A Phoenix's Heart

🍁Chapter 11: Children's Day

November 8th was a chilly fall day. The beautiful red and orange leaves dance on the wind in the small town streets. A buzz of excitement rings through the usually calm town as parents and store owners rush to complete their preparations and children play in the streets. Sister Theresa barked orders at the busy workers and controlled the rowdy children. Last time there was a cause for celebration Sister Theresa and the children traveled to the capital to celebrate with Fuegoleon and Mereoleona, but this time Fuegoleon, Estella, and Leopold were coming to them to celebrate Clover kingdom's Children's Day. A party would be thrown in the town square with games and crafts for the kids and a grand meal and presentation for the kids. The parents are allowed to attend but are free to leave their children to be watched while they run errands.

Just as the final preparations are made, Salamander lands with the 3 royals on his back. With them, they bring gifts, food, and other crafts. They were dressed in fall colors and light winter coats. The boys' coats were plain but Estella had beautiful embroidery.

"Sorry, it took us so long, Sister Theresa. Stella insisted we needed to bring more of what we had," apologized Fuegoleon.

"We needed more! We did not have enough for all the kids, Fueggy. Don't blame me for fixing your poor planning." Estella huffs, placing her grimoire on the table. She knocked on the cover saying, "Come out my friends. We will need your help." She swiftly walks away to greet the children with Leopold, as the Fuegoleon, Taurus, Scorpio, Aquarius, and Cancer unload and set up all the supplies they had bought.

"Marie, Marco, everyone! It's so good to see you all again! How have your lives been since I have seen you all last?" cheers Estella running up to hug the crowd of waiting children. They cheer and shout their answers to her questions talking over one another.

"She is really good with kids isn't she," asks Fuegoeon.

"She is. Spectacularly really." I wanted her to be a nun too but she wanted to marry you. I expect the two of you to have kids. You better make your sham of an engagement worth it."

"Do you disapprove of us being together or do you hate arranged marriages in general?"

"Hate arranged marriages. You forget but I was the one you reached out to when you didn't want to marry "a woman you didn't know" when marriage talks first started, and then when you did want to marry Estella, and then how angry and depressed you were when she threatens to leave you when she caught you still spending time with your first fiance, and then when you felt like a failure when she had to go into hiding and you couldn't protect her. Then at least once a year for the past 15 years she has been gone you would vent about missing her, or having a crush on someone else, or how wrong it was for you to be attractive to other people, or how in love you were with Estella and regretted not going with her. You spent close to 20 years in what seems like a dead-end relationship. I'm happy it is finally moving forward for you, but I can't help but hate that all this was forced on both of you by others."

"I'm happy. I love her. I'm glad I've waited for her. We're not powerless kids anymore. Our engagement may have been arranged but our marriage won't be."

"She's worth waiting for. My question is why did she wait for you"

"Hay!!"

"I'm joking. God, I think she loved you more when you were both teens than you could ever know. You two were meant to be. I knew it. The moment you told me you wanted to train so you could protect her from that sociopath, I knew you were in love with her."

"That long hm." Fuegoleon trails off when the sound of laughter catches his attention. Leopold was juggling fireballs to entertain the children in between their activities. Estelle's spirits had transformed into their animal forms and were letting the kids pet and climb on them.