Chapter 158: Spirit
Princess Nelida who was looking out from her balcony on the second floor saw the harmonious scene of five people in the garden. Her gaze darkened as she clasped the railings of the balcony.
The princess consort left the balcony and went downstairs, her head held high and her strides were graceful. She has trained so hard to have the bearing of a queen and she was reaping the result of the long hours of practice. She headed to the garden at the North Wing.
"I have a surprise for your Yohan. Care to guess what it is?" Amaya was still squatting so she was seeing the little boy eye to eye.
"A bow and arrow?" Yohan asked in his cute voice. He saw her elder sister shoot arrows in the training ground the other day.
"No, it is not."
Amaya chuckled when she saw the little boy’s mouth pout. Back in Miraga, she always wondered how it is to have a sibling. When Cirrus’s mate gave birth to two pups, she thought how wonderful it was to also have a little brother or a sister."
"If you want to learn archery, I can teach you." She stood up and then picked up and carried Yohan.
"Sister, can we also learn with Yohan?" Camilla and Riyana asked at the sa ti.
"Sure. I will ask Lilian to have soone prepare bows and arrows for the three of you and I teach you on the weekend."
Queen Lucinda, who was reclining on a seat, smiled as she watched her two granddaughters jump excitedly. Amaya was like a ray of sunshine to them. Nelida had suppressed them before because she did not want them to be a threat to Danella. She felt guilty and sad at the sa ti. She was a useless grandmother. She could not protect Ibarra’s concubines and her other grandchildren from harm. Even the palace servants could bully them when Ibarra was not paying attention. But it was not too late. She has gotten better, and her three other grandchildren will no longer be bullied.
Marx cleared his throat. "Let
carry him. He is big and heavy for you." He reached out to take Yohan from her.
"Sister, you can put
down. Uncle Marx is right. I am already so big." Yohan wiggled his tiny body and slid down from Amaya.
"What is your surprise for Yohan, Big Sister?" Yohan looked up at the tall woman beside him. Because he was still small, Amaya looked like a giant from his perspective."
Amaya signaled Lilia, and she brought a cage with her. It was covered in cloth, so no one could tell what was inside. A soft whimper was heard from inside the cage.
Yohan giggled. He beca excited and ran to et the servant carrying the cage. He pulled the cloth covering the cage, and his eyes widened when he saw that it was a puppy.
"A puppy!" he exclaid happily.
Amaya approached him and ruffled his hair. "It is a baby wolf. You rember Strata, right? When Strata was a baby, she also looked like this."
"Can I hold it?"
"You can. But be very careful. This pup can bite." Amaya took the pup from the cage, stroked its neck, and made a sound similar to that of the baby wolf. Then she let the pup sll Yohan so it could distinguish his sll. She called Camilla and Riyana to co over. She also allowed the pup to sniff them.
Amaya approached her grandma and introduced her to the pup.
"Grandma, is it alright for Yohan to keep this pup right?"
Quenn Lucinda looked troubled for a mont. ’Is it really alright to keep a wolf in the palace?’ Can Yohan raise the pup like a dog?’
She has doubts in her mind. Wasn’t it too dangerous? However, when she looked at the excited faces of her grandchildren, she could only swallow her reluctance and nodded in agreent.
The pup jumped out of Amaya’s hands and landed on the queen’s lap. Surprised, the queen started patting the pup, and it lay contentedly in her lap.
Yohan, Camilla, and Riyana surrounded the queen as they stared at the pup in wonder. The children’s laughter was infectious.
"Hey guys, what are crowding over there?" The voice that cracked ca from Donello. He was in his puberty, and he hated his hoarse voice the most. The only consolation that he has was that most of his classmates have the sa squeaky and hoarse voice like his.
"I got a pup, Brother. It was given to
by Sister Amaya."
Donello was very tall—even taller than Amaya. He stood behind Yohan and greeted his grandmother. Then, his gaze locked on a furry white puppy on his Grandma’s lap.
"Yohan, you have to give him a na." Amaya reminded the little boy.
"Can I call him Spirit?" He asked expectantly.
"Sure. You can call him whatever you want."
"Grandma, can I hold Spirit now?" the little bow stood near his grandma’s legs. Queen Lucinda lifted the pup and passed it to little Yohan.
King Duncan and Prince Ibarra saw this scene as they walked on the pathway that connected the palace’s North Wing to the training ground in the West.
They paused at the sa ti and had a bewildered look on their faces. King Duncan smiled contentedly at the beautiful picture he saw in the garden. He took out his cell phone and took a photo.
On the other hand, Prince Ibarra did not know how to make out of the situation. It was the first ti he saw his children in one place and playing happily. He noticed that Yohan has beco chubbier and beca more active. His two daughters from his concubine were smiling brightly which was a rare sight, especially Riyana. It was also the first ti he saw his firstborn Donello, playing with his younger brother. They seed to be fussing about sothing in the ground but he couldn’t see what it was from his vantage.
Amaya and Marx, were standing in the lounge chair where Queen Lucinda was sitting. They were watching the kids play happily on the grass. His eyes were searching for one more person. He frowned when he did not see Danella.
***
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