Chapter 31
As the sky started to turn dark, only half of their goal got fulfilled.
"Sister I want to eat candies" Stella said pointing at the shop.
Alice asked her servant to buy lot of candies for her sister.
"What do you want Danny?" she asked her brother.
"I am fine with anything" he answered dryly.
She looked at Margaretta worriedly. Stella understood the meaning of her sister's gaze, kicked Daniel hard, but he did not respond. Normally, this was enough to start a fight. Giving up, Stella patted Snowball who was lying on her lap.
Alice looked at Daniel who was still dull. Stella, though she cried a lot, recovered immediately with change of the environment. When she saw sweets and candies and cute dresses, her usual cheerfulness and cuteness returned. But Daniel is still feeling down.
When the servant brought the candies Stella asked for, she gave few to her brother. He accepted them without uttering a word. Usually, Stella would never share her things with Daniel, who always acts highly in front of her. But she still gave some voluntarily.
As the carriage began to move, Stella's curious eyes fell upon a night circus on the street outside.
"Sister, sister, stop the carriage. I want to see that" Stella shouted over rattling carriage and pointed towards the direction outside the window.
Alice signaled the servant to stop the carriage.
When they got out, Stella pulled Daniel in front to see the street performance in front. Alice and Margaretta found it difficult to squeeze through the crowd. When they reached in front, the kids were already engulfed in the performance in front.
The friends looked at each other and sighed. They decided to also enjoy the performance. Alice saw a man playing with fire, while another man playing with ropes. There was a monkey who danced as per the orders of another. There was even a drummer who will notice the crowd about next activity.
"Did you hear that Duke collapsed this morning?" in the middle of the performance Alice heard few whisperings.
"Yes. I did. It seems he has been overworking" another voice came out.
"I hear that he has been working to death for those new schools that are opening soon" yet another voice said.
"Frankly, there is no need to work so hard for those schools. They feel like a waste. Commoners like us don't need to learn read and write. If we know how work in our farms and stores, isn't it enough to live."
"Even I think so too."
Ignorant people.
Is the only thing that Alice can call them. Like only knights understand the importance of sharpened sword, only an educated person will understand its importance. What their Duke is trying to give is not just books to read and write, but a weapon that will protect them. The great ideals of the talented scholars, once they reach into their ears, they will start seeing this world with new perspective. With the profound knowledge, they can protect themselves and the people they love.
That is the gratefulness of education. It doesn't matter if you are a genius or not, having the knowledge to read and write is the right of every human. No matter whether it is commoner or an Emperor.
As Alice tried to focus back on performance, she found a person missing. She looked around anxiously as she bit her lips hard.
"Alice, what happened?" Margaretta asked when she discovered her friend's anxiousness.
"Danny, where is Danny?" Alice asked.
Margaretta looked around, discovering he is nowhere. Stella who heard her sister, also looked around, realizing he is missing. They anxiously looked at each other, unable to understand the situation.
"Maggie, take Stella back to carriage. I will search for Danny" Alice ordered.
"Fine" Margaretta nodded and held Stella's hand.
Stella, pulling Alice's skirt said, "Sister I want to help".
"Help?" Margaretta said harshly, "your sister is already worried. If even you go missing, do you know it will only increase her worries?"
Stella looked at Alice pitifully.
"Stella, I know you are worried about Danny, but understand the situation. It is not good for a young girl like you to roam around in the night without any guardian. If you fell into danger, it will only increase my troubles" Alice explained gently.
She nodded and went back with Margaretta. Alice looked around, shouting for her brother. As she roamed around the crowd, she discovered a narrow dark lane. She wouldn't have noticed it, but a familiar voice attracted her attention.
She walked in. It was a shabby place, maybe used by the street dogs. There was garbage littered around, and dirty walls. There was a foul smell all around because of the decaying garbage and animal feces.
Woo… wooo…
She heard a boy crying silently behind the garbage tin. As she walked towards him and held his shoulders, she came across a familiar face filled with tears.
"Danny" she called anxiously.
"Sister" he called, still in daze. His eyes blurred due to his tears.
"You are safe" Alice said and hugged him, "where did you run off. Do you know how much you made me worried?"
"Sister, I didn't intend to" he said with his voice choked with tears.
"I thought I will return…. And no one will notice….. I did not want to worry you….." he tried to explain.
"I understand" Alice said gently.
"I am sorry" he said.
"Did you hear what those people said about father" she asked.
"Yes… I did."
"Did you run off here because you felt uncomfortable there?"
"I…I… am sorry."
"You do not need to say sorry. You are not the reason that father is sick. Father is sick because of his own negligence."
"But if I were a bit older, I would become capable of helping. Someone whom he can rely on. Then I can help father like you did. I can reduce father's responsibility. If only I was older."
"Shut up. A child like you should think of enjoying their childhood, not think of bearing the responsibilities of adults. After few years, when you have taken upon those responsibilities, trust me you will feel sick of them."
"But… but"
"So just enjoy the little time you have Danny."
"Sister…"
"Danny" Alice released him and looked into his eyes, "Didn't you promise that you will protect me in the future?"
He nodded as he remembered his promise.
"Since you promised to protect me, shouldn't I also try to protect you."
"Sister" he called.
"So let this sister protect you so that I won't feel burdened in the future."
"But Sister…."
"So trust me for now. And cry in my arms while I protect you."
When Alice said those words, Daniel could not stop himself. All his emotion he stored in the deepest corners of his heart. All his fears and his regrets that he did not want others to see. He hugged his sister hard and cried till his heart felt refreshed as Alicen patted him gently.