The Tale Continues (Saiunkoku Monogatari Fanfiction: Ryuuki x Shuurei lemon)

Chapter 66: Little Girl

After buying tea, Jyuusan saw a little girl about ten to twelve years old, selling sweets in a little stall. The girl looked like she is about to cry. Jyuusan instantly walked near her. ''What's wrong pretty girl?'' she said in gentle soothing voice.

The child slowly looked up and was surprised at the beautiful woman who had bent over to talk to her. ''No one is buying my sweets,'' the girl sniffed.

Jyuusan asked how much it costs, picked one, and ate it. ''This is delicious! Did you make this?''

The girl blushed. ''Really? I made that on my own beautiful onee-san,'' the child beamed with tinkling eyes.

''Wow, you're such a good cook at a young age. How much would all of this cost?'' Jyuusan asked and observed as the child mentally calculated. She counted how many boxes are there and how many each contained and did her own calculation. She smiled when the child the said right amount. ''You're a knowledgeable child. Why are you selling sweets so early in the morning? You must have woken up really early to prepare these.''

''I wake up early every day to prepare these and then sell it during this time of day since more people would buy. But people often neglect me since I'm a child. I need to earn money so I could buy more ingredients and cook more,'' the little girl narrated.

''You must really like cooking. But don't you have parents? Or siblings to help you?''

''I'm all alone now beautiful onee-san. My only family was my grandmother. But when she passed away, I have to take care of myself. I have been left in her care by my parents, but they never came back. So I am all by myself now. But it's alright. I can take care of myself,'' the little girl said. She blushed when she realized that she had said too much. She wondered why she said all her secrets to this woman in front of her. She never said that to anyone.

Jyuusan stroked the child's hair. ''You're such a good kid. Due to that I'll buy all of this. Please wrap them up.''

''Wow! Really? Thank you beautiful onee-san,'' the girl beamed and started packing the sweets. Now she knew why she revealed her secrets to this woman. The girl knew that this woman is kind and loving.

Seiran gazed at Jyuusan who smiled as she watched the child, her eyes shined with warmth and love. ''If you are given an opportunity to do what you want, what would you do?'' Jyuusan asked the girl.

''I will read lots of books, and learn more about cooking so I could earn enough. When I have enough money, I will join the provincial and imperial exams. I want to be an official someday,'' the girl said with hopeful eyes.

Both Seiran and Jyuusan are bemused. 'The same dream as oujo-sama,'' Seiran thought.

Shuurei is also the first person that Jyuusan thought of. ''I see. You have a wonderful dream. I know a woman who dreamed that same dream too when she was a child. She is now a very famous official of the Emperor and the country. Continue chasing that dream,'' Jyuusan encouraged.

''You don't think my dream is funny? People laughed at me when I said that and told me that I should just dream another dream'' the child honestly wondered.

''Of course not. The person I told you about is my dear friend. People just laughed at her before too but now they highly respect her. Don't give up that dream. If you do your best, I know you will achieve it and become a good official,'' Jyuusan smiled.

''I'm so happy that someone thinks that my dream is not just a joke. Beautiful onee-san, I hope I could meet your friend someday,'' the child said as she finished packing the sweets.

''I know you will. Here's the payment for the sweets. Never mind the change, use it to buy breakfast,'' Jyuusan said and hugged the child. ''We'll meet again.''

The girl was filled with joy. She packed her things happily and turned to leave after thanking Jyuusan.

''Do you like children? That girl had you captivated,'' Seiran said as Jyuusan carefully placed the sweets in the carriage. Jyuusan nodded. ''Would you do that too to every children you see selling things?''

''That depends upon the situation. And don't talk like I'm the only one who is charmed by the girl. You too,'' Jyuusan ruffled his hair. ''Could you trail the girl for me? I want to know where she lives.''

''Sure. Are you planning something?'' Seiran asked as he watched the little steps of the girl.

''Yeah. But I'll tell you later. Gather as much information about her,'' she commanded. She would finish buying supplies on her own.

''Yes ma'am,'' Seiran said and Jyuusan raised a brow at his obedience. He followed the girl wherever she went. He met with Jyuusan later at the outskirts of the town.

''Good timing. I was just about to have tea while waiting for you,'' Jyuusan invited him to sit beside her under a tree. The carriage and the now filled cart is just behind them. ''So about the girl . . .''

Seiran sat beside her and accepted a cup. He thought her tea was delicious but he refused to compliment her. ''She is really living alone in an old house. I asked around and it appears that all she said to you are true.''

''Did she eat breakfast?'' Jyuusan thought with worry as she picked up one of the sweets she bought from the child.

Seiran gazed at her and smiled warmly. 'She is a woman after all. I thought Jyuusan does not have motherly instincts,' he thought. She gave him a 'what-are-you-staring-at look' when she noticed his gaze. ''She did. She cannot disobey someone who just made her dream seem a reality,'' he said with a gentle look in his eyes.

Jyuusan blushed. She is not used to being gazed at like that by Seiran. She shoved one of the sweets in his mouth so he would stop smiling at her. ''These sweets are really good,'' she mumbled and ate shoved one more in her own mouth.

''What are you planning?'' Seiran queried. Even he, has grown interest to that child.

''I'll take her with me if she wants to,'' Jyuusan looked up at the blue sky.

''You will adopt her as your child?''

''Maybe. She can be independent. She's strong. But she must be lonely. I want her to achieve her dream without a scarred heart,'' she said with a voice that made Seiran want to hug and comfort her. He held her hand instead to indicate his support.

'Is she speaking of herself too or of oujo-sama?' Seiran thought. ''I will help in any way I can. Just tell me,'' he said and Jyuusan looked up to his eyes. She openly smiled at him with a smile that said she is glad that he is around and his heart skipped a bit. She suddenly looked even more beautiful than she already is. He smiled back with the same openness, a smile that hid no secrets.

Next Chapter: Eloping Couple