CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 1

[Light]

The work at the Barnes ducal household had demanded more time and effort than was usual most of the time. However, the success with which the childbirth had been carried out by Lady Barnes, who fought with all her might to bring forth the little miracle, the heir and culmination of her love with her husband, made all the work and dedication worthwhile in the end.

The strong and suffering cry of the new member of the household was the best reward I could have received when leaving the splendid Barnes residence.

It is true that I had also been well compensated for my services, and received a heartfelt thanks from the Duke, who felt more than fulfilled by the health and survival of the two most important people in his life.

I had left the Barnes residence just a few hours ago, after leaving extensive recommendations with the household staff about the care they should provide to the Duchess so that she could recover strong and healthy, and we could take care of the child as required.

I've been walking for quite a few minutes along the main road leading to the bustling and busy village where local commerce thrives when I feel the first signs of fatigue settling in after long hours without eating. It's late afternoon, and the sun will start setting soon, I reflect as I gaze at the cloudless sky.

I take a few more steps until I reach a small yet charming delicatessen, and my mouth practically waters at the sight of the small pastries with cream, cinnamon, coconut, and various other flavors, delicately adorned with the finest and most delicious powdered sugar icing, displayed in the shop window.

A true work of art, and my secret passion, I must admit.

With my arms numb from carrying my heavy work bag in one hand and my travel bag in the other, which holds a pair of clean clothes to change into after a day's work and now also contains a pouch filled with a good number of coins for the service rendered at the Barnes household, I decide to loosen the reins of my regimented life a bit and allow myself the indulgence of eating my favorite dreamy sweet, while also satisfying my hungry stomach.

I take a few more steps, grasp the doorknob of the establishment, and can almost taste the sweet flavor of the sugary delicacy melting on my tongue when suddenly I feel a slight tug on the hem of my skirt. I turn around in alarm when a pair of hands approach my right arm and another pair approaches my left.

The look of panic on my face is quickly replaced by pure relief as I realize what's happening—it's just a couple of somewhat ragged and seemingly listless children. I take a deep breath and place my hand over my chest.

"You gave me quite a scare, little one!" I exclaim with a small smile on my lips and gently stroke the dark hair of the little girl who continues to hold onto the hem of my dress. "Where is your mommy? How old are you?" I ask, concerned that a young girl like her is wandering the streets unaccompanied at this hour.

"Mama's working with the cows," she replies, rubbing her brown eyes with her dirty little hands. "And I don't know how old I am. Only my brothers," she points her index finger at the slightly older boy who had held onto my arm.

"Ma'am, we're far from home and... hungry."

"Very hungry, miss," the girl affirms, clasping her hands in prayer-like form. "And we don't have any money. Mama hasn't had a coin to buy us food since yesterday, and my tummy hurts from hunger."

The confession of the girl, who seems to be no more than five or six years old, with a frail and skinny body, hits me hard. My eyes instantly well up, and my throat feels dry. My heart is in tiny pieces as I turn to her.

"Would you accept it if I bought one of those cakes for you to eat? They're really good," I offer with a choked voice as I point to the display case.

The boy looks at the sweets with bright eyes and licks his lips with desire. He remains thoughtful for a few seconds before exchanging a quick glance with the younger girl in a silent conversation, and they manage to unsettle me when they finally reach a mutual agreement.

"We thank you, ma'am. But we'll take that big loaf of bread over there," she points to a baguette further inside. "That way, we can share it with our other siblings."

"W-with your siblings?" I stammer, feeling a slight dizziness. "In addition to this one?" I gesture to the boy by my side, and she vigorously nods her head, her dark dusty hair shaking in the air with the motion. "And where are they now?"

"They're hiding back there. They were embarrassed to come close to the lady and end up getting scolded, like what happened with some other pedestrians who passed by here."

"My goodness, how awful!" I murmur, saddened and with a heavy heart. "Call them here, little one. Please."

"Come, boys! You can come out; the lady is nice. She won't scold us," she calls to them, tugging my skirt.

And as if I weren't already emotional enough, my heart shatters into thousands of pieces when I see two little girls who look similar, probably twins, around four years old, and two boys, approximately seven and nine years old, emerge from behind and underneath a carriage parked a few meters away.

First, the children spy on the scene with suspicion from a distance. The dirty and unkempt appearance of the siblings is a stark contrast to the opulence of the beautiful carriage bearing the royal crest, which is being used as a hiding place for the little ones.

"Come quickly before the lady changes her mind!" the oldest boy scolds the younger ones, who approach cautiously.

"Don't worry, children. I won't go back on my word. Come with me," I say, holding the hand of the girl next to me, who does the same with her two younger sisters.

We enter the delicatessen as a larger group than I had initially planned, and head to the counter where the shop owner receives us with a curious yet compassionate look at the children.

"Hello, Miss Luz. How can I assist you?" he asks politely.

"Give the little ones whatever they want, and wrap up a few more of those filled baguettes for the children to take home. Don't worry about the cost; I'll cover the entire expense," I say, bending down to retrieve the pouch of money from my travel bag.

While the children request their food in a mixture of reserved, embarrassed, and ecstatic voices, the baker fulfills all their orders with an amused laugh. I hear the bell on the shop's door ring, indicating that someone else has entered the establishment. I can't see who it is; the heavy cloak and hood prevent me from discovering the person's identity. However, the quality and richness of the fabric suggest that it's someone very wealthy, perhaps even a noble.

"Here is the sum and the total for your purchase, Miss Luz," I return my attention to the owner, and when my eyes land on the rectangular piece of paper, I gulp when I notice that the amount is exactly the same as the coins I've just received, my entire month's salary.

"Alright. Payment for the purchase," I say, placing the pouch with the coins on the

counter, which he collects after verifying the amount.

"Perfect, Miss Luz. Have a great afternoon, all of you," he responds with a smile as he hands over the packages containing the children's purchases to take home and feed the rest of their family.

"Miss, miss..." one of the twins calls me, tugging my skirt. "Thank you, you're a true angel. When I grow up and become older, I want to be as beautiful and kind as you."

"You're already beautiful inside and out, my dear, all of you are," I say, gently caressing her face by softly touching it with the tips of my fingers.

And when I finally leave the delicatessen, my stomach and money pouch are empty, but my heart is overflowing with a sense of peace and fulfillment as I contemplate the happiness in the faces of those unknown children who had captured a part of my soul with such fragility and purity.

So, I too feel light and happy as I return to my home with a sense of a mission accomplished.