Manggan Island

It was spring and just like the weather, everyone's heart was warm. The Somer village particularly as it was this season that their Baruk was to be wed. As soon as the rain stopped and new sprouts of tiny plants came out from earth, the wedding preparations also took place.

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Darryl then was busy fixing the dock in Pearl haven. Just three days after staying in Baruk Tam's household, he went to see his property and saw how inhabitable it was. The previous strong storms almost knocked off his hut and the place was full of weeds and pests. Seeing how his hut didn't survive long, he tore it down and built a house of stone and clay. He used the money and gold he collected from the gifts that were sent to him and so the project went on. It didn't cost him much thought as many helped him with it.

Also, when he made his intention clear to live on the island for good, he received an invitation from the Oak school to teach a few lessons in engineering and so he gained a reliable income and because he was the island's ambassador to, he also received some ration from the government. So unlike before where he didn't have much, his Manggan's net worth increased rapidly and soon he was able to sponsor some little projects for the Somer village and even for other villages. His project this time was focused on irrigation as the other villages, especially those that built communities in the meadows were having hard time with water resources.

While he was busy with carpentry, he heard the sound of a carriage getting close. He looked up to the bridge that connects the Pearl Haven to the Somer Village and realized that indeed he had a visitor. Previously there was no stone bridge there and what they used was just a hanging bridge. However, while he was away from the mainland for years, Baruk Tam built a stone bridge for him. The Baruk also thought of building a stone house for him but thought it would be a bit intrusive so he let Darryl's previous stand as it was.

Darryl stopped what he was doing and ran toward the bridge as he saw that the carriage looked like it was from the central village. The bridge was kilometers away but he could already see it clearly in the clearing. The horseman saw that the Hero of Somer Isles had welcomed him and so he halted the carriage at the end of the bridge.

"Hero!" A beautiful young girl waved from the carriage's window and Darryl realized it was Princess Song. The previous sickly child had grown into a beautiful teenager and she had kept him company most of the time.

"Princess Song, welcome," He gave him a curtsy even before her carriage had opened. When it did, her Ladymaid Lin descended and assisted her and all of her attendants descended to. Princess Song was the favorite princess as she was the youngest and current Cheiftain's full blooded sister and so she was well tended and probably the richest amongst all the princesses.

"I'm really sorry Hero, this child is really pestering you most of the time," Ladymaid Lin sighed, already ashamed of Princess Song's obsession with Darryl. "I could do nothing. We come here for the wedding feast but instead of staying in the Baruk's household, she insisted to stay with you,"

"It's okay Lady Lin," Darryl too gave her a polite nod. Lady Lin was already promoted to a Lady because of her loyalty to princess song and her status as Darryl understood was well respected. "I'm grateful for her company to be honest. She brings warmth to my house,"

"Lady Lin you are backbiting me again," She sulked at her Lady. She always reminded her that she was not a child anymore and that she should act accordingly but she can't help it. She was accustomed to Enoch and Darryl babying her and she loved such. "The Hero was never annoyed with me. See he even thinks I warm his house...hehe.."

She then clung to Darryl and started walking toward his house with him "Hero I have come to help you with the garden and I really don't want to stay in the Baruk's house so I'll stay with you okay? Besides, you already made a room for me and I want to see the tree house that you made. They say it's beautiful,"

The tree house that she mentioned was one of Darryl's projects recently. He built it for Willow and Wolfe and stuffed all the toys he made for them there so as to remind him of the children he left in the mainland.

"Cough..cough..cough," A sudden noise halted Princess Song and Darryl's steps. They both look back and saw the Highest Princess standing behind with all her handmaids.

"Oh Highest Princess! I'm sorry I forgot about you!" Princess Song forgot and immediately raised her head to look at Darryl. "Hero, can the Highest princess stay with us too? She was also here for the wedding feast but she Baruk Tam's household makes her uncomfortable so I invited her in,"

Darryl, even late, made a curtsy for the Highest princess. "Welcome Princess Lana. My house unlike the Baruk's house is not that luxurious but you are welcome here if you want to stay,"

"She brought her handmaids too so you won't have problems attending to her," Princess Song emphasized.

She already warned the highest princess that the Hero of Somer Isles lives alone and has no servants that can help her attend to her needs. Even Princess Song herself adjusts whenever she comes to stay with him and only brings Lady Lin with her. But the two of them were used to doing things on their own as they used to live in the east mountain with nothing so she never had problems living with him. This was the first time she brought handmaids with them because there was a wedding feast they had to attend but even then, she carefully instructed them not to expect any from Darryl's household and instead of being guests, they should help Darryl in household chores.

"Thank you Hero, please do not worry about me. As princess Song said, I brought all my handmaids and additional servants to help with the chores,"