CHAPTER 268: THE CHURCHILL FAMILY

Lavinia Churchill was obviously a gentle child. She was kind and had been raised with good morals.

She was the only daughter and the last child of Count and Countess Churchill. All her other siblings were boys and were currently studying in the Academy.

She wasn’t the same age as Aristia, but was two years older.

She smiled amiably at the children of different ages who attended her tea party.

Her maids moved quietly in the background, setting out trays of small cakes, snacks, and warm tea with milk.

"Please eat as much as you like," she said with a bright smile, folding her hands politely in her lap.

Some of the younger ones reached for the sweets right away, while the older children tried to act more proper.

Aristia gave a small nod, lifting her teacup. "Thank you, Lady Lavinia. The cakes look delicious."

[You know, being forced to attend tea parties isn’t all that bad. Just see— I get to have as much snacks as I want here.]

Aristia sat with her back straight, watching Alaric pile food onto her plate.

’Tia has to eat a lot. So that she won’t feel bad when she eats chicken food at home.’ Alaric thought, feeling pity in his heart for his sister who liked food.

If Aristia knew what he was thinking, she wouldn’t have been able to stop her mouth from twitching.

Meanwhile, the children seated around the long table straightened their backs, each eager to make a good impression. They laughed and chatted, some daring to speak to Aristia.

The East was warm and peaceful, and so were the relationships among easterners, but they were still nobles in the end. They also wanted to have a good relationship with those of higher social standing.

One boy leaned forward too often, trying to insert himself into every conversation. He complimented Lavinia and Aristia again and again, his words dripping with sweetness that felt unnatural.

A girl with sharp eyes seated across from him smirked every time he spoke, whispering little comments to the child beside her.

The boy flushed red when he heard her faintly mutter, "Parrot," under her breath.

And another girl, who looked to be about eight or nine, spoke in a sugary tone toward Aristia. "Your Highness, would you like me to pour your tea? I promise I can do it better than anyone here."

Before Aristia could answer, another boy cut in with a scoff. "As if. You spilled tea last time at my mother’s luncheon."

The girl’s cheeks burned, and she hissed back, "That was because your elbow bumped me, and you know it!"

"Excuses." The boy smirked, clearly enjoying her fluster.

Alaric leaned closer to Aristia, muttering, "Tia, these people are noisy."

Aristia suppressed a smile and didn’t intervene. Instead, she watched the children’s behavior like it was a show.

One boy with curly brown hair who had been quiet until now, finally spoke with a calm voice that silenced the others. "Lady Lavinia, I heard your eldest brother received top marks in swordsmanship at the Academy. You must be very proud."

At once, the other children’s chatter died down.

The boy was clever. He wasn’t flattering Lavinia directly, but her family’s honor, knowing that the Churchill family had always taught their children to value it.

Lavinia beamed, clearly pleased. "Yes, my brother works very hard."

The other children quickly caught on, scrambling to change topics to family achievements, tutors, and Academy results.

Aristia sipped her tea quietly, a glint of amusement in her eyes. Even among the minor nobles, there was competition about who could curry favor with those of higher rank among themselves.

The Churchill family was one of the higher ranking minor families. They were related to pure nobility as they belonged to a side branch.

Alaric was talking to a boy of his age sitting beside him.

When Aristia listened to his conversation, it was about swords and daemons.

She stopped listening to their conversation when Lavinia spoke to her.

"Your Highness, are you enjoying the snacks?" Lavinia asked.

Aristia smiled. "Yes, I am. Miss Lavinia’s cooks have met my expectations."

Lavinia smiled brightly at her words and replied modestly. "It’s definitely not as good as the one the princess eats, but I’m glad the third princess thinks that way."

"Does your family reside in the capital?" Aristia asked.

Lavinia shook her head. "No. The capital is a marvelous place, princess, but we prefer to stay in the East."

Aristia nodded. "The East is a very beautiful place."

Wade turned to her and nodded. "Yes. It has been more than a year since I left the East, but it’s still as beautiful as I remember." He paused and added. "The capital is beautiful too."

Wade had been born and raised in the East. He had been in the Oswalt Fief until George found him more than a year ago.

Aristia, Lavinia and a few other children around them nodded.

"Your Highness," a girl said, making everyone turn to her. "Do you eat at the Vanilla Courtyard in the capital?"

"Yes." Aristia nodded. "Have you?" She returned the question.

The girl nodded her head. "Yes. Once or twice when my family came to the capital for the banquet. I wish there was The Vanilla Courtyard in the East."

"Yes, yes. That would be great." Another child nodded.

"I would love that too."

"If only there was a way to reach AE." A child said with a thoughtful look on his face.

Aristia smiled at all of them.

"I heard something very interesting..." Aristia said.

Her words immediately drew the children’s attention. All conversation ceased as they listened to hear what she had to say.

"My sources..." She smiled and said as if she was about to reveal a secret. "Its actually his majesty and my father."

Her words made the children laugh.

Aristia continued. "So, I heard from my sources that..." She smiled with a glint in her eyes.

"AE will expand The Vanilla Courtyard in different Fiefs. From what I heard, he might start with the East."