She crossed her arms. "Can you answer something for me? Why did you bring those random babies into the guest house? They are devious looking. Have you seen all their eyes?" she asked. I sighed. It was clear to me she did not get it. "We had this conversation a while ago. I would be able to take a mistress to have male heirs. In order to not shame you in the eyes of others, I would be discreet. That has already happened. Her children are all mine." I told her firmly. She scoffed as if it was a really unfunny joke. Then she looked at me and trembled. Clearly, this really was a big deal for her. "You... you're serious? Collin, you went outside the bonds of our marriage... for a forest spirit!?" she spat while shaking in anger. My response was quick. "It was either this, or train Johna to be a knight. You were so incensed, I thought you would rather die than let that happen." I reminded her. She glared at me. "No, it's not just this or that, Collin! A human would be fine. You fucked a tree demon!!" she spat. That was a little crazy. "She's a dryad. Calm down." I said. "Calm down!? They're demons!"
Damning her just for being a dryad was racist. It was not a very appealing side to my wife. Then again, I was vaguely aware that the human religion from the capital was against the druidic people in the forests. They thought that it was not right for nature spirts to be roaming around free and doing things contrary to what their gods said should happen. Since I was from another world, I really did not see myself as bound by the morals of this new religion. What would be the point of it? I could see that my wife was. She was upset and concerned. I said "I was discreet. So much, even you did not know. You and I are the only souls that know aside from the dryad. Since I have my heirs, it is time for them to be presented to my liege. That means Anthony will see them. At that point the secret will be out. The Rhombus name is going to live on." Grissell did not approve. It was fine. It was not up to her. It was on me as the man of the house and head of the household. This was going forward whether she liked it or not. If looks could kill, the floor would have been uprooted from her glare alone.
Lyari was then told about the new additions to the household. He was my resident tutor and magician after all. It made him part of the household as well. Since he was going to be here, he would be the main tutor and guardian of the triplets. Grissell used the sitting room downstairs while he worked upstairs. It was why it could always be filled with art pieces that were older or less meritorious than the ones in the main building. They did not spend time together unless it was time for lessons. Now, I had the suspicion that my wife and her family simply did not like being around all nonhumans. They did bow out of hanging out with centaurs. Even if that was the case, it was not important. What was important was that they never did anything unkind to those nonhumans in my presence. That was good enough for me. I bought some noble baby clothes and I let them settle into a room. It was the big master bedroom. They could stay together for now. When I could get a crib, they all could be stationed better. The second floor of their guest house had their master bedroom and 4 guest bedrooms.
The 2 studies were on the ends of the east wing of their house. The master bedroom was on the west wing. On the third day of my children taking up residence, I was approached outside in the yard. I smiled and waited for my live in tutor to start. "Did you think up of names for the children yet? They need names. It is not everyday that the forest deigns to bless a moral with a child. How did you even manage something like this?" he asked. I blinked and thought about it. I would have to do it. Grissell named our firstborn. She would not do so for them. Lyari was not concerned about them. He was an elf. Elves, especially wood elves lived in harmony with nature and had a deep respect for the dryads and forest spirits. It was said that the elves descended from the fairies. I said "I'll leave that to time. I let Grissell name our first child. It worked out. Normally, Celosia should have the same right. It does not seem as if she will be reaching out. My master is coming to see them soon, so I will name them." I called out. The next day, I had their names: Leonardo, Lenard and Lennox. Perfect.
