43: Avice

Along the way, I took out the canister of hair dye and dyed my hair maroon, hiding the golden streaks, it may no longer stand out but I do not wish to endanger myself. The moment we arrived in Astrae, I asked Baron Tariq to drop me off by the outskirts. He seems reluctant at first but he did not dare question and continued on his way to enter Astrae from the main gate.

"Sister!" I was a bit taken aback when the kids suddenly approached me

"You're back! You're back!" they cheered while crowding over me

"Hello," I smiled gently and knelt on one knee to be of their height

"Do you have food for us again, sister?" they asked

It warmed my heart when I saw their eyes glistening with hope.

"I do," I said softly and smiled

I opened my satchel and took out the bag of bread that I had asked the servant of the Silk Palace to prepare for me. I opened it and gave each one of them a piece of bread.

"Thank you, sister, you are so kind." They said and I smiled and gently tapped their heads

"You're welcome," I said and I watched as they ran back to their houses and I saw them giving the bread to their weak parents.

Children like them deserve to live a life free of the cruelty and unfairness of the world, they deserve to live and cherish their innocence.

"Hello," I smiled when I noticed one little girl was left standing even after her friends had ran off to their families

"Won't you give that to your parents as well?" I asked and squatted to her level

I wonder why she didn't run to her family like the other children…

"I... I don't have a mother, sister." She bowed her head and I gently tapped her head

"I didn't know my birth mother as well," I said and she raised her head, looking at me with her black round eyes

"I know my mother." She said and I tilted my head

"Then why say that you don't have a mother?" I asked and her eyes watered

"They said that she died… because…. because we couldn't pay the debt father left, the nobles… they took her life… as a payment." She began sobbing so I wrapped her in my arms

"Shh," I said as I gently tap her back as she cried in my arms

I heard a galloping sound, by the sound of it, it's a knight's horse.

"What is this?" a deep voice asked from behind

I felt the little girl stilling upon hearing the unknown voice, she seem afraid for some reason so I hugged her closer to my chest.

"Sister! Sister!" The children suddenly ran back to us

"We're not doing anything, sir." A woman's soft voice said

"Then what is all this commotion about?" what I presume is a knight asked

"Ah, she's her sister that had just returned." The woman replied

"Don't leave me again," the little girl said aloud and I slightly smiled

Afraid but didn't hesitate to help, that's something interesting.

The sound of the horse's gallop faded into the distance so I looked up to see the woman who had helped us.

"Thank you," I said and she smiled

"Thank you for the food you've give the children." She replied and I caressed the head of the little girl in my arms

"They deserve the best things in the world." I muttered

"Yes, that's true but not everyone is born with the privilege the noble have." She said

"Are you calm now?" I asked the little girl and she carefully bobbed her head up and down

I released her from my hug and I stood up.

"Avice," the woman called and the little girl turned to her

"Avice, is that your name? It sounds beautiful, fit for a beautiful little girl like you." I said

"Follow me, it's not safe to stay out here." She said and the children followed her as well

I followed her to a simple house, it's made from wood and some wires, the floor is made of land and the door creaked when she opened it, it was as if it would fall from the hinges at any time.

"Have a seat," she said and sat on the wooden chair

"Thank you," I said and sat down

"You were the young lady who had also given food to the children before, aren't you?" she asked and I nodded

"Avice," I looked at the little girl who had gone to play with the rest of the children

"She said her mother…" I trailed off and looked at the woman

"Ah, yes, Albreda had died after Abelard passed away." She looked away in sorrow

"What was that she was saying about a debt?" I asked

"Abelard had borrowed money from a noble family when Avice got sick, but because we're always hardly getting by every day, he was not even able to give back the quarter of the amount he had borrowed before he died." She narrated

"Then that noble family…" I choked on my own breath

How am I not aware of this? I spent some time with the commoners outside the palace in the past. But... why am I not aware that something like this is happening? Moreover, people from the nobility are even involved.

"One night, a group of masked men dragged Albreda almost a month after Abelard's passing, She was gone for a couple of months before we found her corpse in the most secluded part of the outskirts." A lone tear escaped her eye and I looked at the little girl, Avice, who had just went inside and walked towards us

"It was Avice who found her," my eyes widened and I alternately looked at the woman and the little girl

She… It must've been very horrifying for a little girl like her to discover her mother that way.

"You've been keeping that all in by yourself have you?" I asked and she gently nodded

"Such a strong girl," I said and gently tapped her head

"If you would not mind, may I ask what you're doing here in Astrae?" I turned to the woman when she asked me

"I live in Astrae," I replied

"Sister, why must you wear that mask?" the little girl asked

"To keep myself alive," I answered

"Are you a rebel?" the woman gasped and I turned to her and gently shook my head

"No, I am not a rebel." I replied

"Neither am I, an ally of the current government." I added

"I am Vielle," I introduced myself again with the name that Baron Tariq had come up with on the first time we met and offered my hand

"Vielle, I am Ida." The woman accepted my hand

I shook it then let go of her hand and she smiled at me.

"I will be leaving now," I said and stood up

"Where will you go, sister?" the little girl asked me

"I have some matters I have to attend in the capital." I replied

"Are you from the capital?" the woman asked and I shook my head

"No, but I have something I must do in the capital." I said

"Are you coming back?" Avice asked and I nodded

"Of course, I will come back." I answered gently ruffled her hair

"I will wait for you," she smiled at me and I nodded

"Well then, have a safe trip, Vielle," Ida said and I headed out of the door

This is not part my plan but I could not let an opportunity to fully understand the matters of my kingdom pass, this may have been coincidental but I will make sure that Avice will have the justice her parents deserve.

I started wondering along the outskirts until I've reached the town, I can't drift to the mist for two reasons; it's still broad daylight and I have to conserve my stamina.

I headed to the direction of the forest, I just hope that they have not discovered the passageway in my room or I will be in danger.

I climbed one of the trees and navigated through the forest through the branches, I chose the branches that are sturdy and thick enough to carry my weight. I almost lost my footing and slipped but I managed to hold onto a branch. I released a sigh of relief after I managed to regain my balance. I leaned on a tree bark when I heard the sound of horse gallops and voices of people.

"Those queens are nothing but puppets." Followed by series of cackling

"Watch your language," his comrade chastised then cackled as well

"The power still belongs to the Dowager Queen, from the Queen Avery to the Queen Trinity, those two young ladies are nothing but puppets of their mother."

I couldn't help but shake my head, it's true. Looking back, the one who was really ruling after my coronation was Katrina, I was also a puppet, no different from Trinity Ezra, but not anymore. I already learned my lesson, and I'm here to take my throne back.