Chapter 93: Hearts, Hats, and Harmony
The carriage moved over the rocky path as Ariana sat with Leah on the other side. Ariana wore a light green dress—so pale it could easily be mistaken for another color if not observed closely. A hat rested beside her, something she would be needing soon, as it was already nearing noon.
Leah then spoke calmly.
"Queen Ariana, Jack’s school is small... I don’t know if that’s okay with you."
She was worried the Queen might not like the place.
Ariana nodded, raising her hand as she signed gently.
"Of course, Lady Leah. I’m perfectly fine. Why would I mind? I’m going there to visit Jack and meet his friends, so that won’t be a problem for me."
Leah’s lips finally curved up as the slight panic within her eased. A comfortable silence settled between them as Ariana decided to speak with nature or rather, let it speak to her. The soft sound of the wind blew through the edge of the carriage window, adding to its peaceful ambiance. She looked outside, her gaze scanning the trees—until her eyes widened as she realized they were no longer surrounded by the forest.
"Queen Ariana," Leah said gently, "just in case you’re curious, this is another village in Eltones."
Ariana nodded. She hadn’t expected that. The place was bustling with people. Some walked by while many carried fresh leaves, selling goods at small wooden tables. Different people sat behind the stalls, offering fruits, meats, and more.
The street sounds told her enough—this reminded her of her own village. She noticed how the carriage had already begun attracting attention. People turned to look, clearly curious. She couldn’t blame them..there was a huge difference between a local carriage and a royal one. It was obvious theirs stood out too much.
"Queen Ariana, you don’t have to worry about them," Leah assured. "We rarely get visits from Royals. So when one does pass by either using this as a route or coming for a reason..every eye is on them."
She spoke as Ariana nodded.