One More Step

Who else could it be? The Crown Prince himself, of course.

The girls stepped aside and bowed deeply waiting for him to pass by. But as it seems he had other ideas. ''You two seem to be fine now.''

Kyra's eyes became cold. She slowly rose her head and looked straight at him. ''With all the respect your highness, we are fine. We would like to excuse ourselves and rush back home. We have many things to do.''

He saw on her cold and proud face pure rejection and was stunned. All he could do is to accept it and as soon he did it the girls rushed to their carriage and left the city like someone was after them.

''What is that about? Did I do something wrong?'' He blinked while looking at the small carriage that was trying to get out of the city.

His guard was as stunned as he was. ''Not that I know.''

But suddenly a voice could be heard by their side. ''The girls are famous because they don't want to be connected to nobles. Last time they got in an argument with some servant and almost got in trouble. Since then they avoid all nobles like some strange sickness.''

They looked at Lord Jiang looking at the direction the girls left. He bowed towards the Crown Prince and went to the restaurant.

Crown Prince now was even more curious. He rushed to follow Lord Jiang and stopped him on the door. ''Let's eat together. I have a few questions about the refugees.''

Lord Jiang sighed. Now he realized why his wife never let him talk about girls' ideas and accomplishments in front Emperor. They intentionally fed the people to try out the waters.

He could hear two sides of people. One side was for the foreigners to be more implemented into daily life and politics and the other side was offended. They literally held grudges against the children because of the quality of the food they fed the people.

Before they started feeing refugees they had a meeting and came to one decision. To feed them just that much to survive. Not more than that. But girls came with the help of a foreign village and a few of those people without a stop for so long.

Now they lost face in front Emperor and people and had no other way to vent. So the only side that they could vent was the girl's side. Easy target, right?

What no one expected is that Emperor would change the laws and they are now untouchable, for a moment as everyone stared at their behavior. No one can move hands against them. If people knew how rich these girls really are...

He sat down with pressed lips and looked out the window. People walked around. Some with a smile and some with sorrow on their faces. He turned his sight and saw Crown Prince peering at him.

''Ask, your highness. If I can I will answer your question.'' The tea was already on the table so he calmly sipped out of it.

''Tell me. What s really going on?'' He could see on this man's face that he knew something but was hesitant to tell him.

Lord Jiang slowly put the teacup down and tapped on it with his forefinger while thinking. ''Sir, in this world, how long can those two survive if you get involved?''

He rose his eyes seeing the frozen face in front of him. ''What are you talking about?'' His voice became deep and dangerous as hi eyes turned icy cold.

''You are Crown Prince. In your heart you know already the answer, don't you?'' Lord Jiang was not playing with words. He feared this young man truly but at this moment he has to understand his own standing in the country.

''I am but a dumb pup. Please teach me.'' The answer made lord Jiang nervous but on his face, just a small smile appeared.

''Then I will not hold back. I hope you won't hold grudges after I tell you.''

Crown Prince nodded and just let him continue.

''As Crown Prince, your own position is already very dangerous. Even in your own household how many concubines do you have and how many did die in just one year.'' He saw the surprised expression on his face but continued ruthlessly. ''The women are like that, fighting for a tiny spot in your heart. Think now about their families. Today you even looking at these two children will make some people look at them longer than they should. Crown Prince, before adding more flowers to the garden, please be sure that the yard is clear of weeds. Some flowers if planted in the wrong garden will not only wither and die, no they will be stomped, cut and rooted out. Or they will die on cold winds, harsh heat and not enough water. I like flowers, you know. I have one strange flower from another continent. It has a beautiful look, beautiful smell but unfortunately the moment trie to plant it died. When I asked why they said the earth in our country was not good for it. All I could do is see it die, but I was not willing, so I sent it back. But on the way back people stole it as it looked beautiful and threw it away as garbage after it withered and died completely. If I haven't touched it at all, it could have been beautiful just there where it is. Don't you think? I was really a fool.'' He stood up and bowed to the prince and left.

''Sir, this story...'' His guard sat there whole time covered in cold sweat as he could feel the crown Prince excluding cold air out of his pores.

''I was indeed foolish. It was fine while I watched from far, but if I really start talking to them, they really will be in grave danger. He is right. In my courtyard, so many died because of greed for power. If even glance again towards them they will be under direct attack from those people. I was too short-sighted. I didn't plan to take them in. I just wanted to befriend them, but some people might think otherwise since the new law. How bothersome. I have no more wish to eat.'' He stood up and left the restaurant while Lord Jiang and Lord Jong looked at his leaving back from the next window.

''Do you think he really understood?'' Lord Jiang was worried.

''His highness Crown Prince is filled with pride and righteousness. This kind of thing will go on his nerves. I think soon we will hear some nice juicy things. '' Lord Jong would prefer if that Crown Prince was less amourous.

The women in his yard were so many that they literally would start to fight over one night with him. He felt it somehow distracting. The female in his back yard became less as he found out some secrets about them and sent them back home. Now only three are left but were kind of hard nut to knack.

''The girls you said made new things. What is it now?'' Lord Jong was really curious.

''It is nothing special. Toy store. Kyra had an idea to connect clothes and anything the children need with toys together and I think is a good idea. We usually sell clothes that we make per order. We do have some premade clothes but never a lot. This time we could make clothes for smaller children. We could make two departments, the ones with cheaper clothes and one with expensive clothes. That idea came as well from Kyra. And she told us something important. No matter who comes and asks for clothes. We should sell it as long as they pay. Before our store did had different attentions between commoners and nobles. But there are as well nobles that are poor or commoners that have money. So my wife accepted her plan. We still will have a special entry for those that want to order clothes. But that child had so many more ideas... I wonder what kind of mind she has.'' Lord Jiang just sighed.

Lord Jong chuckled. ''I met her mother and grandmother. they were quite bright people, I can even say extremely smart. It seems it's in their blood.'' He felt extremely proud but couldn't voice it out to his anger. He has such an amazing child and can't even take care of her. But seeing how the two are still fine it seems that those people are really protecting them.

In deep thought, he went into his carriage and by chance passed the two girls that happily spoke with a bunch of old common women. Those children prefer to talk to commoners and they like them as it seems. With a smile, he continued back home but a pair of eyes looked at his back coldly and then at the girls.

Kyra suddenly felt danger from somewhere but when she turned around all she could see is the mass of people walking by. Inside she had again that bad feeling, but on outside she smiled brightly while talking to the old grandma.

''Child, thank you for last time.'' She held their hands as they warned her with eyes. Of course, she is not stupid to say it out loud. She just took Anna's hand and winked.

Of course, Anna understood. ''No problem grandma. If we are around we will help you again.''

With that she just let her know that in danger they would tell her again. She just nodded and gratefully patted Anna's hand. In this lifetime she will be grateful to these children the most.

Kyra and Anna sat down in their carriage and went home. They had food to eat, water to drink, house to sleep. Everything else is bothersome.

On their way back home they spoke about food again. ''Grandpa said he will buy those green vegetables again. I do not think we should do that this year. We can tell refugees about the greens and make them gather as much as they wished down in the forest.''

Anna shook her head. ''As long there are thousands of those in the city, there will be a huge problem if we do that. What if hundreds come to the forest and start stomping on herbs and wild vegetables, or even worse start all harvesting at the same time. The forest would be left without one healing herb.''

Kyra had to admit that she spoke before thinking. ''You are right. Better we just keep quiet. After all, the wheater is getting better. We can start with herbs and flowers collecting. There are now many empty glass jars. We can collect many different plants and make a lot of flower essences.''

Anna looked at the almost empty yard and smiled. ''Let's start going to the forest and maybe find some wild fruits. If we plant them in the garden, they will give us more shade and would look pretty.''

They started making new plans and decisions while the two men sighed in relief. Finally warmer...