact could be reached, and perhaps, just perhaps, it could involve soft smiles and nods, instead of heavy words exchanged that brought back the girls' past countenances towards each other. There was nothing to discuss in between them, Isa knew, only things to be forgotten and written over. 

Isadora thought of the present Prince Charming and Cinderella had brought to Angria a week ago for Archie, a beautiful golden mare to add to the boy's own personal stables that Zander was helping him create. Isa mentally reminded herself to thank Cinderella privately for it later. 

She turned her eyes away before directing a small nod towards Cinderella, her eyes landing on the figure of her mother—the Lady Tremaine—dressed in a vibrant red gown with jewels added in her silver updo, as the woman conversed with a gentleman at the corner of the ballroom. Despite herself, Isadora smiled a discreet smile as she was spun and the figures of her mother and the man disappeared in her periphery. 

The gentleman was a widower, he was the Count Fyodor from the Kingdom of Lolador—the close friend of the late King Rudolph of Angria. The man held close friendships with both Zander and Queen Ariana, making him a valued guest and a trusted ally. He was wealthy, had lands of his own in Lolador, was also a trusted member in the present King Yakov of Lolador's court. He was older than Lady Tremaine by four years, yet the easy countenance and humble pride of the man had given Isadora the urging need to introduce him to her mother a week ago. And just as she had suspected, the two had become attached to each other in a way that Isa wouldn't label passionate, but merely a consuming understanding and companionship. 

This was the third time they were in each other's company, and though Isadora knew her mother would not have pleasant words to say to her upon understanding that her daughter was playing  a secret hand at setting her up, Isa still found herself hoping that something concrete would come of this relationship. For perhaps, all a woman sometimes needed was just to be crossed in love. At least then her mother would stop pestering her about not appointing Lucinda as one of her ladies-in-waiting, and being utterly selfish for showing no care for the marital prospects of her sister. 

Isadora's eyes then ventured over to her sister, not far from where the Count Fyodor and Lady Tremaine stood conversing. Lucinda was laughing at a story Archie was narrating to her, the boy using his hands and wide excited eyes to recount his recent riding adventure, and Lucinda occasionally mustering her brief shock and surprise for how dangerous his story sounded. Isa had worried at first when this particular relationship had started beginning, she had worried for Lucinda's behavior towards her son—her careless words, her disregard, her frequent cruelty of manner. But all of Isa's worry, it seemed, had been for naught. There was nothing in this scene but a young girl establishing a friendship with her nephew, and that fact had taken a while to register in Isadora's mind, because she still couldn't understand what in the world had suddenly prompted it. 

The dance ended then, as Zander brought her to a halt, her glittering silver gown flaring one last time between their legs as all the other couples stopped dancing too, and every guest standing in the corners of the ballroom applauded.

Zander leaned in towards Isa's ear amidst the clamor of the applause. "Come, baby, we're getting out of here." 

Before Isadora could object at the impropriety of leaving the ball so abruptly, her husband had already taken hold of her hand and was guiding her through the forms of the guests as people turned to watch, their eyes following every move of their Queen and King, hushed whispers of admiration following in the wake of the royals. 

Isadora glanced at the Dowager Queen, and their eyes met amidst the crowd as Zander kept on guiding Isa towards the exit. 

She mustered an apologetic look in her eyes to Queen Ariana, but the latter woman only beamed slyly, before bringing her gloved palm to her lips and blowing her daughter-in-law a warm kiss. Isa smiled in response, her heart lifting high. 

They passed by the buffet table, and Isadora smiled as she saw the familiar four-tiered cake that she had once decided upon for her and Zander's engagement ball. It was the same design, the white cream frosted cakes with detailing in black. Isadora had never gotten to have that engagement ball, and when after tragedy had struck at their wedding, she hadn't gotten to have any sort of a wedding dinner with Zander and her family. It was the Dowager Queen's doing, forbidding every female guest from dressing in the colors silver or white for this first ball of the season and forbidding every male guest to wear black, assigning the chef to replicate that cake, and getting Isadora to wear the stunning silver gown and getting Zander to wear black like he had. The couple had also been made to lead the first dance. 

Queen Ariana had thrown her first ball of the season, and still she had made it all about Isadora and Zander, in order to give them what they had missed, and Isa couldn't understand how to translate all the gratitude she felt in her chest into words. 

She found herself in a hallway then, heading towards the observatory as the boisterous atmosphere of the ballroom fell behind her. The guards lining the hallway bowed towards their King and Queen as they passed, and Zander didn't spare them a glance, his focus fixed on the observatory they were approaching. 

The observatory hall was as grand as ever, as Isadora and Zander entered it's serene darkness, the only light in the room was courtesy of the moon pouring in from the entirety of the glass ceiling and walls of the hall. Isadora fell into a stunned silence then, as she always did in this observatory. Through the glass dome shaped ceiling, she could see thousands of glittering stars dotting the sky, and through the glass walls she could see the entirety of Angria blanketed underneath the night sky. The observatory was attached to the western side of the palace, making it a perfect position to spot newly emerging constellations and stars in the sky. 

The giant golden telescope was already positioned at a spot, ready for use. 

Isa heard Zander talk to a guard who had followed them inside the observatory in case he had any orders to receive, asking him to get in touch with the royal astrologer and bring back information of the exact time the new constellation could be observed in the sky. The guard bowed and hurried off on his task, closing the door behind him and leaving The King and Queen alone. 

Isadora's eyes were still fixed on the darkened horizon of Angria when Zander came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her stomach and kissing her neck. She placed her own hands on his. 

"Do we still have time till the constellation?" She asked softly, feeling her voice echo in the calm silence of the hall. 

"Yes, I fear we are early," Zander hummed, not sounding bothered at all. 

"How early?" Isa smiled as she turned around slowly, a glint in her eyes as she wrapped her arms around his neck. 

Zander grinned slowly, and in the gentle darkness, his teeth caught the light of the moon. "Early enough." 

He leaned in to kiss her then, taking her by surprise with his passion as he swallowed her gasp, grabbing her back and pressing her tight against his chest. 

He set her lips apart, plunging his tongue inside her mouth as he found her own, both their tongues dancing in ecstasy. Isa pulled away to breathe, closing her eyes and dipping her head backwards. Zander kissed her throat, trailing kisses down to her chest, kissing the top of her exposed breasts at the low neckline of her dress as his fingers found the fastenings at the back of her dress. 

"Darling," Isadora murmured, "Not here, someone will see." 

"There's no one here but us," He replied, his tone heavy with his lust, "Nobody is going to just walk in here without me asking them to, my love." 

She didn't protest then, as he undid her dress at her back, and her own fingers helped to undo the buttons of his brocade suit, leaving him bare chested as he took off the top and tossed it away. Isadora's own dress fell to her elbows as Zander buried his face in her chest, his hair brushing underneath Isa's chin as she moaned softly. 

He bent down and picked her up then, his arm sneaking behind her knees as he picked her up and gently laid her onto the wooden floor of the observatory. There was a freshened set up of a blanket and cushions made, readjusted from three nights ago when Zander, Isa and Archie had had a picnic of sorts in the observatory, in an attempt to catch a shooting star that the royal astrologer had predicted. That too, had been a magical night. 

But as Isa's bare back touched the blanket now, a cushion underneath her head and Zander's lips kissing her breasts, Isadora could predicted that this night would be more magical.

Zander pulled her dress down her waist, ridding her of it entirely as he tossed it to the side. He got on top of her, supporting himself with an arm against the blanketed ground as he kissed her lips again. 

"You grow more gorgeous every day that goes by," He breathed in between the kiss, his eyes dark, "You'll wind up killing me, Isa, your beauty will wind up killing me."

Isa shut her eyes briefly, her breaths heavy as Zander gripped the back of her arched waist, pulling her to him as he took her breast in his mouth, putting his other hand under her thigh and wrapping her leg around his waist. 

"Zander," She moaned, her fingers gripping his hair. 

He went downwards then, kissing down her stomach and approached her midriff, and before Isa could understand what he would do next, Zander had his face buried between her legs. Her back arched further as she stifled a scream, Zander's lips encased around her most sensitive part, his tongue stroking her every crevice like it was worshipping her. 

"Mon Dieu, Zander," Isa managed, breathless, her heart pounding as he ate her out with a fervor like he was starved. 

He brought her to the edge expertly, leaving her panting and breathless with her heart raging havoc in her chest. Then he undid the buttons of his brocade pants, his eyes bearing into hers as pieces of his hair fell over his forehead and into his eyes. 

Then he pushed into her, pulling her waist to his chest as Isa dipped her head back in ecstasy. He waited, groaning deep in his throat as he let her body adjust to him. 

"Isa," Zander groaned, "Fuck, Isa, you're my fucking world." 

He started moving then, thrusting deep inside her with every push, making Isadora's toes curl and her moans louder as she wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him for support. 

"And you're my world," She managed, breathless.

He buried his face in her neck, breathing in her scent as he kept thrusting inside her, going slow and steady, holding her protectively as though he feared to break her if he got lost in the pits of his passion for her. 

"I love you," He spoke against her skin, "I love you so fucking much, I can't believe I almost lost you. Fuck, I can't get that image out of my head. Of you lying there—not breathing and I couldn't—"

"Darling," Isadora broke in, making him look at her, "Don't. You'll never lose me, I promise. I'm here. I'll always be here."

He swallowed thickly with a ferocity, fighting against the demons in his head as he nodded, catching her lips with hers as he focused on making love to her, as he focused on feeling every inch of her as he thrusted in and out. He focused on her breaths, on her moans, on her strangled groans of his name on her tongue. He focused on his wife, and her life. She wasn't going anywhere. She was his for life, and she was here, and would remain here with him. That was all that fucking mattered. 

Later, as they lay in each other's embrace, listening to the beating of each other's hearts and breaths, a knock came on the observatory door. 

"Your majesty," The guard called from behind the door. "The astrologer says that the constellation will be visible in five minutes." 

Zander dismissed him, and placing a kiss on Isa's forehead, he separated from her and pulled on his pants quickly, before going over to bring the telescope closer to where she lay. Isa watched him reposition the instrument, adjusting the focus and lowering the stand so that she could access it. 

He counted under his breath as the minutes tickled by, his eyes fixed on the sky as he joined her on the blanket, wrapping his arm around her bare waist as he pulled her to him. 

When the time came, he let her watch the constellation first, then he put his own eye to the telescope and watched it while explaining to her all that he presently knew of the constellation courtesy of the royal astrologer. 

Isadora watched him watch the constellation, and she thought she could be grateful for a constellation in the sky—she could be grateful for the stars themselves, and even the moon, for they had all resulted in this moment. They were all somehow the reason she was here with Zander. She remembered the first time she had met him, and had danced with him at Prince Charming's ball. He had invited her to King Reginald's observatory, hadn't he? Because she had spoken of the moon? 

"Zander, I have to tell you something," Isa picked up the courage, as Zander stopped speaking, a hint of a smile on his face as he successfully deciphered the constellation to Isa. 

His brows furrowed at her statement, and he pushed the telescope away, his brown eyes on her in concern. 

"What is it? Are you feeling alright?" 

Isadora managed a smile, reaching her hands up to caress his face. 

"I'm pregnant, Zander," She spoke, her voice cracking as her eyes stung with joyous tears. 

Zander startled, as though he had expected her to say anything else but that, and for a moment Isa feared if his reaction would be different than what she wanted it to be.

But a light broke across his face, and his brows furrowed in a blissful disbelief. 

"Isa," He breathed, pulling her close. "Are you truly? I—Fuck, Isa I don't know what to say—"

"Just tell me you're happy," Isadora pressed her lips to his cheekbone gently, "Tell me you're pleased, because I don't know what I shall do if you don't feel—" 

"I don't feel that I deserve this," He spoke then, holding her face as Isa watched his eyes glass up. "Fuck, what the hell did I ever do to deserve you, and the family you are giving me?" 

His voice was pleading, desperate. 

Isadora kissed him then, a tear escaping her own eye. "You're the most deserving man that I have ever met, and I'm forever grateful to be loved by you and to love you in turn. I can't wait for our new baby to know the glory of your love as well." 

Zander buried his face in Isa's neck as she held him in an embrace. 

"I love you, and I'll love all the children you give me, Isa," He breathed, his voice hard as she felt remnants of his tears on her neck. "The life you are giving me is more than I fucking deserve, and nothing you can ever say will convince me otherwise." 

With his words in her ears, Isadora shut her eyes briefly, holding him tight as she wondered at the miracle of how her life had turned. Had it been for the faith she had acquired somewhere along the way, or the hope she had always had but buried deep inside her, or even the love she had reserved in her heart and had only given to Archie? She had never had the entirety of these three things to begin with, but acquiring them had led her here, she believed, and perhaps faith, hope and love was all one needed in a fairytale. Perhaps these three things were what made a fairytale. 

Perhaps, Cinderella had understood that quicker and earlier than Isa had, or perhaps, it didn't matter who understood the lesson earlier, because Isa was a different heroine of a different story, and she had only her own pace to understand things at. 

Isadora's eyes caught onto a faint shooting star through the glass ceiling in the sky, and she silently wished for a baby girl for herself and Zander—though she would be happy with either gender—it was just that she thought perhaps it would be sweet having a baby girl to dress up, someone who she could raise with the traits Isa wished she herself had. Someone who would enjoy staying indoors or dressing up or enjoying the lighter and more beautiful things in life than being out in muddy stables in the company of horses every chance she got. 

Biting the inside of her cheek to suppress a giggle, she silently hoped Archie wouldn't mind too much of her inner monologue, for regardless of the gender of her baby and the already mounting love she felt for it, she would always love Archie as equally as she ever had, and so would Zander. 

T H E   E N D.

***

A/N:
Thank you so much to everyone who stuck by for the journey of this book! Thank you for reading, thank you for your votes, thank you for all your precious comments! I'm so grateful for all of you, and I hope you enjoyed Isa and Zander's story. 

[EDIT: I have now added a bonus chapter after this ending!!! navigate to chapter 37 loves<3]