The Princess' Harem
Chapter 78: A Genuine Happiness

Chapter 78: A Genuine Happiness

The King and Queen spoke for a few moments more with Viana and Cooper. Their voices were soft, their smiles gentle.

The air in the room remained warm, but a subtle change signaled their departure. King Clive eventually rose, nodding briefly to Viana.

"Kingdom matters await," he said, his voice calm. Queen Isabella followed, her hand resting briefly on Viana’s shoulder.

They gave Cooper one last reassuring look before leaving the dining room. Viana and the boy were left alone, with only the faint scent of lunch and the quiet hum of the palace around them.

Viana turned to Cooper, her smile genuine. "Come," she said. "Let me show you your room."

She led him from the dining room. Cooper followed, his small hand still holding hers.

They walked through corridors larger than anything he had imagined. Ancestral portraits on the walls seemed to watch him.

The sheer size of the palace made his old life seem impossibly far away. Every polished surface, every carved detail, spoke of a world he did not understand.

He walked carefully, trying not to touch anything, his eyes wide with a mix of awe and fear.

They reached a quiet section of the palace. Viana opened a heavy wooden door.

Inside, a room opened before Cooper. It was large and filled with soft light from a tall window.

A big bed stood against one wall, covered with rich, unfamiliar fabrics and soft pillows. A small, carved desk sat by the window, with a comfortable chair beside it.

A wardrobe, much bigger than any he had ever seen, took up another wall. A thick, soft rug covered the floor, muffling his steps.

It looked like a room from a story, completely unlike the crowded, shared spaces of the orphanage or the rough shelters of the slums.

Cooper stepped in, his mouth slightly open. He looked at the bed, then the desk, then back at Viana.

As silent question was in his eyes. "This... this is for me?" he whispered, his voice very quiet.

Viana nodded. "All of it. It’s your own space."

She watched him. His eyes moved quickly around the room, taking in every detail.

A slight shiver ran through his small body. He was overwhelmed and she understood. This was more than just a room for him, it was a sign of a life he could barely grasp.

***

After Cooper looked around his new room, Viana suggested a walk. "We can explore the palace," she offered. "There’s much to see."

Cooper agreed with a shy nod. His first stiffness slowly changed into curiosity.

They started their tour. Viana walked at a steady pace, making sure Cooper could keep up.

She pointed out different parts of the palace, explaining what they were for in simple words. He listened carefully, his head often tilted, taking in everything.

When they passed a shiny suit of old armor in display, Cooper reached out a hand without thinking. His fingers touched the cold metal before he quickly pulled back, remembering where he was.

"Sorry, Princess," he mumbled, a habit from years of avoiding trouble.

Viana simply smiled. "It’s alright, Cooper. You can touch it. You live here now."

Her words, so simple, held great meaning for him. He touched the armor again, more confidently this time, his small fingers tracing the cold lines.

Viana watched him. A quiet happiness grew inside her. Having a real child beside her, one whose wonder was clear and honest, was very different from the formal interactions she usually had.

His reactions were genuine. His questions were not held back by status.

As they walked through the grand halls, which were lined with art and tapestries, Cooper sometimes forgot himself. He would point excitedly at a bright painting, then quickly lower his hand, remembering what was proper.

Once, when Viana stopped to look at a large fountain in an inner courtyard, he kicked a loose pebble on the ground without thinking. It was a common habit from the dirt paths of his old neighborhood.

He then froze, his eyes darting to Viana with worry.

She just smiled. "It’s quite alright, Cooper."

From a distance, Joel watched them. A soft, rare smile was on his face. He found Cooper’s small, ingrained habits amusing. These movements were from a life very different from the palace.

Reyes, standing beside him, kept his usual calm expression. But his gaze stayed on Viana and the boy.

Reyes did not particularly like children. Still, he saw the change in the Princess.

Her movements were lighter. Her expression was more relaxed. The child, small and quiet, had brought a clear ease to Viana that even her closest staff rarely saw.

Joel nudged Reyes gently. "Looks like she’s found a little shadow."

Reyes grunted softly in response. It was not a clear answer, but he did not look away.

The snow continued to fall gently outside, making the palace quiet. The Princess, and her new ward continued their slow, careful exploration.

Cooper, still processing the sheer size of his new surroundings, found his attention drawn to the light coming through the stained-glass windows. They made colorful patterns on the marble floors.

He stopped at one, his head tilted up, his small fingers tracing the intricate lead lines. Viana knelt beside him. She explained the stories in the glass, tales of old kings and mythical beasts.

Cooper listened closely. His past life of hardship and fear slowly faded, replaced by the overwhelming wonder of his new world.

He felt a new kind of comfort, one he had not known before. It was not just the warmth of the palace or the softness of his new clothes.

It was Viana’s presence. Her calm voice, her gentle smile, the way she treated him not as a problem but as someone important.

He started asking questions, hesitant at first, about the grand paintings, the statues, the detailed gardens seen through the windows. Viana answered each one patiently. Her explanations were simple and clear.

They moved from the grand halls to the royal library. It was a vast room with tall bookshelves that reached the ceiling.

The smell of old paper and leather filled the air. Cooper had never seen so many books in one place. He stood amazed.

He carefully touched the spine of a large, leather-bound book. "Are these... all stories?" he asked, his voice almost a whisper.