I fell asleep 🥲 Then I got caught up in assignments for Uni. So sorry for that. Definitely plan on doing a multi part about Euphemia‘s birth and the circumstances surrounding it, but I’m swamped with assignments right now so I’ll put that on hold. I want to find more time for writing but I’ve been largely focused on my original story recently but here’s to hoping I’ll learn how to balance it out. Thank you @princeofsinweek This was so much fun!
Day 7: The Biggest Party of the Century
How the Princes Celebrate the Birth of their Niece
Following the tensions that arose with the latter end of Emilia’s pregnancy, as well as the traumatic labour and birth that came after, it felt as though a pin drop silence had pressed down upon the entire Underworld, barely leaving any room to breath. For a brief, yet endless moment, all anyone could hear was the sound of their own hearts. It was shattered only when loud wailing resounded through the halls of House Wrath, like the ringing of bells, echoing across the land. As The Princes and their Princesses released collective sighs of relief, Fauna stepped out of the chamber.
This time, the silence that followed was filled with rising anticipation, and broken by the joyous sound of new life. It was time for all of Hell to celebrate.
🐺 The painting just… appeared! Right there, in her mind’s eye, she could see it. The sight of her very first niece, so small and new, had been a moment she wished to preserve in paint.
🐺 The first thing Camilla did upon returning to House Envy, is run right to her studio. Paints, brushes and canvases were lined up, and a smock was thrown over her gown, before Envy even caught up with her. Cans of black, gold, white pink were the most common monastery those strewn nearest to her easel.
🐺 She didn’t bother glancing at her husband, who stood against the door frame, watching her with a Cheshire grin.
🐺 He tried to distract her many times, even bringing up food from the party in the throne room (the court’s own celebration for the birth of the princess) but she only picked at it as she painted.
🐺 At some point, the vaguely remembers demanding that Envy go and find a suitable frame for the painting. He furrowed his brows and came to see what she was painting, and when he saw the half done painting, showcasing the familiar silhouettes of his brother and sister in law, holding a swaddled bundle in their arms, a faint smile graced his lips.
🐺 Envy spent days searching for the finest frame that would suit the painting. Eventually, he settled for having one made custom.
🐺 He had his demons collect wood from the Sin Corridor, feeling it fitting that the portrait of Hell’s King, Queen and newborn Princess be framed in a material from a place where no single sin ruled.
🐺 Envy smiled every time he saw the painting as Camilla added more and more layers to it, working harder on it than any other. In it, Emilia‘s gaze was glued to her daughter, while her husband‘s eyes were pinned to her, warmer than he’d ever seen. In Emilia‘s arms, a pair of curious golden eyes gazed back up at them.
🐺 He’d never admit it out loud, though he’s sure Camilla figured out, that Envy’s heart melted each time he took in the sight. Although, part of him was certain that once his brother saw the effort that went into the picture and the frame alike, Wrath would come to the same conclusion.
🐸 Greed’s gambling halls were more packed than ever, following the birth of the princess..
🐸 Old bets on the child’s gender were being called in since it was announced she was a girl, while new bets on her appearance were being made as Demons argued over who she looked more like; The Goddess of Fury or the Demon of Wrath. 
🐸 Greed remains in his office, sorting through piles of gems. He h led each one up to the ribbon tied in a bow, around the neck of the stuffed deer.
🐸 His second found it amusing how hard he was trying to pick the right accessories for a children’s toy.
🐸 Eventually, he wrote a letter to his brother, asking about which gemstone looked more gold to him, the yellow Sapphire, the yellow Diamond, or the Moissanite.
🐸 Envy had a far better eye for colour than Greed, so it wasn’t a shock that Greed would write to him about this, but Envy still read the letter through twice, and then thrice, after which he had Alexi confirm that what he was reading was, in fact, correct. Greed was typically more concerned with material value and rarity than colour or appearance.
🐸 Before he could even think of how to respond, Camilla glanced over his shoulder and gave him her thoughts, before continuing back to her studio.
🐸 Envy could only shake his head, having wolf draft and deliver the response, before turning his attention back to the various designs proposed for the frame he was commissioning.
🐸 Greed narrowed his eyes at the hasty response, about to complain about Envy not taking him seriously, but Wolf pointed out that it was Camilla’s opinion. Frankly, he found her opinion far more reliable than his brother’s.
💟 House Lust has been celebrating the birth since it was announced. There was drinking and dancing and indulging for days.
💟 Lust had his second do research on what the ladies of his House found most useful when they had newborns.
💟 He received many suggestions, from baby carriers to stuffed toys. Eventually, he settled on a baby blanket.
💟 Lust spent weeks sampling various fabrics, from silks and velvet yarn, to cashmere and bamboo. He thoroughly examined many spools of thread used for embroidery, in dark yellows and shimmering gold. He had even asked for several samples of floral lace to go along the edges.
💟 He eventually settles on a soft, buttery white cashmere. Using a golden thread, he had his Niece’s name embroidered on, beside a black serpent. The edges were lined with a baby pink, floral lace.
💟 Lust even went to House Sloth to find various useful enchantments for the blanket. It’d be resistant to stains, always keep the babe at the perfect temperature, no matter how hot or cold it was outside, and Sloth suggested a tracking spell, making the blanket easy to find when needed, but also so, should anything happen, Euphemia would also be easy to find, so long as she had the blanket.
💟 Lust agreed to that quickly, and while the enchantments were being cast, he pestered Sloth about what he’d gift the baby.
🦁 Pride and Lucia immediately set to work on monitoring potential threats. Especially witches.
🦁 While Lucia wants to believe her mother will respect her happiness this time around, history has shown that it’s better to be prepared than regret it.
🦁 Pride focuses on feeding his sin, allowing celebration to occur, and even sharing all the ways he is, undoubtedly, the superior uncle (low hanging fruit, for sure, but that was mostly to agitate his brothers).
🦁 Lucia casts divinations, and protections charms any time she can, hyper aware of any activity that could once again bring harm to her home, and those she cherishes.
🦁 When she does catch a break, she enjoys crocheting scarves, hats and booties for her new niece. She even makes shawls for Emilia.
🦁 Pride selects the prettiest gowns for newborns, with matching ribbons and bows, in just about every colour. Even Lucia is shocked by the size of the wardrobe Pride seems to be creating for his niece.
🦁 Pride ensures that the seamstresses he hires are unable to remake any of the gown and accessories he gets for anyone else, adult or child. Which Lucia (and later Emilia) think is too much, but he insists that the first born Princess of Hell’s wardrobe must be entirely unique.
🦁 Before long, Lucia had come to Pride with a list of rising threats from all over the Underworld. From witch covens seeking to avenge the defeat of La Prima, as Lucia feared, to solitary fae, and, arguably the most pressing, remnants of the former Vampire Prince’s faction.
🦁 Many would rather see Blade removed from power, and would rather see a blooded heir on the throne, or try to seize power for themselves. Apparently they felt as if attacking The Seven Circles while the realm was distracted, and attempting to sabotage his strengthening alliances with the Demon Princes by implicating him in an attempt on the newborn princess’s life was how they’d try to earn Hell’s backing.
🦁 Needless to say, Pride set out under the guise of buying more dresses from outside The Seven Circles (which he did do), leaving the court to Lucia to tend to the court while he killed two birds with one stone, by removing a threat to his niece, and (secretly) helping blade strengthen his support, all the while leaving Blade indebted to him.
🩵 Gluttony’s first point of business was ordering winter ale. His second was pulling out the finest bottle of wine I his House’s wine cellar. When Adriana and Val questioned it, he happily informed them that the first drink Emilia should have after being sober for nine whole months should be the finest Hell had to offer. Which, in his opinion, could only be found in his House of Sin.
🩵 The rest of his circle celebrate with feasts, dancing and festivals. His hunters set out, into the North, but not to hunt ice dragons. They hunt Hell Stags, for their antlers and hide.
🩵 Gluttony went out on such hunts as well, seeing what he could find that would also be appropriate to gift his niece.
🩵 He considered just bringing the head to mount on her nursery wall, but Adriana shouted at him and threatened to make him sleep in the stables unless he decided on something else.
🩵 He knew his wife was writing some children’s stories, some of which were her own creation while others simplified versions of the misadventures their family had before Emilia fell pregnant. Adriana insisted on keeping them simple, so that their niece might even use these to learn how to read one day.
🩵 Gluttony laughed when he read her child friendly rendition how he and Adriana had learned the cause of the Ice Dragon’s unrest, and finally managed to undo what the Hexed quill had caused.
🩵 Surprisingly enough, it was Sophie who had suggested using shed antlers to make jewellery, at a dinner with Adriana’s family one night. Then Vanity suggested that that they may even be enchanted.
🩵 Knowing that Lust used magic on the baby blanket he’d commissioned, Gluttony settled with tracking spells, just in case she was taken without the blanket, and spells for good health. Although, he did need Sascha to use witchcraft instead of demon magic, so the spells would be affective, but not strong enough to risk causing harm or discomfort.
🩵 He, ultimately, decided on having the antlers maid into hairpins, for when she was a tad older.
📚House Sloth celebrated through preparation. Of course, he allowed his ballroom to be used for dancing and dining for those who desired. After all, it’s not every day that a Princess of Hell was born. But many preferred the anticipation for what she’d bring.
📚 Whispers of change spread throughout all the seven circles. Of laws being revised, and opportunities for young lords to acquaint themselves with her highness.
📚 Much like his brothers, Sloth quickly, and methodically squashed any such rumours or ideas. Still, he and his brothers knew well that everyone has their own opinions about the princess. It won’t be long before she learns what all those different smiles truly mean.
📚 Sloth decided to have a mobile commissioned, filled with all sorts of stars and flowers.
📚 Lore picks out various fairytales she adored as a child, and complies them into an anthology. Between her stories and Adriana’s, Lust is certain his niece will be able to stock an entire library,
📚 Sloth also makes sure to compile anthologies on illnesses, injuries, and abnormalities that babies can experience, along with antidotes and remedies.
📚 He does the same for child development rates and magic development rates, so Emilia and Wrath have quick and immediate access to any and all possible tricks, techniques, dangers and antidotes at a moment’s notice.
📚 House Sloth values preparedness.
🗡️ Wrath and Emilia are too caught up in the flurry of their daughter’s arrival, as well as their own overprotectiveness, that it was several weeks, perhaps even a month or more, before they have a chance to properly celebrate.
🗡️ Naturally, that involves a family dinner with everyone present. One where Emilia insisted on cooking, leaving Fauna and Anir to watch over the baby.
🗡️ From the moment they arrive, her sister-in-laws are all surrounding her, cooing excitedly over her daughter, and her little tufts of silver hair.
🗡️ The night is spent passing Euphemia around as she takes in her whole family for the very first time. She greets them by yanking on their hair and tugging at their clothes.
🗡️ She even tries to bring Adriana’s hair to her mouth at some point, before she quickly pulls back, and brings her over to the baby mobile Sloth gifted instead.
🗡️ Emilia quickly set it up, over the bassinet and her heart melted at the joyful sounds her baby made.
🗡️ At some point, Wrwht and Envy stepped out to hang Camilla’s portrait. Emilia wanted it somewhere in their private suite.
🗡️ Gluttony and Lust had groaned when she told them that she still shouldn’t drink until Euphemia’s feeding schedule spaced out a bit, since she was still nursing. But she assured them that she was determined to get her on a schedule of some kind before the next family dinner.
🗡️ Sloth would never admit it, but he felt a dash of pride when Emilia’s eyes lit up at the sight of his research. Obvious relief flooded her at the gift.
🗡️ Lore and Adriana spent their time dramatically reading fairytales to the baby.
🗡️ Pride went stiff when he heard Lucia telling her about how he’d gone to dispatch threats to Euphemia in the Malice Isles. He merely puffed out his chest, and continued to drink with the swagger of a debauched, arrogant prince when he felt his wife, sister-in-law’s and brothers’ gazes all turn on him.
🗡️ He won’t admit that a piece of his heart melted when Emilia held up the cooing baby to him, telling her in a warm tone to ‘say thank you to Uncle Pride’.
🗡️ He reluctantly, but softly, pinched at her cheeks, smiling when she cooed back at him.
🗡️ Wrath spent the evening enjoying his family’s company, and appreciating how it had grown from just himself and his brothers. Never before did they bring their partners to family dinners. Not before Lucia, anyway. And none of the. Ever expected any of them would bring newborns either.
🗡️ His own heart melted as the baby reached in his direction, cooing happily.
