Benjamin was taken aback when he noticed the king wasn't riding his horse towards the forest where they usually hunt but towards the village Irvington. The mood of the king was sour and deep down Benjamin knew what the king was about to do as he followed the king behind with his own horse.
Reaching Irvington, the king and Benjamin got down from their horses and guards the king had placed around the entrance greeted and welcomed him, though they didn't expect the king to arrive the village with just his right hand man to accompany him.
After accepting their greeting, he went straight to the point.
"I was told some of the families we handed produce to days ago are now giving it to the orphanage?" He said raising a brow.
The guards turned to look at each other and one of them said "Yes milord, a few".
A small smile formed on the king's face before he said "Keep a close eye on them. Anything out of the ordinary, report it to the palace. But be discreet. Understood?" Sebastian said and the men nodded their heads.
The king and Benjamin got on their horses and continued to venture into Irvington. "Milord, what's your plan?" Benjamin asked as he wanted to be sure of what was going through the mind of the king.
"Let's head to the orphanage and see what they have to say" Sebastian replied.
After some minutes, they arrived.
They both walked in to see the head caregiver of the orphanage. Surprised to see the king, the woman jolted and the folded clothes she held in her hands landed on the floor.
"My apologies for startling you Sarai" Sebastian said to the woman and she blinked a couple of times before regaining her composure.
"Milord" she bowed but also wondered how the king knew her name not knowing that Benjamin had filled the king on the orphanage's information on their way there.
"It is an honor to be graced by your presence" she added, trying to hide her discomfort.
Sarai was a light creature, a fairy but she wasn't miniature as some folklores had depicted her kind but she could indeed shrink herself down and she had transparent wings like glass that she could hide and also reveal anytime she wanted. She was also breathtakingly beautiful and delicate.
Sarai feared most night creatures and that included the king. She didn't know the kind of night creature the king was but from the rumors she heard, she preferred to thread carefully. But she hadn't expected to see the king at the orphanage, it was a shocking and somewhat concerning visit.
She wondered if she had gotten herself in trouble somehow.
The only time she had seen the king was during the execution of late Lord Irvington that was why she could recognize him when he walked in.
Sebastian stared at the woman, studying her. He knew she was scared of him and he knew the kind of creature she was just by being in her presence. The fairies have a peculiar scent and look that always gives them out. Though, they could disguise their looks but the scent, not so much.
"You don't exactly know how to hide your displeasure" Sebastian said with his silver colored eyes staring at her.
The woman nervously rubbed her fingers together, trying to look for the perfect words to say but before she could, the king said "I came to ask you a few questions that's all".
Feeling slight relief, she quickly led them to the waiting room as they all had stood near the entrance before.
She offered the king and Benjamin a seat.
"Milord would you like to drink something?" Sarai asked but before the king could open his mouth the woman called out "Dorathy!! We have special guests!".
She moved around nervously looking for a napkin to clean the already cleaned table before the king.
Sebastian turned to Benjamin and they shared a look.
"Dorathy!! What are you doing? I said we have special guests!" Sarai shouted once again.
That same second, a girl who was a bit younger than Sarai hurriedly showed up and seeing the outfits of the men before her, she quickly straightened up because they looked elite.
"Good day milords. What do you need? Would you like to drink something? Eat something? Before taking a look at the children?" Dorathy said and Sarai slowly walked to where the girl was standing. "Excuse me milord" Sarai said before walking behind a door, pulling Dorathy with her.
"That is the king and his right hand man! Behave Dorathy!" Sarai said and the girl screamed.
Sebastian and Benjamin who weren't so far from where the ladies were looked at each other once again and Benjamin shook his head.
"The king? The same king we both hear good and bad things about? Howbeit that I had never laid my eyes on him?" Dorathy asked with her hand over her mouth.
"You hadn't seen the king because you never leave the orphanage" Sarai reminded the girl.
"Well there's a fragment of truth in that. Do you know what he is here for? He wants to adopt?".
Sarai gave the girl a certain "can you hear yourself" look before saying "I do not know exactly why he is here but he mentioned he wants to ask some questions. Get them some freshly squeezed orange juice. I'm heading back there, it is disrespectful to make the king wait on us".
Sarai returned to the waiting room.
"Milord, I sincerely apologise for wasting your time. Please forgive me" she said.
"I happen to be in a forgiving mood." He said and she sighed in relief.
"At least for fairies" he added and her eyes twitched.
Sarai wanted to freak out, she made sure her appearance wasn't giving off the fact that she was a fairy but the king quickly saw through it.
Dorathy returned with two glasses of orange juice on a tray.
"For you milord" she said bowing before placing them on the table.
Sebastian looked up from the glass to the two women before him and sighed. "Did your orphanage receive food items recently?" He asked.
"Uhm...yes milord" Sarai answered.
"I want to have a look at them" Sebastian said and Sarai was a bit confused but walked them anyways to where all the food was stored.
As Sebastian's eyes scanned all, he noticed something.