parentshiftbook Chapter 60: REMINISCENCE
Chapter 60: REMINISCENCE
Chapter 60: REMINISCENCEWhen evening came, the finely dressed children of the Royal Family headed to the banquet hall.
There was an indoor balcony meant for members of the Royal family to stay in, in the banquet hall. That was where the royal family members would stay in at the beginning of the banquet until it was time to show their presence.
The balcony was designed in such a way that the people in the balcony would be able to see the people below but the people below wouldn’t be able to see the people in the balcony.
The adults were absent. The envoys had arrived hours ago and Fedor and Rowaine, the current rulers, were receiving their gifts and tributes. Wilson and Catherine were there too.
Ivan had also gone with the king to receive the envoys as the Kingdom’s Crown Prince. Fedor wanted to prepare him for his future role as king.
The noblemen were also there. Only women, children and the rest of the aristocrat men not belonging to nobility remained in the banquet hall.
"There’s so many people here." Serina observed, overlooking the people below at the banquet hall.
The banquet hall was filled with people, dressed up and brimming with extravagance.
"Yes, there are." Beatrix nodded in agreement. "It is both boring and interesting to watch them." She said, popping a berry into her mouth.
"Now that, I agree." Aristia said with a chuckle.
The aristocrats moved about socialising, children included. Aristia rested her jaw on her palm in boredom, watching them putting on fake smiles and probably shooting out words laced with venom and mockery.
She could only guess because she couldn’t make out anything from up there. The banquet hall was filled with the hum and buzz of different voices mixing together to form an incoherent sound.
She rolled her eyes in boredom, looking around until she caught sight of something. Or someone.
A young woman was currently being surrounded by some noblewomen. She was beautiful with smooth, pearly, light brown skin, chocolate hair and caramel eyes, but she looked a little bit pale and weak.
The women were smiling and saying something to the young lady who remained silent without saying anything.
[Look how they’re surrounding her like a group of hungry vultures waiting to devour her whole. And they would, if given the chance] Aristia was disgusted.
Aristia was sure it wasn’t anything good. And she wasn’t wrong.
One of the noblewomen laughed and said something with a fan over her mouth, her eyes filled with scorn, and the others followed suit. And though it wasn’t noticeable, Aristia noticed the emotion of hurt that flashed across the lady’s eyes even though her expression remained indifferent.
Then, the surrounded lady said something in reply to the ladies, leaving the ladies annoyed at her indifference.
She knitted her brows, trying to figure out the identity of the lady. Her eyes widened and she sat straighter. "She’s Marchioness Charlotte Oswalt, the wife of the cheat Marquis, George Oswalt."
"Did you say something, Tia?" Beatrix asked from beside her.
"Huh?" Aristia asked, looking away from the Marchioness. "No, I didn’t."
Beatrix shrugged, then turned to continue her discussion with Serina who was feeding Alaric berries.
Turning back to the Marchioness, Aristia didn’t see her with the other ladies anymore.
The Marchioness shook her head in a bid to push away the sad thoughts. It had been six months since that incident.
Even now as she thought about it, a lone tear slid down her cheeks. She sighed, raising her hand to wipe her tears away.
The words of one of the noblewomen rang in her ears.
’We have a responsibility. That is to birth an heir for our lords. An inability to fulfill that role could cause him to find a solution elsewhere.’ The Lady covered her mouth in a weak attempt to hide her sneer.
Marchioness Charlotte clenched her fist, then she unclenched them and took a deep breath. "This is a joyous occasion, Charlotte. Do not let such thoughts spoil your mood." She whispered to herself.
Even though she said that, the thoughts that she tried to suppress started to resurface. Thoughts that maybe she was at fault for her husband’s infidelity. Maybe if she had birthed him an heir, he wouldn’t have had to look for one outside. He would have been satisfied with her.
Another tear slid down her cheeks. She felt useless and sapped of strength, not only physically, but emotionally.
Not too far away, Aristia watched the Marchioness from a little distance. She felt sympathy for the young woman.
"Marchioness Oswalt," she called out to the Marchioness as she approached her, acting quickly before she could change her mind.
Charlotte was startled to hear her name being called suddenly, and her body tensed again. She quickly wiped her tears discreetly and turned to see the person who had called her.
On seeing that it was a child, her tensed shoulders relaxed.
"Princess," she curtsied lightly in greeting, not wanting to appear rude. "Is there anything that I can do for you?" She asked even though she deeply desired to be alone. She wondered what the third princess was doing here when she should be inside the palace.
But then again, she herself was also outside the palace instead of inside where she should be.
She was snapped out of her thoughts when the little princess spoke, "You seem sad."
Aristia ignored the Marchioness’ earlier question. She knew it wasn’t appropriate to probe, especially as a child, but she had to.
The Marchioness was surprised at her words. ’Was it so obvious that even a child noticed?’ She wondered.
Aristia walked closer to her. The pond was a little distance away from the garden so no one would be able to eavesdrop or overhear their conversation without being spotted.
Aristia sat on the ground in front of the pond and silently patted the spot beside her.
Marchioness Charlotte revealed a look of surprise as she watched the tyrant princess sitting on the bare ground and even inviting her to sit with her.
She hesitated for a few seconds before sitting on the ground beside Aristia. Seeing that Aristia wasn’t planning on saying anything, the Marchioness turned to stare at the pond, leaning her arms on her knees and placing her head on them.
She knew it was improper and unladylike, but she was too depressed to care.
Almost a minute had passed when Aristia started to speak.