Braelyn’s POV

I ignored the twins and headed inside. Every corridor of the house was busy with servants moving to and fro. Today had to be perfect. I arrived on the wing of Roselyn’s room I could hear loud wails from down the corridor

My heart ached hearing those cries. I quickly grabbed my dress and then sprinted down to the room. I pushed the door open and stepped into a purple-themed nursery

Rose’s nanny was coaxing her, trying to get her to stop crying but the cries only got worse. "What is wrong?" I asked, watching my little princess cry. The nanny looked troubled

"I don’t know she just woke up crying.." she explained looking so helpless. I couldn’t be a liar to her cries.

"Let me hold her," I offered. The nanny hesitated to handle her over.

"Her snorts might ruin your dress," she explained. I sighed, shaking my head. I didn’t mind, I could always change into another dress.

"I can manage.." I replied with my hand still outstretched. She handed Rose to me. She was a bit heavy to carry. Rose’s face was flushed from crying.

She was the one who resembled me the most, same jet black hair but she took her father’s eyes and temper. I gently patted her back trying to soothe her. It didn’t really work

I was worried that if we couldn’t get her to stop crying her party would be ruined. She wasn’t hungry because it wasn’t long she was fed and it definitely wasn’t because she wet herself. Babies could be impossible to handle at times.

Her cries didn’t stop. If anything, they hit harder, like she was trying to push the sound out of her chest, "Hey... hey, it’s alright," I murmured, pulling her closer, my hand moving gently over her back.

She smelled faintly of milk and baby powder. Her little hands pressed weakly against me, her face burying into my shoulder, but she didn’t settle. Her cries kept spilling out

I shifted her slightly, checking her, but nothing seemed wrong. "Did something scare you?" I asked softly, brushing her hair back from her damp forehead.

She didn’t answer, and a flicker of worry crept into my mind. Today was her first birthday. Everything had been arranged, planned down to the smallest detail. The guests, the decorations, the cake...

I tightened my hold on her.

"Rose, please..." I whispered, my voice softening. "Talk to me, baby..." Her cries hitched, but didn’t stop.

"What’s going on?" A deep male voice spoke up, I glanced at the doorway and spotted Lucien who had just arrived with Rhys and Raphael trailing behind.

"Rose is crying.." Raphael said, tugging at his father’s suit. Lucien stepped inside and his gaze fell on Rose’s crying face. He released a heavy sigh.

"Give her to me..." he requested, so I didn’t hesitate to hand her over to Lucien. He carried her with care and just like magic the crying stopped..

Rose lifted her small hand and held Lucien’s face, her little voice spoke. "Lucy.." she called. Lucien laughed, she started poking his face repeating Lucy. I have no idea where she got the idea to call her father Lucy from.

"So she just wanted her father." I pouted. "Why didn’t she just say so earlier?" I begrudgingly said.

Roselyn didn’t even look at me. She was too busy studying Lucien’s face like she had found exactly what she needed.

"Roselyn is a daddy’s girl.." Rhys chimed pointing at her face. I could only laugh because it was true. Her first word was actually Lucy which I can guess is Lucien. I carried her for over 9 months then she decided to make her father her favourite person.

Seeing her finally relaxed I could release a breath of relief. "You wouldn’t mind changing her outfit since she wants you," I mentioned that Lucien’s attention was on the infant.

"Just get the boys ready. I will meet you in the garden." He urged. I smiled then pressed a kiss on Rose’s cheeks even if she was a little traitor.

"Little traitor," I whispered under my breath, though there was no real bite to it.

"Alright then, we will be leaving. " I replied then grabbed the twins heading to their rooms.

*******

Half an hour later guests started arriving. I took the boys who were dressed in their cute suits to the decorated garden. The place was already filled with people and a lot of familiar faces.

"Braelyn.." a familiar face called out. It was Genny, who was holding a little boy’s hand, who was around the same age as the twins and was currently pregnant too.

"Genny.." I chimed pulling her into a hug. "I’m glad you could make it." I then bent over to pat her son’s head. He was also a copy of his father, just like Alora..

"How are you doing?" I chimed. The boy gave me a smile. "I am fine, Aunt Lynn." He replied, acting all docile like he wasn’t Rhys’ partner in crime. None of her current children looked like Genny and she was proud of it saying she got to see the face of the man she loved.

But Joey wanted a child that looked like his wife.." Where are Joey and Alora?" I asked. Genny frowned then looked around.

"They should be around here." She replied.

"Big sis said she wanted to see baby Rose." The boy chimed in and right on cue Lucien arrived carrying Rose who was now wearing a cute purple princess gown. He was talking with Joey and there was a 10-year-old Alora who was practically itching to hold Rose who loved her daddy too much to let anyone hold her..

"She looks more like you with each passing day," Genny commented. I nodded at her answers. My mind wandered off a bit and was immediately snapped out of it by the twins’ voice...

"Grandpa.." they both screamed rushing towards Ronan who had just arrived with Natasha. He was a bit taken aback by the ambush but still welcomed them with a big hug.

More guests continued pouring in, mainly family members. The Orlov and Voss families were present most especially the Voss family who were excited about Rose’s birth. She was like the only girl born in generations.

The amount of gifts we received was enough to fully pamper Rose until she was an adult. She was definitely a little tyrant princess.

When it came for the cake to be cut, Lucien had to stand across from her, one hand steady on Roselyn’s tiny waist, the other guiding her little fingers around the plastic knife. Even then, she kept turning her head to make sure he was still there, her small hand gripping his sleeve as though he might disappear if she let go.

The candles flickered softly, their glow dancing across her round cheeks and bright eyes. For a brief second, everything slowed. The chatter faded into a gentle hum, and all I could see was her.

"One," Lucien murmured under his breath, his voice softer than I had ever heard it. "Two..."

Before he could say three, Roselyn squealed and tried to smack the cake instead, her tiny hand missing the knife completely. Laughter erupted around us filling the garden.

"Careful," he chuckled, catching her wrist gently. "You don’t want to ruin your cake"

She pouted at him, her brows knitting together like she was trying to figure something out. Then, as if deciding she would allow it, she relaxed just enough for him to guide her hand again. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"Alright," I said, stepping a little closer,"Let Mummy help too." I asked softly.

For a moment, Roselyn looked between us, her gaze was uncertain. Then she reached out with her free hand and grabbed my finger, pulling me closer as if she wanted both of us there.

Something in my chest tightened..Together, the three of us held the knife.

"Happy birthday to you..." The guests began singing, their voices blending into one soft, overwhelming wave

The twins’ voices stood out the most, they were loud and completely off tune. Rhys was practically shouting, while Raphael sang more carefully.

Lucien glanced at me briefly, and in that look, there was something deeper than words, pride, relief and several emotions tangled together.

We lowered the knife together..Roselyn squealed again as the blade sank into the cake, smearing a bit of icing onto her fingers. She immediately brought her hand to her mouth, tasting it, her expression lighting up with pure delight.

"Sweet," she declared in her broken little voice. Another wave of laughter followed, and she giggled then waved her hand for her daddy to carry her.

She didn’t want to stay by the cake anymore. Lucien pressed a kiss on her cheeks. "Settle down princess, you have to blow your candles. " he urged her.

She stopped struggling and glanced at the candles with curiosity. "It’s time you make a wish, Princess. " I chirped in, urging her.