Daniel, Sebastian and Ethan had arrived quite early for the afternoon tea under Daniel's persistence.
" Uncle Daniel!"
Daniel chuckled as Nathan ran into his arms and greeted Sebastian and Ethan.
" I missed you."
Daniel felt warm and glad when Nathan wrapped his soft arms around his neck.
Princess Margaret was carried by a knight who let her down on her insistence and requested Ethan to carry her.
" Pretty Uncle Ethan , can you please carry this Princess?" .
Daniel watched in amusement at the Princess' way of asking Ethan to carry her and her comments on Sebastian to butter him up.
"Uncle Sebastian , you are handsome too."
" Our Princess is certainly delightful." ,
Ethan said as he carried Margaret in his arms.
" Uncle Daniel , let us go to the parlour room. Mommy said to take all of you there."
Daniel and Nathan sat together on a couch whereas the other three sat at the opposite couch with Margaret sitting in between Sebastian and Ethan.
"I heard Princess Margaret loves horseback riding and archery.", Ethan asked Margaret.
"Yes . It's so much fun!"
" What about you , Nathan?"
" I love reading all subjects. Science. History. Geography. Literature. But I want to be a great swordsman like Uncle Daniel."
Daniel could see the blush that crept up in Nathan's cheeks and ears.
" Our Nathan is so cute. And if you keep practicing , I'm sure you can be better than me."
" Really?"
Nathan's eyes seemed to be genuinely curious and expectant.
" Yes. Really."
" Uncle Sebastian , are you scared of giants?" , Margaret asked out of the blue.
" No. I am not scared of them.
Are you?" , Sebastian replied.
"But why? They're huge. And ugly. So scary."
Daniel smiled at Margaret's exaggerated hand gestures.
'But I guess it's natural that children would be scared of giants.'
" Are you scared of giants ,Nathan?"
Daniel asked Nathan who seemed to make a disagreeing face with Margaret.
"No. I'm not scared.
And they don't even exist anymore."
" I still think giants are scary.
They're huge and ugly!" , Margaret said with her arms crossed.
"Mommy said that we should not assume who they are by the way they look." , Nathan replied.
Daniel was surprised at Nathan's thoughts.
It was mature and non-judgemental with a hint of innocence.
He had a good upbringing in spite of being brought up in the Palace with a broken relationship between the parents.
" But giants destroy villages and kill people." , Margaret retorted.
Daniel noted that Princess Margaret seemed to be form an opinion of people based on their actions.
He could see it in the way the Princess disliked Lady Olivia who treated her badly.
If people treated her badly and committed a mistake, she seemed to perceive that they are bad people.
Which wasn't entirely wrong.
But not right in it's entirety.
'But she's still young.
She can be taught as she grows.
That as much as people's actions tend to reflect on their personality , sometimes , there is more than what you see on the outside.'
" Margie , did you not listen to mommy? Mommy said that even though giants destroy villages and kill people, it was because humans went to live and steal at the giant's home.
So it is the greed and selfish desires of man that is to blame.
We cannot put the entire blame on the giants. Humans are responsible too." , Nathan argued.
Daniel ruffled Nathan's hair as felt proud of Nathan trying his best to explain to Princess Margaret.
"Seems like everyone is having fun without me."
Daniel turned as he heard the voice that he had come to love so much.
She looked beautiful as always in her dusty blue dress.
There was a glow in her face and her entire demeanour that Daniel couldn't help but feel his heart beat faster.
'She looks good in every colour.'
" I apologise for being late. "
" We were early." , Daniel replied.
It was true that they had come more than half an hour earlier than the appointed time.
Daniel gave a bouquet of daisies to Violet.
He remembered that they were her favourite flowers.
"A present"
"Thank you ."
The maids came in and served the tea and refreshments.
'Did she really prepare everything?
She said she would.
But if she did , it must have taken a lot of time.'
As Daniel was pondering over this fact ,
he heard Nathan proudly exclaim,
" Mommy made everything here!"
' So she did really make everything!'
Daniel was looking over the different types of delicious-looking foods she prepared wondering how to compliment her when Sebastian did it before him.
" It's an honour to be able to eat all these appetizers and desserts personally prepared by the Empress."
All the desserts and snacks tasted heavenly.
'How is she so good at cooking and baking?'
Daniel was lost in thoughts because of the excitement and pleasure at having tasted Violet's personally cooked food.
He came to his senses when he heard everyone giving compliments.
'I forgot! How could I forget to praise her ? '
Daniel internally screamed .
"The tea is brewed to perfection. "
' That did not come out exactly as I wanted.'
The conversation was light and fun.
" Really , Sebastian?
We must be food soul-mates! We have exactly the same tastes!" , Violet replied.
' Soul mates? Then what am I?'
' Ah. So she likes meat.
Sea food is my favourite.
Will she like it too?'
Daniel noticed how the Princess seemed to genuinely adore Ethan.
' What is there to like about him except his looks?'
" Is Margaret going to protect me?" , Ethan asked .
" Yes. I will rescue you and protect you!"
" What about you Nathan?
Do you want to find a princess?" , Daniel asked.
" Mommy is my princess. The most beautiful one.", Nathan replied.
" You're right. Your mommy is the most beautiful princess", Daniel agreed.
Daniel could not afford to miss out on complimenting her when he failed to do so earlier.
And it was not like he was lying.
He meant it.
Violet was truly beautiful.
"Uncle Daniel?"
"Hmm?"
" Can you come visit again? To play with me?"
Daniel felt ecstatic that Daniel seemed to like him.
' If I ever decide to pursue the Empress ,
would he accept me as his father?'
" Sure , why not? Do you like Uncle Daniel?"
" Yes, I do. The Emperor never reads me stories. He doesn't talk to me.
He has never played with me.
Nor ever complimented me.
I don't like him. And he doesn't treat
Mommy well" , Nathan replied.
Daniel felt his heart break as he listened to Nathan.
'The Emperor really is a despicable man.'
' Both his children hate him so much.'
Daniel felt Violet looking at him apologetically.
He gestured with his eyes and shook his head to let her know that there was no reason to feel uncomfortable or sorry.
The Prince and the Princess soon left the parlour room to attend their lessons.
" Thank you , Sebastian. How long will you be staying here in Iretonia?"
Daniel felt a little downcast as the inevitable question popped up.
He really wanted to spend the rest of his life here with Violet was it was impossible.
" Two weeks. Maybe a month." , Daniel replied.
' I hope I can extend my stay here .'
When Violet offered to take them on a tour in the Capital market , Daniel swiftly replied in excitement.
He would grab every opportunity to spend more time with her.
"Huh?"
'I spoke so hurriedly it seems that Violet could not quite get what I had said.'
" Give us a tour of the Capital city in 3 days. We have a full day off to ourselves on that day."
"Sure."
Daniel felt sad as it was already time to leave.
" We had a pleasant time here today,
Violet." , Daniel replied.
" I'm glad. I had a wonderful time too "
' I has a much more wonderful time than you.
I hope we can spend some time together.
Just the two of us .'