Chapter 276: Celebrating Autumn
Alain’s eyes shifted to his Mother, and she was giving him one of those looks that told him he needed to return to his seat. When he turned his gaze back to the interesting figure that beckoned him over, whoever it was no longer seemed to be there, and that made the interest in his eyes diminish.
For some unblinking seconds, this left little Alain confused, cause he was sure he saw someone there. Did his Mother scare the person away? He wasn’t surprised if it did. Alain knew if he defied his Mother, she was going to bring out a little stick she always preserved for him when he misbehaves past her boundaries, and knowing the kind of Mother he had, he obediently returned to the bench, sitting back up and deliberately avoiding her watchful eyes.
Madeline sighed with relief upon seeing him seated, and only she can understand the stress she’d have to undergo if he ran off without a trace. Finding him in a Palace as big as this would drain her out, and she wasn’t ready for that presently. However, the news of them not being able to return with the odd stop of the blood moon, had her worried.
—-
At the balcony, Ivan remained seated on a chair, legs crossed on the table in front of him. His gaze remained fixed on the afternoon sun, whilst he watched the day slowly unfold before his very eyes, but in all honesty, he wasn’t really paying attention. He had chosen the balcony because not everyone comes up here, and he had dismissed his entourage with a glare, knowing they wouldn’t leave unless he acted otherwise.
"The stress..." he sighed wearily.
Deep in his thoughts, a familiar scent wafted through the air, and his lips, which had forgotten how to smile for many hours, slowly curved into a tender smile as he knew who was making her way here. In no time, his unfocused eyes moved to settle on the woman who had entered the balcony, and behind her, was Lady Seraphina whom she dismissed after seeing she had located his presence.
She returned his smile while moving towards where he sat. In her hand was a board chess she had kept on the table before going to stand behind her husband, her hands on his shoulder, and he tilted his chin up to look at the beautiful woman who had brightened his day with merely her presence.
"Did you come to see how your husband is faring?" He asked, even though it was obvious, and when she nodded, she lowered her head to kiss him on the lips, as he seemed to have been expecting it. His hand found her small ones that rested on his shoulder, and he brought her in front of him so she could sit on his legs.