『???: I'm sorry, sweetheart, but I can't stay this time. I have to go away from the village for a while, but I promise I'll be back. 』
『Lina: No! I don't want you to leave, Mom! 』
The ten-year-old girl lamented her mother's departure; she didn't want to have to say goodbye to her.
『Mom: Lina, please understand. It's important for me to leave now. I would never leave you and Dad alone if it wasn't necessary. I'm so sorry, my daughter, but remember everything I've taught you and be responsible. While I'm away, you will be the strongest girl in the house, okay? Take good care of Dad. He loves you as much as I do.』
『Lina: Mom, mom, mom! 』
The girl called out to her mother while clinging to her, crying inconsolably.
『Mom: Dad, take care of our daughter. I know you're the best father she could have, so protect her. Be strong and take good care of each other. 』
『Dad: I know, you can count on me, sweetheart. I love you both with all my life. 』
『Mom: I love you, and I'll miss you so much. I just hope to see you soon. 』
The mother was also emotional and couldn't help but let a few small tears flow from her eyes, reflecting her sadness.
『Dad: Don't worry. 』
The father approached the mother, and together they hugged their little daughter. With a small smile, both parents looked at each other with sparkling eyes filled with love and kissed.
After that moment, they turned back to their little girl, wishing her the best, regardless of the circumstances. The mother hugged her daughter again.
『Dad: See you, sweetheart. 』
『Mom: Goodbye, sweetheart. Goodbye, Lina. 』
When the mother walked away from them, Lina hugged her father, wrapping her arms around his leg and soaking his pants with her tears.
She murmured a goodbye with a trembling voice, barely having the strength to speak.
『Lina: Goodbye, Mom... 』
Little Lina, with a flushed face and tears in her eyes, turned her gaze and stood firm next to her father, watching her mother leave.
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Now, amidst the tears that resisted falling, the girl hated those bitter memories, even as she missed them.
『Lina: «Why, Mom? Why did you abandon us?» 』
Even knowing that the answer wouldn't come, she kept asking... and continued doing so for much longer. Goodbyes always hurt more when you love your family.
That's why, even after more than six years since that moment, the wound in her heart hadn't healed.
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A commissioner was collecting taxes while mounted on his horse. Behind him, two guards followed on their horses as they rode through the impoverished streets of a village.
A small boy, who was playing with his ball, sent it rolling right into the path of the group as they turned the corner of an alley.
The boy ran out and stood in the middle of the street to retrieve his ball, obstructing the path of the horse coming behind him. Startled, the horse reared up on its hind legs.
『Boy: Aaah! 』
Seeing the enormous horse rearing and neighing, the boy got scared and fell backward onto the ground.
The commissioner, after calming the horse, fixed his gaze on the boy, then dismounted and noticed that some of the things he had on his horse had fallen to the ground.
One of them was a bag of coins that had scattered everywhere, provoking the man's anger.
They were surrounded by small houses that barely reached one or two stories. From the balconies and windows, some people peeked out to observe the altercation in complete silence, trying not to draw attention.
『Commissioner: Don't mess around. Look at what you've done, kid. 』
The commissioner approached the boy, who was sitting on the ground holding his ball. The man was dressed from head to toe in dark clothing.
He carried a sword sheathed at his waist, making him even more intimidating to everyone, with a weapon that he could use if he deemed it necessary.
His face was quite menacing, with a serious and strict expression that revealed he was over thirty years old.
『Commissioner: Give me that you have in your hands. 』
『Boy: Ah…』
『Commissioner: What do you mean by this, a toy? 』
The man took the ball from the boy's hands and, staring at him, pulled out a knife from its sheath and pierced the ball with it before letting it drop.
The boy's nervousness and fear made his heart race, and he finally broke into tears. The commissioner, annoyed by the boy's attitude, was about to slap him when...
『???: Stop! 』
Suddenly, a fleeting voice resonated, and a girl appeared to take the boy by the hand, placing him behind her to protect him.
She looked at the commissioner and pleaded for mercy for the small child's mistake. She was a beautiful young girl with jet-black hair and eyes.
『Lina: I'm sorry, my lord, but please forgive this boy who was only playing. I will take care of fixing the mess he made and collect your things, my lord. 』
『Commissioner: Who are this boy's parents? 』
The commissioner asked while pointing his gaze at the boy and making a gesture with his knife, briefly aiming it at him before sheathing it.
『Lina: This boy has no parents; he is an orphan from the village orphanage. 』
At that moment, another voice interrupted the conversation.
『???: Hello, Mr. Commissioner, I apologize for the inconvenience, but what happened here? 』
『Commissioner: Who are you? Introduce yourself. 』
『???: My apologies, Mr. Commissioner. I am the father of that girl, and my name is José Smeraldo Lorenzo. 』
The girl's father was a middle-aged man with dark brown hair and eyes. He was somewhat short, being only slightly taller than his young daughter and considerably shorter than the commissioner, who was tall and dressed in a black suit.
The difference in their attire was evident, highlighting a clear hierarchy between them.
『Commissioner: These children have been bothering me. This year, taxes have increased to ten silver coins, and today I come to collect them. You will pay them. 』
The commissioner adopted a serious attitude, insisting that the man must fulfill his obligation without exception.