Chapter 193: A Warm Welcome (2)
Stepping inside the home of Amade, Madeline and Cassian were greeted by a warm and inviting interior, decorated with soft colors and comfortable furnishing. The small living room had a plush couch and two armchairs with a wide coffee table at the center of the space.
The walls were lined with various artworks, and a bookshelf lined one wall, filled with books of different genres. A small fireplace was set in a corner, and a much older looking boy was throwing dry firewood into the fireplace, giving the living room more glow than it had before, but he stopped when he heard his father ushering someone into their home.
Cassian and Madeline took their seat on the couch, while Amade and his wife took their seat on the other couch as they listened to Cas’s story as he briefed it out for them. He had no wish to inconvenience anyone, but their situation was that critical, and staying at an inn wouldn’t be safe either cause he was sure all the palace search party would be out looking for him.
"You’re not inconveniencing anyone." Amade shook the thought away, disagreeing with that particular phrase of his. "I’m more glad that you came to me in your time of need, and you’ve done so much for my wife and I, it would be an honor to offer you our services. You’re no different from our own children, so we must treat you both as such."
Cas and Madeline exchanged relieved glances, and Amade’s wife nodded her head in agreement with her husband. "Yes, please make yourself comfortable. My older son is getting the vacant room ready, and it won’t take too much of your time as you wait for him to clear it up."
"Thank you." Madeline bowed her head in gratitude, feeling touched by their sincere hospitality towards her and Cassian, and then the little boy hiding behind the couch his Mother sat on, innocently peeked from behind, his coffee-brown eyes staring at the two strangers with interest, and Madeline, who noticed the cute boy watching them from behind his mother, smiled at him before beckoning him over.
"Come."
The young boy stole a glance at his mother, as if asking for permission, and when she nodded her head in approval with a smile, the boy stepped out from his hiding place and walked quietly to meet Madeline who lifted him up and sat him on her thighs.
"You didn’t tell me you had another cute fella." Cassian’s gaze shifted from the boy to Amade who knew he was guilty on this one.