Aelius looked at her teary face and smiled.
"So let’s give it back to Father, okay?"
Athine nodded, though her lips stayed puckered in a pout. "Mm~ But... Father is scary. What if he gets mad at Athine?"
Aelius hugged her again, gently stroking her hair. "Don’t worry. I’ll go with you. If Father gets mad, he’ll have to scold both of us."
"Mm!" Athine’s expression brightened instantly, her eyes sparkling as she looked up at him. "Aelius is good!! I love you, brother!!"
Aelius let out a soft laugh, took Athine’s hand, and together they headed toward the manor.
They passed maids tidying the courtyard and spotted Erinnette standing nearby, overseeing their work with her usual calm vigilance.
Athine hid behind Aelius’s back, peeking over his shoulder as Erinnette turned and greeted them.
"Ah... Young Master Aelius? Young Lady Athine? Where are you two off to?"
"Ah... umm... Mrs. Erinnette. Umm..."
"Yes?" Erinnette smiled gently, her eyes warm.
"Where... where is Father?"
"Oh? Lord Garius? I believe he’s in his private study. Why?"
"Umm... nothing... we just want to see him."
"Oh, okay. Walk carefully, now." With a gentle nod, Erinnette turned back to supervise the maids.
They both walked inside and moved slowly down the corridor until they stood before the large, imposing door to Garius’s private study.
Aelius and Athine stopped, hesitating. Aelius felt a flutter of nervousness, he knew how strict their father could be.
"Aelius... knock," Athine whispered from behind his back.
Aelius glanced over his shoulder at her. "But what if Father’s busy?"
Athine peeked around his shoulder at the door and whispered again, "Maybe... we should just keep the crystal a secret..."
Aelius sighed softly but shook his head. "No... we shouldn’t. Father and Mother taught us to be honest. We can’t lie about sothing like this."
Athine was about to say sothing else to Aelius when the large door suddenly swung open.
Aelius froze. Athine ducked further behind his back.
The first to step out was Alf.
"Oh? Young Master Aelius? Young Lady Athine?" Alf’s tone was polite, slightly surprised. "Are you here to see your father?"
Before Aelius could answer, Garius appeared in the doorway behind him.
"Hmm? Aelius? Athine?"
"A...ah! E...esteed Father!" Aelius stood up straight, while Athine stayed hidden behind him, peeking out just slightly.
Garius stood as usual. Stern and serious, hands clasped behind his back, glancing down at Aelius and Athine.
"Hmm? Do you need sothing? If you do, you could ask your mother, Alf, Erinnette, or any of the staff."
Athine nudged Aelius gently from behind.
"Ah... umm... Fa...Father," Aelius stamred. "It’s just... umm..."
Garius looked at them again, his voice calm but firm.
"Speak."
Aelius swallowed hard, his nerves tightening his throat, then slowly managed, "A... Athine found... umm... sothing... while we were playing."
Garius raised a brow.
"Oh? What is it?"
Aelius nudged Athine gently and whispered, "Show Father the thing."
Athine stepped forward beside Aelius, kept her eyes down, and held out both palms toward Garius, revealing the shimring crystal she’d found.
Aelius then added, "This crystal... Athine found it... Maybe soone dropped it... so... we thought..."
Before he could finish, Francesca stepped out from the doorway, her presence calm, her smile warm, and noticed Aelius and Athine standing there.
"Hmm? Aelius, Athine?"
"Ah... Aunty... umm... good day."
Francesca smiled warmly, her voice gentle and natural. "Do you two need sothing?"
Garius smiled and glanced at Francesca. "Honey... be careful. You’re pregnant now."
"Mm... don’t worry." She turned her gentle attention back to the children. "So, is there anything you need from your father?"
Garius smiled softly and explained to Francesca, "They found a crystal and thought soone might have dropped it. They wanted to return it."
"Oh?" Francesca’s smile brightened as she looked at the crystal resting in Athine’s small palms. "May I see it?"
Francesca walked slowly toward Athine, who nodded and held it out. Francesca took the crystal, her palm glowing softly as she examined it. After a mont, she smiled and handed it back to Athine.
"You can keep it."
"Really?" Athine’s eyes glead with excitent. "Really, Auntie?"
"Yes. Take good care of it, alright? Soday... you might need this crystal again."
"Mm!! I will! Thank you, Auntie!!"
Athine hugged Francesca gently, while Francesca’s glowing palm rested softly on Athine’s head.
After Aelius and Athine had skipped happily away, Garius’s right eye glowed faintly as he glanced toward Francesca.
"Honey?"
"Hmm? Yes?"
"Are you sure about giving it to them?"
Francesca smiled, looping her arm through his.
"Yes, dear. Now now... let’s go eat. If I didn’t pull you out of your office, you’d bury yourself in paperwork all day. Even Alf has trouble getting you to take a break."
"Alright, alright... sheesh."
anwhile, beneath the huge tree, Athine danced in place, clutching the crystal to her chest.
"Yay! Now we have this crystal for ourselves!"
Aelius just smiled, watching her delight with affectionate amusent.
"Rember, Auntie said to take good care of it."
"Mm! I will!" Athine bead, then skipped closer. "And my brother is so brave. I love you!!"
"Yes, yes... now let’s play."
"Mm! When we grow up, I’ll be your bride! Let’s get married to each other."
Aelius just laughed softly, shaking his head. "Don’t promise sothing impossible."
"No!! I love Aelius, and only Aelius! I will be your bride!"
Aelius smiled to himself as he walked down the hallway.
Can’t believe that childish promise is about to co true.
We have Father’s blessing.
And I need Athine. I really, truly need her.
Never thought she was serious about that promise...
And now she’s carrying our child.
Aelius grinned, a flutter of excitent warming his chest as he searched for Erinnette or Alf.
Passing a group of maids, he paused. "Have you seen Mrs. Erinnette?"
The maids stopped, placing their palms over their left chests and bowing politely.
"Prince Aelius. We believe Mrs. Erinnette is at the wedding hall now, preparing for His Majesty’s wedding with Queen Mylezra."
"Okay. Thank you."
anwhile...
In Garius Chamber.
"Honey?" Garius looked down at her as she adjusted the fit of his wedding tuxedo.
"Hmm?" Francesca smiled, glancing up.
"Rember that crystal Athine found years ago?"
"Yes... why?" She t his gaze, her smile knowing.
"You do know that crystal is..."
Francesca chuckled softly, her fingers gently smoothing his lapel.
"A Promise Stone. Rare, precious... and said to hold the vows of those who share it."
( End Of Chapter )
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