Chapter 1
Custard Cookie III had many questions.
As a future king (self-proclaimed, but that was beside the point), it was his duty to understand the world and all its wonders. Important matters like ruling a kingdom, wielding a scepter with the right amount of dramatic flair, and—most crucially—figuring out how two queens managed to have a baby together.
Which was why he stood in front of Golden Cheese and White Lily Cookie now, arms crossed, expression full of innocent determination. The royal cape he wore—crafted with paper and childlike ambition—fluttered slightly as he leaned in.
“Okay,” Custard Cookie III started, squinting. “How is this possible?”
Golden Cheese raised a brow. “How is what possible?”
“This!” He gestured wildly to White Lily’s stomach, where a new life was growing. “You’re both queens! And queens marry kings to have heirs, right? But you’re both queens! So—” His voice lowered, as if sharing a deeply scandalous secret. “How does it work?”
White Lily Cookie, who had been peacefully sipping her tea, nearly choked.
Golden Cheese, on the other hand, blinked once. Then a slow, amused grin curled at her lips.
“Oh? Curious about such matters already, little king?”
White Lily’s face turned an embarrassing shade of red. “Golden—”
“What?” Golden Cheese chuckled, leaning back against the golden throne-like chair she occupied. “It’s a fair question. Besides, he should know his future royal duties will include understanding how heirs are made.” She winked. “Or, in our case, how two powerful queens make one.”
Custard Cookie III’s head bobbed up and down eagerly. “Yeah! Explain it to me!”
White Lily covered her face with both hands. “Oh stars, this is not a conversation I was prepared for.”
“Then allow me.” Golden Cheese leaned forward, eyes gleaming with mischief. “You see, dear Custard, Ancient Cookies are not bound by the same rules as others. We hold immense magic within us, including the ability to—”
She paused dramatically, letting the anticipation build.
Custard Cookie III leaned in closer.
White Lily muttered, “I swear if you say something inappropriate—”
Golden Cheese smirked and finally said, “We can change our forms.”
“…Change your forms?” Custard Cookie III tilted his head. “Like shape-shifting?”
“Precisely!” Golden Cheese flicked her wrist, golden dust shimmering around her. “With enough magic, an Ancient Cookie can adjust certain… biological aspects as needed.”
Custard Cookie III still looked mildly confused. “…So you can just—poof!—turn into a king when you want?”
Golden Cheese snickered. “Something like that.”
White Lily let out a long, suffering sigh. “That is a very oversimplified way of explaining it.”
“But accurate!” Golden Cheese winked.
Custard Cookie III frowned in deep thought. “Hmmm… I don’t know if I understand, but I’ll trust you! If that’s how Ancient Cookies work, then I guess it makes sense.” Then his face lit up. “Wait, does that mean I can do that too? Can I turn into a king for real?!”
White Lily sighed. “Custard, dear, you’re not—”
“I believe that would require you to actually be an Ancient Cookie.” Golden Cheese tapped his nose playfully. “Which, sadly, you are not.”
“Oh.” Custard Cookie III slumped slightly, then immediately perked back up. “Well, I’ll find a way! After all, I will be the best king one day!”
Golden Cheese laughed, ruffling his hair. “That’s the spirit.”
White Lily, still flustered but fond, simply shook her head.
Custard Cookie III beamed, satisfied with his newfound knowledge, and ran off to proclaim his royal findings to the world.
White Lily turned to Golden Cheese with an exasperated look. “You are terrible.”
Golden Cheese merely smirked. “Oh, you love it.”
“…Unfortunately, I do.”
Golden Cheese pulled her close, kissing her temple. “Good. Now, shall we discuss more practical details about this little one’s future?”
White Lily sighed, leaning into her. “Only if you promise to never explain Ancient biology to a child again.”
“No guarantees.”
“Golden—”
Laughter echoed through the halls of the Golden Cheese Kingdom.