New World, New Life: I Became A Bigshot In The Ancient World-Chapter 127: CANDLELIGHT SURPRISES

Aristia arrived at the main hall of the Hemsworth Estate with Lauren and Adeline.

Adeline placed the baked goodies on the table at the end of the hall, then they headed to the room in the side hall.

Liam was done with the banner and had hung it on a rack to dry.

"Good job, brother Liam." Aristia praised, looking at the banner with satisfaction.

She gave him a thumbs up.

"Not bad for a first try," she said.

She had only explained what he needed to do and Liam had done his best.

Liam smiled as he approached them with a proud look pasted on his face. "Thanks," He hadn’t done this before and it was all new to him, but he was glad Aristia seemed pleased, judging from her words and hand signal.

"It’s my turn." Aristia stretched her arms and massaged her fingers.

A canvas had already been set up. It was left for her to paint.

She picked up the pencil and paused for a moment to think. After sometime, she started to sketch as Lauren, Liam and especially Adeline watched with keen interest. They wanted to see what she was drawing and how it would look like.

A few hours later, Aristia put down her paintbrush. She massaged her sore fingers and wrists and looked at the painting.

Sounds of surprise rang out.

"This is beautiful!" Lauren said, shocked and Liam nodded, speechless. Even Adeline couldn’t contain her shock and excitement.

"You really can paint." Liam muttered.

Aristia had said she was learning to paint. But how could his little five year old cousin paint? Even he himself that was seven years old couldn’t paint a quarter of this.

He stared at her, his brows knitting in doubt and confusion.

This was evidence enough. He had watched her paint it.

There was no other explanation for this except...

She had great talent! His little cousin was definitely greatly talented!

His eyes shone as he gazed down at her, feeling a small, unexplained bit of pride that he himself was unaware of.

"Thank you," Aristia accepted the praise but her thoughts were opposite.

[My skills really have become rusty...]

While others praised her, Aristia thought with disapproval. She felt she could do better.

[Should I paint a new one? But there’s no time left.] She looked out of the window at the setting sun.

Darkness was setting in the land and the servants were getting ready to light the candles.

"It’s time. The maid should already have informed them."

***

*Knock* *Knock*

"Who is it?" The head maid asked.

"Pardon the interruption, my Lord and Lady, but there is important news that requires your attention." The voice came from the other side of the door.

"You may enter."

With the permission granted, the maid opened the door. The art room had several canvasses, some blank and some bearing paintings.

Roxanne had just put down her brush after painting the last painting. She had painted three portraits of her husband and great grandchildren.

She turned to the maid and asked curiously. "What is the message?"

What kind of message did the maid bring to them as important, instead of to the other adults in the mansion?

The maid bowed respectfully, "The young Master and Misses asked that you come to the main hall. They wish to show you something."

"Oh? They’re back?" Roxanne asked.

Looking outside the window, she saw that much time had passed. They had spent quite a long time in the art room. it was right that they children were back.

The first part of the maid’s words immediately got the attention of both Zender and Roxanne.

They exchanged glances, wondering what it was the children wanted to show them.

"Let’s get going then." Lilith chirped, moving energetically to hold Roxanne’s hand.

Alaric did the same, gripping Zender’s hand with equal enthusiasm.

Their excitement both confused and amused the old Master and Madam. They chuckled, thinking the children were eager to see what their brother and sisters wanted to show them.

Alaric and Lilith were indeed curious as they had only heard the plan and arrangements, but hadn’t really seen it.

They walked together to the building the main hall was in. On entering the building, there was a long flight of stairs leading to the door to the main hall.

Candles were lit up on the walls and the chandelier was shining brightly to light the way. They stopped in front of the hall’s door.

Zender pushed it open.

However, when they entered the hall, it was dark inside.

"Did you bring a candle?" Roxanne inquired of the maid.

When they heard no response, they both turned to where the maid had been standing, only to see no one there. The children were also no where to be found.

They turned to stare at each other. What was going on? Where were the maid and the children that had just been standing with them just now? Were the children playing a game?

Nevertheless, they still entered the main hall.

Something flickered from the balcony right across the hall, from the small gap in the door where it wasn’t closed shut properly.

Zender smiled in amusement, "The children should be hiding there." He pointed forward.

He shook his head at his great-grandchildren’s mischievousness and opened his hand to his wife.

Roxanne put her hand in her husband’s, both ready to expose their mischievous great grandchildren.

They walked across the hall to the balcony and Zender pushed the door open.

The couple did not find what they were expecting. They had wanted to surprise the children but instead, they ended up as the ones surprised.

They stared at the sight in front of them with confusion and surprise.

There was a round dinner table that allowed two people to sit on opposite sides and still be within reach of the other. It covered with white tablecloth. The white table had been lightly covered with flowers.

There were two plates covered with white cloth in front of the chairs on both sides of the table, and cutlery beside them.

And there were... two wine glasses beside each plate and a bottle of wine in the middle of the table beside a beautiful vase filled with lilies— Roxanne’s favorite flower.

There were two thick scented candles on the table that illuminated the table with a gentle glow. Apart from that, there were also about three candle lamps on the thick balcony balustrades.

An incense burner burned with sweet smelling incense, giving out a relaxing fragrance and flowers were arranged in the corners of the balcony.

The stars twinkled beautifully in the quiet night and night birds sang. The atmosphere was sweet and romantic.

Zender and Roxanne formed a wild guess. Had the children prepared all this?

Slowly, they approached the table. A neatly folded note sticking to the side of the table caught their attention.

Roxanne picked it up. She opened it carefully as she and her husband read it.

It read:

’Dear great grandmother and great grandfather. We wish you a happy anniversary. Enjoy yourselves. We love you.’

A heart was painted in red beside the words. Roxanne closed the note and held it in her hands. She looked up at Zender to see his reaction.

Zender was smiling widely. He had quickly gotten over his surprise.

"Shall we?" He gestured to the table, immediately seized the opportunity.

Roxanne smiled back as he pulled a chair out for her and took his own seat once she was sat comfortably.

After taking their seats, they uncovered the plate. It was steak. It was not cold as Aristia had left it in the oven to prevent that.

Zender was surprised, but he was happy to finally get some alone time with Roxanne. Just the both of them.

He loved the dinners they had with the family every single year of their anniversary but this was different. Roxanne too felt the same way.

The couple were having the time of their lives. They reminisced memories of their time together and their time with their family.

"I remember when Claire was to be betrothed to Edgar, Carter was quite angry and disapproving." Roxanne reminisced with a smile.

Zender chuckled, "He kept trying to find fault with the Duke. Alas, the Duke gave him no chance!"

Roxanne laughed heartily. "That was until we told him to not delay his sister’s marriage as that could affect her reputation. Only then did he concede. But he still jabs at Edgar sometimes."

She paused and a mischievous smile lit up her face.

"You’re laughing years later. You’ve forgotten how disapproving you were." Roxanne teased her husband.

Zender coughed. "Of course, I was protecting my daughter. She was just a child."

"Just a child? She was nearing seventeen!" Roxanne exclaimed in amusement. "If it were possible, you’d have preferred to have me at fifteen!" She laughed.

Zender didn’t deny because it was true.

They enjoyed their time together in the night sky under the twinkling stars.

But while the couple was enjoying their time together, in the main mansion of the Hemsworth Estate, panic and chaos was brewing.

The 𝘮ost uptodat𝑒 novels are pub𝙡ished on fre(e)webno(v)el.𝒸𝑜𝘮