[Now, it’s ti.]
Aristia looked sideways, gesturing a bit.
Dorothy caught her sign and gestured at a boy among the children she took care of.
The boy nodded, moving towards the building silently.
He grasped onto a rope and pulled.
Imdiately after, soone among the crowd pointed forward.
"Look at that cloth!"
Aristia glanced at the person, noticing it was the sa person who had asked aloud what the cloth was for when their carriage stopped.
She shook her head amusedly. [He’s really stuck on that cloth, isn’t he?]
Hearing the shout, everyone followed the direction he pointed at.
At that mont, the cloth opened and a large amount of colorful flowers fell out, pouring down like in a fairytale.
"Wow!" A lot of children couldn’t help but exclaim.
[Yeah. Had to end it with sothing dramatic.] Aristia thought, as flowers rained down on her and Alaric.
The wind decided to help her cause, or maybe it was Kai, because at that mont, it blew up the flowers up and away, so pouring over the children and others in the crowd.
Aristia nodded discreetly at Kai, who returned it shyly. He had been surprised when he heard earlier that Aristia had built sothing called an orphanage; a place where children who had no ho would stay. But he had also been a bit fearful. What if the princess decided he should stay there too? But Aristia didn’t voice any intention like that.
’That’s right. She said I’m one of her people. I swore my loyalty to her.’ Thinking this caused him to relax.
He looked away and back at the cloth, flicking his wrist as a small amount of wind focused on the cloth, causing it to fall from where it was hung and revealing the plaque on the building.
"Willows Haven." An Aristocrat read out the na.
Silence took over once again when the King finally stepped forward.
He stood beside Aristia, nodded at her approvingly, just a second short of patting her head, before turning to the crowd.
"Thank you all for coming and for honouring this occasion. I am deeply pleased with this great improvent in Amberale. The children who have no hos now have a place to call their ho. We all have a responsibility to help these children, just as princess Aristia has done now. She has taken the first step, and now, we have to do the sa..." As Fedor continued his lengthy speech, everyone listened with rapt attention.
Aristia glanced at the crowd around and held back an evil laughter.
[Yes, yes. It’s perfect.]
This was all part of her plan. She never planned to shoulder all the responsibility alone even though she was capable of doing it.
Just as she had discussed with her parents, the royal family and her mother’s family was also aware.
They would make sure the Aristocrats also played a part.
[It will also improve my reputation. In fact, my reputation is nothing but good now in the eyes of commoners.]
Aristia was very satisfied.
After Fedor’s speech, Wilson also ca forward and gave his own speech.
"Okay. I think we should have made arrangents for chairs." She leaned forward a bit to whisper to Alaric.
Alaric glanced at her and nodded, looking at her with a bit of heartache. "Are your feet tired of standing?"
Looking at him. "No. I was saying because of the children and guests." Aristia shook her head and turned away.
[Sorry I asked. What’s with that look of sympathy?]
Finally, Wilson concluded his speech.
The event was finally over and thankfully, because Aristia could see that the children were itching to leave and enter their new ho, after all, it had been pushed forward to three month later from the ti they were supposed to move in.
The people gathered finally left, leaving a few aristocrats present.
As the crowd dispersed, Aristia heard people talk about how kind, thoughtful and caring she was.
The remaining Aristocrats approached them, wearing smiles on their faces.
"The third princess truly is benevolent."
"Indeed, she is."
"We’ll make sure to show our support for princess Aristia’s gracious deeds by sending gifts to Willows Haven."
"Thank you for your kind words, Lady." Aristia nodded.
This was the outco she wanted.
The aristocrats were full of praise for her, going on and on about her kind deeds.
Finally, everyone left but Aristia and her family stayed behind.
It didn’t seem strange to anyone because as the one who built the place, it made sense if she wanted to speak with Dahlia and Dorothy.
"Please, this way." Dahlia gestured inside the building.
She opened the large front doors and stepped inside with Dorothy, followed by Aristia and her family, Kai Owen, Adeline and the children.
The building was just beside the Kendall sisters’ forr ho, and it was the perfect spot. Since Aristia had bought so of the surrounding lands, there was a lot of space for children to run and play.
Dahlia and Dorothy led the royal family mbers around respectfully for a tour.
The outside of the building had a warm outlook, and the inside was just the sa; with a warm and inviting tone.
It had wooden floors, soft woven rugs, and a large hearth in the main hall.
There were many dormitory rooms upstairs with beds, each with quilts in different colors.
Aristia intended for it to be less of an "orphanage institution" and more a big, bustling family ho.
Because she founded it, she made sure that extra care would be given to make sure the children feel loved, and not just housed.
There were lots of ’oohs’ and ’ahhs’ as the children followed behind. This was the first ti they entered the building.
"Thank you, princess."
"Yes. Thank you, princess."
The children thanked her.
"Take care of the children properly." Rowaine said.
Dahlia and Dorothy bowed quickly. "We will, your majesty."
Just as the sun was setting, the royal family left and Aristia’s family did too.
Just as they passed the gate, they noticed a wooden sign outside.
On it were the words, "Welco To Willows Haven."
This sign had been covered until the cloth covering the plaque on the building had been removed.
"You’ve done well, Tia." Wilson nodded approvingly on the carriage ho. His daughter had planned everything so well that everything had co out fine.
Aristia and Willows Haven had beco the talk of Belonmusk, and soon, not only the capital, but the whole of Amberale would be aware.
"Thanks, papa."
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