The next few weeks were a blur of preparations and building trust with Princess Fate. Our partnership had grown, and the prospect of introducing her to my children loomed ahead. I wanted this to go smoothly, for all our sakes. Both for securing Princess Fate's trust and preparing for the arrival of the "Hero" in the kingdom of Brimstone.

"Hello," I said, peeking through the door to Fate's study.

"Ah, Artorian... you're still wearing the ring?" she asked, looking up from her work.

"What, I have to put it to good use..." I replied, a bit defensively. I had spent a lot on the dresses, and it felt like a waste not to wear them. Plus, my regular clothes didn't fit well with my new figure, so a bigger shirt was necessary.

"And it feels nice... I guess..." I admitted, looking away nervously.

Fate raised an eyebrow, but a small smile played on her lips. "Well, if it makes you comfortable, who am I to judge? Now, let's get to work."

Over the next few weeks, I assisted Fate with her studies and experiments. I learned a great deal about summoning circles and advanced magic, and in return, I shared some of my own knowledge and skills. Our partnership grew stronger, and slowly but surely, we began to trust each other.

One evening, as we were wrapping up our work, Fate turned to me. "You know, Artorian, I've been thinking. Maybe our arrangement isn't so bad after all. You've been a great help, and... well, it's nice to have someone around who understands."

I smiled. "I'm glad to hear that, Fate. I've enjoyed working with you too."

"Have you ever kissed anyone?" I asked curiously.

Fate looked flustered. "N-no, I never really cared for romance..."

"Would you like to try it?" I asked, a bit playfully.

She scoffed, trying to regain her composure. "Oh, so you think you know more about romance than me? I may have never kissed anyone before, but I certainly know more than you."

I smiled, deciding it was time to reveal my secret. "Well, I do have kids, so I might know more than you think."

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Fate's eyes widened in surprise, and she had a defeated look on her face. "You have kids? I didn't know that..."

"Yes, I do," I said softly. "It's a long story, but let's just say I've had some experience with romance and family."

Fate seemed to process this new information, her expression softening. "I see... Well, maybe you could teach me a thing or two, then."

I chuckled. "I'd be happy to. But only if you're comfortable with it."

She nodded slowly, a hint of curiosity in her eyes. "Alright, then. Show me."

I leaned in gently, giving her the chance to pull away if she wanted to. When she didn't, I closed the distance and kissed her softly, just a brief and gentle touch. When I pulled back, Fate's cheeks were flushed, but she didn't seem upset.

"That was... nice," she admitted, a shy smile forming on her lips.

With a grin, I cupped my breast and teased, "Wanna do it?"

"W-what!?" Her face turned red like a tomato. "Honestly, what are you on about?! Doing that in that body is not making it better!" She kept going.

I chuckled. "It was just a tease."

"Artorian?"

"Yes?"

"Since we'll be married later on... could I meet your children?" she asked.

It made sense. We would be married, so she would be their stepmother. I wondered what the three would think about her. And what about the twins? Would they like her?

"Sure," I said, nodding. "I'll introduce you to them."

Fate's expression softened, and she gave a small, appreciative smile. "Thank you, Artorian. I'm looking forward to meeting them."

As I left her study, I couldn't help but feel a mix of anticipation and nervousness about the upcoming meeting. My children meant everything to me, and introducing them to Fate was a significant step. I hoped it would go well and that they would get along with her. This alliance depended on more than just politics; it needed a foundation of trust and understanding, both with Fate and within my family.

***

One evening, after another day of work in the laboratory, I decided it was time to bring the children to meet Fate. I had explained the situation to them, and while they were curious, they were also supportive.

When we arrived at the designated meeting room in the palace, the children were waiting with Seraphina, Luna, and Fren. They all looked a bit nervous, but they put on brave faces.

"Everyone, this is Princess Fate," I introduced, stepping into the room with Fate beside me. She looked regal and composed, though I could sense a bit of anxiety in her posture.

Fate smiled warmly at the children. "Hello, everyone. It's lovely to meet you all."

Seraphina, always the bold one, stepped forward first. "Greetings, Princess. I'm Seraphina." She gave a small curtsy, her vampire grace evident.

Luna followed suit, her wolf ears twitching slightly. "Hi, I'm Luna."

Fren, the shyest of the three, stepped forward hesitantly. "I'm Fren..."

Fate's smile widened. "It's wonderful to meet all of you. I've heard so much about you from Artorian."

The twins, Felix and Katharina, were a bit more reserved. They clung to my sides, looking up at Fate with wide eyes. I knelt down beside them. "These are Felix and Katharina. They're still getting used to everything."

Fate knelt down to their level, her eyes kind. "Hello, Felix and Katharina. I'm very happy to meet you."

Felix, emboldened by Fate's gentle approach, took a small step forward. "Are you really going to be our stepmother?"

Fate glanced at me, then back at Felix. "Yes, if everything goes as planned. But more importantly, I want to be your friend first."

Katharina nodded, seeming to accept this. "Okay."

As the evening went on, the initial nervousness melted away. The children asked Fate questions about her studies and her life, and she answered with patience and warmth. They even started to show her some of their own skills and tricks, which made her laugh and applaud.

By the time the meeting was over, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. Fate had fit in seamlessly with my children, and the bonds of trust and family were starting to form.

As we walked back to her study, Fate turned to me. "Your children are wonderful, Artorian. I think we're going to be just fine."

I smiled, feeling a warmth in my chest. "Thank you, Fate. I think so too."