The carriage was now passing over a rocky road so it shook a bit. Raziel waited for a few moments for the carriage to stabilize.
“After the king died, and Prince Griffith was still adjusting to control the country…a witch suddenly took over.” He spoke up.
Vienna motioned for him to go on, feeling somehow betrayed. “You didn’t tell me about this.”
“It was not a big matter at the moment and I figured it would all turn back to normal…” He simply replied.
Vienna looked at him “What? Not a big matter? Raziel, you just kept something like that from me.”
“I know, I apologize, Vienna.”
Viena just huffed and Avelina chuckled nervously, feeling responsible for this sudden change of mood in the carriage as the tension filled the air between Raziel and Vienna.
The rest of the road was quiet, with Raziel and Vienna not talking. Titus and Fedel bought their supplies as the town of Newham would be nothing but grass fields. She expected to sleep in an inn as the Ballater has it but they took a different route.
She turned to Raziel, still full of pride but asked, “Raziel, aren't we going to rest for the night?”
“Yes, we’ll rest at my place here.”
She cocked an eyebrow, “Here?”
“We’re here, Master! Yelled Fedel’s voice from outside.
Raziel instantly got out. He then offered his hands for Vienna to take but Vienna huffed and walked by herself, not accepting his hand.
“Oh, I’ll accept that.” Said Avelina not to crush Raziel’s heart but Raziel just sighed and dropped his hands, following Vienna.
Avelina was left by herself now in the carriage. She was about to step out when a hand came out of nowhere.
She looked up and saw it was Titus, Vienna’s knight.
She offered a polite smile before awkwardly accepting it, feeling a bit electrified from his warm hand that was twice as big as hers.
He seemed to feel the ignite too as his eyes widened a bit before bowing and leaving before she could even say her thanks.
“Avelina!” Yelled Duchess Vienna from a distance, now far from them as she was inside a house. Avelina instantly ran to her. “Come inside!”
Duchess Vienna looked at the surroundings. The house was in the woods, mostly at the top of the mountain.
Children were running around, and a small girl about five years old stopped and stared at her.
Vienna blinked, staring at the little girl back.
Titus nodged her from beside and whispered, “Smile to them, your grace.”
She nodded, taking her knight's advice. Her lips stretched into what she could see as a smile.
The little girl saw what she was doing and instead of smiling back at her, the horror came to her face.
“Ackk!!! Witch!” The little girl exclaimed at the top of her lungs, making the other three children beside her look up and stare at what she was pointing at. Once they all saw Vienna’s smiling face, They all yelled and panicked.
Titus cleared his throat awkwardly, “I believe you should stop smiling now..your grace. You have to practice your smile more, especially to kids…”
Vienna scoffed, dropping her smile now. “They seemed to have…a different reaction.”
Hmp. To think she just smiled for them just to get a reaction like this.
Suddenly, a thought came to her.
“Oh, you want to see a really scary thing, children?” She asked as Valen her pet stood by the door, his eyes peeking at the hole as his huge size couldn’t fit in the door.
All the children froze seeing Valen and quickly ran to a middle-aged man.
“Children, settle down. We have a guest.” He said to the kids, still calm despite the noise throughout the house.
He gasped when he saw Duke Raziel greeting him from the door, along with Duchess Vienna, their knights beside, and Avelina. He glanced at their cargos and had already grasped the situation.
He must have experienced these unannounced visits a lot now that he’s used to it. He broke into a grin, greeting them warmly, “Good evening, Duke Donovan. To what do I owe this pleasure to you visiting our home?”
He opened the door large enough and motioned inside, “Come inside. I apologize for not being able to prepare for your visit.”
“Evening Mr. Martini.” Greeted Duke Raziel. “It’s our fault for not informing you about our sudden visit. We had a bit of a situation.”
Upon entering the house, he looked around the structure, “How are things going here?”
“Good. Everything is fine because of your help and monthly donations to us, Duke Donovan. We are thankful for your unending support.”
“Mr. Martini.” Fedel greeted, shaking hands with the middle-aged man. Fedel noticed the curious look of Mr. Martini in Duchess Vienna so he stepped in.
“Duchess Vienna, this is Mr. Martini, the caretaker of this hidden house the duke created to take care of the children that are abandoned. Almost like an orphanage.” Fedel explained, “The kids you saw here are mostly our enemies' children who they abandoned.”
Vienna blinked, glancing at Raziel with a surprised look, who she caught staring at her. She instantly turned her head away, remembering she was still angry at him from earlier.
She wants to say that it is impressive and unexpected for Raziel to do…but she stopped herself. He deserves to be complemented after she received the sincere apology she wanted.
Fedel then continued, “This is the duke’s wife, Duchess Vienna.”
Duchess Vienna smiled and gave Mr. Martini a nod.
Mr. Martini gasped but clasped his hand, “Wife? So the word from town was telling the truth. I apologize I was not informed as I live here in an isolated area, but I am happy I got to meet the duke’s precious wife.” He cleared his throat and bowed to Duchess Vienna.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Duchess, your grace.”
Duchess Vienna smiled, “Raise your head. It’s a pleasure meeting you too.”
Mr. Martini did as he was told and Fedel continued introducing them.
This is the duchess’ knight, Titus. And this is their friend Princess-“
“Avelina.” Princess Avelina cut his sentence off, “Just call me Avelina.”
Mr. Martini nodded, memorizing their names. “And what about that beast outside?” He asked curiously, his tone scared a bit.
“That’s my lovely pet, Valen. Isn’t he adorable?” Vienna replied, giggling.
Mr. Martini glanced at Valen’s popping head inside the door and gulped, “He is..indeed adorable,” before turning to them.
“Children! We have the duke and the duchess here!” After yelling that, 10 or more children about five to ten years old ran all the way from upstairs and stood in front of them.
As soon as they saw the duke and Fedel, they didn’t even hesitate in running to them, their giggles spreading everywhere.
“Duke!”
They all yelled excitedly.
Duchess Vienna watched Duke Raziel as he did the unexpected. He kneeled down and petted their heads so they could be at the same level.
“Good evening, children.” He said calmly, looking at each of the children.
“Evening, your grace!” They all bowed simultaneously and gracefully, not until the youngest of them broke it.
“Did you bring us gifts?”
Mr. Martini gasped, and flustered, quickly reprimanded them. “Children! Mind your manners to the duke.”
The Duke chuckled, shaking his head at them, “It’s alright, Mr. Martini.”
He then turned to the children, “Well, I got toys and food from my carriage. And…my wife is here. Call her Duchess Vienna.”
They all turned to her and bowed. “Good evening, Duchess Vienna.”
Vienna smiled at them, wanting nothing but to squish their adorable fatty cheeks.
“Wait, you were the scary woman earlier!”
Exclaimed the little child that ran from her earlier and they looked at him confused.
Vienna grinned at them, “I am not a witch, children, but I can be scary if I want to…especially to naughty children..”