CHAPTER 10

[Light]

For a brief moment my whole soul freezes inside to the sound of his words spat out with such ferocity.

The girl is really angry constanto fearful. But why, I wonder internally.

He snares his eyes in shock upon reaching a conclusion after a few seconds pondering the subject.

Did Catherine, as the girl says her name, have discovered the secret of the royal family? But how had such information come so quickly to your ears? Could she be considered a danger to the plan? Was there some kind of spy inside the castle? And who would that person be? What could I really trust in that place, hitherto unusual for me?

What if everything is threatened to spread throughout the kingdom? What could I do to contain the damage? Practically nothing! I think I'm starting to go into a state of panic, the heart beats accelerated and the breathing difficult.

What's next?

It is common knowledge that rumors once scattered in the mouths of the people, are like a small fire in a large plantation. It begins subtle, almost imperceptible until the flames of fire spread in large proportions, becoming terribly harmful and irreversible wherever it reaches.

You're not going to answer anything, Miss Luz? Don't you happen to have a single word in your defense to tell me? -the girl is outraged by her thin arms crossed over her chest, while a foot beats rhythmically and impatiently on the worn wooden floor of my house.

Well, I think you should be more specific to what subject you're referring to, miss. - I say evasively probing your intentions first in an attempt to buy some time, and plot a strategic way out.

But it's very... -she closes her fists and narrows her eyes saking with anger. - I'll make myself clear then.

I'm listening to you, miss. - I say with my chin cramded, deciding not to back down, and I imitate your posture not admitting to being intimidated by a young lady like that inside my own house.

Oh, God have mercy on my soul! I think it's a little apprehensive.

She points her index finger in my direction.

What about me? -I question defiantly repaying the look.

You've complicated my life! -Catherine firmly accuses dripping the feeling of hurt in every word she utters.

What do you mean, you don't know? -frown snare so not yet understand so.

Is this girl crazy? I wonder internally when tapered from top to bottom carefully. What's wrong with her?

I don't know what your motivations were or what you actually did, but your attitudes affected the lives of my younger brothers, and it made me quite angry when the news came to my ears.

She comments by rigidly placing her hands on her waist as she walks with her upright column like a bamboo stick, side to side in the small space between us.

-Mom got lost not knowing how to react to the situation, while I just wanted to hit the hot tea kettle too the head of such a Miss Light who was so much mentioned amid the screams. In all honesty... But I really wanted to pass her out with a very painful blow right now, girl! Oh, if I've had it! But God is my witness that between will and power, there is a great abyss!

She tells the snort in an unelegant way to a lady, regardless of the social class to which she belongs.

Look, Miss Catherine, I don't know who your brothers are and even less, what a serious thing I've done for them, to the point of provoking her that way.

I say truthfully to what she turns her eyes to, probably exhausted from arguing on the same topic for several minutes and getting nowhere.

-I had a very intense day that required a lot of me, my head is completely full of problems and as a consequence of that, my body is also at the limit of its strengths. So if you can be succinct and speak clearly and openly, so that we can finally resolve our pending issues, I would be very grateful.

I comment with a sigh as I walk to the old chair that is near the wooden table where I usually eat my meals when I'm at home, and Sit, feeling sorry on my shoulders the impact of a full day charging its price.

- You've eluded my brothers and they're just children!

She accuses, but I no longer see the previous anger in her gaze, but rather a deep sadness that breaks my heart.

-I better than anyone know how difficult the situation is for each of them, these boys are living a life that no child should live, full of fear, insecurity and lack of essential resources for survival. But... know that Mom and I do everything, Miss Luz, we shed our sweat and blood every blessed day to keep them alive and safe, even if for that we have to...

She swallows in dry and diverts the look with embarrassment, the pale face dyed pink and shame, before proceeding.

-... subject to certain humiliating and inotheruital situations. But we both do what's necessary for the sake of the children. -Catherine quickly turns her back at the end of the outburst in an attempt to hide her reddish, tearful eyes, yet I see them.

Something is parted inside me as I witness the moment of vulnerability of the girl in front of me, as young as I am, carrying too much heavy load for a person alone to carry. Your pain touches the bottom of my soul. Your fears stir me up by making me put myself in your place, feel your suffering as if it hurt my own skin.

-Miss... -pygmy with a slightly bare voice, a knot in my throat and the feeling that I have to do something, whatever, to help catherine and her family's situation, now that I remember who she's talking about.

The girl's brothers were the same children who surrounded me in front of the delicatessen on the day I had delivered the duke's heir, and for whom I had bought some loaves. Surely they were dazzled by so much food and must have immediately run home to tell their mother the news. However, as time went by, the food ran out and the poor people waited for another miracle like that day.

I feel a little guilty that I didn't come back to the scene again to find out how the little ones were doing, if they were okay. How could I be so inattentive?

Suddenly an idea pops into my head and I soon find myself anxious to tell her Catherine. It's nothing grand or splendid, however, it's still a good idea. Now it remains to be seen whether the genius girl in front of me will accept the offer I have to make to her.