Outings and a Father's Regrets

The two were at the town square where many people walked about. There were a few people watching over them but Abidemi and Sol paid them no mind. They were in their own little world since they made it to town. Abidemi catches him up with her life while he updates Abidemi about Naaji and himself. They both had spent their time together mostly talking and making jokes.

Now, they were sitting outside of the shop, under a big umbrella that shaded them from the sun. Abidemi giggled as she bit into the strawberry doughnut that she brought from her favorite pastry shop. She licked her lips, not realizing that Sol was watching her with great interest.

Abidemi took another bite as she hummed happily from the sweet taste. "Oh. I'm going to miss these so much."

"It's that good?" Sol asked as he watched the young woman nod her head. She licked her lips from the pink sugar glaze. He swallowed heavily as she finished off the doughnut in one go. "Why don't you open up a shop in Elov to make these doughnuts?

"Are you kidding me? Like I do these tasty treats justice." Abidemi said with a small giggle. She opened the pink box of pastries and pulled out another doughnut. She handed it to him as her ocean-blue eyes sparkled. "Go on. Try one."

Burning Sol laughed as he eyed the pink doughnut with a strawberry in the middle of it. It also had white swirl designs which made him smile. He then looked at Abidemi, she was giving the cutest look which made his heart swell. "Fine." he said.

Abidemi cheered as he took the doughnut from her hands. She jumped a bit as her fingers brushed against his. She quickly moved her hands away as she watched him bite into the delicious treat. His eyes widened behind the mask as he looked at the treat strangely.

She giggled. "Is it good?" He nodded his head.

Sol took another bite."Very good. How come I never had this before?"

"Well, you never really stay around too long." Abidemi said with a shrug. She rested her head in her hands as she smiled at him. "And this is our official first Valtis outing as well."

Burning Sol laughed before looking into her eyes. "That's right. We almost always have our outings in Elov." he said with a smile. Abidemi nodded her head slowly.

"I don't mind it. Those outings have always been fun. I get to try so many things and go to so many places." Abidemi said. Her eyes sparkled as she looked up at the sky. "Hell, I even love the people there. The people are nice and friendly. I just wanted to be part of that."

"It's not like that in Valtis?" Sol asked as he licked his fingers. Abidemi shrugged her shoulders. "Huh."

"When I'm here. I feel out of place. Like I'm just going through the motions. It gets more and more noticeable as I get older."Abidemi said with a sigh. "Sure the people are nice and friendly here too but I don't feel like I belong. More often than none I always wonder why I'm here. Sure there's my brother and Daisy but they never want to leave here. They belong here."

"Do you feel like that when in Elov?" Burning Sol asked her. He sounded a bit worried for some reason.

Abidemi blinked at him before smiling. "Elov had always felt more like home than in Valtis. Even though I'm a bit of an outsider since I've only stayed at Elov for half a year." she said with a big smile.

"Believe me. No one in Elov thinks you're an outsider. The locals will think you're one of them unless you say something."Burning Sol said while Abidemi just let out a giggle. "Even so, I do find your Valtis very interesting to see."

"You hardly see my Valtis side." Abidemi said while picking up another doughnut. She gave him a small glare. Sol laughed a bit as he rubbed his neck. "Unless you're stalking me again?"

"Is it really stalking if I tell you that I'm doing it?" He asked her with a grin.

Abidemi hummed as she bit into a doughnut. " Yes. Yes, it is." He laughed as she licked her lips. He laughed as she closed the doughnut box.

"Demi. You wound me." Burning Sol said as he placed his hand over his heart. Abidemi giggled as she stood up from her seat. Burning Sol did the same as he picked up the doughnut box and then offered up his arm.

Abidemi smiled at him before lightly taking his arm. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." he said to her as the both of them started to walk down the road. " So what do you wanna do now? There is plenty to do here."

"Mmmm. How about we just walk a bit and see where our legs take us." Abidemi hummed.

"I could do that." Burning Sol said while he walked with her.

The two started to talk unaware of a few people watching them. Some even whispered to each other as they noticed the smile on Abidemi and Burning Sol's faces.

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The Duke of Sealen rubbed the bridge of his nose as he leaned back against his study chair. It had been two hours since Eden had told him what happened at the Sunflower Estate and he had to admit, it stressed him out. So much that he could barely focus on his work. The Duke of Sealen rubbed his eyes as he looked up at the ceiling.

Eden told him that Abidemi went out with a friend that he did not know about. He wanted to ask who the friend was but he knew Eden wouldn't tell him. The young man kept the fact that Abidemi was planning to leave last year from him. Also probably kept a ton of things about Abidemi from him.

He can't say that he didn't deserve it. He pushed his oldest child away without any thought or hesitation. It must be cosmic justice for his youngest son to be one of his oldest daughter's closest people.

He also has a feeling about who Abidemi went out with.

'That blasted, crown prince.' he groaned as he rubbed his face with his hands. Trying to keep his cool. He sighed when he remembered another thing. 'And the heir of Blacklake as well. What the hell was he thinking?'

Logan was someone that was supposed to be Abidemi's little playmate. He set them up in hopes that the two will become close and eventually marry. Even the Duke of Blacklake and his wife were even aware of it.

At first, they just wanted him just to make the arrangement but he refused. The Sealen family never really forced their children into arranged marriages unless the child wished for it. He thought Abidemi and Logan would naturally fall in love as time goes by.

He was a terrible father for pushing her away. She really doesn't need him planning her future. He only wanted an heir so badly and he couldn't afford to lose the child. Plus the only one who could handle Abidemi was his late wife, he didn't bother with the child.

He didn't expect that Logan would abandon Abidemi for Mila. Nor did he expect that his daughter and the crowned prince to meet.

Now what Logan of Blacklake does, almost the same thing. Abandoning Abidemi for Mila.

It was a good thing that he didn't arrange the marriage or else Abidemi will end up miserable. Of course, the Blacklake household still wanted her. They tried to use Freya after all but he was sure they knew it was a lost cause. They knew Freya held no power over Abidemi and his daughter wouldn't willingly marry Logan.

The Duke rubbed his face as his eyebrows pinched together. He doesn't even want to think about why they're doing this to Freya. " I need a drink." The sudden knock on his door broke him from his thoughts. He gave the door a wary look before saying. "Come in."

The door opened as Eden came in dressed in a white button-down shirt and dark blue slacks. He held no expression as his son looked at him.

Ah. Another child that he pushed aside and moved to the Sunflower Mansion . Wasn't it recently that Eden moved back to the main mansion? How long has it been two, maybe three years now?

His nannies were Abidemi's nannies and he was well-loved there too. It was probably why the both of them were so close now.

At least they had each other.

"Did you call me father?" Eden asked the older man.

The Duke let out a sigh and stood up to his feet. " You don't need to watch over the crown prince of Elov anymore." Eden arched an eyebrow at his father as the older man continued. "Since your older sister is leaving in a few days it will be heartless for you not to spend some time with her."

'Also that blasted mongrel won't stay still. If he could sneak off to see Abidemi without Eden knowing. What's the point of having him being watched?' The Duke thought with a deep frown. He looked at Eden who was watching him oddly. "I'll be watching over the crown prince from now on"

"Aren't you busy?" Eden asked his father.

"I could make time." The Duke said. Eden nodded his head. " You could move back to the Sunflower Mansion temporarily. You don't need to stay in the main house."

"I was thinking about that anyway. After what Kanene and Shyla told me I didn't feel comfortable leaving Abidemi and the others alone."Eden said

The Duke sighed. 'Of course, he was. I bet if I didn't give him the okay, he would've done it anyway.' The Duke thought exhaustingly.

Eden then gave him a small smile. "Thank you, Father."

The Duke nodded his head and waved Eden off. "You may go."

Eden nodded his head before leaving the study. Leaving The Duke to his thoughts. He looked out the window again to see Mila and Logan walking in the garden. The both of them are too close to each other as if they were lovers. He sighed.

'Freya really needs to talk to that girl.' he thought as he looked at the sky. "My love. I have no idea what I should do."