Aristia quietly and carefully opened the door to her room and peeked out. She tiptoed out of the room while looking left and right.
She saw no one apart from the occasional passing servants who bowed respectfully as she passed and giggled when she gestured with her hand for them to keep silent and not call her name. They had heard about how the Madam, the princess and princess were all hiding and the Grand Duke was searching for them.
Before she could turn the corner, she heard Alaric giggling and peeked out only to see that he had been caught and so had Catherine. Just then, Wilson looked up just as she moved back. She held back a gasp and turned around as quietly and slowly as she could but she felt a pat on her shoulder.
"Found you, Tia." Wilson said as he burst out laughing and Aristia smiled helplessly. She was about to suggest that they continue but Alaric spoke up before she could.
"Let's play another game, Tia,"
Catherine nodded in agreement. She was very satisfied with how her family was happy spending time together.
She was proud because even when her maiden family was close, they had never really spent time together like this, playing games, not that she knew any such games in the first place.
"Let's return to the garden, then." Aristia said, ignoring the servants who were watching them curiously but discreetly, as they went outside the mansion.
Soon, news had spread around the mansion about the scary Grand Duke playing with his wife and children.
Back in the garden, Aristia pulled off the cloth covering the basket of snacks and spread out the different plates containing the various snacks and drinks on the blanket. She picked up a doughnut and took a bite, happy to finally get a taste of the familiar snack.
She gestured to her family to dig in and Catherine apprehensively took out a chicken nugget and took a bite. Her earlier look of apprehension changed to an expression of surprise and she took a larger bite, which really wasn't much considering how little aristocrat women opened their mouths.
Wilson, on noticing her change in expression, picked up a chicken nugget too and took a bite, nodding his head in approval and praising, "Tia, this is delicious. Where did you learn to make this?"
Thankfully, Aristia had already prepared an answer beforehand just in case, "I read it, Papa, in that book I found in the library when I was studying with Alaric."
Unfortunately, Aristia had only baked two snacks; the chicken nugget and doughnuts, because the cooking was unplanned and Aristia didn't have the time to arrange for the needed ingredients. She told herself that next time, she'd cook whatever she wanted to her heart's content.
"The next game is called 'This or That'. You can also call it 'Would You Rather'. It's played just as the name implies. I'll show you an example." Aristia said, before turning to Alaric.
"Would you rather eat a chicken nugget or a doughnut?" She asked Alaric.
Alaric thought a little bit and then he said, "I would rather eat the doughnut."
She then turned to Catherine, making the latter sit up in anticipation.
"Mama, Would you rather live in a small house with your family in the commoners' district or live in a large mansion alone?"
Catherine answered, "I would rather live in a small house with my family than live in a mansion alone."
"Okay." Aristia turned to Wilson, "Would you rather leave mama or cook in front of the kingdom?" Both Wilson and Catherine's eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected question, before Wilson answered.
"I would rather cook a thousand times even before the neighbouring kingdoms than leave your mother." He declared heavily with his hand on his chest like he was uttering an oath or a pledge.
This made Aristia chuckle, he had verbally confirmed his love for his wife.
"So solemn. Papa, you look like you're making a pledge of loyalty." Aristia teased and Catherine laughed.
"I am making a pledge of loyalty to my wife." Wilson stared deeply at Catherine and she blushed and looked away.
[Uh... At least consider us please. Before you start getting all lovey-dovey. It's my fault. I shouldn't have asked in the first place.]
"Now it's your turn to ask questions, Al." She raised her voice a little to alert her parents who were still staring at each other.
[I can almost see the sparks.]
"Okay. Tia, Would you rather not take a bath or let me sleep in your room?" He asked.
Aristia couldn't hold back her laughter; the boy was indeed smart.
"Hmm. I would rather not..." She trailed off making Alaric impatient.
She shook her head with a smile, "I would rather let you sleep in my room."
Alaric thought a bit and turned to his mother. "Okay. Mama, Would you rather not speak to Papa for a day or carry me around all day?"
"I would rather carry you around all day." Catherine answered with a smile and the questioning went on.
By the end of the little picnic, it was well into the afternoon. The family happily went about their various activities. Alaric pulled Aristia toward the library for their usual study.
[I've got lots of business ideas. The cheat is that I won't have any competition since nobody from this world has any knowledge of what I have in mind.] Aristia thought with a small smile on her face.
She continued to use the former method of writing a word on paper to teach Alaric as she still hadn't gotten the book made.
"You've made good progress, Allie." Aristia praised Alaric who smiled brightly. She stood up and stretched her limbs. "Come on. We'll continue with the lesson another time."