The colorful lights danced along the streets as people walked by. The vendors shouted on the sides, calling passers by to their stalls. Fragrant smell of different dishes from different stalls and restaurants wafted in the air causing one to feel hunger as they walked around. Dancers as graceful as Dandelions swirling in the wind danced everywhere with wreaths and ribbons. It was a celebration worth to be in.
Our carriages stopped near the shop we went to eat rameon. The shopkeeper was sitting on a stool outside his shop with the dog lying beside him. He stood up as soon as our carriage door opened. He did not look thrilled or excited to see us in our fancy carriage or our fancy dresses. On the contrary, he looked rather annoyed.
"Hey mister." I greeted him as I stepped down the carriage. "Is the shop still open?"
The man stared at us and the other carriage behind us before nodding and going into the shop. We followed him inside and seated ourselves as he stood behind his table.
"Mister, we will take one order of each dishes per table please." I told him.
There were not a lot of dishes on the menu and we haven't eaten a thing at the banquet so I was pretty sure we would not waste the food.
The shopkeeper tilted his head as if thinking before nodding and walking into the kitchen.
"That was one quiet man." Father commented as he looked at the closed kitchen door where the shopkeeper went into.
"He's just not talkative." I shrugged.
"But the food is really good here." Uriel said with eyes filled with excitement.
We talked about random things while waiting for the food to cook. The knights with us were also talking and laughing, enjoying the peaceful place. The butlers sat on a different table by themselves and so did the maids mother and my sisters brought with them. The small shop was filled with laughter and happy chatter as the delicious scent of cooking food floated around.
After some time, the kitchen door opened and came out the shopkeeper with our orders. He held a huge round tray filled with food. It took the shopkeeper a few runs to the kitchen before all our orders were served. He then returned to sit behind the counter as we ate in peace.
"Thank you mister." I said after our bill was paid. "The food was great!"
The mister stared at me again. He did so until I was at the door.
"Thank you." He bowed. "Come again."
I threw him a smile before walking out the alley with my family and all our people who escorted us.
Reaching the main street, we started to explore the party that everyone here was enjoying. We went to buy some little things that were sold on the side as souvenirs for the people back at the castle. We also bought the people with us little gifts to remember this party by.
As we were walking along the streets, following Uriel and mother who were busy stopping to check every shop there is, I saw a little girl sitting on the ground on a darker part of the street. She had her head on her knees and looked like she was crying. I looked at my family and saw that they were still busy with the shops. I signaled to Ragnar that I will go to the side which he followed me with his eyes.
I approached the little girl and bent down close to her size.
"Hey little girl." I called on her softly. "Are you lost?"
The little girl lifted her head and what I saw shocked me a little.
She had white irises!
That was also when I noticed that she had white hair. Her eyes and hair are both white like their colors were taken out.
'Is she blind?' I thought to myself when I saw her eyes.
The little girl blinked before shaking her head.
"I'm not lost." She said in a soft voice before adding. "I'm not blind either."
I was taken aback by her answer.
"Sorry." I apologized. "I thought you were lost since you were sitting alone in the dark."
The girl looked at me before leaning on the side and looking behind me.
"I am not lost, but I am alone." She said and went back to look at me. "Your family is waiting for you."
I turned around and sure enough, my family was there waiting for me. I turned back at the little girl again. She had her chin on her knees now. Her dress showing the hard life she was leading.
"Little girl." I turned to look at the little girl again. "If you are alone, how about coming with me?"
I held out my hand at the girl who looked at my hand before looking at me, giving her the freedom to choose.