Hi! Please read the Author's note at the end of this chapter. Thank you!
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Bjorn noticed Tatiana wipe her tears away after leaving the clinic.
"The baby would have died if you did not bring her to hear immediately. And the toddlers are extremely malnourished and sick. I will do my best to nurse them back to health." The physician told them a while ago.
He noticed how nervous and worried Tatiana was while looking at the children. She looked like a parent that was worried for her children.
"Please save them," Tatiana pleaded, "I will pay any amount. Please."
Bjorn followed Tatiana up to the carriage door where Emma was waiting. Tatiana stopped in her tracks and turn to Bjorn. Her nose was red and her eyes were teary.
"Did you send a man to notify William? And did you tell them to bring food, clothing, and blankets?" she asked.
"Yes," Bjorn answered for the fifth time. "They will be here shortly, I assigned Morgan along with other knights to guard the orphanage for now while they are not here."
Tatiana nodded and sighed, she looked so worried and distraught. "I'm sorry if I keep asking the same question over and over, I'm just worried about the children."
"It's my job." Bjorn shortly answered. The princess looks like a mess right now. He never thought that someone like the princess would be worried sick for the children. She even went her way to bring the children to the physician herself.
"Let's go," Tatiana said, "we need to finish the preparations as soon as possible so that the children could move in."
They traveled again for thirty minutes towards the place where the new orphanage will be. It's not as far from the capital but it's in the outskirts instead. It was a spacious mansion with a large space up in the front.
The grass and weeds grew tall and the place looked like it was not well maintained. The three of them looked at it from outside the large gates.
"Wow," Tatiana whispered to herself. This mansion is for free?
"Bjorn," she softly called, "are you sure you're giving this to me? It looks like it's important."
"We have assets bigger than this," Bjorn said like it's nothing.
"Are you sure your parents let you give this to me?"
"You're the princess. What's not to give?"
"Bjorn!" Tatiana warned and turned to him, "this isn't some spare change! This is a property of your family and you're easily giving it to me."
"Do you have money for a property, then? I heard the king will not support you financially?" he asked her.
Tatiana's shoulder immediately drooped low after hearing that. It's true. She is poor and she even sold her things just to raise an amount but that won't be enough if she was planning to buy land and built an orphanage there.
"Fine," she breathed, "thank you. I am really sincere. This is very important to me and you helped me greatly."
Bjorn almost choked after hearing that from her. Emma noticed how his ears turned bright red as she stared down at the princess and laughed silently.
"Then, do you-do you want more mansions?" he suddenly asked. "I also have a castle that's on top of the hill with meadows full of flowers."
"Really?' Tatiana gasped, "that would be pretty. But this is enough, Bjorn. I don't want to burden your parents with this."
"They are mine though."
"Well," Tatiana was at loss for words. Just how rich is their family? "well, good for you."
"Ehem," Emma cleared her throat making the two turn to her, "I think we should unpack and start cleaning if we went the job to be done as soon as possible."
"Sure," Tatiana agreed, "let's do that."
The three of them walked over to the porch of the mansion and were greeted by tall double doors. The inside of the mansion was not as messy as it was on the outside. The furniture in the foyer was covered in white linens to protect it from dust and dirt.
"We have people who come from time to time to clean up so the dirt didn't build-up for years. But the gardener who usually cleans the lawn passed away so the garden was not maintained." Bjorn explained to Tatiana and Emma.
The foyer was spacious and had a stair hall at the front going to the second floor. Before entering the main hall, they passed by an entryway with rooms on each side. Meanwhile, the main foyer also had tall corridors on each side that extended to other parts of the mansion.
"That hallway," Bjorn points out to the small corridor beside the stair hall, "is to the kitchen and pantry and the one hallway beside the stairs is supposed to be the servant's quarters."
Tatiana dropped their baggage at the center of the hall and looked around. This is a great place to be a home for kids. She imagines kids running around, hanging out, and learning.
"You can look around, I'll put the bags upstairs." Bjorn picked up the heavy bags with no problem and climbed upstairs.
"I will check the kitchen if we can cook there," Emma said, "we will have to go to the capital to buy food for our stay here."
"Alright," Tatiana answered, "I'll look around for some more."
Once Emma left, Tatiana started exploring the mansion. She started with the left-wing which consisted of a spacious dining area with a long table and chairs that could accommodate at least twenty people or more.
The flooring was made up of smooth wooden planks which were in good condition and a beaded chandelier hung on the ceiling. The walls were decorated with printed wallpapers and tall windows were accented with black diamond grills.
The far end was a door leading to an outside balcony, which was also the same for the right-wing. The right-wing was composed of a study/library area. Tall bookshelves surrounded the room with tall windows in between. Unlike the wooden flooring in the kitchen, this room's floor was covered in carpet.
There would be children sitting on the floor as classes were being held, on the corner, would be a fenced corner for the toddlers to play in and be safe. The mansion would be filled with giggles and music and children's voices.
Tatiana could not wait for that day to come. Children always held a special place in her heart since she grew up in a place surrounded by children. She also took care of the little ones like a parent and was an older sister to everyone.
"Princess, we need goods from the market," Emma told her when Tatiana visited her in the kitchen. "The burner is usable and there is already firewood. I already washed the utensils and we only need the food to be cooked."
"Alright," Tatiana said and took three golden coins from her pouch, "will this be enough?"
"I just need two since it will only four of us who will be eating for now. I also do not want to buy too much since it might rot."
Both of them turned when they heard the sound of doors opening and closing.
"That must be Morgan," Tatiana said and ran to greet him. It was indeed Morgan who just entered, and he just unloaded his things.
"You can have Morgan accompany you and carry stud. I assume the carriage is still there?"
"Yes, he will leave by evening."
When Morgan and Emma left, Tatiana took off her cloak and folded her sleeves. It's not yet sundown so she should do as much work as she can. She started off in the kitchen since it's a place for food and it needs to be sanitary.
She started off with the pantry room and wiped the dust off of the shelves. It was too high for her to reach so she decided what she was good at the most. Climbing.
The crown of her head touched the ceiling while she wiped the shelf down with wet cloth while her other hand held on to the side pillars for support.
She stepped down for every layer she wiped and when she was on her third layer, the wood she was stepping on broke. Her other hand was able to reach the other pillar so she was left hanging in the air.
"Whyâ" she panted, her heart beating out of her chest from the surprise, "why does it always end up like this?!"
She tried looking down for a way but the shelf was shaking so she had no choice but to freeze in her place. Both of her feet were dangling in the air while both of her hands held on to each side of the shelf's pillar. One wrong move and the shelf will detach from the wall and she will end up falling and getting squished from it.
Her arms were starting to tire and feel numb. She just wanted to let go and jump down but she was too high up and was to land on the wrong footing. Plus, she's had enough of hanging everywhere.
"Need help?"
Tatiana was familiar with the voice which made her groan. Not again.
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END
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
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