CHAPTER 88: CHAPTER : 88 : THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A DATE!

Arisha sat on the bench, arms crossed, lips in a pout. "You took forever."

Aiden chuckled, scratching his cheek. "Sorry, had to drag Thristle out of bed."

It was supposed to be only Aiden and Arisha, but the other tagged him, not going to be left behind.

"I wasn’t sleeping!" Thristle argued, stomping over, her arms hooked around Vegia’s. "I was busy convincing Vegia to join."

Vegia muttered, clearly annoyed, "I was pulled here... I didn’t even want to come."

Aiden grinned. "But you came anyway. That’s what matters."

"Whatever..." Vegia sighed, looking away, her ears twitching.

Luna bounced up. "Master~ let’s go already! We’ve been waiting!"

Lysandra was beside her, Leona nestled in her arms, cooing softly. Nyxion leaned against the wall behind them, her eyes on Aiden with a teasing smirk.

But Aiden’s gaze froze when he saw Arisha properly.

She stood, smoothing down her sleek black dress that hugged her curves. A slit ran up her thigh, and her long crimson hair was tied neatly with a silver ribbon. She looked nervous under his stare.

"Well?" she asked softly, blushing.

Aiden stepped closer, his voice low. "You look... absolutely stunning, Arisha."

Her cheeks flushed pink. "You’re just saying that."

"No." He tilted her chin up, making her meet his eyes. "You look beautiful."

She blinked, caught off guard by the compliment. "...Y-you think so?"

"Think so? I know so," he grinned, stepping closer. His gaze ran over her from head to toe. This was the first time he’d seen Arisha in a proper dress. It was deep red, with a slit up the side that showed just enough leg to make his heart skip. "You’re seriously hot right now. Everyone’s gonna stare."

"T-thanks," she muttered, turning her head away but smiling softly. "I think I am going to combust."

Arisha said from Lysandra’s arms, "Ari-Mummy, looks so pretty."

Arisha melted instantly, "Leonaaaa! You’re so sweet!" She hugged the tiny girl, earning a little giggle.

Then she pulled back.

"Mummy..." Leona said, cupping her mummy’s cheeks, "I wanna go to daddy."

Lysandra smiled, "Of course, sweetheart. But give mummy a kissy before that."

Leona giggled, leaning in to kiss her cheek. Lysandra, I’m turning, kissing her forehead.

"Dear~" Lysandra sang, calling Aiden.

"What?"

"Our daughter wants you to hold her."

Aiden walked toward her, smiling. "Ohh... you wanna come to daddy?"

"Yes!" Leona said, smiling, extending her hand toward him.

Then he took her from Lysandra, hugging her to his chest. Leona kissed his cheek.

Aiden kissed her back, "Daddy loves you so much."

"I love you too... Daddy." Leona replied, hugging him.

"Why am I here again?" Vegia muttered, crossing her arms.

"Because I wanted you to come," Thristle smirked. "It’ll be fun!"

Vegia sighed. "I was pulled here... not like I wanted to..."

"Stop acting so grumpy, Vegia!" Aiden said, flashing her a grin. "You’ll enjoy it."

She gave him a side-eye. "Tch... we’ll see."

The group moved through the bustling streets, filled with merchants and bright stalls. Aiden walked next to Arisha, his hand brushing against hers. She shyly slipped her fingers into his, and he gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

"Alright," Aiden said, glancing around. "We’re buying something for everyone today. That’s final."

"Yaa! Daddy, you’re the best." Leona said excitedly.

"Eh?!" Vegia frowned. "Why me?!"

"Because you’re part of this family now," Aiden said casually.

Vegia blinked at him, stunned. "Family?"

"Of course," Aiden smiled. "Whether you like it or not, you’re stuck with us."

Her lips twitched, but she quickly looked away to hide the faint blush on her cheeks. "Idiot."

"Daddy!" Leona suddenly squirmed in her daddy’s arms, pointing toward a toy stall.

"You want that, Kiddo?" Aiden chuckled.

"Yes." She giggled, pointing toward a dragon plush.

He bought it without any hesitation, handing it to her, "Now you have a dragon buddy."

"Dragon, like me." Leona squealed, hugging it tightly.

"Honestly," Lysandra said with a warm smile, "you’re spoiling her already."

"She deserves it," Aiden replied.

"Master!" Luna tugged his sleeve and pointed. "That’s the shop where you got me my hairstick!"

Lysandra smiled softly, brushing her fingers against her butterfly hairpin. "And where he got me this."

"Soo... Daddy bought you that." Leona asked, "Is that why you were talking to it when Daddyy was fighting?"

"Ohh..." Aiden grinned.

"You’re so Mean... I was praying for you." Lysandra blushed, looking toward him.

Luna held the hairstick delicately, recalling the shopkeeper’s words. "Legend says if gifted by a lover, the bond becomes unbreakable." She smirked at Aiden. "Guess I’m stuck with you forever."

"Wouldn’t have it any other way." He kissed her forehead.

Nyxion stepped closer, tilting her head at a jewelry stall. "Huh. That’s pretty."

Aiden followed her gaze, a sleek gold earring with dangling chains. "That’d suit you perfectly."

"Would it now?" she teased, crossing her arms.

"Yeah." He grabbed it, asked the price, paid the merchant, and stepped back. "Here."

She blinked, surprised. "You’re... actually buying me jewelry?"

"Put it on."

Nyxion smirked, turning her head. He brushed her hair aside, carefully clipping it on. The gold glinted against her dark skin, and she looked at him through half-lidded eyes. "You’re dangerous, Heartlord."

"I know."

Luna huffed. "Master! I want more gifts!"

"You already have a magical hairstick."

"And?"

Aiden chuckled. "Later."

Leona giggled in his arms.

---

They moved through the stalls.

Aiden noticed Thristle was looking toward a stall. The shopkeeper sells scarves and stuff. Her eyes lingered on a white one.

"Thristle... You want that?" He asked with a smile.

Thristle blushed, "You going to buy me that then?"

Aiden didn’t say a word. He just walked over to the stall, picked the scarf, paid, and walked over to her, wrapping it around her neck.

"You look adorable in it," Aiden said, looking at her.

She touched the scarf, "Thanks, My King. I’ll always take care of it."

"Cute."

Thristle leaned in, kissing his cheek.

"Eww... Thris-Mummy kissed Daddy." Leona said.

Aiden chuckled, poking her cheek.

---

They had reached a busy street, where there were more goblins.

Suddenly, one of the goblins saw them and shouted.

"It’s Sir Aiden Nightshade. The hero who saved all of us."

The words spread like wildfire.

"H-Hero Nightshade?!"

"The Beast Tamer?!"

"He’s here, in the flesh!!"

Dozens of Goblins came running toward him. Children, men, women, and even the elderly. All of them knelt in front of him.

"Thank you, Sir! You saved our children."

"You gave us back our peace."

"You’re the pride of our kingdom."

Aiden’s face turned red immediately.

"W-Wait, wait! Don’t kneel like that. Seriously, get up, you’re making a scene..." He waved his hands, but that only made them cheer louder.

Luna pressed herself against him, giggling.

"Fufufu~ Master is so popular. Everyone knows you belong to me, though..." She kissed his cheek proudly in front of everyone, making the crowd gasp.

"L-Luna—! Not helping!" Aiden groaned.

Lysandra, cheeks pink, lifted her chin with pride.

"Of course, they would kneel. He is my husband... It’s only natural they revere him."

"Daddy... They look so happy." Leona said, looking toward them.

Aiden smiled, "Seems like it."

"Sir Aiden...!"

Everyone turned. A goblin woman was forcing her way through, dragging a little girl with her. Her face was streaked with tears. She didn’t stop until she was right in front of him—then she dropped flat on the ground, forehead pressing into the dirt, her daughter copying her.

"Sir Aiden...! Thank you... thank you... if not for you... She would still be..." She choked up, shaking, words dying in her throat. She pulled at her daughter’s collar a little, and the faint scarred markings showed. The kind of marks everyone recognized. Slave marks. Hobgoblin ownership.

The crowd fell dead silent.

Her daughter clung to her side, looking at Aiden with wide eyes.

"Shhasn’t said anything since the soldiers brought her back." Her voice broke, "She hasn’t called me mama yet. I’m dying to hear her voice." Her cry of pain echoed.

Auden’s arms tightened around Leona.

Then Thristle came toward her. Sad.

"Thristle?" Aiden said.

She knelt in front of them. When the little girl saw her, she flinched, scared, clutching onto her mama.

"She is a Hobgoblin."

"Why is a hobgoblin here?"

"Why isn’t she captured?" They shouted.

"Look, there’s another one." One of them pointed toward Vegia.

"Calm down..." Aiden said, trying to explain.

"Citizens, please. Calm down. They’re not like them." Lysandra tried toexplaind.

But they weren’t stopping. If anything, they looked angry.

Nyxion looked sad, standing beside Aiden, "Please..."

"Please... All of you, calm down." Arisha tried her best to calm them down.

"Hey! How could you all—" Before Luna could say, she felt Vegia’s arm on her shoulder, telling her to stop.

Vegia walked past Aiden and Lysandra, kkneelingbeside Thristle. They looked toward each other, then toward the Mother and chil,d and thetoward n the crowd.

"I..." she took a shaky breath, "...I, Thristle Chugh. Princess of the Chugh Kingdom."

"I... Vegia Shadowglow. Magic General of the Chugh Kingdom."

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

Both of them prostrated before them. Their forehead touching dirt.

"Daddy... What is Thris-mummy and Vegi-mummy doing?" She asked, her voice filled with innocence.

Auden’s hold around her tightened. Lysandra came closer, pressing her forehead to her. "It’s complicated. You won’t understand, dear."

Leona just tilted her head, looking curiously.

The mother flinched, hugging her daughter tighter. The girl whimpered, hiding her face in her mother’s chest.

Thristle pressed her forehead harder into the dirt. "Those scars on your body... the chains on your heart... my bloodline caused that. My people caused that. For that... I bow to you."

Her voice cracked. "I will not ask you to forgive me. I don’t deserve that. But I will carry it. I will bear the shame of my name. And I swear before all of you... Chugh will not rise again in cruelty. Not while I live."

She stayed like that, her whole body trembling.

"I was part of that army. I saw what was done. And I... I did nothing to stop it." Vegia said, pressing her forehead harder on the ground.

She lowered her head until it hit the dirt.

"I do not deserve your trust. I do not deserve even to look at you. But know this—I am not blind anymore. I will fight with the same hands that once stood idle. I will fight for those we broke. For every life shattered, I will give mine if I have to."

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END OF Chapter : 88 : THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A DATE!

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