parentshiftbook Chapter 61: BONDING OVER RIPPLES
Chapter 61: BONDING OVER RIPPLES
Chapter 61: BONDING OVER RIPPLESAlmost a minute had passed when Aristia started to speak,
"You know... You shouldn’t let yourself be saddened about what isn’t your fault."
That turned the Marchioness attention to her. She didn’t need to think to know what Aristia was talking about.
She also didn’t care that the news had spread so far that even a child knew about it.
She felt like that was just what she desperately needed to hear. That it wasn’t her fault. Those were the words she had expected to hear and yet all she received was scorn and blame, even from women who should have tried to understand how she felt.
Who would have thought that a child would understand her better than than adults, and the infamous third princess at that? Tears filled her eyes, but she didn’t look away. She continued to listen to what the child had to say.
"Even though it is perfectly normal to feel betrayed by someone you love, you should not let yourself be consumed by negative thoughts and emotions," Aristia added.
Marchioness Charlotte froze.
’Someone you love’. It rang in her ears repeatedly. She had always loved her husband. That was the main reason why she was feeling betrayed.
"Always remember, some men are scum." Aristia added, also staring at the beautiful fishes in the pond. Some women were too, but she was making a point.
The Marchioness looked taken aback, then she burst into laughter, smiling genuinely for the first time in six months. What did the child know to say that? Nevertheless, her mood had greatly improved.
"You have quite a colorful vocabulary, Princess." She said, wiping a tear that had trailed down her face.
"Not necessarily," Aristia smiled as she picked up a pebble. She felt it in her palm, then she threw it into the water, watching it sink in disappointment. "Just when it calls for it."
The Marchioness stared at the child who was trying to get the pebble to hop in amusement, forgetting her misery for a moment. She picked up a pebble, and with a toss, it made contact with the water and bounced thrice, creating circular ripples in the water, and then sinking into the pond.
"Wow," Aristia said with awe.
Marchioness Charlotte laughed cheerily.
[What a beautiful sound.] Aristia thought, staring at the Marchioness in a daze.
Marchioness Charlotte noticed her gaze and her laughter stopped. However, a smile still remained on her face.
She picked up another pebble and tossed it into the pond. This time, it skipped four times before sinking into the pond.
Aristia picked up a pebble, determined to get it right. But she was bound to be disappointed as each of the pebbles always sank to the bottom of the pond.
The Marchioness stared at the little princess with interest. She was unusual. She was a child, one known as a tyrant, and yet here she was, out of all people, trying to cheer her up.
She couldn’t believe she had been comforted by a child with just a few words, but no matter what, she really appreciated her efforts to comfort her.
Aristia, after many unsuccessful attempts, gave up and turned to watch the Marchioness toss the pebbles into the water, only to find her staring at her with a grateful smile, seemingly in thought.
She smiled back, "We should return to the banquet hall. His majesty must have finished his meeting with the envoys by now."
"Ah, yes." The Marchioness nodded, getting up and offering her hand to Aristia to help her get up.
***
A little distance away from them, someone watched them sadly.
"Would she smile that way if we had a child together?"
It was Marquis George Oswalt. He had noticed his wife was missing from the banquet hall and was overcome with concern, so he came out to
The Marquis waited some seconds before approaching the room. Now, he could see the inside of the room through the gap in the door.
"Ugh... almost ruined my makeup." Marquis George watched Sana complain as she applied rouge on her lips.
His steps almost faltered and his face darkened immediately. He knew her, she was the one from that day.