Robber

After the night of the ball, gossips and rumors was all over the Starlight Kingdom. There is a newly appointed Duke who was confirmed to be the mysterious young General that fought in the war. The ladies drooled over the Duke as he is now one of the most handsome bachelors in all of Starlight. However, it is said the Duke is courting a lady, many ladies thought they lost the chance before they could even try to get his attention. However, a rumor came around that said that the lady who the Duke is courting is a lowly commoner. The noble ladies cheered as they thought they could win the Duke over since their competition was a measly commoner. Little did they know the trouble they were getting into trying to steal the prize.

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"Is it just me or are all of the customers today gave us a weird look?" Mrs. Vinnesia said as she locked and closed the bakery's door.

"No, it's not just you. I felt like everyone was staring at me" Megan said. She wasn't stupid or ignorant, Megan knew the gossips must've gotten around the capital during the week about her and Victon. She was pretending like nothing happen so the customers won't pry her love life open. Many noble ladies came by to catch a glance at her then leave with a disdainful look on their faces.

"Well, I hope they don't disturb our business" Mr. Vinnesia said.

The family cleaned up the place, ate dinner and called it a day. The couple and Theodore went upstairs to rest while Megan took some pastries to give to the kids at the old house. She came by the market and thought to buy some blankets and shoes.

Megan walked up to a stand filled with cloths and blankets, she only managed to get one huge blanket because she couldn't carry everything to the old house. Putting the blanket over her shoulder, she gave the merchant some coins then went on her way to the old house.

On the way there, Megan saw a homeless person covered in rags asked for a bread. Being the softhearted person that she was she stopped and gave the person a loaf of bread.

"Thank you young lady" the old woman with emerald eyes said with a crooked smile.

"Your most welcome" Megan was about to leave when she faintly heard the woman who murmured, "fated one your time to awake God's finest creation is coming near. Be prepared."

Megan turned her head around to see the old woman disappeared from the spot where she sat. "Fated what?" Megan thought that was odd and quickly brushed off what the old woman murmured and walked away.

Opening the door of the old house, Megan was greeted by the kids hugging her legs. "Hey guys! I got some bread and a huge blanket to you!"

"Thank you Megan!" The kids exclaimed with excitement.

"Are you sure you're not Mother Theresa? You bought such a nice blanket" Esther said.

"She's an angel" Nathan replied in her stead.

"Haha winter is coming fast so I bought the blanket. I was about to buy some more, but I can't carry it all by myself. I will get more tomorrow" Megan said as she hands out bread and pastries to the kids.

"Oh! I also forgot! Esther, Nathan, what do you guys think of working in my family's bakery?" Megan asked with a smile. "I know you guys have been robbing for food and money to get by, so-"

"Yes!" The boys exclaimed interrupting her.

"HAHA alright, I have to ask my father about it first. I'm sure he will say yes. Speaking of bakery, I should go back" Megan said.

She ruffled the kids' heads and said good bye and good night. Megan went through the back yard to get into the bakery. She felt something was off, her hunch was telling her someone was in the bakery. She heard something which confirmed her suspicion. Megan took a rolling pin and some ropes from the kitchen then tip toed slowly out of the kitchen. Squatting down and prying her head out behind the counter, she saw a black stiletto rumbling near the cashier. Her mother was smart to collect all of the earnings from the cash register every day and putting it upstairs, in fear of robbers like these.

Taking a deep breath, Megan then charged the stiletto and bonked the person in the head with the rolling pin.

The person did not see the girl coming and was hit in the head, then lost consciousness.

Seeing the man didn't move, Megan hurriedly took the ropes she got before and tied the robber. Then she ran upstairs to alert her brother and parents. Hearing Megan's frantic voice the three woke up with a startle and went down to see the robber lying on the floor tied up.

"Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" Theodore asked with concern written on his face.

"I'm fine, I sneaked up on him and hit him hard on the head with a rolling pin" Megan answered.

Theodore then searched the man for any weapons and found two daggers and a pistol on him. On his hands, he held a bag which means he was a robber.

"I'm kind of glad you didn't pick up a knife to kill him and ended up in prison. But at the same time this bastard has a gun on him. That was dangerous Meg, you should've woken me up!" Theodore said. He wondered why the guy went to such length as to buy an expensive gun to rob a bakery instead of other rich households. Then it struck to him that this bakery was specifically targeted.

"Hey, in my defense I thought I was going crazy when I heard noises" Megan shrugged.

"I will go dress up and get the knights" her father said as he dashed upstairs to get dressed.

"You see! That was a good thing that I took all the money upstairs!" Mrs. Vinnesia said.

When the knights and patrol men came, it was past one o'clock in the morning. Megan described what had happened to them, then the knights took the man away and bind them good day.