The next day I spent the time with my children
We went for a walk and had a picnic out in the garden during their lunch break
I also told them we would be going to my family's home tomorrow
Which made all the children super excited
They got along with all their cousins
My brother Demir was already married and had 2 children who were 3 and 5Â with his wife Aurora
My sister Fiona had recently gotten married to Zion
And my brother Ashton was still to be engaged
I had more cousins living on the main estate who's children were older and closer in age to my own kids
The next day we departed early morning to my family's home and arrived around noon as the estate was not that far from my house
We were greeted by my parents and siblings as we got out of the carriage
"Eve!" Fiona shouted as she crushed me in a hug
"Long time no see, " Demir said as he came up next to hug me
The children came out of the carriage and began saying hello to everyone
"Children, behave yourself but you can go see your cousins," I told them as I knew that they were dying to meet with their cousins again
They all hurried along
I walked with my parent's and sibling's toward the house
We sat down in my mother's cozy tea room and the main discussion began
"Evelin, please tell me how did it go with Henry," My father asked me
"It went as I thought, Henry took the news horribly about my children and I did threaten him," I said as I began to sip my tea
"YOU WHAT, How could you threaten him," My mother exclaimed almost jumping up from her seat
"What else was she to do mother, have you not heard the rumors about Henry's temper," Demir replied with much menace in this voice
"That's true, we should use this as leverage and begin our attack" Fiona exclaimed
"Attack, attack who the Lions? Have you all forgotten how much power that family has, it may not be as big as ours but no one can go one on one with Henry alone" My mother reminded us
"Your mother is right, Lion's family might have diminished to just Henry and a couple of his cousin's but they still are strong--"
"--So that means we do nothing, just let Evelin be bullied and her children taken away" Demir replied getting riled up to our father
"No that's not what I meant, it means we have to be cautious," My father said as he looked around at all of us
"While I love that you all worry, I will not be putting all of you at risk," I told them after hearing their concerns
"But Eve, we need to help you just as you have helped all of us" Fiona replied
"I know, however, our parents are right Henry is a powerful foe which is why I must move preconsciously, but when the time comes I will require a favor from each of you." I had a plan in mind but I wouldn't risk my family's lives for mine
"If anything does happen to me just take my children, you all are aware of my back plan in case the worst thing happens," I said as I looked down at my teacup
"Of course honey, we will always be here for you" My mother reminded me
I knew I could count on my family, and I had to protect them too
***THIRD POV***
The children all ran to where they knew their other cousins were
Evelin's family while not rich in gold was rich in people
Her family was the biggest out of all the aristocrats but of course, not every one of them was in upper society. Evelin's grandparents had 7 children in total and each one of them had more than 3 children besides both her grandparents had more than 5 siblings and so the family only kept on growing. Her entire family works as merchants, it's in their blood beginning from their great ancestors who first came to this country as merchants. But beside's being a huge family they were extremely loyal to each other.
At the estate, there currently lived Evelin's brother's and sister and many more family that traveled far and wide but came to stay at the estate during their travels
The children had become super close to all their cousin's in the short 2 years having lived with their mother
Most of the cousin's left and traveled with their parents going from city to city, selling and buying goods before returning back to the estate and then leaving once more
However 3 of their cousins did remain permanently in the estate because of their studies and with those, the children had formed a close-knit with them
Those three were, Eliza (14), Jasper (16), and Torin (15)
"You guys go ahead," said Elijah as he decided to go back and see his mother
"Okay, don't take long" Arabella replied as they all continued to look for their cousins
Eliza being the oldest felt he had to take responsibility for this family
After being adopted as a son and knowing the love of his mother, he would do everything he could to protect it
He also knew money was essential in life
But his mother still treated him like a child
As he came to the house, he crouched down by the window where his mother was having tea with the family
He was able to hear all the information about Henry
He had never met the person but he already hated him
He knew he needed to get rid of him and find a way to keep the money to his mother
He left afterward and met up with everyone else
" Hey Elijah," Eliza said as she squeezed him in a hug
"Elijah, hey," Jasper and Torin said after Eliza hugged him
Where their cousins usually met was in the office of Jasper/Torin, as they were the oldest and going into the family business, they used the office to help manage paperwork for now
"How has the business been," Arabell asked them as she sat by the window
"It's been going good, the holy city is going to be holding their religious festival soon and it seems like the whole family is going to go" Jasper replied as he looked over some paperwork
"The holy city, that is going to make a lot of business" Jude replied as he played a puzzle with Nesrin
All of Evelin's children were learning business as that is the family trade
"That's right, and if we do well, we might be able to become exclusive merchants with the holy temple which is big deal," Eliza said as she sipped some tea
"That is a big deal, they are almost never exclusive with anyone" Theo replied as he helped Torin with some paperwork
"That's true, even the royal family couldn't accomplish that," Elijah said looking through the bookcase in the room
"Which is why we have to work hard and become their exclusive merchant, not the royal merchants, we need to come up with an idea about what to sell and what we can buy there" Jasper replied deep in thought
"By the way, that festival is going to be in 5 months and everyone participating needs their id and formal documentation. Have you guys been officially adopted yet?" Torin asked as he took a sit by Arabella
" We don't know" Theo replied as he took a sit by Nesrin as she still struggled with the puzzle
"But we should be right ?" Nesrin replied finally looking up from her puzzle
"Well I wouldn't worry, I heard your mother is going to have tea with the queen tomorrow" Eliza replied as she had finished her tea
" Yes I heard, I told her to take me but she refused" Arabella replied
" Well the invitation was just for your mother and this is where she needs to make her move" Jasper replied
" What move?" Jude asked
"We need to become official children and be introduced to society" Elijah replied deep in thought
The children kept discussing the festival details and hoped to enjoy it with their whole family there