Oliver glanced at Victoria. "Victoria?" he called out.

"Yes, Father?" Victoria responded.

"Since you're nine, do you go to school already?" Oliver questioned.

Victoria's eyes lit up with excitement. "Oh, yes! I do! I just finished my first year of classes recently!"

Surprised and proud, Oliver gasped, "Really?"

"Yeah!" Victoria's expression shifted slightly as she tightened her lips. "...Well, not exactly. I was taught by teachers at the adoption centre, but I didn't attend a regular school."

"Oh..."

"But!" Victoria's smile returned, radiating hope. "Classes will begin again in a few months! And this time, I hope I can go to a proper school!"

"Me, too!" Elizabeth squeezed her palms. "I'll finally receive formal lessons once the new school year starts!"

"Uh-huh!" Victoria turned towards Elizabeth, nodding in agreement. However, her smile faded, and she absentmindedly tucked a strand of hair behind her right ear. "But, Ellie... now that we're adopted, I don't think our teachers from the adoption centre can teach us anymore. We're no longer there..."

"Oh... really?" Elizabeth's face fell slightly, and she looked at Victoria with a hint of sadness. "Does that mean we won't be able to study anymore...?"

Victoria shook her head. "No, we can't think like that!" She turned to face Oliver, seeking reassurance. "Father, will we still have the opportunity to study?"

"Of course," Oliver responded. "You both will continue your studies."

Victoria's eyes widened with a mix of relief and gratitude. "Where will we study then? Will it be at home?"

Oliver glanced at Gregory and shook his head gently. "No, my children," he stated, "I will ensure that all my boys and girls attend top, prestigious universities."

Victoria's brow furrowed as she pondered. "Uh... what is a university?"

Gregory's face lit up with excitement as he explained, "It's like a humongous school, Victoria!"

Victoria and Elizabeth gasped dramatically, covering their mouths with their palms.

"I'll be going to a real school!?" Victoria squealed. "I can't wait!"

Elizabeth trembled with anticipation. "Me, too!" Her voice wavered suddenly, and her gaze softened. "Uhm... well, I think... I'm already feeling nervous about school..."

"Huh? Why?" Victoria asked.

Elizabeth's gaze fell as she spoke. "It's a real school now, and there will be so many people I don't know."

"Hey! It's alright!" Victoria said. "It will be okay, I promise! And you will learn well!"

"Ermm..." Elizabeth hesitated, nervously brushing her elbow with her hand.

"Come on!" Victoria's grin widened. "It's going to be epic!"

"Hmm..." Elizabeth reconsidered. "...Eh, fine," she smiled.

"Uhm, what is school?" Albert asked, looking at Oliver.

"It's a park where we play!" said George.

"Oh, really?" Albert gawked at George. Then, turning back to Oliver, he persisted. "Daddy, is that what school is?"

"Guess," Oliver smirked.

Albert scratched his head, deep in thought. Meanwhile, George also pondered, his eyes scanning the room.

Oliver turned to Jean, adopting a calm and engaging tone. "Jean, what do you think school is?"

"Shkol?" Jean babbled, furrowing his brow and staring at the ceiling, lost in his thoughts. "Hmm!"

Victoria leaned closer to the boys, tilting her head as she explained. "It's a place where you study!" As she saw her brothers struggling to grasp the concept, her patience teetered on the edge, almost ready to give way.

"Ohh..." the boys exclaimed.

Albert's curiosity remained unabated as he further inquired. "But what does the word 'study' mean?"

Victoria couldn't help but roll her eyes and let out a deep sigh as she placed her palm on her forehead.

"Dad?" Elizabeth inquired, her grin wide and brimming with curiosity. "Where did you study?"

"Oh, I actually studied at home," Oliver responded. "That's why I want my children to have the experiences I missed out on during my own childhood."

"Huh?" Victoria quickly turned to Oliver and asked. "Why didn't you attend a regular school, Father?"

Oliver exchanged a glance with Gregory, noticing the subtle shake of his head. "...It's a secret for now until you all grow up," Oliver replied.

"You always have so many secrets," Victoria giggled playfully.

"I think Dad didn't study in school because he was born during a time when everyone was poor," Elizabeth speculated, her brows furrowing.

"Hmm... for now, let's go with your answer, Elizabeth," Oliver said, tenderly brushing a hand through Elizabeth's hair.

"Am I correct? Am I right?" Elizabeth beamed.

"Mhmh," Oliver responded with a giggle, choosing to maintain the playful mystery.

"Dad? Am I right?" Elizabeth continued, her excitement spilling over. "Am I??"

Victoria turned her attention to Gregory and addressed him. "Father?"

"Yes, Vic?" Gregory closed his notebook and set it on the nightstand beside him.

"How do you go to school?" Victoria queried.

"Well, you have to go through a process called... enrolment," Gregory explained.

"What's that?" she asked.

"It's when you apply to the school and pay your tuition fee," Gregory said.

"Woah," Victoria marvelled, her gaze drifting to the ceiling. "When will we do that?" she wondered aloud.

"Hm," Gregory called out to Oliver. "Oli?"

"Yes, Greg?"

"Are you busy today?"

"Other than reading my book and taking care of our children, I believe I'm free from arduous tasks today," Oliver replied.