31. Storytime
After dinner, after laughter, after Victor barely escaping syrup-based terrorism…
The palace grew quieter.
Moonlight spilled across the grand hall.
Marcelline sat on the couch with Mia curled against her, tiny fingers gripping Marcelline's shirt like she'd disappear again.
Mia (softly):
"Auntie… bedtime story?"
Marcelline smiled, brushing Mia's hair.
Marcelline:
"Of course. Which one—"
Mia:
"EVERYBODY will tell me one!"
Everyone froze.
Victor choked on air.
Alpha turned his giant wolf head slowly.
Leo gasped dramatically.
Paradis blinked once. (Which meant: oh hell no.)
Amara (laughing):
"You heard her.
All of you.
My daughter has spoken."
Victor whispered to Marcelline:
Victor:
"She's becoming more dangerous with age."
Marcelline:
"She's three."
Victor:
"EXACTLY."
---
Inside Mia's room --
Mia climbed into her huge princess-style bed and patted the space around her.
Mia:
"Everyone sit!"
The lineup:
Marcelline on her right
Amara on her left
Wolf Alpha lying at the foot of the bed
Leo sitting cross-legged like a giant golden toddler
Paradis perched sideways on the dresser like a smug shadow
Victor standing awkwardly in a corner like he was attending his own funeral
Florence with a cookie tray, supervising like a general
Mia clasped her hands.
Mia:
"Okay! Story time!
Alpha uncle first!"
---
Alpha's Story — Too Brutal
Alpha opened his wolf mouth:
Alpha:
"Once upon a time, I ripped the throat of a—"
Amara:
"STOP."
Marcelline:
"No gore."
Alpha blinked.
Alpha:
"…I gave him a little boop."
Mia gasped:
"Like THIS??"
She gently booped Alpha's giant nose.
The wolf melted on the spot.
---
Leo's Story — Too Loud
Leo puffed his chest.
Leo:
"ONCE UPON A TIME—"
Marcelline shoved a pillow in his face.
Marcelline:
"Inside voice."
Leo (whispering dramatically):
"Once upon a time… THERE WAS A SUPER LION KING—"
Mia:
"Is it you?"
Leo:
"…Maybe."
---
Paradus's Story — Too Creepy
Paradus spoke without moving.
Paradus:
"Once, I hunted a shadow across seven kingdoms—"
Amara:
"NO."
Paradus:
"I didn't kill it."
A pause.
"It fell into a volcano."
Victor muttered under his breath:
"Totally normal bedtime content."
Paradus:
"I heard that."
Victor shrieked internally.
---
Victor's Story — Too Flirty
Mia pointed at Victor.
Mia:
"Your turn, Uncle Ketchup."
Victor sighed, defeated.
He walked to the bed like a condemned man.
Victor:
"Once upon a time…
there was a beautiful princess with red fiery eyes—"
Marcelline gave him a deadly side-eye.
Victor immediately corrected himself:
"…and a SHARP right hook, and a dangerous temper, and absolutely NO interest in vampires—"
Marcelline:
"Better."
Mia (confused):
"Where is this princess now?"
Victor smirked at Marcelline.
Victor:
"Somewhere breaking hearts."
Marcelline threw a pillow at him with perfect aim.
It hit him in the face.
Leo and Alpha roared with laughter.
Paradus snorted.
Victor looked offended.
Victor:
"Violence is not how you treat storytellers!"
Amara:
"Here, it is."
---
Florence's Story — Too Sweet
Florence cleared her throat.
Her stories were always lovely.
Florence:
"Once upon a time… a magical girl came home and filled the whole palace with laughter again."
Everyone melted.
Even Victor.
Even the beasts.
Mia stared at Marcelline with wide, loving eyes.
Mia:
"That's my auntie."
Marcelline gently hugged her, voice unexpectedly soft:
Marcelline:
"And that's my favorite story."
---
Mia Finally Falls Asleep
After 10 minutes of chaos and affection…
Mia curled into Marcelline's lap and drifted off, tiny hand gripping her sleeve.
All adults fell silent.
Alpha lowered his giant head beside the bed.
Leo leaned against the wall.
Paradus watched from the shadows.
Victor stood quietly, expression softer than usual.
Amara brushed Mia's hair, whispering:
Amara:
"She sleeps best when you're home."
Marcelline kissed Mia's forehead and whispered:
Marcelline:
"I'm not going anywhere."
---