The fairy kingdom never liked the outside nations as the briar valley was able to put up with it and get along later on with the influence of their queen. So, they cut themselves off from the outside into a separate space unknown to all the world. However, in truth, it is just barely next to the border of the Briar Valley.
The lean man quickly noticed her staring at him silently with a look of confusion on his face.
"This is the human child we want to adopt. They say that there is an orphanage that dumped them in the border forest between Pyroxene and Briar Valley." Oberon responded with a frown, "How long would this take to complete?"
"An adoption should be-!" The man's jaw dropped in disbelief as her father's words finally sunk in, "The child was dumped?!"
"Is there a problem?" Tatiana narrowed her eyes as she glared at him.
"There's nothing wrong with the background, Your majesty. If it's an adoption, we can sort it out easily. It's just..." The man hesitated nervously, "If this orphanage dumped a child in their care into a forest, they are violating the law."
The older gentleman scowled, "To think an orphanage would abandon a child into the forest on their own. It seems Pyroxene's securities have become lax these past decades..."
"Is it really that big a deal?" Maisey noted in bewilderment.
"Yes!" The lean man nodded his head with a grimace, "There are laws orphanages must follow to properly raise children and find them good homes. Dumping a child into the forest is not a practice Pyroxene or any other country for the matter upholds. I'll gather the necessary documents, I mean papers, for the adoption. If I may ask, for the name of this young lad?"
"She's a girl." The queen shook her head.
"Eh?" The man looked at her in surprise before bowing, "Ah, please forgive me! Young miss, may I ask what is your name?"
"Peony." She responded curiously, "Peony Xue. The last name is spelled X-U-E."
"Peony Xue." He quickly took out the notebook and jolted it down on the paper, "Done."
"Is her case really that unusual?" Tatiana questioned curiously.
Unusual? Was her case so unusual?
"It is." The old man shook his head and huffed in disdain, "Orphanages are run under the government and they need to be monitored and maintained for the growth and safety of the children. They fund them with the resources that could be attained to sustain the children's needs until they become adults."
"Pyroxene...?" Peony raised a brow in confusion.
"Do you remember something?" Queen Tatiana questioned her gently.
Peony, seemingly confused, explained, "But nobody usually visits the orphanage. The door usually opens whenever the "Mothers" and the "Fathers" enter the building. There was nobody else that goes through the door."
"Mothers and Fathers?" The lean man frowned and remained in deep thoughts before he responded, "For now, I'll return to organize all of the papers. If the young miss would like, we can take about this on another date? Today's event must be tiring for a child's mind."
King Oberon glanced over to his wife who nodded and left the room with the human girl in her arms.
Once outside, Queen Tatiana hugged her daughter tightly. Rather it was from pity, anger, or pride, Peony could not know because she could not turn her head from her mother's warm shoulder. When she arrived in her new guest chambers after the fairies bathed her, Queen Tatiana asked curiously, "Can you tell mommy, who are the mothers and fathers in the orphanage, Peony?"
Sitting on her soft cotton bed and in her pink pajamas, Peony looked at her mother curiously as it was rare to hear her call herself mommy unless she was talking to Peony nicely like now, "The 'Mothers' comes home to help do the chores every day. I remember that Marilyn who left came back as a mother. Then, there was Jacob who left two years ago and returned to work for the older father. But, when I looked at them and the other parents, they aren't anything like a mother or father. They tell us to do stuff and tried to steal my ring."
"Your ring?" The Queen questioned in deep thoughts.
Peony nodded, "It was a black ring that they said they found me with. At first, nobody cared about it and said it was ugly. Then, one of the orphans told me how their silver bracelet her late parents left her with had vanished and, then, more children lost a lot of things like hair clips and rings. Then, one of the fathers and mothers asked if they could see my black ring. I felt scared that they get someone's attention to take it from me too, so I told them that I lost it... Am I a bad girl for lying? That ring was all I had left from where I might come from, but someone could also take it away from me..."
"Of course not! Were you able to keep the ring safe?" The queen smoothed out her hair.
Peony nodded, "I buried it in a safe place after I was in the forest. Then, I got it back."
"Can mommy see it?"
"Mommy wants to see it?" Peony questioned seemingly in deep thoughts.
"Maybe this ring can help the other children in the orphanage." The queen explained, "They may not be good to our Peony, but they are also witnesses and victims to the same villains, right? Let them help you get justice for this matter. You just... stay with your mother and watch for the right time."
During the bath, the King had left the guest to regather their thoughts while he returned to speak with his wife. Seeing how she had left some powerful kidnappers in tatters despite her young age and little control over magic, they concluded that she was indeed a smart child that was simply too smart for her age and this could come to bite her later on in life. Although the king was unwilling to keep her around forever, he knew that this child had the potential to walk down the wrong path and become trouble later on if not under proper care.
They finally agreed that, although they weren't humans nor commoners, they are the only people with the best chances of raising her properly and, to do that, it must start with their understanding of her position and obstacles to her future. So, the best strategy that can help her display yet hide her abilities...
"Wait for the right time to act." The queen hugged her softly, "Your father and I will always stand by your side, my daughter. So, never feel that you have to take on the obstacles on your own."
.....
After that day, she was officially given the title of the eldest princess of the fairy kingdom. She finally has a father, a mother, and a place to call home. Sipping the warm tea, she recalled the warmth of the embrace of her mother. It was warm enough to melt the awkwardness between her and her new family, but not enough to harm her in any way. For someone who has only cared for fairies all their long life, the queen of the fairies is an excellent mother. She was never a perfect one, but, for someone like Peony, she was perfect having been raised understanding the world outside of the fairy kingdom. Urging her to befriend the humans whom the fairies do not think so highly of.
Her father was no different. Though he does not call her his daughter with the same amount of fondness, he still respected her as his daughter and heeded his request to help her avoid receiving the title with the line to his throne and agreed to start loosening their stiff isolation era by reaching out to the Briar Valley for political relations all so that they would know should she decide to follow a path as a human commoner or royalty. All this against her mother's persistence nagging. In the end, using the last reason to convince her and her daughter to calm her finally soothed her enough to let it go.
.....
"Ugh... I can't believe I've been beaten by a six years old thrice!" The fae cried in defeat and embarrassment.
Six months had gone by since her old orphanage was surrounded and shut down by the police and government of Pyroxene. It was also during that time when she had also completed all official documentation that became proof and official fact that she is now the daughter of the fairy kingdom's royal family. She had just finished her orientation a week ago and, after much training and lessons from Igni and Maisey into the etiquette and history of the kingdom, she was greeted by the regular visits of old general Zigvolt who was here in place of the queen of Briar Valley. The lawyer was also present and drops by on occasion to record proof that she was adapting well to her new environment and a better lifestyle.
According to him, adoption in royalties are very hard to come by in history as many valued blood and heritage above all else, even going as far as finding very distant relatives should the former not have any heirs before death. So, adoption into the royal family is very rare.
"Old man..." Peony began, "If you want, I can show you some tricks."
Hearing this, the old man scowled, "What are you saying?! I'll win at least one round."
Peony nodded, "But I've been winning all the time... Ah, then, can you teach me martial arts?"