Chapter 241 - Ladies Who Wished

The Ladies approached Stacey and Victoria as they curtsied. Kaisley then eyed Lady Erickson who showed a very kind smile and greeted Stacey and Victoria and her formally. They chatted more but Stacey excused herself as she needed a bathroom. Victoria, who was kind, was about to excuse herself but then Kaisley was the one who offered to assist Stacey as Victoria chatted more with the ladies. 

"You look well, your grace and blooming as ever." One of the ladies said. She smiled charmingly. 

"Thank you." 

"We heard that you were sick for days. I also got a cold." Then, the other lady said, "After you posted on social media about the ginger honey tea, my cold got better. Thank you for that home remedy.." 

"You are mostly welcome Lady Annette." She said. "I have a low immune system when it's seasonal. But I got through it. Most of us got sick when the season changes." 

"I was like that too." One of the ladies said. "When the weather suddenly changes, I also got a bad sneeze all afternoon." 

They continued chatting and then they spoke about the Duke and they admired her and the Duke. They wished to have a man like the Crown Prince and they also admired Duke Maverick who came to pick up his wife. He was dashing who already caught the hearts of the ladies. Duke Maverick chatted with them a little and excused himself to go to the bathroom where his wife left. 

"When are you and the Duke planning for a baby?" One of the ladies asked and one tapped her to stop it. But Victoria only smiled and chuckled. 

"We plan to have it a year after our first anniversary. It's better that we  enjoy ourselves together and later would enjoy the following days with little ones." She answered confidently. She knew to herself that she was partially infertile as there were immature eggs on her ovary. But the doctor confirmed that it can be fertilized as long as she has balanced hormones. She will get pregnant soon if they have unprotected sex. 

"Your grace," Her handmaiden approached her and whispered something to her. 

"Excuse me, ladies." She said as they curtsied to her and then Harriet approached her. They left the hall together and in the main entrance, they saw Maverick taking his wife inside. 

"Your grace," Maverick bowed at her. She nodded her head. 

"You don't need to greet me, Mave. It's cold. Stacey needs proper rest." 

"Thank you." Maverick nodded and got into the car. She stood there and waited for her car. 

"Mom is already in the castle to discuss other things regarding the clothing that you will release," Harriet informed. 

"That's good," Victoria said as she stood straight, with both grace and elegance. There were paparazzi around to take photos of her and Harriet and so she remained graceful just as what was taught to her. 

Her car came up and her bodyguard opened it for her. 

"Hope in with me," Victoria told her as Harriet signed her servants and she got in the car with Victoria. 

Victoria made sure that the window was closed and she slouched and sighed. Harriet did the same. 

"Damn those paparazzi," Harriet grumbled. "And the ladies were spewing nonsense." 

"It's not nonsense at all. I am sure that they also heard that they were throwing concubines to my husband." 

She wrapped the scarf around her neck and over her nose. 

"By the way, you bought a lot of wool to produce blankets and jackets?" 

"Yup. I bought lots of it at a certain factory and it's cheap and also of good quality. They aren't from the Etrama Factory but I bought a bulk of it that they gave me a discount. This upcoming winter was colder than last year so we must keep the children warm." 

Victoria thought of the church where she and Kenzo got married. She already sent clothes to the church to help other people this upcoming winter. She also sent enough food to be distributed to kids who are staying outside. The church said that they will always keep the door open for people who need a place to stay since rogues have increased. 

As the rogues increased the Etrama was doing well to keep them held in a certain place like prisoners first and scanned them thoroughly, giving them enough food and clothes. People who illegally stepped in the boundary of the country were known as rogues and that's why they were doing everything to keep the country peaceful. 

"I don't know how you handle that but it seemed like you jumped into work just after you recovered." Harriet fixed her scarf. 

"How are you and Kane?" Victoria asked out of nowhere. Harriet flushed and giggled. 

"We are doing fine and my parents approve of him. But my brother was so jealous of us that he almost wanted to steal Kane away from me." 

Victoria giggled. 

"I don't know if Hardin was bisexual or something." She turned her head to check if Kaisley's car was following them. "Maybe he's just annoyed that Kane stole you from him since you were his only sister." 

"Something like that." But Harriet can't stop flushing. "He took me hiking and it was tiring but I was very touched when he carried me up when I sprained my ankle. Some man would leave me there or scold me. But he was amazing, Victoria. I was never turned off by him." 

"Well, you are blindly in love with him," Victoria said with a big grin behind her scarf. 

"Can you blame me? He was in love with me first and he kept approaching me until he was sexually attracted to me." Harriet was always straightforward but kind and compassionate. Victoria laughed and shook her head. 

"You should seduce him more." 

"I am doing my best. But that man was so old-fashioned. I think I have to get married first before we do that thing. We make out most of the time… when we were alone but never did he touch me on my sensitive parts." 

"Oh, please! I don't want to hear other details." Victoria covered Harriet's mouth. 

They soon reach the Royal Castle and the Marchioness have servants with her who have the packages that were checked by the guards through the metal scanners. 

"The Marchioness already gathered lots of clothes in a short time." The King said who was standing with his cane. 

"I have a lot of friends in our area who are willing to help with the girls' project." The Marchioness said. 

"That's great, mom." 

"We already separate them by sizes and by genders. Most of them are unisex clothes." The Marchioness said. 

"Wow," Victoria nodded. "You are very much flexible, mom."

"I am." The Marchioness grinned. 

"Anyway, let's have some tea." The Marchioness turned around and curtsied to Princess Kaisley who also curtsied back. "Stacey is already in her room and we can have a slumber party later tonight." 

The old man laughed. 

"Since you girls have a slumber party, we will also have our slumber party." 

"Which is also about work," Victoria approached her grandfather and hugged him warmly. "The conference went well, grandpa. We will discuss the publishing of comics and books." 

"Yes, do that my dear. Don't tire yourselves." 

"We won't." She said happily. "We will enjoy it though." 

The King chuckled and nodded his head. 

The trio went to check on Stacey in their bedroom. The door opened before they even knocked and Maverick had his headset on and he pointed at his wife who was sitting on the couch and eating. Victoria whispered to her as Stacey quickly agreed and stood. Maverick was puzzled but Stacey waved at him as they left. 

They set up a room, one of the guest rooms. 

"The materials are here?" Stacey was surprised. 

"Yes, everything is settled," Victoria said as she removed her scarf and coat. "If you are tired, you can sleep anytime." 

"I am not tired now." She said. "I fell asleep on the way here and got hungry." 

She sat down in front of the desk and caressed the beautiful tablet and monitors. 

"Let's have a snack first before work." 

Vivien said as the maids from that she brought with her set up the table quickly with the foods that she made before leaving the house. Shortly, the maids left and Vivien tested every food on the table with the pin. She somehow knew how she packed all of it and she would know if there were added to it. 

"Can I taste the cookies now?" Victoria asked. 

"Sure, love. I put dark chocolates on it." 

"Wow, great." 

Victoria picked the cookie chips and hummed when it wasn't too sweet. She sat down and her mother gave her a hot fruit tea. 

"Stace, darling what would you like?" 

Kaisley sat down while Harriet was checking the foods that she and her mother made early this morning. 

"You make a lot of snacks, Mrs. Astera," Kaisley said as she picked the cupcake. 

"Since we are having a slumber party, it's alright to be prepared." 

"I like that." Kaisley giggled. "But I might have to leave you guys for two hours. I need to check up on work." 

She took a plate and gathered a few more snacks. Vivien watched as Kaisley left the room. 

"Kaisley was always workaholic?" Vivien asked. 

"Hmm, she is." Victoria looked at the door where Kaisley left.