CHAPTER 281: SAW SOMEONE ELSE IN HIM

"So there’s a possibility that it’s your surname. But there are many surnames that start with C." Just as Aristia said, it wasn’t possible to figure out their surname with just a letter.

Heidi shrugged, "We’ve had that pendant for as long as we can remember. Since we were babies." It was a surprise that their ’aunt’ and ’uncle’ let them keep it.

It was the only thing that convinced them that they hadn’t been abandoned or unwanted. Which unwanted child would be given a pendant like this? Why would the person go through the trouble for a child they didn’t want?

Heidi and Penelope were hoping to find their parents one day, if they were still alive.

"How old are you?" Dorothy moved on to the next question.

"We’re twelve." The girls said.

After Dorothy was done collecting the necessary information, she got up.

"Welcome to Willows Haven. I will arrange your room. Until then, you can wait in the main hall or even engage with the other children. I’m sure they would be more than glad to welcome you to the family."

"Family?" The twins asked, perplexed.

Dorothy smiled knowingly. "Yes. Princess Aristia’s family."

The twins eyes widened in surprise. They had heard that it was the third princess Aristia who built this orphanage, but to say it was her family... wasn’t that a bit too much?

Dorothy didn’t react to their surprise. They wouldn’t understand now, but they would as they got used to the orphanage.

That was what the children in the orphanage referred to themselves as— princess Aristia’s family.

It was because on the day Willows Haven was formed, Princess Aristia had said it herself that the orphanage was her family.

Everyone had reacted the same way as the twins, but the princess explained that family loved and took care of each other.

She loved them and would take care of them, so in a way, she had accepted them and considered them as family.

These touching words touched the hearts of not only the children in the orphanage, but also the many commoners who had heard of it.

The children loved her already.

After telling Dorothy that they were leavy, Aristia, Owen and the twins left the office.

Since Aristia was disguised as Aris, none of the children or adults in the orphanage could tell that she was the third princess.

"Since everything’s settled, I and Owen are leaving. You’ll see us around sometimes." Aristia said.

Heidi and Penelope nodded. They were in an unfamiliar place, but seeing a lot of children who were younger, older or the same age as they were made them more comfortable.

"Thank you." They said with gratitude.

Aristia and Owen left Willows Haven.

She was putting on a cloak and Owen was wearing a hat, so when they reversed their features, no one noticed.

The two of them walked along the street until they found a carriage to take them to the Grand Duke’s mansion.

"Your highness, third Princess Aristia!" The Coachman recognized her when she stated her location. "It’s a pleasure to have you. Truly." He said with a polite now.

He guessed that the boy beside her was an Aristocrat.

Aristia smiled adorably. "Hello. It’s a pleasure to meet you too, sir."

The coachman was flattered. Who was this polite angel? Who knew the third princess was so adorable?

Aristia and Owen entered the carriage heading to the mansion. It wasn’t as comfortable as their own carriage, but they made do with it.

Now that she thought about it, she should have contacted her father to send Lucas to pick them up.

The carriage was stopped from entering the gates of the mamsion.

One of the guards at the gate asked the Coachman to state his business.

"I carry her highness the third princess and a young master." The Coachman said.

Just then, Owen opened the carriage’s window.

The guard saw him and recognized him immediately.

He waved his hand to the guards at the gate. "Let him in."

The other guards opened the gate for the carriage to pass through.

The carriage entered and finally stopped in front of the mansion.

The Coachman was awed.

Regular coachmen didn’t usually enter the residences of the lords since the lords had their own coachmen and carriages, so this was a rare opportunity for him.

Aristia and Owen came down from the carriage.

"Here’s your payment, sir." Owen said.

The Coachman shook his head. "No, no. I won’t take it, young master."

"Please take it, sir. This is your work. You also have a family to take care of."

Hearing her words, the Coachman was astounded. The princess was even thinking so far ahead about how he made a living. Who knew she was this thoughtful.

The Coachman finally accepted the money and left the mansion, thinking to himself that he had to tell his family and friends about how thoughtful and kind the third princess really was. He had witnessed it personally.

Owen glanced at the smile on Aristia’s face as the Coachman rode away and couldn’t help the shiver that ran down his spine.

But Aristia didn’t pay him any attention.

Alaric, Kai and Adeline were waiting outside.

"You’re back, Tia."

"You’re back, Princess Tia."

"Your back, princess."

Three voices greeted simultaneously, all sounding equally happy.

Owen, "..." Where was his own greeting?

Aristia smiled at them.

"Princess, are you hungry? You probably haven’t eaten anything." Adeline asked as they entered the mansion.

[Am I known for eating now?] Aristia wondered, looking at Adeline’s heartbroken expression.

She nodded.

Adeline turned around just as quickly. "Then I’ll make you some food."

"Make some for me too." Owen said.

Adeline glanced at him.

Owen cleared his throat. "Ahem, please."

Adeline left.

Owen shook his head helplessly. ’...I should have kept my mouth shut.’ He thought.

Everyone knew that Adeline would make food for him too, but somehow when he asked for it, it became a crime.

"What about mama and papa?" She asked Alaric.

"They’re in the garden." Alaric replied.

"Okay." Aristia nodded.

"So, how have your spells been, Kai?" Aristia asked.

Kai face fell and his mood turned sullen at the mention of his spells. "It’s not exactly what I expected."

"You’re working hard, Kai." Aristia said and patted his shoulder. "You’re already good enough. Don’t push yourself too hard. With constant practice, you should be able to get what you want."

She told him that he was already good enough which was the truth.

Kai had greatly improved ever since he began to be taught by the mage in the East.

Kai brightened up at her words of encouragement. "I’ll keep trying." He said with a determined face.

"That’s the spirit," Aristia said.

"Which spirit?" Everyone asked.

Aristia explained what it was with slight exasperation.

Everyone’s faces turned to one of realization and they had the same thought. ’Oh, she’s formed a new phrase.’

They quickly added it to their mental special Aristia vocabulary.

"Have you had lunch?" Aristia asked Kai and Alaric.

The two looked away and avoided her gaze.

Aristia’s eyes narrowed at them.

She sighed and looked away. "Join us for lunch."

Her eyes stopped on Owen who remained silent since the last interaction.

[He’s really just like my assistant. He didn’t really talk much. Well, most of the time.]

Owen noticed her gaze. His face turned confused, wondering if there was something she wanted to say.

Aristia turned away wordlessly, leaving Owen even more perplexed.

Anytime she stared at him that way, he felt as if she was seeing someone else in him or comparing him to someone.

Just as they reached Aristia’s room and settled in around the round table in the corner of the room that served as Aristia’s personal tea area, Adeline served lunch together with Cassandra and another maid.

"Could you please pass me the sugar, Owen?" Aristia asked, since the sugar was in front of him.

Before Owen could respond, the sugar slowly lifted off the table without being touched, then floated in the air and slowly came in Aristia’s direction.

Aristia reached out her hand and grabbed it, then she looked over at Kai.

Kai blushed shyly and explained. "It’s one of the things I’ve been practicing— levitation."

Aristia smiled appreciatively. "Thanks, Kai."

After they were done eating, the maids cleared the table and Kai and Owen left the room.

It remained only Aristia and Alaric in her room.

"Oh, mama said that madam Grace will be here tomorrow to take measurements for the dress you’ll wear to the banquet in the palace." Alaric said, suddenly remembering.

"Okay," Aristia nodded to show she understood.

"Captain Hugh is also coming tomorrow." Alaric said.

Aristia was aware of it but she had forgotten.

Now that Alaric had reminded her, she groaned.

She had been exercising in the East, but she admitted that the exercise was no where near what Hugh would assign. The exercise was just enough for Hugh’s training to not feel too hard when the training resumed.

"Also, we’re resuming all our lessons after the banquet." Alaric continued.

Aristia, "..."

Okay, okay. She would keep all those reminders in mind.