Chapter 102 - The Children

The royal carriage was only slightly better than the ornate Adair carriage but Delaney still pretended it was fantastic for Prince Mason's sake. She was more impressed by the dozens of smartly dressed guards on horseback around it.

The door was opened for them and Mason climbed inside. Vincent helped Delaney in and then joined them himself. They sank down on the plush golden seats and the carriage took off.

As they traveled down the city streets, Delaney couldn't help but watch out the window as the citizens waved and called different greetings to the carriage. The royal family was well-loved and their people were excited by the chance to see whoever the carriage might hold.

Mason grinned at them before he turned to Delaney, "Do you want to see one of my favorite things to do?"

Delaney smiled and nodded and Vincent smirked, apparently suspicious of his cousin.

"When I'm forced to go around as a royal instead of pretending to be like everyone else, my favorite thing to do is this."

Delaney watched as the Prince rapped on the top of the carriage and it came to a stop. Mason turned and winked at Delaney before reaching for her hand. She glanced at her husband who looked at his cousin in amusement before nodding.

They stepped out in the middle of a sort of town square. Mason led Delaney forward with him from the carriage. Vincent followed a few steps back.

"Your Highness," the man Delaney recognized as the same Captain from Win's club called out to the prince, "What are you doing?"

"Settle down Captain North this will only take a few minutes," Mason grinned up at the man on the horse before turning to look out at the crowd that was growing to watch them.

"Good morning everyone," he grinned, "I am Prince Phillip Mason Renald."

All around them there were immediate gasps and awes as the common people realized they were standing so close to the Prince. Delaney glanced up at Captain North and saw he did not look pleased. When she turned a bit farther she saw neither did her husband.

"This beauty I have with me is the Duchess of Edgewood, Lady Delaney Adair. And back there is her brave husband, Duke of Edgewood, Lord Vincent Adair. The very same man who killed the last male dragon of the dragon war."

More gasps and awes came and Delaney looked nervously at her husband to see he'd gone pale with a panic-stricken expression as everyone looked at him. Just then, however, Mason let go of her hand and she felt something cold and heavy in it.

When she looked down, there was a purse full of coins. She looked up at Mason's sparkling blue eyes as he turned back to the crowd.

"Are there any children here today? Any children?"

Delaney looked around them and ever so slowly, little children stepped nervously forward from their parents' side, up to where Mason could see them. He smiled at them all before holding out a hand and gesturing for them to come forward.

The children all looked back at the confused faces of their parents but one by one they all began to walk forward, drawing near to the Prince and Duchess. When the first slightly dirty, red-headed boy came to a stop in front of them, Mason crouched down and smiled at him.

"Well hello there," he spoke kindly, "What's your name boy?"

"D-Daniel your majesty," the boy looked up through his lashes at the prince.

"Daniel? You don't say? My brother's name is Daniel. Did you know that?"

"I did your majesty," Daniel replied nervously, "My mother named me after the King. She said it would bring me luck."

Mace chuckled, "Well I think your mother is right Daniel. Come here. I have something for you."

The child moved slowly forward and Mason reached into his own purse of coins and pulled out a few.

"Here you are, my boy. Take these home to your dear mother. You can tell her they are from Prince Phillip and the Duchess of Edgewood."

Daniel looked up at him with eyes as big as saucers after he saw the number of coins waiting in his hands.

"Y-y-yes sir," he nodded quickly, "Thank you, Prince Phillip."

With that, the boy turned and ran away. A ways behind where he had been standing was a little girl with black hair and lovely olive skin. She moved very nervously forward when Mason signaled for her. He looked up at Delaney and winked.

"Why aren't you lovely?" he smiled his handsome smile at the child, "What is your name?"

"Claire," the girl answered barely above a whisper.

"Well, Miss Claire. I believe the Duchess would like to talk to you for a moment. Do you mind?"

Delaney looked at him in surprise and hesitated for a moment before bending down a bit so the girl could talk to her. The child stepped in front of her and Mason called another forward.

"Hello, Claire," she greeted nervously, "I'm Lady Delaney Adair. How old are you?"

"I'm six," Claire answered with a small smile for the duchess.

"What a big girl you are! I have something special for a six-year-old girl. Can you take these home to your Momma?"

Delaney counted out six coins and handed them to the child. She could tell the girl didn't really understand what they were but she smiled and nodded. After saying goodbye, she tore off the same way the boy had. As soon as she was gone, Delaney copied Mason and signaled for the next child in line.

Children came one after another to meet the Duchess and Prince. Each one was rewarded with some coins. Delaney smiled as she watched their eyes go wide and thank her. It made her happy to see all their happy little faces. Her heart melted with each one.

When she looked over her shoulder she was surprised to see Vincent talking to a group of men. He was smiling and seemed relaxed though so she didn't worry. She turned back to receive the next child and smiled at Mason when he caught her eye. She liked watching him talk to each of the children as if they were the most amazing people.

After the last child had gone, Delaney straightened and so did Mason. As soon as he did, adults moved forward to say hello to him and shake his hand. Some of the parents of the children came with tear-filled eyes to thank him. After she'd said hello to a few of them, Delaney excused herself to return to her husband.

Easing herself through the men around him, she was happy when she finally reached Vincent. He smiled upon seeing her, his eyes lighting up before he took her hand and tucked it into his arm.

"Gentlemen, this is my wife, Lady Delaney Adair," Vincent introduced her, "My love these are some of the men who fought with us in the dragon war."

Delaney looked at them in surprise before quickly smiling, "It's lovely to meet you all. I've never met anyone else who fought in the war besides my brother-in-law and a few friends."

The men talked and Delaney couldn't keep from studying them. One was missing an eye and another, an arm. They had scars on their faces and arms, not like Vincent's strange webs of scars but normal ones.

She realized looking at them that Vincent could have ended up a lot worse off than he had. His scars may have been red and numerous but he was alive and completely intact. On top of that, he was a very wealthy Lord. Some of these men looked like they were probably struggling to find work or make enough money.

Once Vincent had said goodbye to them, they climbed back in the carriage to wait for Mason. Delaney's mind had been working out an idea and now she turned to Vincent hoping for his approval.

"I want to change who we hire to work for us from now on," she said seriously, looking at him, "I want to try to hire men like those who fought with you in the war and now maybe need a bit more help because of their injuries. We could do that couldn't we?"

Vincent smiled lovingly at his wife and leaned over to give her a quick kiss. "I think that's a good idea my Lady and you are very sweet for thinking of it. I will speak to the men who manage the estates when we return to Edgewood."

"Thank you," Delaney smiled before leaning up to kiss him too. He held her chin in his hand so he could kiss her with all the love he felt. He only let go when the door to the carriage opened again and Mason climbed back inside.

"Well," he grinned at Delaney, "Did you have a good time?"

"I did Mace," she smiled back, "That was wonderful being able to do something kind for those children. I know their parents must appreciate it."

"Ah well, I figure if I'm their Prince the least I can do is share some of my wealth with those who need it. I try to do it at least once in every one of our cities or villages I visit. Not this exact thing every time of course but at least something nice."

"That's very kind of you," Delaney said as the carriage began forward again, "I imagine they love you for it."

"Possibly," he chuckled, "But I admit I do it for partially selfish reasons. I like the rewarding feeling I get once I've done something like this. It's a good feeling that will keep my spirits high for days."

"I can't blame you for that," Delaney giggled, "I'm sure this will keep my spirits up too."

"Does Daniel know you do this?" Vincent asked his cousin curiously then.

Mason sat back in his seat with a smirk, "I don't bother the King with my daily activities just as I appreciate he doesn't bother me with his."

Vincent nodded then, his face serious as he considered his cousin. Mason only watched him with a mischievous smirk. Delaney looked back and forth between the two of them and was about to ask what was going on when the carriage came to a stop and she looked outside.

They had arrived at the King's castle.