Chapter 168: The Picnic in the Gardens I
Chapter 168: The Picnic in the Gardens I
Elyn’s POV
We had just finished our latest round of hide-and-seek, and I was grinning from ear to ear. Azerion and Aziren were laughing so hard I thought they might fall over, and honestly, I couldn’t stop chuckling either. I hadn’t even tried to hide properly, letting my giggles give away my position every time, but neither of them had a clue. They thought I was terrible at it.
"You were terrible at the game," Azerion yelled, still holding his sides as he tried to catch his breath.
"Oh, please," I said, trying to appear offended. "I was just... distracted. Focused on... strategy!" I added quickly, trying to sound convincing. But the truth? They had no idea I was letting them win. My little secret made me laugh quietly to myself as they flailed about in exaggerated defeat.
"You were hiding in plain sight!" Aziren gasped, pointing at the large tapestry behind which I had leaned, letting a corner of my cloak flutter just enough to be obvious. "I could see you the whole time!"
"And yet you still couldn’t find me!" I shot back, twirling around for dramatic effect.
They groaned, both in exaggerated frustration, and I couldn’t help but snicker. Honestly, watching them squirm and argue over who had the better hiding skills made me laugh. For a brief moment, the world shrunk to just us three, giggling like children.
Before the laughter could escalate further, a gentle knock echoed against the office door. We all froze, still catching our breaths.
"Come in," I said.
The door opened, and Versha appeared, holding something small and carefully wrapped. "Your Highness," she said, her voice as calm, "I brought you these."
She handed me a pair of gloves, soft and intricately stitched with fine threads that shimmered faintly. I tilted my head, examining them.
"With these," Versha explained, "you will be able to play with Aziren freely. His heat will no longer bother you, and the tailors will begin working on the rest of your clothes so they will be suited for... more active engagements." She gave a small nod, as if confirming to herself that she had said all that needed to be said.
I smiled warmly. "Thank you, Versha. I really appreciate this. It will make everything much easier."
"You’re most welcome, Your Highness," she replied.
I held the gloves for a moment, feeling the soft fabric between my fingers. Slowly, deliberately, I slipped them on, marveling at how snug and comfortable they felt. Then I looked at Aziren, who had been hovering close by, eyes wide with anticipation.
"Come here," I said softly, holding out my hand. He stepped closer without hesitation, letting me place a gentle hand on his hair. My fingers brushed through the silken strands, and... nothing.
No heat. No burning sensation. Just soft hair and the faint warmth of him being alive, present, and entirely his own. A smile spread across my face.
Azerion, clearly not wanting to be left out, moved closer as well, giving me the perfect excuse to run my hands through his hair too. I laughed at the delighted expressions on their faces. "You two are terrible at hide-and-seek, and now you’ve got terrible hair too," I teased, earning another round of giggles.
The laughter faded into a comfortable silence, broken suddenly by a loud growl.
Aziren’s eyes widened, and I noticed a faint blush spread across his cheeks as well. He looked away shyly.
My eyes went wide. Not wanting Aziren to feel like he had offended me, I pressed a hand to my stomach. "Oh," I murmured, "I guess I’m... hungry."
Azerion tilted his head, a grin tugging at the corners of his lips. He knew just as much as I did that I wasn’t the one with the loud stomach.
"Well," I said, patting my stomach again and straightening, "if we’re all feeling this way, perhaps we should go meet Kethra. I’m sure she has something delicious prepared for us."
Rin, who had been quiet up to this point, spoke softly but firmly. "It would be better if I went, my lady. You don’t need to go to the kitchens; I can go for you. You can just take a stroll in the gardens instead."
I suspected she was doing this so as to sneakily ask if she could play the game next time. I had no idea why she was so invested in it.
Versha, who had lingered near the doorway, nodded in agreement. "That is true, Your Highness. You haven’t been to the gardens yet. They are very beautiful this time of year. You could have your lunch there with the boys, and perhaps enjoy a small picnic while you do."
Azerion’s head tilted curiously. "A picnic?" he asked. "What’s that?"
Versha blinked her eight eyes, then leaned down slightly, her voice gentle but patient. "A picnic," she explained, "is a small meal taken outdoors, often on a blanket or mat. People bring food to eat together, sometimes with drinks or treats, and often enjoy being outside in the fresh air while doing so. It is... leisurely and pleasant."
Azerion’s eyes sparkled as he absorbed the explanation. "I see..." he said slowly, nodding. "And... sweets? Will there be sweets?"
I grinned and gave him a small nod. "Yes. There will be sweets too."
Aziren leaned closer to Azerion, his voice gentle. "I’ve had picnics with my mummy before. In her territory, she always brings sweets and drinks, and sometimes games too."
Azerion’s eyes lit up. "Then we should do a picnic!" he said, bouncing slightly on his toes.
I laughed, the sound ringing clear in the office. "Alright," I said, holding out my hands to both of them. "A picnic it is. We’ll have our food, sweets, and perhaps even a game afterward."
Versha nodded. "I’ll call for the human maid to have everything in order."
Oh, I thought to myself. If Rin was here, why was Vaelory absent?
I turned to Rin, who was now conveniently staring out the window of the office.
"Rin?" I called out. "Where is Vaelory?"