Red Bean was a busy city. It was smaller than Belem but quite as crowded with people doing business or visiting families. Emmelyn and her friends enjoyed their time checking the city, eating good food, and even took some boat rides on the canal.
"This place is really nice," Emmelyn commented. "What Castilse is like?"
Maxim shrugged. "It's more beautiful than this. It's also huge. We have a very busy capital with a big university, markets, trading centers, and whatnot. Think Belem and Redbean, times ten."
"Whoaa.. that is seriously big. I don't understand why you could call it boring," Emmelyn shook her head and gave Maxim a side-eye. "You almost made me believe that Summeria is a really boring country and there is nothing good for you back home."
"I was not lying," Maxim insisted. "That's human nature. We always take for granted what we have and don't understand how other people envy us for those. See Kira for an example. She has never seen the snow and she was dying to see it that she even get herself in danger just to see the stupid thing."
Kira scowled when she heard Maxim's words. She couldn't argue though, because the man was right and also... a king. She was not that dumb to defy a king whose land they were on now.
"I guess you are right," Emmelyn understood what Maxim was trying to say. "So, you went out and go on adventures to look for something new. So, what do you think about your country now?"
Maxim grinned at that question. "I am proud of my country and cannot wait to show it to you."
He hoped Emmelyn would like his kingdom, especially Castilse, where his home was. If Emmelyn decided to move to Castilse, it would never be boring to him. He wouldn't want to go out and see the world again. He got his world right here with him.
"Castilse sounds really nice," Emmelyn admitted. "I cannot wait to see it."
"Great. Let's continue our trip tomorrow morning. Now that we don't have any more baggage, we can travel faster. My men will meet us outside of the city gate and we can go together."
"Okay."
They all retreated for the night to their own chambers. Emmelyn was particularly happy. She felt the weight in her chest started to lighten up. Being surrounded by friends also gave a morale boost to her psyche. Now, she knew she was no longer alone.
It was hard being in Draec before her escape because she was alone. Yes, she had Lily but Emmelyn couldn't see her freely. Mrs. Adler was too old and couldn't help much.
Here, she had Kira and Maxim. Both didn't like each other, but that didn't even matter because they could still get along well.
Now, one by one her problems could be sorted, starting with finding Edgar, sending him back to Draec, and then go to Myreen. After everything was solved, then she could think about the future.
There would be no future if she didn't live for today.
***
When they were about to leave the inn, suddenly Lysander reported that the old man from the day before was waiting for them outside of the building. Maxim furrowed his brows when he heard the report.
"The old man that we gave some bread? What is he doing here?" He asked his man.
Lysander shook his head and replied, "I don't know, Your Majesty. He wouldn't say. Should I just tell him to go?"
Maxim waved his hand, "No, call him to see me. We can go after I talk to him."
"Okay, Your Majesty."
Lysander got out and came back with the old man. He looked very tired and dirty like he had walked for a long time, and this made Emmelyn feel pity toward him. Did he go back to his village and then immediately came back to the city? Why?
"My lord..." The man bowed down and quickly took out a pouch from under his shirt. "I-I think I accidentally took the basket where you keep your money... I am sorry I only came this morning. I didn't see the money under the bread until my wife gave away the bread to our neighbors."
"Huh?" Maxim saw the pouch and when the old man opened it, he could see the silver and copper coins he hid in the basket yesterday, to give to the old man secretly.
He just realized that the old man didn't assume he was given money together with the bread, but instead, he thought he took the wrong basket.
He thought the money was what the kind 'wine merchant' made from their wine sales and he didn't want to take the money that was not his.
"Oh my.... how far is your village from Red Bean?" Emmelyn asked the man. She, too, just understood that their secret act of kindness didn't go well because the old man was too honest.
The old man replied, "It's five hours on foot, my lady. That's why it took me a while to get back here and look for you to return the money. You are very kind people. I don't want you to suffer losses. You sold your wine cheaply, to make a business in Red Bean... and you have given me so much. Please take your money here. I didn't touch even a copper."
Emmelyn and Maxim exchanged glances. They were very impressed by the old man's honesty. He could have just taken the money since he needed it for his wife's medication.
Also, the money was found in the basket of bread that was clearly given to him. That alone was enough reason for him to claim the money, but he didn't.
"What's your name, Uncle?" Finally, Maxim touched the old man's shoulder and looked at him with a smile. "I want to remember who you are."
"My name is Sandor, people just call me the Old Sandor..."
"Well, Old Sandor..." Maxim patted the old man's back. "You are a very honest man and I am impressed by your honesty. You can keep the money. We did give it to you intentionally. I am sorry for not telling you about it because we wanted to make it a surprise."
Old Sandor's eyes bulged when he heard Maxim's words. Tears started forming in his eyes when realization dawned on him that the kind merchants actually gave the money to him. He wiped his eyes and was suddenly at a loss for words.
"M-my... my lord...."
"It's my fault. I should have told you about it, so you don't have to suffer by walking ten hours back and forth just to return the money," Maxim explained. He turned to Lysander, "We don't need the wine wagon. Just give it to Old Sandor so he can use it to make money and go back to his village. We'll continue the trip by horse."
"Understood, my lord," Lysander was very impressed by the king's generosity. He was happy that he joined the king on this journey because he got to see the other side of King Loriel that people never knew about.
"Old Sandor, keep being a good and honest man. Your virtue has blessed you today. You get to impress a king," Maxim said. He smiled broadly and shook the old man's hand.
"My lord... but the money... didn't you need it for your business...?" Old Sandor still didn't understand what was going on.
"I'm not a wine merchant," Maxim replied nonchalantly. He motioned Emmelyn and Kira to follow him, and the three of them got out of the inn with smiles on their faces to continue their journey.
It was such a good morning.
Old Sandor still didn't understand what was going on until he was given the wine wagon by Lysander and told to keep the money.
The knight had to explain to him several times that the 'wine merchant' was not really a wine merchant and that Old Sandor had, in fact, impressed their king.
"Psst... don't tell this to anyone. Just keep it to yourself," Lysander warned the old man. "Our king is on a mission and he hates being annoyed by other people."
"Sir..." Old Sandor wiped his teary eyes. He looked around, trying to see the glimpse of the kind merchant who was apparently the king himself. He wanted to bend his knees and pay his respects, but the man was nowhere to be seen.
Maxim, Emmelyn, and Kira already rode their horses toward the city gate.
.
.
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From the author:
Emmelyn, Maxim, and Kira will arrive in Castilse in the next chapter and she will soon meet Edgar. Are you excited??
Thank you so much for supporting this book! Thank you for the comments, gifts, and votes. I love you! - MRB