Chapter 16 of my Royal Kingdom Challenge.

1. The Royal Kingdom of Celestia
Chapter 16

2. At the palace Beatrice and her new husband Simon were enjoying an afternoon of
cards. It seemed odd to try to go back to normal after everything that had
happened over the long winter months. But Beatrice supposed life must go on.

3. Simon had been a little unsure about getting married. He’d actually thought at one point he was
hoping Baldwin would get the proposal. However, he’d found with the recent crisis that had struck the
kingdom that he would not have wanted to see someone else here trying to help guide the kingdom
and Beatrice back to a brighter path.

4. It certainly wasn’t going to be easy. Some days Beatrice hardly got out of
bed, but Simon was determined to do everything he could to keep a smile
on his queen’s face.

5. The Shahan family was celebrating new beginnings as well. The winter was over,
spring had come and with it Darcy and Esther’s wedding day. Elinor provided the
entertainment while every Coldwell and Shahan watched their children get married.

6. Catherine sniffed back the tears as she watched her youngest get married at
last. On the plus side she thought, soon she’d have grandchildren!

7. The following day Fanny had joined her older sister Isabella at the newly opened
Green Tower. It was to be a place for the new coven women to come and study
various arts and skills they felt they needed to serve the kingdom.

8. It was quite the sight walking up to it. It was smaller than it had been meant
to be, but the design had to be scaled back due to all the recent costs the
kingdom had suffered from the great myshuno outbreak.

9. Her nephew Edward had shot up like a weed. He was certainly an active one!
He seemed to adore watching the fire dancers. Perhaps she should take him to
Tiwiki someday? Fanny was sure he would probably have a wonderful time!

10. Her twins had already talked her into going with them pregnant as she was to Takiemizu.
Anne had been given a Manor house by her soon to be husband, and Anne was of the
opinion that it would be a great chance to welcome their new sister Esther into the family.

11. Well Isabella thought, Edward was certainly old enough now
that she could probably take a short leave from the kingdom.

12. Matthew had even pointed out that it would likely mean a lot to her little brother if
she went to welcome Esther into the family, and besides once the Green Tower
officially opened Isabella likely wouldn’t have much free time at all for quite a while.

13. In the end, of course, Izzie was talked into going.

14. Esther was so glad her new family was going to all that trouble to welcome her into the flock.
Unfortunately, Anne’s timing could have been a bit better. Well, pregnant or not she wasn’t going
to try to talk her new sister into canceling. It had taken Anne too long to plan. It would be rude.

15. Anne’s future husband certainly had a lovely estate
in the hills.

16. Esther wasn’t the only pregnant Shahan/Sims woman here. Fanny had come
too. After all she said they’d both likely get busy once the babies got here
best to do a bit of traveling while you still can. This made sense to Esther.

17. Elinor and Anne checked out the sleeping arrangements upstairs and
found they were more than acceptable to accommodate all the women.

18. Oddly enough while they were out in the mountains they met a woman named Marisa Shahan. Apparently, she was a
cousin. Her grandfather? At least Anne thought that’s what the woman had said…though neither she nor Isabella could
remember once they got home. Anyway, her grandfather (or something) had been Great-grandfather Ocean Shahan’s
brother. Wasn’t it such a small world to meet another Shahan! Just wait until they told Catherine.

19. Anne and Elinor unfortunately found a bunch of poison ivy. The
twins were not at all happy to be itchy for most of the trip.

20. All the women had learned the Acupuncture
massage and it was truly marvelous!

21. The twins and Isabella did most of the exploring leaving Fanny and Esther at
home, but each night all of them would settle in around the fire and talk
about the wonderful things they’d seen and done.

22. Esther insisted on going out with Anne at least once. They went to the local
shrine where Esther made a wish at the shrine. The legends said you could
hear music playing and that it would glow, but Esther hadn’t seen either.

23. All in all, Esther had a wonderful time in Takiemizu. She actually quite enjoyed
getting the chance to spend that extra one on one time with Fanny.

24. Back at home Catherine and Peter were enjoying the calm before the storm
of grandchildren. Although, Peter knew Cat was secretly looking forward to
having a lot of grandchildren to spoil. Hopefully, the kids would cooperate.

25. Esther and the girls had returned home from their trip, and both were floored to hear about other
Shahan relatives in this part of the world. Perhaps they should invite Marisa over as a house guest in a
season or two like Esther suggested. Cat certainly would like to meet other family after all this time.

26. Elinor had found she was completely inspired by her journey. She’d been tinkering
with odds and ends since she was small, but Catherine and Peter never expected
her to create something as marvelous as what she called a dance sphere.

27. Catherine was proud of her daughter, but really Peter
was too old to be trying to use that strange thing!

28. Soon after returning home, Esther gave birth to her
first born a little boy she and Darcy named Richard.

29. The same day, Yasutora Chen sent one of his best riders to carry word
to Catherine and Peter that they had another grandson named Kugo.

30. Fanny looked down at her son and smiled. Just wait until your
Grandmother sees you! 2 grandsons on the same day. Isn’t she spoiled?

31. Yasutora adored cooking! He’d gotten this from his father Yidi. There was
always good food at the Chen table. Though perhaps the birth of a son
called for something extra special?

32. His parents were in complete agreement as they discussed it later that
evening, that the Dining Halls should be opened to everyone in the capital
the following day to celebrate the arrival of Kugo.

33. His father had dusted off his best cooking clothes
excited for the following day of feasting!

34. Ivy had come to the feast hall in honor of the birth of her new lord. She’d always loved
living in this part of the kingdom and knew the Chen family had friends from all
around, but this Master Tellerman certainly had odd clothes where he came from.

35. Fanny and Tanishi worked the floor all day taking the orders of their subjects
getting to know them. Tanishi was quite impressed with Fanny’s ability to
work the floor.

36. Her little boy, who wasn’t so little anymore was acting the
perfect lord seeing everyone to their tables as they arrived.

37. The feast had been a success! It was the talk of the kingdom for weeks after
it’s conclusion. Tanishi and Fanny spent the next months bonding and
growing ever closer.

38. She also began to learn the art of cooking from her
new-father-in law Yidi.

39. The family even got a puppy when Yasutora realized
Fanny seemed to be missing her family pet Cyric.

40. Life for Yautora and Fanny was bright.

41. At the palace unfortunately things weren’t sunny at all. Simon welcomed
Dutchess Michelle to the palace. I appreciate you coming all this way to meet
the crown princess Michelle. I’m afraid Beatrice won’t be coming down.

42. Simon had entertained court alone again today, and he sighed looking down at Tristen. Beatrice had
hardly looked at her daughter once. He knew she felt a lot of pressure to have a son, to live up to her
older brother, but they could always try again. Having a little girl suited him just fine. He was just happy
she was healthy. (Yep a romance sim who actually rolled the want to have a baby)

43. What was most concerning was the fact that the servants whispered
Beatrice would lie the baby on the floor and walk away from her if she was
crying. Act as though she couldn’t hear her. What was Simon going to do?

44. Ocean and Mildrith were discussing the matter of their daughter too.
Perhaps, if all three of them put their heads together they could think of
something.

45. Meanwhile across the kingdom in Aridia, Lord Lampright weary with the
capital decided to see his good friend Lord Brampton in Aridia. He didn’t
expect to arrive at the birth of his friend’s child though…

46. Unlike the capital, Aridia was scorching hot and water
features were a birthright even in the peasant homes.

47. It was so good to see Echard again. Honor was extremely
happy for his friend on the birth of his daughter Allana.

48. Perhaps when our girls are older we could arrange for our families to travel
together? I would certainly love for Clarity and Allana to meet.

49. I cannot thank-you enough Honor for insisting I visit the Great library with you
when I visited the capital last fall. If you hadn’t, I never would have met Anne.
I cannot tell you how truly happy she’s made me.

50. It wasn’t long at all before Allana had grown into a beautiful
little girl. Echard loved playing with her blocks in the nursery.

51. He and Anne were expecting again, and they’d enjoyed hosting several visitors to
their home this season including Anne’s elder sister Isabella who had made a run
through Aridia to pick up recruits for the new coven opening in the capital.

52. Isabella’s visit had also meant he could tour his lands, go hunting, and
drinking with Honor guilt free. The girls didn’t want to men about while they
caught up.

53. Anne took aim at her old friend Honor on the last morning of Spring. Oh how she loved this tradition of
Aridia pelting one’s guests with water as they leave. There was no man more deserving of a fond
farewell than Honor. Even better she thought, in 2 more days I get to douse my sister.

54. Oh boy doesn’t Isabella have something to look forward to in a few days! Thanks for stopping by the
kingdom again, and I do hope you enjoyed the chapter. Kingdom’s gotten so big now…anyway
obviously trying playing in a slightly different order…also I tend to binge play a group of houses on
weekends and then write up what I can. Hopefully, this isn’t too confusing for everybody.