Ameera peeked her head out of the window, and saw that her father and the cheif minister was busy conversing with another man, who she guessed to be the Duke.
The coach man was also standing at that side of the carriage, waiting for them to be done to open the door of the carriage. And at that, a smile appeared on Ameera's face. She silently opened the door of the carriage on her side, making sure no noise is made and stepped out of it.
Ameera felt a sense of guilt sneeking out, without informing her father or anyone else. But at the corner of the heart, she also felt a bubbling sense of excitement. It was like a guilty pleasure!
Though Ameera caught attention of the people around, they didn't know who they were. After all, the royals rarely came and meddled with the commoners without prior informing.
But as today, Ameera's request was sudden. So, King Atlas had not informed anyone, and had rather taken a little less flashy carriage, instead of the royal carriages.
Even so, as Atlas' face was known around, he wore a fake moustache and took a hat, so as not to get recognised easily, untill he gave his identity by himself first.
As for Ameera, she was young and not a very public figure yet, as she rarely made an appearance in front of the public. So, the people looking at her thought that maybe she was some rich noble's daughter.
Moreover it was a high time for work, and people were busier than merrily indulge in gossip right now.
Then Ameera's eyes fell on the white cat again, who was being scared by the dogs, backing her away. And her eyebrows furrowed with urgency. Oh no! Poor kitty!
And she sprinted towards the cat. Picking up a stick that was fallen on her way, she waved it at the dogs, and yelled, "Hey, get away! Stop scaring the poor kitty!"
The dogs on being chased away by Ameera gave up on the cat, and back away. Seeing the dogs back away, and look at her warily. Ameera felt a sense of accomplishment and pride! And she scoffed, "Trying to scare the poor cat? This is not how good kids act, do they?"
"You should not be scaring away poor little animals just because you are strong, you understand, doggies?" Even the two dogs were not spared from getting a lecture from Ameera.
The two dogs looked at one another before their ears drooped, as if accepting that they were in the wrong. Seeing that, Ameera put her hands on the waist and nodded her head, "That's right. You must accept your mistake." Then she smiled and said cheerful tone, "Alright, since you are being good boys, I will reward you."
And saying so, she took out the two last cookies from the packet that she happened to bring out with her. And gave them.
Seeing the big cookies offered too them, the two dogs wiggled their tails happily eating them and then happily went away, not bothering with the cat anymore. Seeing this, Ameera nodded her head in contentment and then turned to look at the cat with wonderment.
She took a step forward towards it, and picked it up, "Hey... Are you lost?" But just then her eyes fell on the cat's neck and she saw a pet collar. And Ameera pouted in slight disappointment. "Oh, so you already have an owner, it seems."
On the pet collar was engraved her name, 'Pearl'.
Ameera smiled and called her name, "So, your name is Pearl, what a beautiful name!"
"Pearl! What are you doing here?! Mrs Smith had been wondering earlier were have you been?" Ameera and the cat heard another young voice.