Chapter 93: Hearts, Hats, and Harmony

The carriage moved over the rocky path as Ariana sat with Leah on the other side. Ariana wore a light green dress—so pale it could easily be mistaken for another color if not observed closely. A hat rested beside her, something she would be needing soon, as it was already nearing noon. Leah then spoke calmly. "Queen Ariana, Jack’s school is small... I don’t know if that’s okay with you." She was worried the Queen might not like the place. Ariana nodded, raising her hand as she signed gently. "Of course, Lady Leah. I’m perfectly fine. Why would I mind? I’m going there to visit Jack and meet his friends, so that won’t be a problem for me." Leah’s lips finally curved up as the slight panic within her eased. A comfortable silence settled between them as Ariana decided to speak with nature or rather, let it speak to her. The soft sound of the wind blew through the edge of the carriage window, adding to its peaceful ambiance. She looked outside, her gaze scanning the trees—until her eyes widened as she realized they were no longer surrounded by the forest. "Queen Ariana," Leah said gently, "just in case you’re curious, this is another village in Eltones." Ariana nodded. She hadn’t expected that. The place was bustling with people. Some walked by while many carried fresh leaves, selling goods at small wooden tables. Different people sat behind the stalls, offering fruits, meats, and more. The street sounds told her enough—this reminded her of her own village. She noticed how the carriage had already begun attracting attention. People turned to look, clearly curious. She couldn’t blame them..there was a huge difference between a local carriage and a royal one. It was obvious theirs stood out too much. "Queen Ariana, you don’t have to worry about them," Leah assured. "We rarely get visits from Royals. So when one does pass by either using this as a route or coming for a reason..every eye is on them." She spoke as Ariana nodded. And what was even funnier? Many of them go as far as placing bets on which royal it is. If they guess right, those who guessed wrong pay the winner. It brings in money sometimes. Though... it can lead to fights. But if everyone guesses wrong, then no one has to pay. The carriage moved further and finally stopped in front of a wooden house. It wasn’t too big, but it looked just enough. "If you’re wondering why it’s medium-sized," Leah said, "it’s because this is only one class..just his grade." Ariana nodded in understanding as she moved and gently picked up the hat, as the sun had begun to fall harshly, and she needed to shield herself. The carriage door opened, and she calmly stepped out. Just as she did, her eyes widened slightly. A crowd had formed. Some gasped at the sight of a royal. Others stared at her dress—or her hair. Ariana couldn’t help but think, If someone stared at me like this back in my village, ’I’d be wondering if I had poop on my panties.’ But now she knew the reason behind their gazes. Even so, the attention was intense. She walked with Leah toward the wooden building. If only she knew this alone would bring more students to the school. Who wouldn’t want to bring their child to a school visited by a royal? She could hear whispers, "Oh my, her hair’s so pretty...it’s glowing under the sun." "Is she real?" "Of course she is! Why else would we be seeing her? Do you think she’s the moon goddess disguised as a human?" "I’m bringing my little brother to that school." The whispers faded as Ariana stepped into the building. The soft voices of children met her ears. "Mary had a little lamb..." They were singing. A small smile played on Ariana’s lips as the little voices echoed through the room. "Queen Ariana, this way," Leah guided her gently through the narrow hallway. They stopped at a wooden door. Ariana glanced up, noticing holes in the ceiling. She wondered how they managed during the rainy season. It wouldn’t be easy—it reminded her of her former room. She sighed softly. This couldn’t be a good experience for the little ones. Leah knocked quietly. The door opened, and a woman with black hair tied in a tight bun stood there. She wore a simple blue blouse and a long black maxi skirt. Her eyes shifted—and widened. "Your Grace, it is a pleasure to meet you," she said. Ariana curtsied politely. She almost wondered how the woman recognized her, considering she had never been in this village before. Then she remembered—news spreads fast. Not to mention, newspapers would’ve carried her portrait across all of Eltones. She was more popular than she thought. The woman turned to Leah. "Mrs. Leah, I wasn’t expecting you," she said respectfully. Ariana noticed the calmness of the class and the soft whispers. The woman’s face revealed clear shock at seeing her with Leah—there was no denying it now. She now clearly believed everything Jack had told her. "Please come in," the woman invited. Leah entered, followed by Ariana. As soon as she stepped in, Ariana’s lips curved up. The children’s eyes widened in awe. A particular little girl placed her hands on her chest, her mouth falling open, wide eyes sparkling with excitement. Ariana’s smile deepened at their cuteness. Jack, however, seemed the most shocked—his mouth hung open. Then, in perfect unison, the children stood and spoke, "Good afternoon, beautiful ladies! Welcome to Grade One!" Ariana’s lips widened. The way they spoke in harmony showed they had been taught this—it was not their first time. The small wooden tables were arranged in a circle, with the children sitting on tiny chairs. Books and crayons were spread before them. They were coloring. Ariana raised her hands and signed to Leah. The children’s eyes followed her hands in wonder. "Wowww..." they chorused softly, mesmerized by the graceful movement of her fingers. And then, a little girl said softly, "She really is a mermaid, Jacky." Ariana’s lips curled into a smile. So, Jacky had told them she was a mermaid. How adorable. Leah turned to the teacher as she spoke. "Miss Patricia, the Queen came here to visit the children—if you don’t mind us using a little bit of your time." "I don’t mind at all," Miss Patricia replied kindly. "And not to mention, break period will be starting in two minutes." Leah nodded and added with a soft smile, "She also brought cupcakes and fruits for the children." The children gasped quietly, their little mouths opening and closing like fish out of water. "Cakes... wow," one whispered. Leah knew their expressions would be priceless. After all, cakes here cost more than six gold coins, and even then, they were usually made for export—not for villagers. Even the teachers’ mouths hung open slightly in disbelief. Just then, the door opened and the carriage driver stepped in, holding a large basket wrapped in transparent cloth. Inside were beautifully arranged cupcakes—vanilla and chocolate and, in another layer, fresh strawberries and peeled tangerine slices. The children’s eyes widened in stunned silence. Miss Patricia clapped her hands gently and addressed the class. "You all know what to do when gifts are being shared and everyone is present, yes?" The children stood quickly and spoke in unison, "You stand in a straight line!" She smiled proudly. "And why is that?" "Because it is one of the basic etiquettes of a great child," they chorused again. Ariana was genuinely marveled. The children were so well-behaved. This teacher was remarkable and even Leah looked impressed. Ariana knew, deep in her heart, that with proper amenities, this little school could become one of the best in the entire village. The children moved quickly, forming a neat line. As the man handed each child their treats, Ariana noticed something heartwarming: every little girl curtsied after receiving hers, and every boy bowed. She wasn’t just surprised—she was deeply moved. These children would grow up to be responsible and respectful men and women. She could feel it. Once every child had received their gift, Miss Patricia turned to them once again. "What do you all say?" "Thank you so much!" they said brightly. Ariana nodded and offered them a graceful curtsy. The children beamed, some giggling, while others simply stared at her in awe. Miss Patricia turned to her again and said sincerely, "Thank you so much, My Queen, for creating time to come here. We are truly grateful. We didn’t expect this at all—thank you again." Ariana smiled warmly in response. As she slowly turned, Jacky waved at her. She waved back, and the children suddenly spoke again in perfect unison, "Wowww..." Ariana could only stare at them in amused surprise. The way they said it together—it felt like a group of little fairies had just had their wish granted by a real-life queen. Leah waved at Jacky as well. He waved back eagerly, then formed a heart shape with his little hands. His mother smiled and blew him a kiss. Ariana’s heart melted, and she couldn’t help but smile too. She waved one last time at the children. They all waved back cheerfully, their little faces glowing with joy. Then, Ariana turned away, knowing it was their break time now—they needed to play and enjoy the moment. As she stepped outside, her body froze slightly when she heard one of the voices behind her. "I want to see her mermaid tail... she’s so pretty." It was a little girl’s voice, and then another added, "Her hair looks like the sun... so bright and beautiful." Ariana smiled to herself at their innocent words. These children were truly wonderful. As they stepped out of the building, people began to turn, their eyes following Ariana. She still wondered why they stared that way, but she said nothing. She entered the carriage with Leah, the door closing softly behind them. As the wheels began to roll again, Ariana sat back. The joy she felt in her heart was undeniable. The happy look on the children’s faces had brought an uncontrollable warmth to her soul. And now... now more than ever, she couldn’t wait to give birth.