“Don’t be rude, Natalia! What do you mean by that?”“Exactly what I said. What? Are you going to hit me like father did?”Sebastian’s anger slipped away. He didn’t realize he had already raised his hand and the others were looking at him with shock. He lowered his hand shamefully, walking out of the room. He had also forgotten it wasn’t his home and would get lost within a few minutes of walking. “Don’t worry about it, Vivia. I’ll send a servant to lead him,” Dame Violet said to reassure her daughter. A servant was immediately send to aid him and another to bring more food for the additional guest.“Since we’re here, won’t it cause trouble for the head knight and the troops?”“Ah, you’re right. I’ll send a messanger to tell them to come back home since you’re here. It’s not good to leave the Hazel Estate unprotected.”“If you need to send a letter quickly, I can help you send it now, grandmother,” Natalia suddenly said, placing her tea cup down. Vivia didn’t remember teaching her dau
“He’s less impressive than you make him out to be, Natalia.”“I don’t know what you were expecting from a child. I knew he was younger than me but who knew it was this much younger. I feel weird.”“Yes, he is a bit tinier than you. So, that’s the man you fell in love with? I see. I’ll make sure to raise him properly,” Madaline said with fire in her eyes. “There’s no need to go that far. He’ll grow up to be a splendid person if you leave him alone. Although, I wonder. If we didn’t save each other, would we have ended up together? I’m curious.”“I think, no matter what, a human’s nature is determined from the moment they are born. Regardless of circumstances, they will stay true to themselves. If he was a good person when he’s grown up, I’m sure he will grow up to be the same. So, no matter what, I think…” Madaline abruptly stopped, both of them watching Amaika approach. Since the werephoenixes never aged or died, it was the same as the one in Natalia’s memories. They knelt in front of
Alighting from the carriage, they followed Natalia on her tour of the place. The barony of Grayson wasn’t that interesting as regards landmark or anything worth of note. Disappointed, Natalia kept walking, trying to feel out Adelie. She was trying to confirm if she existed and two, if she still had memories of a past life. At a time like this, she had not yet contracted Madaline or even been picked up by the Grayson family. “I’ve never been to a place so unremarkable in my life,” Sebastian commented. Vivia agreed with him with a nod of her head. Natalia agreed it was boring but she needed to see Adelie with her own eyes. As they walked around the town, they caught the eyes of many, especially the begging children. If there was one thing that stood out in the Barony, it was that the number of begging children was exponentially large. Because of the war happening in close proximity to the Barony, it was likely that their parents had been conscripted as foot soldiers in the war. The Ba
“It’s here! It’s finally here! I’m free! I’m free!” Vivia yelled, screaming happily around Natalia’s room. They watched her dance around the room and smiled, as her happiness was contagious. Even though she was confused, Adelie watched quietly. When Vivia realized the children were watching her, she finally stopped and turned around, coughing to hide her embarrassment. “Ahem! This young lady has gone from being Lady Adamantine to Lady Hazel. To me, that is wonderful news. But to you children, it might be a little more difficult. So, whatever you choose to do, I will abide by your decision.”“We’ll stay with you mother. You have the power to choose our spouses and I’m sure you won’t make the wrong decisions concerning our lives.”“Of course, my dear daughter. As you are my adopted daughter, Adelie, you are my daughter as well. Whatever your decision is, mother will help you.”“Thank…you…” Adelie mumbled in reply. Being the adopted daughter of Vivia meant she had access to a private t
“How grand. They could spare some thoughts for the children on the street at least,” Adelie complained as she walked through the palace halls with the Hazel family. “They don’t even spare any thoughts for the ones under their own roof. Adults can be less thoughtless than one would expect.”“Then why are they being allowed to lead an entire kingdom?”“It’s because of bloodline. By the way, asking that question out loud is treason. You can lose your head for that.”Adelie kept her mouth shut and continued walking until they reached the room allocated for the Hazel family. Incidentally, they ran into the Grand Duchess and her son.“Your grace,” they all greeted and curtsied. She greeted them back with a short nod, her face on Vivia’s.“I heard about your divorce, Lady Vivia. It must have been distressing.” “It was but I’m glad that it’s over. Thank you for caring about me and my children, your grace.”The shy child that clutched his mother’s hand was not the Grand Duke Fredrich that Na
“Your highness! Third princess! Princess Alana! Your highness!”“Why are you letting her do as she pleases? There can’t possibly be a princess here,” Adelie said to Sebastian. “Believe it or not, a member of the royal family actually lives here. We’ve only seen the third princess on a few occasions but she lives like she doesn’t exist because of the Queen. If we can call out to her, we can find her.” “I didn't even know there was a third princess,” Adelie grumbled. Sebastian looked at her, dug around his pocket and handed her a piece of candy. “If you’re bored, you can take this. Don’t worry about finishing it. I still have more with me.”“Ah, thank you.” “I’m your brother. This is nothing.”“You just accept it? She decides to take me along with her and the whole family accepts her decision? No matter how much I think about it, it’s still strange.”“My sister is the reason why this family is together and safe. Every decision she makes is for our safety so there isn’t an iota of do
“Introducing Lady Vivia Hazel, her son, Sebastian Adamantine, her first daughter Natalia Adamantine and her second daughter, Adelie Hazel,” the chamberlain announced as they entered the ballroom. They walked in confidently, ignoring the comments the nobles said as they came in. they were nothing short of rude and uncourteous, mostly about the divorce and a surprising other child. Before they reached the Queen, there was already a rumor of an illegitimate child from the nobles. “Congratulations on the occasion of your birth, your majesty. By the great spirits, you will live a long and healthy life,” Vivia said, bowing appropriately. “Thank you, Lady Hazel. I didn’t really expect that you would show up and with your children no less. I admire your strength.”“Thank you, your majesty. It’s really comforting, knowing that you understand how I feel, especially after I was betrayed my the one supposed to love me.”Natalia tried not to smile, knowing what her mother was doing. As the Queen
“Did you intentionally interrupt our dance?”“Why would you think that?! I only came to give you food! Honestly, you’re such a sister lover!”Natalia froze upon hearing that. If it was the Sebastian of her past lives, then she woud’ve believed it. But if it was the Sebastian she knew now…“You’re just jealous that I’m closer to Natalia than you are. It’s okay. If you kneel and call me teacher, then I can teach you how to get closer to her.”“WHAT?! That is preposterous! I am already her sister, I don’t need to…”“PFFT! HAHAHAHA!” Natalia burst into laughter. She never thought she would hear something like that from Adelie’s mouth, especially since she spent the last two lives trying to kill her. “Why are you laughing?”“Oh, nothing. The both of you are just so adorable, I couldn’t help myself.”“W-What?! What do you mean Adorable?!”While the argued, the door opened again but this time, it was their mother. She heaved a sigh of relief and walked to where Sebastian was standing and sa