Chapter 84 - Newspaper

Geraldine looked at the gloomy sky as she breathes out another cloud of smoke from her mouth. It's been four months since the beginning of construction on their house and it was the day it's finished. Ricardo and his men pack up their things after they've eaten lunch prepared by Aurelie.

After waving goodbye to Ricardo and his workers. The kids excitedly waited for Geraldine to permit them to go up. She let them sit in the living room first because she'll gonna check the rooms before they settle and choose their own rooms.

Going up, the first thing she sees is a space for a mini living room, and after that are series of six doors. She checks every room to see its conditions and she's satisfied with what she sees. Going downstairs, she let the kids go up and choose their own room.

It didn't take a while before a series of out loud arguments erupted but she let them be and solve their own problems.

Geraldine drinks her tea while listening to their arguments. After a while, she could hear someone crying and stumping of feet. She wanted to interfere but at the same time, letting them grow on their own.

"They seemed close," Aurelie muttered as she placed a bowl of cookies at the table.

"Indeed, they are close," Geraldine chuckled as she takes a cookie.

After 30 minutes, the kids went downstairs, some with a satisfied expression and some are preventing their sobs from getting out.

"So, have you all chosen your rooms?" She asked with a smile.

"Yes, master," They all said in unison as Geraldine nodded her head, "Good, now prepare yourself as we'll go to the market today to buy all your needs and also tell your brother Jin to prepare the carriage and the cart."

"Yes, master!"

After one hour, the carriage is already outside with Alexjin as the coachman. Geraldine went and sit beside him.

"Master, you should stay inside to keep you warm," Alexjin shook his head when he saw that his master settled herself comfortably at his side.

"The kids will be riding inside," Geraldine shrugged and took something out of her pocket, "Keep this with you. This is a stone that can keep your body warm against the cold," She drops it off on Alexjin's palm as she pulls the cloak closer to her body.

It didn't take long before the six children get out of the house but stopped when they get outside. They look at Geraldine with a confused expression.

"Master, where are we sitting?" Maxwell asked as his eyes went to the cart.

"Get inside the carriage children. Let's not waste time," Geraldine pointed at the carriage and gestured for them to enter. The children are hesitant to enter since before, only their owners were able to ride inside the carriage while slaves like them traveled by foot or in the cart.

They didn't have a choice but to follow Geraldine and one by one, they entered the door. Their mouths hang open as they enjoy the ride and remembered that moment.

When they arrived at the market, she let Alexjin go with them as they went inside the furniture store to buy a bed, cabinet, table, and a chair for each of the kid's rooms.

"Yehey! We're gonna go shopping! Aaila screamed in excitement and run around the store. The owner and the other staff look at them weirdly.

"I'll let you handle this stuff and come to the clothing store when you're done," Se said to Alexjin and went to buy a newspaper to the boy standing in the middle who's chasing customers to buy what he sells.

"One newspaper, please," Geraldine gives the boy two silver coins and settled herself at the bench, and reads.

"Hmm, there's nothing much going on," She murmured and read each word when her eyes caught something. 

"The Duke of the North in talks of marriage to the Duke of the West. Is this one of the most awaited weddings of the century?" As Geraldine read the title, her blood raised in anger. 

"What the--" She continued reading the article and wished that it was not her and maybe one of her brothers but the longer she reads the article, her heartbeat becomes louder and louder.

"Duke Gauthier's only daughter will be marrying the first son of the Moulim's family…" Her voice trailed off as she read that sentence. She lowered the newspaper and tried to take a few deep breathes to calm herself from exploding.

"They arranged the marriage even if I'm away and never able to meet Kadon again, HAHAHA!" Geraldine looked at the sky as her heartaches. Then something cold fell on her cheeks then it continues.

"The first snow," She murmured while opening her palm to catch the snowflake that was falling towards her. This makes a smile formed on her lips and forgot about what she read for a second.

"Master?" A deep voice spoke beside her. Geraldine didn't need to look for she knows who it is.

"Are they done?" She asked and turn her head to the side. She saw a man whose eyes always intrigued her as if he's looking into the deepest part of her soul.

"Yes, master. We also loaded the things at the cart," Alexjin smiled and walked closer to Geraldine and gives his hands out for her to take.

She didn't hesitate and grab his hand as she stands while leaving the newspaper behind. "Come, let's go and buy clothes for the kids."

Geraldine's hand remained on his. Alexjin was taken back by her words because the way she said it feels like they are the parents of the children.

"Hmm, what is it?" Geraldine asks and removed her hand to touch his cheeks as it was starting to get red.

"Nothing master. It must be from the cold," Alexjin smiled and rubbed his body as an act even though he feels warm from the stone she gave her.

"I see. Then we should hurry."

They went to the boutique with the children and let them buy whatever clothes they want especially winter clothes. She also bought one for herself and Aurelie while letting Alexjin pick his own. After shopping and loading the things that they have bought. Geraldine was about to hop on the carriage went she saw a poster and what's written looks familiar to her.

"They are still finding me?" She whispered and took the poster away from the wall. It was the poster made by Macum to find her. When she sees it, she pulled down the hood of her cloak over her head to hide her face and hurriedly went back to the carriage where they are waiting for her.

Alexjin didn't say a word and started riding. He knows what she has seen and got worried as well for her well-being.

After they arrived home, they helped one another to lifts the furniture upstairs and placed it in the rooms. Geraldine was also surprised when there's an extra sofa for the mini living room upstairs which she thought that they will only buy furniture in the kid's room. Alexjin thought that his master will get angry because he bought those without asking and he felt guilty but she shrugged it off and even praised him for remembering it.

It still makes Alexjin confused as to where his master gets a lot of money to provide for them as the store is their only source of income and he could see that Geraldine doesn't give a sh*t about the prices and just pay for anything even without asking how much it cost.

After they are done arranging each of the six children's rooms. Geraldine spends the rest of the afternoon in the backyard and drinking tea while enjoying the snow.

"Master, you should get inside before you catch a cold," Alexjin said in panic and went to grab a cloak as he saw that Geraldine wasn't wearing any covers and only on her thin dress.

"I don't need extra clothes, Alexjin. Come here and join me," She gestured for him to come which he followed but put a cloak first on her shoulder. With a chuckle, Geraldine show's him the stone and indicated that she feels warm than cold.

"It doesn't mean that you have that stone to warm yourself that you won't take care of your body," Alexjin tried to act calm even though he wanted to argue. This makes her chuckles grew louder.

"Fine, fine," Geraldine pulls the cloak closer into her body as she breathes out another cloud of smoke and both of them are silent as their thoughts wandered around. The place where it used to be all sort of green colors are now slowly replaced by white which isn't too bad. 

"Tell me Alexjin. Are you interested in the Black elements?" She asked with her red eyes looking intently at him. This makes Alexjin stiffen but gives a smile.

"I think they are unique, master."