***
Arielle walked with all the residents down from the hill and gathered in the backyard of the manor. When they got there, several people had prepared a sandwich for each and a glass of warm milk for everyone who was harvesting the Forstberries from the forest.
The n carried several large wooden basins. They poured all the harvest into each basin, which was then going to be washed with warm water.
Arielle saw a priest that stood near the well. He was the man who was responsible for heating the water.
After she ate her sandwich, Arielle folded the sleeves of her dress and sat down with the other won to wash the Frostberry. Sebastian asked the princess to rest, but Arielle didn’t listen at all.
She was too busy as she listened to the story one of the won was telling. This reminded her of the ti she accompanied Tania to wash clothes with the other servants in the palace. As she listened to them joke around was entertainnt in itself for Arielle.
A man joined in to transfer the rinsed fruit to a dry container.
"Oh, Princess Arielle?" he called a little hesitantly. "Is... that you?"
Upon hearing her na called, Arielle looked up. For a while, she tried to rember who the man was. After exerting her mory, she finally rembered that he was the man who waited in line with her to et the king days ago. It was a man whose money was taken away by a man claiming to be a priest.
"Oh, yes.. it’s ," she said with a smile. "How are you?"
"Oh my, I didn’t think I’d be able to et you here," the man said enthusiastically. "I am good, Your Highness."
The man took off his gloves then bowed down at Arielle. The princess imdiately got up to tell the man to straighten his body. The woman who was talking to her earlier ca closer.
"Your Highness, do you know my husband?" she asked her, looking confused.
"Correct! We stood in line together to et the king at the palace," replied the husband.
"That’s right, we t and talked together while waiting in line to et the king," Arielle confird.
It turned out that the woman who told the story about the priest scamming her family was the wife of the man who told the sa story at the ti. Arielle was happy to et the man again.
"Then, how was the outco of eting the king back then?" she asked him.
The man looked sad. "Duke Coley was not present at the eting there at the ti. So, His Majesty the King said I must await confirmation on the matter again. I really hope His Majesty can get Duke Coley to stop his greed as we all feel wronged by that man’s actions."
So of the n around also agreed. Arielle beca concerned.
"His Majesty will always put your interests first. You don’t have to worry," said Arielle and cald the people there.
"Ah, we haven’t gotten to know each other yet," added Arielle as she tried to change the topic.
The couple introduced themselves to Arielle as Arthur and Lydia. After they shared greetings for a while, Arielle invited Mrs. Lydia to return to washing the Frostberries. Tania also joined in to tie Arielle’s sleeves so they wouldn’t be exposed to water.
After the fruits were washed clean, all were crushed with a heavy wooden stick. Arielle crouched down and asked permission to dip her index finger into the crushed frostberries.
The won there allowed Arielle, and so even took a small bowl as a frostberry container for Arielle to enjoy.
PAT! PAT!
Arielle felt soone pat her shoulder, the girl looked back to find three girls standing with natural blushes on their faces. Arielle recognized one of them. She was the child she had rescued from the snow pile earlier.
"Hello, sweet girls. Is there anything I can help you with?" asked Arielle with a friendly smile.
The girl clasped her hands behind her back. She glanced at her two friends beside her. The two of her friends pushed the girl’s small body slowly.
"Um, princess... you are very beautiful."
Arielle was quite surprised by the sudden complint from the three girls.
"Thank you," replied Arielle.
"You remind of a snow fairy, and... as a thank you for helping earlier, I made this for you. Now you can beco a real snow fairy..."
The girl took out a simple crown from wrapped tree branches, tied with a red ribbon. Arielle’s mouth gaped, feeling flattered.
"Oh my ... thank you very much. This is very beautiful," Arielle gushed, making the three little girls blush. "Could you help wear it?"
The girl took a step forward, and Arielle, who was sitting crouched down, lowered her head. The girl put the crown on Arielle’s head carefully. Everyone in the manor courtyard at that mont stopped doing everything they were doing to look at Princess Arielle’s new crown.
"Do I already look like a snow fairy now?" asked Arielle with sparkling eyes.
"You look like an angel, princess," replied another little girl.
Arielle chuckled softly. "Thank you very much. I will take good care of this crown."
Arielle gave the three of them a peck each on the cheek. The three of them then dashed out of the manor courtyard with gleeful laughter. Arielle turned around and realized several pairs of eyes were looking at her with warm gazes. Included among them was Tania who was mashing frostberry.
"Oh, I don’t think I can kiss you all," Arielle said and caused laughter to be heard all around them. Arielle also made a small laugh.
In the manor, the king was in his study, attending a eting. He heard loud laughter erupt from outside. He raised his hand, a silent gesture that motioned Duke Coley to stop talking. The man rose from his chair.
"Your Majesty?" called William.
Ronan ignored the call. He leaned closer to the window to see what was happening.
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