In the afternoon.
As usual, the children were together in the garden, sitting around the table. Alaric and Lilith were drawing on paper, Liam was swinging a wooden sword by the side, and Lauren had been staring at Aristia since they came to the garden.
Aristia sighed and turned to her when she couldn't endure the staring any longer. "Is there something you want to tell me, Laura?"
Lauren shook her head with a smile. "It's nothing. It's just..." She was still reeling from the revelation the previous night.
Before any other words could be said, a maid approached them in the garden.
"Your Highness," she bowed. "There is a man at the gate requesting to meet you. He claimed that he was instructed by you. He goes by the name Randall."
"Randall?" Aristia searched her memories. "Who's Randall?" She asked stupidly.
[Oh, it's the owner of the art store.] She would have forgotten if he hadn't come.
She nodded at the maid. "Let him in. I will meet him in the parlour."
