The Baroness Misbehaves
Chapter 193: A Warm Welcome (2)

Chapter 193: A Warm Welcome (2)

Stepping inside the home of Amade, Madeline and Cassian were greeted by a warm and inviting interior, decorated with soft colors and comfortable furnishing. The small living room had a plush couch and two armchairs with a wide coffee table at the center of the space.

The walls were lined with various artworks, and a bookshelf lined one wall, filled with books of different genres. A small fireplace was set in a corner, and a much older looking boy was throwing dry firewood into the fireplace, giving the living room more glow than it had before, but he stopped when he heard his father ushering someone into their home.

Cassian and Madeline took their seat on the couch, while Amade and his wife took their seat on the other couch as they listened to Cas’s story as he briefed it out for them. He had no wish to inconvenience anyone, but their situation was that critical, and staying at an inn wouldn’t be safe either cause he was sure all the palace search party would be out looking for him.

"You’re not inconveniencing anyone." Amade shook the thought away, disagreeing with that particular phrase of his. "I’m more glad that you came to me in your time of need, and you’ve done so much for my wife and I, it would be an honor to offer you our services. You’re no different from our own children, so we must treat you both as such."

Cas and Madeline exchanged relieved glances, and Amade’s wife nodded her head in agreement with her husband. "Yes, please make yourself comfortable. My older son is getting the vacant room ready, and it won’t take too much of your time as you wait for him to clear it up."

"Thank you." Madeline bowed her head in gratitude, feeling touched by their sincere hospitality towards her and Cassian, and then the little boy hiding behind the couch his Mother sat on, innocently peeked from behind, his coffee-brown eyes staring at the two strangers with interest, and Madeline, who noticed the cute boy watching them from behind his mother, smiled at him before beckoning him over.

"Come."

The young boy stole a glance at his mother, as if asking for permission, and when she nodded her head in approval with a smile, the boy stepped out from his hiding place and walked quietly to meet Madeline who lifted him up and sat him on her thighs.

"You didn’t tell me you had another cute fella." Cassian’s gaze shifted from the boy to Amade who knew he was guilty on this one.

"Your son?" Madeline asked Amade, and he nodded. "My youngest son, there’s two more boys before him, and the eldest is already married." He briefed, and Madeline looked impressed before returning her attention to the little boy sitting quietly on her lap.

"And what is your name?" She asked the fluffy-haired boy who’s attention was more focused on her soldier-green helmet. He didn’t respond for three seconds and suddenly placed both his hands on Madeline’s face, cupping her cheek with his small palms before taking it up further and removing the helmet from her head.

"Ethan, what did I say about taking people’s things?" Amade’s wife said to her youngest son who looked at his mother, then he leaned into Madeline as if he knew he’d be in trouble, and Madeline chuckled lightly, pulling him closer.

"It’s not a problem, I willingly gave it to him." Madeline covered up for him, but the boy knew he’d still receive a scolding from his mother later on.

"You like it?" She asked him, and when the boy nodded, she wore the helmet on his head for him, almost swallowing half of his face that made her want to laugh at the funny adorable outcome, and the boy flashed the cutest grin before coming down from Madeline’s leg and running off with the helmet on his head.

"Ethan." His mother called before shaking her head, looking unsure of what to do with that son of hers. She looked at Madeline with an apologetic smile. "I’m sorry, he can be a bit mischievous, I’ll get it back when he falls asleep."

"Children will be children, he can keep it if he likes it that much." Uttered Madeline, and that’s when another son of Amade showed up in the living room.

Madeline recognized him to be the one who was throwing firewood into the fireplace.

He was a young boy who looked no older than eighteen, dressed in simple practical clothing consisting of roughspun tunic and trousers. His hair looked slightly unkempt and disarrayed around his face.

Despite his lack of refinement, his complexion was clear, and his brown eyes were bright.

"Lord Cassian!" The boy exclaimed, and Cassian, who stared at him for a while with narrowed eyes, suddenly felt the familiarity of the boy’s face.

"Nathaniel?"

"The joy of not being forgotten, well, almost." Nathan commented with a tsk, and Cassian rose from his seat, offering him a handshake with a surprised look on his face, barely diminishing as he looked at the boy from head to toe.

"Is this you? You’ve become..."

"A man? Yes! I’m humbly looking forward to my independence." He joked, and it elicited a smile from Cassian. "It has been ages, feels really good to see you in our home again."

"You too I mean, forgive me, I’m still shocked."

"Nathan developed the rapid growth trait, but that makes him more handful at home." Uttered Amade, but Nathan simply ignored his father and looked at the young woman who was still seated on the couch.

"Greetings." He bowed his head with a smile, "you look familiar, ah yes! You’re Lord Cas’s wife. I knew I read about the wedding in a newspaper, happy to meet you, and please don’t mind Ethan, he doesn’t know the difference between visitors and family." Nathan explained, and Madeline smiled before shaking her head, signifying it wasn’t a problem.

"Maddie, meet Nathan." Cas introduced, "When I paid Amade’s home casual visits in the past, Nathan was of good company." He explained to Madeline how he got to know Nathan, and Nathan tapped his shoulder.

"Hey, after you get some rest, I’m going into the woods tomorrow to fetch some firewood, want to come along? It’ll be like the old times when you still visited. I have so much to tell you about, including what happened to those scums that live down the thoroughfare." He whispered the last part, using it to draw Cassian’s attention.

"Show them the room they’ll be staying in, and let them rest for tonight."

"Of course, father, this way." Nathan led them through the archway, and after exchanging a few words with them on the way, he brought them to the room he had tidied up for them, and Madeline offered her thanks before watching him leave.

Once the door closed shut, Cas and Madeline erased the smile from their lips as they sank on to the bed at the same time. Their gazes, fixed on the smooth ceiling with visible weariness washing over them.

"I’m going to bathe." Madeline spoke after a few minutes of resting her system, and she forced her body to sit up, turning her head to look at Cassian who stared back from underneath his lashes.

"Should I join you? I bet we’ll both get comfortable if we take a bath together." He proposed, one that earned him a scowl from Madeline who said nothing but slapped his chest playfully.

"Ow!!" Cassian clutched both hands to his chest, turning the other way as he faked a painful grimace. "a simple no would have been fine."

"Unfortunately, that word doesn’t exist on your agenda." Knowing he wouldn’t try something sneaky after this, Madeline got to her feet and went to open her traveling bag to get her towel.