Chapter 250: Back Home

But seriously, how could this be real?

It was bound to be a letdown.

Everyone felt bad but also felt for Ava. They were thinking, 'If Ava goes in with high hopes, she'll be crushed when she gets there. But Frank said they'd be in Capital City soon. Could she really be bringing that little beggar back thinking he's Benjamin? No way. She's known for being steady, and now she's acting all reckless?'

Ava got back on September 7th.

The weather was perfect, a real good day.

The city guards were floored to see the Lord of the Arctic driving. The prince playing coachman—who could be in the carriage?

The prince's ride didn't need checking and was waved right through, heading straight to the Duke of the Realm's Mansion.

When they got there, Xavier told Ava and Benjamin, "I'm not going in. You get Benjamin settled first, and I'll swing by in a couple of days."

They'd be visiting the King family tomorrow, so Xavier wouldn't be around then.

Ava was about to thank him but remembered he was sick of hearing it, so she said, "You've worked hard. Go get some rest."

"Alright, I'm out." Xavier looked at Benjamin, waved with a grin, and said, "I'll bring you some tasty treats tomorrow."

Benjamin, though shy, was happy and gave him a smile.

Seeing that smile, Xavier thought it was really something.

After Xavier left, Ava led Benjamin through the gates of the Duke of the Realm's Mansion.

As soon as Briana and Kyle saw Benjamin, tears welled up. William wiped his eyes and ran over, choking up, "You're back. That's all that matters."

Looking at Benjamin, the tears William had just wiped away fell again. He thought, 'The kid is so thin. How much has he been through?'

He turned around and told someone to get food, tea, and warm water ready in the kitchen.

Briana and Kyle used to work in the mansion and later followed Ava to the General's Mansion, so Benjamin remembered them and Emma well.

"Benjamin." Everyone's voices were choked with emotion.

Benjamin looked at them, then at the other servants, then at the stone steps of the main hall in the courtyard, and looked around. No one else came out.

He knew about the Anderson Family's massacre and knew that his relatives were all gone.

Seeing the mansion so empty, knowing those familiar faces would never come out again, his feelings were all over the place.

He let Ava hold his hand and lead him into the main hall.

He looked around in fear, tears never stopping. He hoped someone would jump out from somewhere and hug him tight, like Ava did in the small house in Meadowland.

He was seven this year. When he left home, he was reckless and clueless, but in the past two years, hanging out on the streets and with those bad folks, he'd seen a lot of terrible stuff. He knew how cruel the world could be and was more grown-up than other kids his age.

He knew no one would come out to hug him and cry. That day, he had hidden from his sick mom, had a male servant pretend to be him lying in the bedroom, and snuck out through the dog hole to buy candied apples for Ava. But after that, he never saw them again.

He cried silently. Knowing he shouldn't make Ava sad, he tried hard to hold back, but the tears just wouldn't stop.

Seeing him cry like this, Briana and the others couldn't help but cry too. Emma cried the hardest, and if it weren't for her status, she would've rushed to hug Benjamin.

Seeing everyone in tears, Ava's eyes also reddened. She had cried for many days, and now she was just happy and relieved.

Let everyone cry with joy; she didn't stop them.

But it might take a while for Benjamin to accept that his family was gone.