Retrieve the Kingdom

A Big Leap

The pawnshop owner laughs, “I don’t care what your name is, I can wrestle you down without hesitation.” He throws her arm as she got knocked back, she holds her hurt arm as her mother tends to her. “You don’t do that to my daughter!” She was gonna attack her as the pawnshop owner reaches the dagger. They stopped as the bell of the shop rings. Phoebe looks at the door as a man with royal attire stops on his steps as he witnesses an almost murder. “Seize that weapon!” He said as his personal guards tackle the shop owner and seized his dagger.  He helped Phoebe to stand as the teenager pulls her mom to safety. “What’s the matter here?” He asked the two of them. “We are just gonna exchange a pearl with some money… He was being aggressive of the 10,000 aurel offer.” He thinks as he goes near the shopkeeper, tackled as he pulls the pearl off his hand. He examines it, “10,000 might be the cheapest for this. Since it’s big… But not that big to be cheated.” He looks at the pawnshop keeper who was scared for his life. 

“Why do you need to take drastic measures for just a simple deal? I know this shop is rich and you could sell this even higher.” The shopkeeper releases from the arms of the guards as he kneels. “I am sorry, your highness.” He looks down at him, “This is attempted murder, even without a seal. You shall be imprisoned and your shop will be banned. I don’t know if you did this before, but I, the Archduke of Eshecaea must put a stop to this.” The shopkeeper’s eyes widen. “You don’t have to do this, your highness! We can talk this out!” He threw some coins at him, “Just please, don’t do this.”

“What do you think of me!? A man without dignity? An archduke who is just for bribes?” Instead of doing him a favor, the shopkeeper just angered him. “Since you made me pissed, to the jail, now!” The guards drag him as he pleads for his life. “Sir! No, wait! That’s not what I meant!” He keeps struggling as he was pulled out of his shop. He faces the two ladies who were just watching in terror.  “I am sorry that this happened to you.” Maya looked at him and bows at him, she made her daughter also do it. “Thank you, your highness.” They raised as he smiles. Deep in Phoebe, she knew him. It was his past life’s uncle, Archduke Bermin of Driessen. He never changed, he still that good person she knew. Who upholds his dignity and stands for what is right. He is still the archduke, which she wonders why. ‘I guess Uncle Dougal let him stay,’ she thought. “I know you might be thinking that you can’t exchange the pearl anymore. I decided to buy it instead.” Both of them were in shock, even Phoebe knows him, she still can’t believe that he will go up to this point of helping other people. “My wife is having collections of gemstones and the likes, I think a pearl would be great as an addition. I will buy it for 100,000 aurels.” Her mother was still in shock, “But sir, it’s too much, 10,000 aurels would be enough to have us carry on with our lives.”

“I insist, with what happened, I think you deserve some extras.” Before her mother can speak up, a box was handed to the archduke. He gave it to them. It was quite heavy since it consists of some gold coins equivalent to 100 aurels. Her mom can’t say anything, she can’t believe it will happen for all her life. “Thank you,” Phoebe muttered, the man just smiled at her. “Pleasure doing business with you, I will go now.”  He left them while her mother still absorbing what just happened. She was just looking at the box. She then looks at Phoebe, “We are rich now sweetie! We are now rich!” Phoebe hugged her and kisses her cheek. “Let’s go, mom, it’s getting dark.” They decided to go home and endure the one-hour trip again.

They return home at 6 in the evening with wonderful good news. “Nathan! Nathan dear!” Her mom squealed as she puts the box on the table. The two men of the family approached them. “What is that, mom?” She smiled as she opens it, it was full of golden coins. Bastien cheered as their dad just blinks his eyes. Maya giggled and slapped his cheek gently. “No, you are not dreaming, Nat.” He looked at him as she answered the question in his mind. He smiled as he lifts his wife in joy and celebrates with her.  After that, they ate dinner and planned what are they gonna do with the money. Their parents decided to buy back the house in Oliver that her mother inherited from her parents before. It was the house they sold after her father went into debt. “It will be the perfect time to go back there and maybe establish a business there.” Her mom said as they eat. “Your father has a talent in cooking, maybe we can use that.” 

“I’m a bit rusty, are you sure?” He asked as Maya smiles, “I believe in you. Bastien can now go to school again.” The latter gasped, “Really, mother? Awesome!” He was excited, it’s been years since he attended school. He stopped so Phoebe can go to her middle school. Phoebe smiled as her current life’s brother was celebrating. She just wishes everything will go well. 

The night has passed and Phoebe woke up again to go to her school. Even she wants to, she can’t go with her mom to watch and take control of what’s gonna happen with the owner of the house. She bid her mom good luck and goodbye as she went to her school and attends her class. After finishing all the chores, her mom went back to Oliver, enduring her 1 hour-long ride. She arrived at the not-so-big home that she inherited before. Its walls are painted beige, the current owner must have renovated them. She knocks on the door as she takes a deep breath. The dark door open and it revealed a man with formal attire and supporting his posture with a walking stick. He smiled, “Oh! Maya, you are here!” The lady smiles at him. “I know, you are now gonna take the house?” Maya nods, “How much do you need?” She asked as the man thinks. “10,000 aurels could do.” She smiled, “I just got the right amount.” She handed him a pouch of it and he accepted it. “Just like what you sold me before. Please, take a look at your house.” He offered as he opens the door wider, letting Maya in. It was really new and renovated. “I am the only one here sometimes. Since we have another house, I was gonna sell this if you don’t want to be here anymore.” 

“Oh? I guess I am at the right time.” She giggled, “How’s your family?” They sat on a comfy couch, “Well, we are just fine. We just got lucky and now we will live in a much better situation.” The man smiles, “I am glad to hear that. I never thought you would come back here in this house, since…” She sighs, “I rather not talk about it.” The man nods, “Very well then, oh well.” He puts all the keys to the house on the table in front of them. “See you soon, Maya.” He walks out of the house as Maya was left, she heaved a sigh one more time. “See you soon, uncle.”

After that, she went to Phoebe’s school and talked to the headmistress about Phoebe’s transferring process. “Mrs. Maya, the examinations will be conducted soon. We can’t issue her a transfer grant, you should wait for 2 weeks until she can go to another school.” Maya sighed, “I understand.” Maya and the headmistress shake their hands as a formal goodbye.  Maya left the office of the headmistress as she takes a look at her daughter. She was on a bench under a tree, alone and eating her lunch. The other students notice her and start whispering. She felt awkward as she left the school without saying goodbye to her daughter. A short-haired girl approached Phoebe who was quietly eating. “Hey, Phoebe!” She said as the latter looks at her, she sighs. “Is it another assignment?” The girl giggles as she sat behind her. “No! I saw your mom, and apparently, some gals start to talk about her.”

She raised her eyebrow as she looks at the girl beside her. “Well, they are talking about how familiar your mother is.” She sighed, “Of course, she is my mom, that’s why she’s familiar. Common sense, Dara.” The girl shakes her, “They haven’t seen your mother before! They only saw your brother, who seems they had a crush on, but not your mother! I am the only one who knew her since I am your friend.” Phoebe was struck in a realization, “What did they say?” Dara rests her elbow to her shoulder, “Well if she fixed herself, she looks like some noble that their parents saw before.” Phoebe sets her lunch aside and stands, “Are they insulting my mother!?” Dara stopped her, “Phoebe! Don’t initiate a fight!” She sighed as she throws herself on the bench. “I don’t think they are insulting your mother, they seem… Curious.” They both looked at each other. Phoebe sighs once again, “I will just ignore that, it’s just a normal reaction on newcomers.” She munched her sandwich. “I guess…” Dara said as the teachers start calling everyone back in the room.

Maya safely went home. Her husband was there, fixing their things. “Hey, you are back, how was it?” He said as he hugged his wife. “Well, the house is ours now.” She smiled as her husband celebrates. “Just right, I already fixing everything here.” He kissed her on the forehead, “We might stay here for a while, tho.” Nathan looks at her, “Why?” She sets aside the keys of the house in Oliver, “Well, I don’t want Phoebe to get stressed out to travel back and forth to her school. She can’t transfer yet because it’s their exams just 2 weeks from now, her headmistress suggested it will be better to take her exams there so she won’t get into trouble.” Her husband smiles, “Okay, maybe we will start to transport some of our things there soon.”

Phoebe went home alone since Bastien was in the seas with her father. She arrived at their home safely. She was welcomed by her parents and received good news. Phoebe was happy that everything went well in the deal for the house. “You can’t still transfer my dear, your exams are approaching.” Her mom explained as she thinks of a plan, “Maybe you can move there and I will be left here.” She said that made them shocked, “No! You won’t be left here.” Phoebe insisted, “Mom, in those two weeks, you can establish a business there, it will be more productive.” Her mom sighs, “Fine, but you will be with your brother.” Phoebe nods, “Maybe I will visit there during weekends.” Her mother thinks, “Okay, just behave here, okay? I don’t want you to get in trouble.” She can’t promise that, since those guards are pissing her off, she might pull something to take revenge on them. But she just nods to finish the deal with her mother. After that day, they started to move everything they need in their new house as Phoebe take her classes. Her looking at her notebook, everything she wanted is going to take place. Everything is going as she plans. It was rather, a big leap for her.