Chapter 237: PARTY BOY
A month passed in the blink of an eye and before anyone knew it, it was already December.
Eating ice cream in a cold month like December was probably not the best idea, but the house was as comfortably warm as the summer. Plus, Aristia had scooped some hot chocolate onto each ice cream.
"Mm. Ice cream is my new favorite food. How did you think of this, Tia?" Alaric asked with shining eyes, almost not looking up from his plate. His sister was such a genius!
"I agree," Catherine nodded, putting a spoon of ice cream in her mouth. The very sweet dessert melted on her tongue and cooled her mouth. She had never tasted anything like it.
Wilson scooped some into his mouth and hummed in agreement.
Kai nodded silently along with Owen.
The six of them sat in the dining room having dessert.
In the past one month and a few weeks, Kai had become more comfortable than before and now joined the family for breakfast.
"We wouldn’t have had it if it weren’t for Kai." Aristia said, smiling at Kai.
[It’s true.]
Kai had been the one who had created ice for the ice cream. If not for his magic, with the lack of a refrigerator, Aristia would have probably had to scoop snow and get ice to painstakingly do it.
But with Kai, it was as easy as flicking his wrist to cool the ice cream.
"So, are you going to have it served at the restaurant?" Wilson asked.
"Not yet." Aristia shook her head. "But first, I want the rest of the family to try it out." She said, referring to their maternal and paternal family.
She added. "I also want to give it as a final gift to Liam... and Ivan."
Her parents voiced their support.
"I’m going to go get ready." There was a tea party that she had to attend.
Aristia left the dining room after having ice cream.
During the past month, she had visited as Aris.
The only thing Leilani could talk about was how much she looked like the third princess.
She would only smile and agree, saying that a lot of people told her that.
The children were much happier and the Kendall sisters had hired someone to help out with taking care of the children.
Because of Aristia’s concerns, the king had made it known that his attention would be on the children since as king, the children in the kingdom were under his care, so this knowledge served as a warning to anyone who would try to get any ideas.
The help that the sisters found were good people. Two women. One in her middle age, and the other in her early thirties. Both of them were kind and sweet. Aristia had met them as Aris, and also had Millie monitor them,so she was rest assured that there was nothing to worry about.
The aristocrats had kept true to their words and sent gifts to the children, including toys and money. It also boosted their own reputation, so
[It’s kind of like people do to charity organizations back on Earth.] Aristia thought.
Surprisingly, even the common folk would sometimes stop by with a gift; handmade toys, knitted clothes because of the approaching winter and even food ingredients and vegetables.
Now the children had enough clothes, delicious, healthy meals and a comfortable home. To them, that was everything.
Aristia hadn’t brought up adoption processes yet. She wanted to give them time to adjust first.
[The concept of adoption isn’t new here because there have been cases of families taking in children from the streets. I guess it can still be called adoption, just not formally since there’s no paperwork.]
Willows Haven should have been opened in August, but because of Valen’s birth where.they spent a whole month in the North, it had to be shifted.
Then they had to attend the banquet in September and later hadn’t found time to arrange for the orphanage’s opening.
But she knew she couldn’t push it past October any further than she already had.
"Now, for that tea party." Aristia muttered as Adeline dressed her up.
She was wearing a dark blue dress and had her hair down and clipped with a hairpin.
"Done, princess." Adeline said, letting go of her hair.
"Thank you,"
"Huu." She sighed again and left the room.
Alaric was the only one who was ready. He sat down on the couch in the parlour, waiting.
He looked at her when he noticed her, his eyes lighting up.
"You look pretty, Tia."
[Aww~ isn’t he the sweetest baby brother ever?]
"You look handsome too, Allie." Aristia said, pinching his cheeks and then sitting beside him.
A few minutes later, Wilson and Catherine entered together.
"Since everyone’s here, then let’s go." Wilson said.
The family headed outside.
Before they entered the carriage, Aristia said to Kai. "Keep practicing your magic, but don’t hurt yourself."
Kai nodded, smiling brightly. "Yes, princess."
[He’s usually bright and cheery, no longer shy. It’s nice to have him around since Owen’s found a favorite expression; a poker look.]
The three waved, Adeline, Owen and Kai, as Aristia entered the carriage with her family.
The carriage began to move out the gate and towards the Royal Palace, the place the tea party would hold.
A servant welcomed them in.
"Welcome." The servant bowed.
"And welcome back to the drama of high society." Aristia muttered under her breath.
They followed the servant to the banquet hall. The weather was cold and it was snowing lightly, so the tea party was being held in the banquet hall.
After the Chamberlain announced their presence, the aristocrats present turned their attention to them.
Aristia slipped through then with Alaric, going to locate the group of non-anoying children she usually associated with.
"Princess Aristia’s here." Paige Kiran was the first to notice her.
"Princess Aristia."
"Princess Aristia."
"Princess Tia."
"Tia."
Numerous voices greeted Aristia.
Lauren, the last person who had called her, came up to her and linked their arms.
"You’re finally here." Lauren said.
Aristia nodded and looked around. [Now, for the reason I’m here...]
She turned to Lauren. "So where’s the party boy?"
"Party boy? Tea party boy? You mean Liam?" Lauren laughed, thinking Aristia’s words sounded both cool and weird.
Then she answered Aristia’s question. "He’s over there. Look, he’s coming over."
Aristia turned to look in the direction Lauren pointed and saw that Liam was coming towards them.
[There’s the party boy.]