LIFE LESSONS FROM THE WORST ALLEYS

"Watch out!" A woman who was selling leather screamed at the top of her lungs. 

A cart wagon with a mountainous load of bales of hay was passing through and it's hard for the owner to figure where he was going through with the narrow road and traffic of people. King Artair was just a few feet from it.

"Father!"

Like a flash of lightning, Raigon ran and stepped ahead of King Artair and extended his arms to block the cart wagon from moving forward. 

His back was on the cart wagon, and his face was towards the King. He was a few inches taller than the king, so the owner easily saw him.

"Move away!" The owner shouted as he abruptly stopped his cart wagon. 

Unfortunately, the bundles of hay were slower to respond and wiggled like jelly before falling over Raigon.

He quickly glanced at his father to make sure he was in a safe place before the heaps of hay showered on him and veiled his vision.

"Really now," Raigon was dumbfounded. After he was completely blinded by the stacks of hay, he closed his eyes for a few seconds before opening them with glaring eyes and a scowled face. 

"Is this part of the plan?" He growled as he removed the pieces of hay.

 Until now, he thought he was ready to succeed the throne. He had already passed physically when he took the tests in horse-riding, archery, and the Manchu language at the age of 20.

His political adeptness was likewise eminent as he accompanied the King in his meetings. But this situation is different. He can master all those skills inside the Castle where he lived his entire life. 

However, he can only develop these competencies whenever he is outside, with these people whose lifestyles differ greatly from him. 

King Artair approached Raigon as the cart wagon crossed through. Then he motioned him to look at the man approaching them. It was the owner of the haystacks.

"Apologies, my lord. I wasn't able to see you a while ago." He immediately bowed low to King Artair and Raigon.

As he straightened up and looked at them, Raigon noticed that his right eye was slightly cloudy.

"If you don't mind, may I ask if you perhaps have visited the region's hospital?" King Artair inquired, also perceiving the difference in the man's eyes.

"Yes. But the physicians said they don't have the medical equipment in this City to treat me," the man answered, knowing that he was asking about the condition of his eye. 

He tried to figure out if he knew the two noblemen in front of him who were obviously close even when they were wearing a disguise.

"That's strange." Raigon furrowed his brows. 

It is not normal for the Citizens of Terra to get sick especially with an able man like the one in front of him. 

This is the reason they only have one hospital in the City of Terra with few physicians and pieces of equipment.

These were mainly for health and well being. The citizens of Terra die at a good old age without minimal cases of major sickness and diseases. 

'Can this be related to the negotiations happening outside of Terra?' 

Raigon mused as he assessed the man in front of him. Terra has been living in good health and prosperity and the only cause of its destruction, whether subtle or enormous, is when they disobey the rule of the land. 

His desire to know more about the matter grew more intense in his heart.

He was about to ask the man if he knew about it when he suddenly disappeared.

But he went back in a few minutes and held out his hand and brought out a boar bristle brush. 

"I came back to offer you this, my Lord." 

"It is not much because it is what I can only afford with my wage today. But it is great in removing straws and hays from clothes." He added.

His action stunned Raigon. "Y-you don't have to do this." 

'A day's wage means three square meals of a family man of five. He can just have a change of clothes or throw them away as soon as they leave the Capital.'

"Whatever you wish others to do to you, do it to them," the man smiled as he insisted on giving the bristle brush to Raigon.

As soon as he accepted it, he turned his back and went back to his cart.

"Now you understand why I frequented this place. Life lessons are best learned at the worst alley." 

King Artair exclaimed after witnessing the act of kindness that Raigon experienced firsthand from a commoner.

They continued to walk and observe the people in the market place as King Artair chatted on. 

"Dried thyme leaves! We have dry thyme leaves for ringworms!" A peddler shouted as they were crossing through. 

"Young man! Come here! I could give it to you with a 30% discount for a medium-sized bag!" He called out to Raigon.

King Artair burst out in laughter. "Someday, when you're already the King, you will look back on this day. You will also say to your son, 'I won't be who I am today without the itchy hays."

Raigon smirked as he crumpled his face and darted his eyes to other stores instead.

As he did so, something caught his eyes. He was in an accessory store to buy something for his sisters when he picked up a Swarovski bangle.

"This looked like the one worn by the daughter of the victim!"

It was meticulously designed with an expertly crafted tree with gleaming stones lining the branches, creating an impressive sparkle that complements the dark green cord. 

It is so intricate that it would be near impossible to imitate it.

"How could she have one?" Raigon uttered in confusion.