Chapter 5
1204 Words
CHAPTER 5
“Where do you live, boy?” Tatiana asked.
The poor boy who was on her back weakly raised his hands and pointed in a certain direction. Tatiana walked that way.
When they arrived at that place, she was shocked to see another boy and a little girl who were all skinny and dirty.
“Brother! Are you okay?” the other boy shouted and approached them when he saw his brother on Tatiana’s back.
Tatiana placed the boy on her back down, and the other boy assisted him. He gave him water, and a dirty blanket, while the little girl just stared at them.
Tatiana quietly observed them with compassion in her eyes. She felt sad looking at these young kids and suddenly thought that maybe her previous life was not that bad.
Jane grew up with her mother under a tunnel. They were poor and homeless, but they were happy—or at least, that’s what Jane thought. When she turned five, her mother abandoned her and left her with a note stating she should go to the address written and meet her father.
It took Jane a long and tiring journey to finally arrive at the Dela Vega’s estate. When she arrived, however, all of the employees ignored her and tried to kick her away. Jane was about to give up when Julio arrived. He approached her, and Jane gave the note her mother left to Julio.
That’s when Julio carried her in, and her life in the Dela Vega’s estate started.
If she thinks about it, she was lucky enough that her father accepted her regardless of what comes after. She at least doesn’t have to beg and sleep on the dangerous streets alone.
Tatiana crouched and look at the two boys. She smiled at them and gave two pouches of coins—the first one was from the bulky men earlier, and the other one was from her own.
“Are they your siblings?” Tatiana calmly asked the boy. The boy nodded and crawled closer to his little sister. She smiled at them when the boy hugged his sister so dearly.
She wanted to help the three children, but she couldn’t possibly bring them with her to the capital. She felt sorry for these young kids who have to experience such a horrible life.
“Don’t worry, my pretty hero. Sir K will bring us with him.” The boy suddenly said and smiled at the worrying Tatiana. Tatiana frowned at the mention of a name.
“Sir K? Who is that?”
Before the boy could answer, they heard a voice shouted from behind.
“Jonas!” the man called. Tatiana assumed that Jonas must be the name of the boy she helped.
The man approached them and checked on Jonas’ condition first before looking at Tatiana. But what Tatiana saw made her froze.
“Who are you? What did you do to them!?” the man angrily shouted as she tightly gripped Tatiana's shoulders.
The man who suddenly arrive and was looking at her angrily was the one and only, Kai. The Kai she had training with.
Due to shock, Tatiana wasn’t able to answer. But Jonas defended her so nothing happened.
“No, sir K! She saved me!”
Kai looked at Jonas and back to Tatiana again. His face then softened and let go of her shoulders.
“I’m sorry for judging you right away. Thank you for your help.” Kai apologized and gave her a deep bow.
Tatiana, who was still shocked, was snapped out of her frozen state and just gave him a small nod. She then turned around and run away as fast as she could.
Kai and Jonas were left dumbfounded at her sudden actions.
“Thank you, My Pretty Hero!” Jonas was able to snap out of it quickly and shouted behind her despite his weak condition. Kai, then, turned to Jonas after hearing that.
“Did you just say ‘pretty’?” Kai asked Jonas. Jonas looked at him and nodded with a wide smile on his tiny face.
“Yes! She is so pretty! I think I love her already!” Jonas exclaimed while looking in the direction where Tatiana went so lovingly.
“She’s a she?!” Kai couldn’t believe it and looked in the same direction as Jonas.
Interesting... He thought to himself.
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On the other hand, Tatiana, who was already out of breath from running, was back to the inn. She composed herself first before sneaking back to her room.
And when she came in, she saw Mia who looks very nervous and worried. Mia turned towards the door and saw Tatiana.
“My Lady!” Mia called and run towards her. She then inspected every part of Tatiana to see if she was injured anywhere.
Thankfully, Tatiana seemed fine, but her face looks like she had seen a ghost or something.
“Are you okay, My lady?” Mia asked worriedly.
Tatiana thoughtlessly nodded. She walked past Mia, towards her bed.
She was still shock seeing Kai earlier.
Why is he here? Did he not join the knight's exam? Did he follow her?
Tatiana can’t help but think.
She tried to scan the contents of the novel in her mind. She had read it so many times that she knew almost every detail of it like the back of her hand. But, at that moment, she can’t help but doubt whether he missed a detail or something.
Kai should be competing in the knight’s exam that usually takes a week. It has only been three days since they last saw each other, so that means Kai didn’t join the exam. Or did he?
Tatiana was worried about this sudden outcome. She thought that maybe her meeting Kai had changed an important part of the story.
Tatiana kept thinking about it and was worried all night that she can’t sleep properly.
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After 3 days and 2 nights, they have finally arrived at their estate in the capital. Their whole trip, Tatiana was trying to think of an answer as to why she saw Kai that night. She didn't find an answer, in the end.
When Tatiana entered her room, she instantly felt tired that she went to bed directly. But before she fell asleep, she called Mia for a request.
“Hey, Mia. Can I ask you a favor?”
“Yes, my lady. Anything for you.” Mia replied that made Tatiana smile.
A year ago, Mia was nothing like this. She was still calm and composed, but she has always been transparent about her hatred of Tatiana. However, her treatment of Tatiana gradually changes when the lady started changing as well.
“I want you to find out about the knight’s exam back in the South. Please send me a list of the participants.”
“Yes, my lady, as you wish,” Mia replied and bowed without questions.
Tatiana was grateful that she didn’t ask any more questions because she wouldn’t be able to answer them.
Mia waited for Tatiana to fall asleep before she went out to carry out her lady’s wish.
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reyankleyr
- Writer
