"Hero, don't worry too much about our presence. I'll see to it that the Highest princess settles in the guests wing without problems," Princess Song promised.

The guest wing was an extension of Darryl's house and it was built with Chieftain Enoch's sponsorship. She knew how princess Song was always staying with Darryl and so not to inconvenience Darryl especially that the stone house he built was only of average size, he sponsored to build a guest wing for his guests.

​​

"Alright, it's your call," Darryl said nonchalantly. He doesn't really mind having the girls in his house specially that they tend to themselves without bothering him. Also Princess Song also helps him in gardening as he hasn't picked up much skills on it yet and previously it was Xhemin who did such chores.

"Thank you," Princess Song exclaimed excitedly and turned to Princess Lana, cueing her to follow them as if she wasn't the Highest princess at all. Darryl and her walked by themselves toward the Hero's house and since it was a bit far, Lady Lin worried Princess Lana would not make it.

"Highest Princess, you can go back to your carriage. I'll ask your horseman to carry you till the Hero's front yard. It is still far and you might hurt your feet in the process,"

"It's okay Lady Lin, I can walk," The princess insisted. "I am in the Hero's household. I should pick up some ways here. I understand it's a bit different but I don't mind,"

"Up to you Highest Princess," Lady Lin said, then bowed to her and ran right after to catch up with Darryl and Princess Song who were then so focused on the conversation they had.

"Highest princess, the hero is indeed good looking, the fairest man in the entire island," Her handmaids started some conversations as they followed in a slow pace behind the parade of Princess Song's handmaids.

"And his wealth is getting bigger. The student royals are paying him a lot for the lessons he teaches in the Oak school," They added, pleased at the fact. "They said he was a good teacher,"

"But his ways are different and he treats women as equals," Someone from amongst them raised the concern. "His previous wife was an independent woman and was very skillful in farming, better than Princess Song. I'm afraid he might not pick up ordinary women as his bride,"

"The highest princess is not an ordinary woman. Also if princess Song can learn some skills, the highest princess can learn them too, it's not too late to learn something new,"

"But princess Song grew up in the east mountain and was raised under the training of the healer and the late Aki Owens. They are both not here anymore. No one can teach the Highest Princess anymore,"

"I can learn some in the Oak school," It was Princess Lana who answered this time, expressing her desire to learn and be a good match for the Hero of Somer Isles. The moment she had met him, she knew instantly she wanted to become a part of his household. "It's just a matter of time,"

"But didn't they say the healer is still alive?" Someone voiced out. "If she was, then Princess you cannot become his legal bride. You can only be as good as a concubine,"

"Wife or concubine, I can be any," She said sincerely. She had great respect for the healer and she didn't want to take what's legally hers. So if it was true that she was alive, she didn't intend to replace her. She just wanted to become Darryl's woman and take care of him. He was a sad man after all, she intended to keep him company until he is sad no more. "The hero of Somer Isle had the same status as a royal blood and so being his concubine isn't bad at all. I'm sure the chieftain will not go against it."

"That's true. If that is what you wish, Highest princess, then we are here for you," her handmaids expressed in unison and the conversation about Darryl continued until they reached the guest wing.

***

Darryl went on with his day and was able to finish his tasks in the dock. It was also this time when Princess Song called on him for lunch and he did spent eating with the two princesses who were currently living with him for a while.

"Hero the Highest princess helped me cook this one," Princess Song pushed a bowl of soup to him. "It taste very delicious,"

"I didn't help that much," Princess Lana refuted her claims, "I just basically handed you over the ingredients princess but of course I hope to learn from you,"

"You are such a humble Highest Princess but I don't have much of a skill in cooking," Princess Song said. "My Lady Lin does most of the cooking but I am also trying to learn from her because she said wives in the mainland cooked for their husbands and so if I ever wanted to marry someone like the hero of Somer Isle, I should learn how to cook like the healer,"

"It's too early for you to think about marriage princess Song," Darryl chastised her gently and tapped her head. "But your cooking skills have been improving,"

"Really? Then I should come and cook often for you hero," Princess Song was delighted. Truth was she and the Hero didn't have a close relationship previously because she was all focused on the healer. However when the hero came home alone without the healer, princess Song pitied the man so much that she promised to keep him company and take care of him for the healer. Because of her frequent visits, Darryl had been accustomed to her and let her do whatever she wanted.

"I hope to cook for you someday too, hero," Princess Lana uttered wishfully. She remembered Lady Lin telling her previously how the hero praised her for imitating the healer's recipe previously and she had come up with the idea that people from the mainland remembers people through their cooking and so she hoped someday if her cooking skills are good enough, the Hero can remember her through it.

"I looked forward to it," Darryl said gallantly, not knowing how he warmed up the Highest Princess heart. Although he was obviously uncomfortable with her and only said a few words, she was glad that somehow his wall was slowly falling and hoped that someday, like princess Song, she can be close to him.