[Music Recommendation: One of Those Nights ~ Red Velvet]

"What’s the game we are playing today, Uncle?" Walter asked excitedly. It was obvious he was the most energetic out of the two boys.

Adric smiled, "It’s called eat and win. Now here’s a plate of food and also fruit. If you make my bride finish everything on it, I’ll grant you anything you want."

"Easy! Make the plates two," Walter boasted with a smile. He couldn’t wait to play with his new auntie. After the failed horse ride, he wanted to spend more time with her.

Adric chuckled. He turned to Kai, who was just smiling and didn’t say anything, "So what will you wish for, Kai?"

Kai pressed his lips, not looking at his uncle’s face, "I want to have my own art room."

"That’s true, you still draw, yes? I’ll get it done." Adric ruffled the boy’s hair and smiled. Turning to Walter, he asked, "And you?"

Walter pointed at his chest excitedly, "I want two, that’s why I asked you to make the dishes two. I want a little sister and a new hourglass. I broke the last one you got for me," his voice turned low at the end.

Adric smiled, "Very well then, I’ll do just that. Make sure you don’t tell her I sent the food."

"Do you want us to lie, Uncle?" Kai asked with a calm voice.

Adric scratched his brows slightly. He had almost forgotten that Kai was so special and never told a lie, no matter how hurtful the words were to the person listening. The young boy always said the truth. "Well... not lie, but you could just not answer when she asks."

"No, I think what Uncle means is that we should surprise Auntie, and a surprise is not a surprise if you tell the person who sent you, right, Uncle?" Walter asked, his eyes glinting with happiness.

Adric snapped his fingers, "Exactly. Kai, what Walter says is true. You’re not lying to her but just doing a surprise." He smiled.

Kai nodded, stretching his hand forward, and took the plate. "I don’t like surprises, but I can give Auntie a surprise because I like Uncle."

"I like you too, my boys," Adric smiled.

Walter took the next plate on the table. He was so excited and ready to play. "Let’s go, let’s go," he dashed out of the room.

"Kai, you’re the eldest. Take care of Walter and your Auntie, okay?" Adric said to the boy with a smile, and Kai nodded before leaving the room.

Adric sighed. Looking around his room, he walked to his work table to review some parchments when Rowan entered.

"Your Highness, the new slaves just arrived. Some are in good condition, others are not," Rowan informed with a small bow.

Adric stood up from his chair. "Let’s go," he followed Rowan to where the new slaves were gathered. "How did we get them?"

"There was a riot in one of the small towns. People lost their homes and sources of livelihood. So the soldiers of Avon who calmed the riot took some persons who had nothing," Rowan pointed at the crowd. Men and women were separated.

Adric’s eyes skimmed the people, "Alright, those in good condition should be moved to the mining cave. The women could be given work in the palace if they’re capable. Also, I think the swordsmith will be needing help, take some men there too," he ordered, turning to leave when someone in the crowd caught his eye.

Rowan followed his gaze and asked, "Anything else, Your Highness?"

Adric hummed, "Is it my eyes, or does that person look familiar..." he drawled before turning to leave the place.

Among the slaves who were dragged to the swordsmith shop were Freya and her father. They both now looked unkempt, almost unrecognizable, and tired.

Meanwhile, Walter and Kai arrived at Oriana’s door and knocked twice.

"Go away, I don’t need help with anything," Oriana’s tired voice was heard from inside.

Walter pressed his face to the door, "Auntie, it’s me, Walter," the boy said before taking a step back. A few seconds later, the door opened.

"Walter!" Oriana was surprised to see the boy, and beside him was his brother. "And um.."

"I’m Kai, not Um," Kai informed with a calm voice and a cool look in his eyes.

Oriana smiled, "Alright, Kai," she moved to the side to let the children inside her room. "Did you come with your mother?" She asked, checking the corridor, but there was no sign of their mother. She closed the door.

Walter ran to the bed first after placing the plate of food on the table, "No!"

"Does she know you’re here?" Oriana asked, going to pick up the boy’s shoes that he had dropped upon walking inside the room.

Walter shook his head, "No, but it doesn’t matter. We are here to visit and surprise Auntie!"

"Really? I am quite surprised," Oriana admitted. She didn’t expect to see the two boys in her room. She noticed that the elder one was still standing in place. "Kai, you can come sit too," she tapped on her bed.

Kai shook his head, "I don’t sit on people’s beds. I’m fine standing," he remarked.

Oriana bit her lip. She didn’t know, but it felt more like the little boy didn’t like her. She cleaned her hands on her dress, "Alright, at least you can comfortably remove your shoes."

Kai looked down at his shoes, then knelt down to remove them. Oriana decided to help him out. When she tried to touch the boy, he pushed her hand away.

"I don’t like people I don’t know touching me."

Oriana held her hand to her chest, "Oh," she turned to look at Walter.

Walter jumped down from the bed, "Kai, you know her. She is our Auntie," the small boy turned to look at Oriana. "Don’t worry, Auntie, he is very shy, that’s what Mother says."

"Okay... that’s good," Oriana looked at the boy for a moment. She felt bad, thinking maybe the boy didn’t like her. She decided to let him be.

Walter ran to his plate of food, "Auntie, the surprise starts now!" He smiled, showing his missing teeth that were still growing.

"Coming here to visit me wasn’t the surprise?" Oriana asked with a smile.

Kai was the one who replied, "No, the surprise was to make you finish what we brought."

"Kai! Uncle said we shouldn’t tell her," Walter scolded.

Kai nodded, "I know, I didn’t, but you just did."

"No, I didn’t. Now we won’t get any gift because she won’t eat it. The surprise is all ruined," Walter sighed, dropping his shoulders.

Oriana laughed at the children’s innocence, "I’m still surprised, Walter, and I’ll love to know who asked you to bring the food."

Walter tapped his finger on his lips, "If I tell you, promise me you will eat our food. Please."

Oriana hummed, "Um... alright, I will."

"It was Uncle Adric," the moment Oriana heard his name, the smile on her face fell.

"Do you hate my uncle?" Kai asked, his eyes looking directly at Oriana.

Walter interjected, "No, she doesn’t! Auntie likes Uncle. You can’t marry someone you don’t like, and their wedding is going to be a happy one. And the next day, my little sister will come out with them, right?"

Oriana pressed her lips. The children were too young to understand how the world works, and she didn’t want to ruin that innocence for them. "I like your surprises," she replied. "Come, let’s go and sit down and eat."

They followed her to the table. Oriana opened the food and started eating. As her mind tried to devise a means to escape, all she had to do was act like she wasn’t being rebellious. That way, Adric’s focus would leave her. She was going to use that opportunity to escape. But the children shouldn’t know this; they were just children.

"Auntie, take the biggest bite from my food first," Walter pointed happily. "When we are done, we can play."

Oriana smiled, "Sure, let’s play until the day ends today." There was no harm in playing with the children since she was going to leave soon. Oriana noticed that someone was looking at her. It was Kai, who had a calm expression on his face but was staring at her unblinkingly.