Olivia stayed away from Ara and Paige for the first half of the day. But how could she avoid them during lunch? She was too bored sitting in her room for the entire day, so just before lunch she had walked to the orchards. When she came back, she saw Paige sitting with Ara and comforting her. Ara was again sobbing like she had a river to release.
"Please Ara. You must forget what happened in the past. You should look forward to the future," Paige said as she stroked her back.
"I want to," she wiped her tears and sniffled. She looked at Paige and hugged her. "I want to build a future with you, but you won't leave me, would you?"
Paige brows drew together with sadness. "Why will I leave you? I have just found you." She kissed Ara's temple, wrapping her arms around her. "And now come, let's have lunch. I asked the cook to make your favorite—chicken roasted with herbs."
"You are so sweet, Paige. You always know how to cheer me up," Ara murmured.
"After that, I will take you out for shopping and then we can walk into the orchards."
Ara removed herself from Paige. She smiled through her tears. "I love those orchards. Do they belong to you?"
Olivia was standing on the doorway when she listened to the conversation. Her eyes narrowed at Ara's last sentence. Even though Kaizan had asked her to stay away, she couldn't help coming to them.
"They belong to my parents," Paige replied with a smile.
"Oh!" Ara sighed. "But Paige if we were to have a future together, what do you have that belongs to you?"
Paige's forehead creased. "I can take care of you, Ara. I am a soldier in the king's army."
"Of course, dear," Ara replied with the same gloomy expression and patted her shoulder. She turned her head to face Olivia. "Olivia! How are you?" she asked, seeing Olivia's narrowed gaze. Color rose on her cheeks. Did she hear the conversation? And how did the woman come here so unnoticed?
"I am good," Olivia replied with a pointed glare.
Ara rubbed her neck. "I am feeling tired. I will join you for lunch after a nice bath. Would you like to join me?" She got up from the couch.
Paige bit her lip, her mood lifting. She slapped Ara's butts and said, "I will be there in a few."
When Ara left, Olivia sat down, the strong mint smell choking her. She watched Ara leave and once she disappeared behind the door, in a low voice she addressed Paige. "Paige, that girl is too depressed. Please don't take me otherwise, but she is feeding off your soul. You deserve someone bubbly and not someone who is always living in her past."
Paige frowned. "Olivia, first off, I didn't ask for relationship advice from you. I love Ara and I will do anything that is good for her. As a good partner, it is my duty to stand with her through her thick and thin. What kind of a partner would I be if I can't even take care of her?"
"Paige, you know that is not what I meant!" Olivia snapped. "How long would it take someone to come out of their depression? You mentioned that she was dejected right from the day you met her, and you've known her for a few months now. Hell, I don't think that if her brother doesn't treat her well, she should be so desperate. After all, she has you for support!"
"Olivia!" Paige retorted. "I don't want to hear anything about Ara. We both love each other and that's it!" She sprang from the couch, her face etched with anger. "Just because she is going through a terrible phase in her life, you are judging her?"
Olivia stared at Paige, her mind going numb with surprise. She blinked at her sister-in-law. Was she so blind that she couldn't see that Ara's depression wasn't called for? Why couldn't she be objective? "I am not judging her. I only want you to be happy Paige…"
"I know what keeps me happy!" Paige said angrily. "I don't need you to guide me, okay?" Saying that Paige turned and strode away.
Olivia was left staring behind her, feeling like a fool. She regretted getting in between them. She pursed her lips and then took a deep breath. This was going to get complicated.
"M'lady, the lunch is ready," a servant announced, breaking her reverie.
"I'll be there," she said in a low voice.
For the entire day even if she didn't want to avoid Paige, it was Paige who avoided her. Olivia felt guilty and wanted to apologize to Paige but then in her heart she knew that she was not wrong. Moreover, the way Ara was asking about the orchards, it was unsettling. It seemed as if she was not happy with what Paige was earning. And just like that, Olivia got into bad books of Paige even though she only meant good.
In the evening when Kaizan came back, he asked, "How was your day, love?" He removed his tunic and sat next to her in his low-hanging breeches. She was lying on her bed, reading a short story book given to her by Anastasia from the library of Vilinski. Kaizan took her hands and squeezed them.
At first, she thought she should speak about Ara, but she didn't want him to feel bad. She had already done enough damage for the day. She managed a smile and said, "Good. I ate a lot."
Kaizan chuckled. He placed his hand on her tummy and said, "You both are very intelligent. Keep asking for more food from your mom, and if she doesn't give, let me know!"
"And how will they tell you?" Olivia asked, laughing at his declaration.
He leaned in and pressed his ears on her tummy. "We have our secret conversation every night."
"Oh, is it so?"
"Of course! You wouldn't know anything!"
"Go, take a bath, darling!" Olivia pushed him. "You stink like horse shit."
Kaizan sighed. "Your mother is a villain. She doesn't want us to talk to each other. But don't worry, we will resume our midnight conversation." Often at nights, he would shift down to talk to his kids in their mother's belly. And they responded. He got up reluctantly and then went to take a bath.
They reached downstairs for dinner and found that Paige and Ara were already there. Nate and Ookashi were also there. And Ookashi was visibly tense. Olivia held her breath and wondered if Paige had spoken about their conversation to her.
"Is anything wrong?" Kaizan whispered, leaning toward her.
She shook her head and loosed her breath.
Kaizan went to hug his mother and sat next to her. Olivia had to sit next to Paige. And the two were very awkward.
"So, what are you all talking about?" Kaizan asked as he picked up lettuce salad and sweet buttered corn.
"We were talking about the orchards," Ara replied.
"Oh, what about them?" Kaizan asked. "Aren't they beautiful?"
"They are," said Ara. "But orchards in this estate are a combined family business? I mean does Paige have ownership in them?"
Kaizan became still.
