As they arrived at the estate, Aiden was woken up. They got out of the carriage together and went inside. It was already evening, and it was starting to get dark.
Walking beside Aiden, Vivienne told him to go wash up, so he'd be fresh for dinner, as proper manners demanded.
Aiden ran to his room alone and ate a few cookies that were on the table. He looked around the room. "I don't want these rice-colored walls anymore. This looks like a girl's room."
He thought about it for a moment, then left the room and went to Vivienne's. He had to wait there because she hadn't arrived yet.
He sprawled out on her armchair, grabbed a few cookies from her table, and waited. After a while, hearing the door open, he quickly straightened up.
Vivienne immediately noticed him and walked over to sit beside him, with a maid standing next to her. "What happened? You came to me so quickly—did you already miss me?" she asked jokingly.
Aiden immediately said what he wanted. "I want a different wall color in my room. This one makes it look like I'm a girl."
Vivienne didn't expect such a topic—it showed clearly on her face. "Hmm, and what color would you like to change it to?"
Aiden didn't expect that question either and thought for a moment. "Uhhm… I want… you choose."
Vivienne smiled and decided to tease him a little. "Then let's leave it pink."
"No! I said I don't want it because it's girly!" Aiden got upset, waving his arms like a little child.
"But you wanted me to choose, so I'm choosing pink. What's the problem?" she tilted her head.
Aiden said what came to his mind. "Then choose any color you want, just not pink."
Vivienne thought for a moment and then offered a color that would suit a little boy. "What do you think about blue? Maybe a light blue?"
"Okay, I agree. When will it be painted?" Aiden agreed right away because he liked the idea of light blue. He really liked that color.
Vivienne gestured with her hand for a drink. "Only for me. Aiden will be leaving soon."
Then she turned to Aiden. "When your father returns, we'll talk about it and handle it quickly."
Aiden was a bit sad, but he knew he couldn't argue, so he nodded. "See you at dinner, then."
He went back to his room, where Walter was waiting for him.
Walter had prepared everything and signaled with a hand gesture for them to leave the room.
Aiden walked beside Walter toward the bath chambers. They entered one that was rather small for an aristocratic bath. It was a bath meant for children—meant for quick washing, not lounging and enjoying the water.
There was no bathtub like in the other rooms, just a shower that could be turned on with a crank for hot and cold water. This was possible thanks to inventions made by craftsmen, but Aiden didn't know any more details.
The walls were made of stone, colored in Berezowski and white, giving the entire room a nice, muted look.
Walter helped Aiden wash and get dressed in a Berezowski shirt and light trousers, suitable for dinner. He dried his hair with a magical item.
Then he led Aiden to the dining hall.