The Family
In the eastern stretch of the central plaza, Eleanor sat anxiously on the stone bench while Viena played by the fountain. The little girl’s gaze lingered on the marble woman poised in the center, her slender fingers tracing the air as if mapping invisible lines. She wondered how long it had taken to carve such intricate details, how water still spilled so effortlessly from the statue’s cupped hands. Seeing that quiet spark in Viena’s eyes eased the old woman’s burden—if only a little.
“What are you thinking now, Viena? You’re staring holes into the air.”
“Hm? Oh, nothing. Just trying to figure out how this whole thing works.”
“The fountain?”
Viena nodded.
“Well, aren’t you a curious one? Too bad it’s beyond me as well. These fountains have been here longer than I’ve been breathing.”
“I’ve seen three of them now—including this one! But Papa said there were four in total. Is that true?”
“Yes, he’s right.”
Eleanor raised a wrinkled hand and pointed west, southwest, and northwest.
“They were built to mark the four winds, a tribute from Rosmayne’s Second King to his queen. He gathered the beauties of every corner of the world and gave them to her alone. A love letter carved in stone.”
“That’s kind of…” Viena scrunched her nose, hunting for the right word.
“Romantic?”
“No. It’s selfish.”
Eleanor blinked, startled—then chuckled at the unexpected candor from such a small mouth.
“Selfish? Now there’s an answer I didn’t expect. Why so?”
“Because fun things, delicious things, beautiful things… they’re better when you share them, right? Was I wrong, Granny?”
Eleanor’s smile softened.
“Did your father teach you that?”
“Not really. It’s just… he never eats until I finish my meal. Once, I asked him why, and he said, ‘Seeing someone in pain can make you feel sick, but seeing someone eat can make you full.’” Viena puffed her cheeks.
“But then he added, ‘That’s not the case with you though. I don’t eat with you because you eat like a pig and ruin my appetite,’ before choking me with manners lessons!”
Eleanor laughed—an easy, bright sound that cut through her anxiety like sunlight parting a cloud.
“His silly jokes aside, what he said didn’t make sense to me! I’d just get hungrier! So after that, I always forced him to take the first bite anyway. That way he wouldn’t starve waiting on me.”
“And you think he meant people should always share.”
“Yup. And I do feel a little happy when he finally starts eating.” Viena’s voice softened with certainty.
“You do love your father, don’t you?”
“L-Love?! No way! He’s old and I’m not even ten! Ew! Gross!”
“Oh my.” Eleanor’s chuckle returned as she gently brushed the dust from Viena’s skirt. “That’s not what I meant, darling. There are many kinds of love. Yours is the purest kind—paternal.”
"Huh?! I don't know what you're talking about, but no! I told you we don't roll that way! No love! Ewh!"
Blushing face, hands that busy crumpling the skirt, and skewed brows make it all crystal to Eleanor. She ended up quite enjoying Viena's companion and it lessened her anxiety more than she thought. Then, Eleanor kneeled and tapped on Viena's clothes to clean the dirt that she got from playing all day.
"Is that so? Do you hate him then?" Eleanor teased her.
"Hate? Nng . . . He's a jerk most of the time, especially when it comes to money. He always told me never to buy things that we can find for free, be it food or herbs. Also, he ordered me around like a horse to gather stuff saying that it would fetch a lot of coins, but then he ended up using all those things that we gathered for other people for free every time he had the chance! Can you believe it?!"
"Oh yeah? But did he ever let you starve though?"
"N-No, he didn't. Especially today. He's being weirdly nice today. I guess I can bear with him for a little longer. At least for now."
"Hahah. You sound like someone I know just now. I think you will do just fine, Viena."
Viena's confusion and cluelessness about herself make Eleanor very amused. She caressed the little girl's hair as if she was her own. Consequently, that reminds her of Lisabelle. Noticing the despondency that resurfaced in the old lady's face, Viena took hold of her hands.
"Are you thinking about your granddaughter?"
". . . Yes, I do."
"It's okay. I'm sure she will be fine also. Papa is good at doing odd jobs."
Viena told the story of what kind of odd jobs they took during their travel as they waited for Randia to return. Finally, after roughly two hours, Viena spotted Randia on the bustling street. He piggybacked a girl that is basically an exact duplicate of Eleanor. Her long light-ashen hair and thick eyebrows are distinct enough of features for anyone to see from afar.
"Lisabelle!"
Eleanor immediately ran towards her granddaughter, but Randia stopped her. He gave a sign for her to lower her voice, and approach him as calmly as possible.
"Dear good sir! What happened to her?!"
"Ssh. I shall tell you everything that you need to know later. For now, she needs to rest."
"Then, would you be kind enough to bring her all over to my house? I know this is shameless of me, but she has gotten pretty heavy, and I don't think I can carry her alone. It's okay if you can't, though. I'll just ask the guards."
"Of course, Madam. That was my intention after all."
The old lady is now no longer feeling distressed. She thanked the goddess and Randia many times along the way. She also invites them to stay in her house, but Randia kindly refuses the sincere invitation and insists that he and Viena will only help her by carrying Lisabelle home.
When they finally arrived at Eleanor’s house, Viena blinked in surprise. It wasn’t just a decent house — it was leagues finer than any of the inns she’d curled up in before. A place with corners that didn’t lean and windows that didn’t rattle at every wind.
“Wow! Look, Papa! This fluffy chair is so big!”
“That is not a chair. That is called a sofa. Now, come here and stop embarrassing us, Viena. Mind your manners.”
“It’s fine, Sir,” Eleanor said evenly, her voice clear but without affectation. “You and the child are most welcome here. I’m grateful to you both.”
Randia shook his head and called Viena over a second time with a slight glare, after gently setting Lisabelle down on the sofa. Viena trudged towards him, pouting.
“I’m glad everything ended up well for you, Madam Eleanor. Now, if you may, we’ll take our leave.”
As Randia turned for the door, Eleanor stepped ahead of him and blocked the way — not sharply, but with quiet resolve.
“No. I’d rather you didn’t.”
“. . . I’m sorry?”
“I wouldn’t feel right letting you go without a proper thanks. Not after what you’ve done for my granddaughter. I’d never forgive myself if I let it pass.”
“Madam, I think you misunderstood things. I just found your granddaughter sleeping in one of the guard outposts. It’s nothing much really.”
“And the bruises?” Eleanor’s brows lifted — not accusing, but steady.
“She was hit pretty hard by a passing carriage and was invited to rest and taken care of by one of the patrolling officers. Then, she ended up sleeping on their post.”
Eleanor exhaled slowly, her eyes softening as she weighed Randia’s words and found them true enough. She glanced down at Viena, then raised her brows twice with a small, knowing smile.
“Sweetheart, wasn’t there something you wanted to ask about earlier?”
“Hm . . .? What do you . . . OH! THAT!”
It took her a beat, but Viena caught on and quickly switched sides. She clung to Eleanor’s legs and peeked out from behind the folds of her long skirt.
“What are you doing? Stop it right now! You're being very impolite!” Randia snapped.
“A-Aah, I’m so tired, hungry, and sleepy. I don’t think I can even walk in this state.”
“Well,” Eleanor said mildly, smoothing Viena’s hair, “it happens we have spare beds upstairs, plenty of food, and a bath if you’d like one. You’re welcome to stay, and you won’t owe me a thing.”
Viena lit up and snapped into a fighting stance. She raised her fists towards Randia, her face burning with mock determination, throwing a few small punches the way Randia had taught her.
“I dare you to stop me! Just so you know, you'll have to drag my dead body to make me leave this house!”
“Sigh . . . .”
Randia let out a long breath and gave in. They accepted Eleanor’s offer and chose to stay the night. The heavy thump of Randia’s bag on the floor sealed it, while Viena stood proud with her hands on her hips.
“Good call, Papa! I knew you’d understand!”
“Be quiet. You have embarrassed us too much already,” Randia muttered, tweaking Viena’s ear.
“Ouch! I-It hurts!”
Randia stepped forward and bowed slightly to Eleanor. He reached into his pouch and tried to hand her some coins as a deposit. Eleanor shook her head firmly, no edge in her voice.
“There’s no need for that.”
They went back and forth for a little while before settling on terms: Randia would pay only for meals, and in return, he’d help around the house to cover the lodging.
“Thank you for having us. I apologize in advance for any trouble we might cause,” Randia said.
“Don’t mention it,” Eleanor replied simply. “I’m glad for the chance to return the favour, even if it’s only in small ways.”