539: Carter's Funeral

Carter's Funeral

  Carter wasn't just the family's servant but Karmina already named him Duke before he died. Everyone knows Carter in the whole country and he was named a hero as well. They weren't just mourning for Carter but for the soldiers that risk their lives to protect the people. No civilians died in war and everyone is slowly getting back to their normal life. The Paradis Evergarden was the first country that didn't have poverty during the war. They hail Queen Karmina and King Henry for that. 

  Now, at the funeral, everyone is welcome to peek at the Duke. Karmina stayed beside Carter. She made sure that her face was covered with a black net from her hat so no one would see her miserable face. Kal was also well behaved while she was holding Quinn's hand so the little girl won't run around. 

"Play," Quinn told Kal. "Gandpapa, Play." She pointed to Carter's coffin. "I pay." 

"Quinn, no," Kal told her as she pouted. She pulled her grandmother's sleeve and pouted at her. Karmina patted her head as Quinn observed the people who were busy putting flowers around the grave of the heroes. 

  Keira on the other hand was sitting on the corner with her husband holding an umbrella over her. She had Calli on her lap while waiting for the time to finally bury him. It was two hours when they stayed there as the soldiers were lined up saluting the heroes who risked their lives to protect the people and their country. Once Carter's body was buried together with other soldiers, the people started leaving as they waited for another hour to stay with Carter. Dione was busy putting flowers on each of the new graves while her father was following her. 

"I put flowers, fishy too." She told Kal as Kal followed his little sister. Victor was taking steps slowly following the kids. 

"Keira, let's go?" Karmina called her. Keira stood as her mother reached her arm. "I will cook tonight." She kissed Keira's temple. "What do you want to eat?" 

"Nothing." She said. 

"Keira," Karmina looked at Johanna as she raised her hand. Johanna took her hand and followed her mother. "We will have some time together. Okay. I will cook whatever you guys want." 

"Mama, fishy!" Quinn shouted as Johanna looked at her baby girl. 

"No, darling. We can't put fish in there." Johanna told her. The little girl pouted. 

"No. No. Fishy." Dione shook her forefinger at Quinn. 

"They are adorable." Karmina pressed her lips. "Come on now. Finish that." She told the kids. 

  Once they reached the castle, they all went to the kitchen. Keira forced herself to eat something together with the moringa milk to help her lactate more for her baby girl. 

"Guys," Connor entered the kitchen while Quinn was tagging with her. "The Charles facility was being renovated for bio-research. But we have more problems." He said as Quinn mimicked her father's actions. 

"Oh, you can take care of that," Karmina told him. 

"Sure, mom." He picked up her baby girl and put her on the high chair.

"Foodie!" Kal exclaimed as Dione mimicked Kal. 

  Calli giggled suddenly and pointed to Kal and Dione. 

  Karmina put her apron on as Johanna did the same. Shortly, Maxine arrived with Tracey and fresh ingredients. The girls washed their hands first before starting to cook.

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  After the burial of Carter together with other soldiers, Ian went directly to her brother. It was all quiet now. There are toys beside Henry and flowers that the girls picked up for him. He sat on the floor and leaned on the glass that covered Henry. For days, he hasn't shed tears for him. He knew that Henry didn't want someone to cry for him. But he just couldn't believe it. He died so fast and Henry was the only family he had. 

"Why did you leave me and Mina so fast?" He asked him as he turned his head at him. "Your wife is miserable. You died again which is not funny." He sighed. "Remember when you told me not to join the navy? But I did. You hated me for joining but you are still there protecting me secretly." He sighed as there was a long silence. "Your best friend Alex was currently helping us with the adjustments. He was there, always there for you and Mina. Yeah, he loves Mina but he respects you a lot. You moved a lot of hearts throughout the years that you existed." 

  He stayed there for an hour in silence, weeping. He wiped it many times but it just pains him with the thought that his brother left him too fast. He suddenly felt so alone without him. 

"I hate to go up there with red eyes, you know? I want to be a man and I want to stay strong for the family you left. Keira was devastated. She's~~" his voice broke as he swallowed a lump in his throat. "She's a daddy's girl. The only Princess…" He sighed. 

  The door slowly opened as Tracey entered holding Granger. She approached him and sat beside him. He hugged her and kissed her lips. 

"You are not grieving alone." She mumbled. Granger crawled to her father's lap and crawled past him. He sat in front of the toys that the kids left and he pointed to Henry. 

"That's your uncle." He told him.

"Everyone is trying to go on with their daily life. Let's act that he's still there. We can do that for a while." 

"Hmm," He nodded his head. "There's a lot to do. I will visit him every day then." 

  Tracey scooped his face. 

"I think he is proud of you." 

"Thank you." He hugged her tightly as tears started escaping his eyes. He sniffled and wiped it. 

"I am here for you, always, Gian. Your brother is so proud of you. He always tells me that." She grinned. "I was lucky enough to have you. Do you know that?" 

"Because I'm handsome." He gently pushed her to see her beautiful face. 

"Yeah," she giggled and kissed him further. 

"Ahh!" Granger exclaimed and tried to separate his parents. 

"I think my brother would bark at me for flirting here with you." Ian chuckled as he picked up Granger and gave him a lot of kisses. "I should help them cook, right?" He asked. 

"I miss your cooking." She hugged him. 

  Tracey stood first and picked up Granger. Then, they left the basement, especially for Henry. In the kitchen, they were all laughing when they arrived. Somehow, Kaiden put the whole meringue on his face as Calli wanted to climb up from her highchair to put more meringue on Kaiden's face. She even took her cupcake and was reaching it to Kaiden's face. 

"Baby, no." Sandro was trying to carefully put her still. 

"Kakakaka!" She raised her voice and pointed to Kaiden

"That's so funny." Kal laughed. 

"Baddie, Calli." Dione took a tissue and gave it to Kaiden. "No, no. Calli." 

  The only thing that will keep the house and castle alive are these kids. 

"Jade, let's go soccer!" Yves called. 

"Yeah, sure." Jade jumped off the stool and ran after Yves. 

  Ian approached Karmina and hugged her. She patted his head as he put his apron on and washed his hands. 

"What do you want, love?" Ian asked his wife. 

"You know my favorite." She winked as she put Granger beside Levina.

  MJ was laughing while wiping Kaiden's face with the tissue that Dione gave. 

"Go take the baby wipes, love." 

  Dione ran to the baby's rack just nearby that they use when the babies are eating. She took the heavy baby wipes and held them with two of her hands. She ran to her mother and gave it. MJ smiled at her. Dione sighed, looking exhausted. 

"You got tired so soon?" MJ patted her head as she wiped Kaiden's face. 

  After the food was served, they all sat down to dine together. They were all silent as they waited for Karmina to speak. But Harvey was running late. He arrived as Karmina stood from her seat and pulled Harvey. He was puzzled as Karmina raised the wine. 

"Harvey, you will be crowned as the King of this country, Mitch as the Queen." 

"But, mom." Harvey looked up at her. 

"I am still a Grand Queen. But you will take care of our country, okay?" She looked at Keira who was staring at the favorite food of her father. "Keira will do whatever you want. Do you still want to take the Golden Age?" 

"Yes," She mumbled as Karmina looked at Sandro. She was still worried about her baby girl. This time, Harvey and Mitch don't have time to mourn. There are a lot of things to do. 

"Connor, take over the Charles Facility." 

"Victor, you and Violet will stay in the Rossie Mansion and make sure that the kids will receive their education."  2

"Yes, ma'am." Victor looked at Johanna who looked as devastated as Keira. He never saw his sister like this. Not even after their parents died. She usually doesn't have empathy. But Henry was the real father to her and Karmina was the real mother to her. 

"Gray will be the Duke~~" She looked at Gray. "Duke of the Hinterlands. You will take your dad's position." She looked at Calli and Dione. She sighed. "Let's have dinner and read Carter's collections and others will be after dinner." She sat beside her son. 

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