I won't fall for the queen who burned my world-Chapter 235: Diaper change

Elysia stirred slowly in the golden morning light, blinking against the warmth pressing close to her back.

Malvoria’s strong arms were wrapped tightly around her, caging her with a sort of possessive gentleness that had become familiar over the last months.

The demon queen slept lightly, her breathing steady against Elysia’s shoulder, but the moment Elysia moved to sit up, the hold around her waist tightened slightly.

She eased out a sigh. Her entire body ached—not the deep, sharp pain of battle, but the bone-deep fatigue of having given birth just hours before.

Every muscle protested, and her hips felt like they had been reassembled slightly off-kilter. But none of that mattered.

Because Kaelith was here.

And then her heart leapt in panic.

She turned her head sharply, searching for the cradle.

It was there—just a few feet from the bed, nestled in the warm corner by the window where sunlight filtered through lavender curtains.

In it lay her daughter, Kaelith, a tiny swaddle of white hair and red streaks, the smallest of horns poking gently through curls, her chest rising and falling in peaceful rhythm.

Relief loosened Elysia’s chest. She slumped back for a second, just breathing.

Okay. They were both alive. Kaelith was still here.

She slowly peeled Malvoria’s arm from her waist and sat up fully, one hand pressed protectively to her abdomen.

Her body still felt strange. Empty in one sense, but so full in another. She was a mother now. There was no changing that. No walking it back. And more than anything, she wanted to be good at it.

But that terror... it hadn’t faded.

What if she wasn’t enough?

Kaelith let out the softest grunt in her sleep, and Elysia smiled faintly, her eyes softening.

Well, she’d start with love. That was a good place.

The odor hit her before the sound did.

It started with a faint crackle. A suspicious squelch. Then came the soft wailing. Elysia grimaced.

"Oh no."

Malvoria stirred behind her. "What?" she asked, voice thick with sleep. "What happened?"

"Your daughter has exploded."

That got Malvoria to sit up in one swift, warrior-trained motion. "Exploded? What—" She sniffed the air, and her expression crumpled. "Oh, that."

Kaelith’s wails increased in volume as Elysia rose from the bed slowly, her joints clicking like poorly-hinged armor.

She approached the cradle, hesitated, and then picked up her daughter, trying to smile despite the smell wafting ominously into the air.

"I think... she needs a change."

"You think?" Malvoria groaned, flopping dramatically back onto the bed, dragging a pillow over her face.

Elysia gave her a look. "Get up, your majesty. Consider this your royal duty."

Ten minutes later, they had cleared a space on the changing table. Elysia, still dressed in her nightgown and trying not to wrinkle her nose too obviously, had removed the first layer of Kaelith’s blankets.

The child blinked up at her with glowing grey eyes, the faintest flickers of purple fire dancing harmlessly over her tiny fingers.

"She’s calm now," Elysia muttered, suspicious.

"That’s a trap," Malvoria warned as she brought over a clean cloth, a bottle of soothing salve, and what looked like backup supplies. "She’s luring you into a false sense of safety."

"I’m the mother, I think I can—"

The moment Elysia untaped the first strip of the diaper, a surge of wild, chaotic purple flame burst from beneath it, singeing the edge of the cloth and spiraling briefly toward the edge of the table. Elysia yelped, flinging herself back.

"Not the carpet!" Malvoria shouted, bolting forward and grabbing Kaelith while simultaneously patting out the flame that had dared lick toward the nearest leg of their silk-draped armchair.

"The carpet?" Elysia shouted back, slightly smoked. "I almost lost my eyebrows!"

Kaelith giggled—actually giggled.

The infernal child.

"I told you," Malvoria muttered, her voice both amused and slightly smug. She held Kaelith at arm’s length with practiced calm. "You have to be fast and firm. She respects authority."

"She’s not even one day old!"

"She’s a demon child."

And with terrifying efficiency, Malvoria laid the baby down again, waved her hand to conjure a soft magic field that dampened Kaelith’s accidental bursts of fire, and changed the diaper in ten seconds flat.

Elysia watched in stunned silence as Malvoria tucked the cloth securely, wiped Kaelith’s belly with a warm cloth, and snapped the tiny fasteners shut with an almost casual flourish.

"There," Malvoria said. "Easy."

Elysia blinked.

"I’m never changing her again," she whispered, half in awe, half in despair.

Malvoria grinned and scooped Kaelith into her arms, bouncing her gently. "Well, I’ll let you try again... when she’s older. Maybe when she stops setting things on fire."

"You’re enjoying this," Elysia accused.

"No," Malvoria said, smiling fondly at the child in her arms. "I’m just good at this. Surprising, isn’t it?"

Elysia shook her head, but she was smiling too. She reached out, running a finger gently across Kaelith’s soft, cool cheek.

"You’re lucky," she whispered to her daughter. "You’ve got the most dangerous, most terrifying, most stubborn protector in the world."

"And the most beautiful, most compassionate, most reckless mother," Malvoria added, brushing a kiss against Elysia’s temple.

Elysia sighed.

"Well," she muttered, reaching for another clean cloth. "Guess I better practice. But I swear if she sets my hair on fire, I’m giving her to your grandma."

"She’d probably teach her to weaponize it."

"Exactly."

They laughed softly together, Kaelith safely cradled between them.

The laughter had settled into something softer now—Malvoria’s forehead pressed against Elysia’s temple, her arms curled protectively around them both, Kaelith nestled like a flame-kissed treasure between them.

The baby let out a gentle coo, curling one tiny hand into the edge of Malvoria’s clothe, and Elysia swore her heart cracked just a little more under the weight of it all.

She’d never known a moment could feel this full.

Just as she leaned forward to press a kiss to Kaelith’s warm forehead, the chamber door creaked open with the subtle grace of someone who had no intention of knocking first.

"What a happy family," came Veylira’s smooth voice, too smug for it to be casual. "Can I join?"

Elysia jumped slightly, nearly elbowing Malvoria in the ribs. Malvoria groaned like someone whose private moment had just been shattered.

"You could knock," she muttered.

Veylira strode into the room like it belonged to her, her silver robes rustling with every precise step.

"And miss the chance to witness this domestic scene? Elysia radiant, Malvoria looking... almost human, and Kaelith—ah, she has your nose, Elysia."

"She has horns," Elysia deadpanned, but she was smiling.

"Horns and charm," Veylira added, peering over the cradle and lowering her voice. "She’s perfect. You two did well."

Elysia flushed under the praise, glancing at Malvoria, who was pretending not to beam.

"Well," Malvoria said dryly, "if you’re done judging our parenting from three feet away..."

Veylira arched a single, elegant brow. "Judging? Darling, I’m admiring. But now that you mention it—" her gaze swept over both women, "you two look like sleep-deprived battlefield survivors."

Elysia blinked. "We kind of are."

"And that," Veylira said, gliding toward the cradle to peer in on Kaelith, "is why you’re both getting up and heading to the bath. Right now."

Malvoria narrowed her eyes. "Is that an order?"

"It’s a recommendation from someone who knows what postpartum recovery actually looks like. Elysia, your body’s gone through a storm. You need proper care, warmth, gentle magic, and most importantly—your wife attending to every inch of you."

Elysia’s cheeks flushed instantly. "I’m fine—"

"You’re not," Veylira interrupted smoothly. "And before your demon pride kicks in, Malvoria, don’t look at me like that. You said you’d protect her, right? That includes caring for her. Every shift in her magic, her muscles, her core—everything’s changed."

Malvoria’s expression softened. She looked at Elysia, really looked, and her tone dropped. "Let’s go. A bath. Then rest."

Elysia sighed, tired but smiling. "You just want to wash my hair again."

"And hold you while I do," Malvoria murmured, already helping her up.