"Wow, the house is beautiful." Cicil's eyes were as wide as saucers as she glanced around the place.
"This place is awesome."
"I told you, didn't I?" Tym smiled at her. "I chose the place special for you."
"And I love it!" She grinned, "thank you very much."
Cicil happily ran up the porch of the house while Tym paid the driver.
The driver drove off, grateful for survival. Just the mask on the passenger's face was enough to tell him who the person was.
The fame of the dark-masked Tym has reached the entire village.
Everyone knows who he is, and what he's capable of.
"Come on, Tym. Open the door!" Cicil was impatient.
"Coming." Tym carried their bags up the porch and straight to the door, "let's explore the house, together." She smiled before she entered the house, with Cicil giggling behind her.
**********
For a week, things worked just like Tym wanted.
There was no incident, and Cicil has got used to being here.
It was all Tym wished for, to have a quiet time with her family.
"Cicil!" Tym called out to her but received no reply.
It was night already, and she was supposed to be back from where she went to. However, there was no trace of the stubborn girl.
"Cicil!" Tym called out once more, but she got no reply.
She walked into the rooms, but there was no sign of the mischievous girl around.
"Cicil!" Tym ran out of the house. She righted the veil on her face.
"Cicil!" she called out as she raced out to the street, but she found no trace of the bubbly girl in pink clothes.
The few villagers around, who saw the masked man only cast glances at him before they hurried on to what they were doing.
No one paid much need to him as he yelled.
"Cicil!" Tym called out once more as she dashed down the street.
Most of the inhabitants of the city they lived in have gone back to their homes. The road was semi-busy, and everyone who was seen on the road was either hurrying back home or going to the tavern, or doing an important assignment.
"Cicil!" she called out as her eyes darted around.
"Did you hear?" An old woman by the stall close to Tym whispered to her friend, who was hastily packing her wares.
Unlike the others who have long left, the woman wanted to stay a bit before she returns to the cottage she lives in, on the out skirt of the village.
She has no family or loved one to return to, and that was why she spends as much time out here as she can.
"What?"
"The crown princess was abducted when she went to the hills of green!" She glanced around the place, and at Tym whose attentions weren't on the women, but on what she was doing.
Cicil hasn't taken this long in returning. She always returns before the dealers close for the day.
However, it wasn't the case that day.
The traders have long closed their shops, yet she wasn't back from wherever it is she might have run to.
"Gods!" The old woman palmed her heart. "How can such a thing happen to that promising lady?" She widened her eyes as she wondered how something like this can befall the princess they all adored.
Unlike the arrogant crown prince, all loved the crown princess. All the city dwellers admire her so much, they worship the ground she trampled on.
"I was shocked when I heard it." The old woman shook her head. "bad things seem to happen to good people."
"That's it!" The other woman concurred. "So, how did you hear of this?" Her friend enquired.
As all loved the princess, there is no way news like this wouldn't have covered the entire city where they dwell.
"It's supposed to be a classified secret. My son who works in the palace told me about it.
Most of them have been chosen to go and rescue the princess, with the prince."
"Gods. I hope they find her."
"Me too."
Meanwhile, Tym who was still searching for Cicil decided to go to the place she frequents, to search for her.
"Cicil?" she called out when she reached the playground the communities created for children.
After Cicil's learning, she comes over to this place to play and mingle with others.
"Cicil?" Tym called out, hoping she might hear her calls.
However, there was no reply.
The place was completely deserted, with no sign of a child around.
The few people who passed only spared her a glance before they continued to their homes.
Here, no one involves themselves in things that don't concern them.
"Cicil?"
"She's not here." A boy who was sitting behind a raised pillar by the right came out from his hiding place.
"What?" Tym furrowed her brows at the unkempt boy. "What did you say?"
"She's not here." He shrugged. "she left about an hour ago."
"Did she tell you where she went?"
"Yes. She stated she's going to the palace." Joh reported the exact thing he heard Cicil say before she left the Playground.
"Oh." Tym facepalmed as she recalled the conversation she had with Cicil last night.
She was supposed to take Cicil out today, but something came up, and she wasn't able to do that.
"Isn't she back?" Joh frowned.
"No, she's not. Thanks for this." Tym turned to go before she remembered something. She turned to face the boy, "what are you doing here all alone? Aren't you going home?" She furrowed her brows.
"Joh is going no home!" The boy folded his arms. "I'm staying over here, and that's final!"
The way he pursed his lips as he made that statement made Tym smile.
"You look cute when you are angry, boy."
"Joh isn't cute. I'm handsome! Mother said I'm handsome!"
"Okay. That's what you are." Tym chuckled, "you are indeed elegant."