"Let's go sit down," I say. I really could use so ti off my feet. The manor has a group of chairs and tables off to the side to sit in, and Irlo drags over to them. Jumping into my lap without question, resting against my belly with a cute little smile. "It feels good to have a kid on my lap again. Do you feel your brother and sister?"
"Yes!" Irlo says.
"Good, I think they're happy to be so close to their strong big sister. Now, about your Daddy. He was a wild kid like you. He loved to help . I was lucky to own a little food store near our house. She loved to be a server, handing out my dishes and cleaning up for . The store kept busy, though, trying to keep up with money and living. I was busy like your Mother is, so Alzi had a lot of ti to herself. Letting her run around and find flowers, chase the butterflies, and play without worry of her Mother yelling at her. But she was always in the kitchen when I ca ho. She may be dirty from running around, but she always was there with a big smile happy to see . And yes, her hair, wings, and tail were all glowing and shifting their color. Her hair was never dirty, but her clothing would be. I was able to find the ti to teach her how to sew a bit, and she was so happy about that. She loved it when she was the one to patch her clothing. Daddy was a great kid."
I look down to see what Irlo thinks and find the little cutie fast asleep. I guess I need to pick a more active story next ti.
"Sorry, it is close to Irlo's nap ti," the maid says. "You were a single mother when raising him? You don't have to answer. We can just relax and let Irlo sleep till dinner."
"No, we can keep talking. I didn't pick a very interesting story, but no need to make you sit in silence. I haven't gotten to talk much about Alzi. I should get the stories down. I'm sure all the grandkids and kids will want to hear about it. I wasn't married. I was lucky to get pregnant. Pure chance, really. The pregnancy was hard. She was easy in the womb, even if she was very active from the mont she could move. Still, all the eyes looked down on the woman who couldn't get married, and I didn't have any help when I was getting close to my due date. I was supposed to move in with a midwife who was willing to help . She was so kind. But Alzi ca early but was ready. When she ca, I didn't have ti for anything. All the won I heard talk about labor said they knew it was happening for at least hours before it truly started. It just started and I barely made it to my bed. I. I didn't think I was going to make it, and I didn't know if anyone would be coming to find my baby before she died. I thought she would die right beside my womb. Then Alzi made it out, and I saw that light, and I was confused. I thought I had really died."
"I'm sorry for bringing up a painful mory. But you're a strong woman for making it. I've heard a lot about Alzi, and you raised an amazing woman. Sorry Irlo makes you say he so much."
"I think this is important to say. I'm scared to say it to Alzi cause she would hate herself for almost killing . Thank you for letting speak about it. Oh, Alzi doesn't mind being called a man."
"I've heard she does."
"That is just from Alzi hating the requirents being a man has for nobles. In the village, Alzi would always be close to her kids and choose her mates herself. She'll never say a thing about it to Irlo and she'll respond with a smile to it. If she is in a pretty dress, you should say she. But otherwise, Alzi won't care as long as you're nice to her and her family."
"Thank you. I can try to bring down Irlo more and let you build more nice mories. I may be stepping over my bounds with this, but rember, you have wives now. You don't have to carry it all yourself anymore. You've done that long enough."
"I guess. I didn't think I was holding so much," I say. "It would be best to get it out so I don't put all the kids to sleep with my stories. It would be great to have Irlo visit us. I'm sure Mai and my wives are happy I'm not working over the stove right now. It's just the only way to improve my class."
"You have a class?" the maid asks, her confusion clear on her face. I hope it is safe to share that I have a class now.
"Yes, late bloor the priestess said. Think it is due to having a champion as a kid."
"Champions are strange beings," the maid says, hopefully accepting the answer. It is true in a way, except it was a Goddess telling the information.
"Seems dinner is ready," the maid says. "Let carry the Princess."
"Thank you. She's a little big for to carry in this state." I don't know how she knows, but I'm sure they have a good system for letting other maids know if they need help or are finished with sothing. The maids easily have more mana than I do and have to have so creative ways to use it.
"Don't worry. This is my job. Yours is getting those kids out with all you being healthy."
Are all the maids so nice? Alzi's maids seed kind of nice, but Alzi was so on edge around them. I hope they help my baby relax sohow in the war.
The table is already set, with more food than I had prepared sohow. The soup I was getting ready now has a salad and so at to go along with it. My wives are already sitting around the table with Mai. Kelly got sent off with the Queen like Alzi. I hope they're alright. "Thank you for improving my al," I say. "It is hard to get at when there's a war going on in winter."
"Yes, I wanted your first al with Princess Irlo to be good," the cook says. "Please enjoy."
"Thank you," I say, taking my seat. The maid gives little Irlo a kiss to wake her up. The little Princess flinches to attention after seeing the dinner table, doing her best to sit still.
"What do we do with the napkin?" the maid asks.
"Lap!" Irlo shouts, getting a raised eyebrow in response. "You put it in your lap."
"Yes, your Highness. That is right. Then what do you do?"
"Wait till the head of the table eats," Irlo asks, her eyes burning into . I didn't know I had such an important position at the table. Should we be learning all this too? "Then I can eat, Grandmother."
"Then let take a bite, sweety. You seem hungry," I say.
"Thanks! I think my siblings are hungry, too."
"Haha, yes. They are kicking around a lot. The young need to eat to grow strong," I say, taking a bite of the salad.
"Then I need to eat a lot! I'll be the strongest. A fierce Dragon."
"Yes, you will," Akhae says. "Your parents are powerful, and I can see they gave their gifts to you. But you have to work hard to grow into that strength."
"Your daddy did work hard. Helping every day. You remind a lot of him, and I know your Mother had to work hard to get to her position. You've got to listen to your maids to get there. They've got a lot to show and help you with."
"Mommy says that too," Irlo says. "But it is so boring. The rules are stupid. It's a lot more fun to run around and play."
"That it is," Ilka says. "But life isn't all gas. This is an easy ti to learn how to handle that challenge. But I can think of a way to help you with them if the mighty dragon isn't able to complete the challenge."
"I can! I'm a mighty dragon and can complete any challenge!"
"Oh, can you now?" Ilka asks. "Your maid's smile seems to say the opposite. Are you sure you don't want help? Even your parents need help sotis, and I think we would love to help you out now that they're busy protecting the Queendom."
Irlo gives her maid a hard look, squinting to see what Ilka is talking about. The maid keeps her neutral look, careful to hide her thoughts from the young Princess.
"What is the plan?" Irlo asks. "Not that I need the help."
"We could also use so of these lessons, I think. Why not see if you can co down here occasionally and have us join in on your lessons. We can be a good example of how to get through the tough lessons you have."
"Grandmother, could we play after the lessons?" Irlo asks. Alzi, you infected your daughter.
"Yes," I say. "I'll see what I can do. Your siblings are making it difficult to move, but I would love to play with my sweet Granddaughter."
"Then we can do it. To help you all," Irlo says. "Right?"
"Yes, your Highness," the maid says. "We can find so ti to have them join you in the lessons. It would be good for you to branch out. Your Mother kept you to herself for a little too long. But I do warn you. Many of your teachers won't let them join. Not till they officially get their title. I'll work on it."
"Thank you," I say. "That would be nice. I don't want to drag my daughter down being a commoner."
"You won't," the maid says, refusing to explain. I wonder if Alzi struggles in her lessons like her daughter.
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