Chapter 4: Emelda

It was a sight that can awe everyone. The capital that we entered is a wonderful place. Different from where we live. There were lots of buildings here, and there. But, the sight that catches my interest is my son's excited face. He was quite cute. His eyes were sparkling from excitement.

"Listen, everyone, you can enjoy your tour here around the capital after we arrived at the lodging place. Is that clear?"

"Yes madame," each one of us agreed to her. When we arrived, we reach the lodging place where madame reserved for us. After we unpack our luggage, I decided to take a tour around with my son. 

"Dane, are you tired?" I asked as I look at him while he fixes our bed. He shook his head as he put down our luggage underneath the bed.

"No, mother. Why?"

"Well, I was planning to have a tour in the capital. Want to come with me?"

"Of course!" he said as he smiled at me. 

After we discussed, we immediately go outside. 

"Mother, looked there," Dane pointed at a store. It was a store that sells beautiful dresses. Their design was kind of interesting. The dress are not kind of suffocating to look at. I unconsciously touched the window and look at it so deeply. 

"Mother."

"What is it?" I glance down at him. He only smiled at me, and grabbed my hand. To my surprised, he kisses the back of my hand. My son is so charming even in such a young age. I realized that he will be more charming as he grows up. 

"Someday, I will buy you these kinds of clothes, and let you wear it. I will find a suitable job, and make money," he looks at me with those positive eyes. The boy from the original story was so depressed with his life. The book describe him as a child with no feelings. That results to become a villain. But, this boy in front of me is different. 

I crouched myself, and caress his cheek. 

"Then, mama will wait for that day. But, even though I don't have those kinds of things, as long as I have you, I don't need anything else," I said. We smiled at each other as we walked away to that store. 

We visited a lot of stalls. We eat different kinds of food in the street. We even let someone take our portrait. It was free, and lucky for us. The sketch was wonderful. It was me, and Dane sitting beside each other.

Overall, we had a lot of fun. 

It was already afternoon.

We were preparing to go back to our inn when I noticed someone in the narrow alley. It was a child. She was not a beggar. She was wearing an elegant outdoor dress. She was crouching while her head was behind her small knees.

"Dane, I think that child is lost"

"Then, we should help her," we approach the child carefully. She probably notices us as she looks up. Her eyes were swollen. I can tell that she was crying. 

"Hic… don't hurt me, please… I just want to go home," she said between her sobbing. 

"Don't worry, we won't do anything harmful to you, child," I said. "We will help you. It's not good for a child like you to stay here alone. There are some dangerous people here in the capital. Just looking at you, I can tell that you're a noble".

"Really?"

"Just listen to my mother. My mother is caring toward people like you. Believe me," Dane as reassured her. When the girl looks at him, her eyes were sparkling. 

"You are quite cute," she said as she wipes her tears, and stands up slowly. My son is really cute. When he grows up, every girls will stare at him. He has the Duke genes after all. I patted her dress, and reach out my hand. 

"We should go to the center of this place. There's a fountain located at the center. If by chance someone you know spotted you, they might take you home," she nodded, and take my hand as we slowly walk our way to the fountain area. 

"Here we are," I said as we reach the area. "We should sit here for a moment," I sat down on the edge of the wide fountain. The two of them also sat down with me. 

"Umm… what should we do? I know that this method will work but, not most people are quite attentive to their surroundings."

"You're smart. What's your name?"

"Emelda," she answered. 

"Don't worry Emelda, we will catch the people attention, right mother?" Dane said as he glances at me. I know what he meant by that look.

"How?"

"Mother."

"I know," I grab the thing inside my clothes.

"A flute?" she was looking at it confusedly. "I thought that commoners do not know music."

"Don't underestimate my mother. She is a total genius. She knows everything," Dane was proudly nodding his head as he compliments me. The girl was still confused. 

"Well, some traveler taught me when I was a kid," I said even though it was a lie. I can't tell them that I'm a musician in my past life. The girl understood, and was waiting for me to play it.

"Dane you know what to do."

"Yes mother," he quickly answered. He straightens himself, and reaches out his hand to her.

"What's this?"

"We dance."

"What?!" the girl was getting confused. 

"Emelda, just believe in us," he said. When she heard those words, she broke off a smile, and grab his hand. "Then take the lead."

I put my mouth in the mouth of the flute, and then…

*flute sound*

The song that I played was a jolly song. Compose by yours truly. Dane take the lead, and began to clap his hands with a rhythm. The girl followed him, and slowly they dance in synchronized. As the song goes, the two were enjoying their dances. It wasn't a waltz. In my past life, this dance called pasodoble. I just taught my son the basic ones when he was listening to my flute playing before. 

 ***

"How I wish someone could dance for me?"

"Dance?"

"Yes, this kind of song should be accompanied by a dance."

"Really? Then do you know how to dance them?"

"The basic ones."

"Teach me, mother."

I was surprised when he wanted to learn it. I thought he couldn't do it, but looks like I was wrong. Right now, he's dancing with Emelda. And, this partner seems a fast learner. I'm happy. I just noticed that lots of people were looking at our directions. They seem interested in the two dancers. Looks like it works. The more attention we got, the higher the chance some people will recognize her. 

"Milady!!!", in just a few minutes someone was running toward our direction. It was a young woman. She was covered with sweats. She caught up with her breathing when she came toward us.

"Milady, I finally found you. I was about to report to the knights when I saw some commotion in this place. I was worried milady. Please don't do that again," she said as she slowly calms herself.

"Annie, I'm sorry. Next time I will pay attention," she said as she lowers her head.

"Oh no don't do that milady. I'm just your maid," she said as she waves her hand.

"No, Annie. You will be in trouble right now if you didn't found me. I don't want to lose someone like you," she raises her head, and there were tears in her eyes. She was trying her best not to cry.

Dane looked at me, and smiled. It shows how relief he is. 

"Umm… ma'am?" the maid name Annie called out to me. "Thank you for watching over miss Emelda. You should be rewarded by your act—"

"No need/We refuse," Dane and I said in unison. The two girls were surprised by our response. I just smiled at them, and stand beside Dane. I put my hand on his shoulder.

"I'm just glad that we found you."

"But ma'am—" I cut her off as I continued.

"If you want to reward us, the reward that I want is that Miss Emelda will grow up nicely. And be a girl that will inspire anyone to be brave. Can you do that?" I asked as I crouched in front of Emelda. 

"Yes, definitely," she answered. After that, we take our different ways. 

"Mother, this entire day is quite fun don't you think?" Dane asked as he walks beside me.

"Yes"

"Your Highness," Emelda greeted as she entered the lounge. Two-man can be seen as she entered. 

"How was your trip outside my niece?" the man with golden hair, and a charming face asked her.

"It was fine your highness, even though I got into trouble," she said as she sits beside him.

"What? Trouble? Did someone hurt you?" the man with jet black hair, and a monotonous expression, but handsome asked her.

"Well, I got separated from Annie, but don't punish her. It was my fault, and don't worry no one harms me. It all thanks to the woman, and her son. They were so kind to me even though I'm a noble. They treat me warmly. I even learn a different dance compared to the dance lesson I take. It was fun. She even played the flute for us."

"How talented for a commoner," the blond man remark. "Then did you rewarded them?"

"I was about to, but they stop us."

"That's surprising. Most commoners will be glad if they receive a reward from a noble," the black-haired man said.

"But, they're different. She even said that the reward that she wanted is me growing up nicely, and become an inspiration to others."

"What a wonderful remarks. I'm quite curious who is this woman that saves my niece. What's her name?" the blond man asked. 

"Oh… I forgot to ask her, but I know her son's name. She called her Dane. It was easy to remember."

"What he looks like?" the blond man asked.

"Hmm… well, he was quite handsome, and cute, and…", she slowly takes a look at the black-haired man. The man was wondering why she was staring at him. 

"He exactly looks like you, Your excellency."

"What?"