Valerian Empire

"Good afternoon, Ms. Welcher, how do you do?" Annabelle's husband, Donovan greeted her.

"Very well, Sir Bingley. Congratulations on being a father," she congratulated him and they exchanged pleasantries to which Annabelle rolled her eyes, couldn't they just drop the polite formality.

Once they were done talking, Donovan asked his wife, "Shall we leave?" and he saw Annabelle nod.

Walking closer towards the carriage, Annabelle turned towards Katie.

"Katherine, would you like to stay with us?" she asked suddenly, startling Katie.

"What? No, you don't have to worry about it. I am doing great at the mansion and I wouldn't want to impose on you."

"Rubbish!" Annabelle waved her hand.

"I mean it, Anna. I have got used to the life in the mansion," which was true. It had become a warm nest, "I'm waiting for the news about Ralph too."

"But you can do that while you're at our house. Donovan," she turned to her husband's help.

"Anna, is right. We have plenty of space in the house which you can make use of. We would be happy to have you anytime with us until you feel like leaving," he said with a smile.

"Thank you for the generous words, Mr Bingley," Katie replied bowing her head in gratitude for his words.

Annabelle let out a sigh and hugged her dear friend, "If you ever feel like coming there remember that you're always welcome."

"I'll remember that," she said as they got into the carriage and waved as the carriage left.

She doubted the carriage she had come in was still around. Seeing it wasn't around, she searched if there was a carriage available to travel back to the mansion. After talking to a person about the coach she gathered that she had half an hour more before the carriage arrived in the place.

As Katie waited, looking around she caught sight of a little boy being scolded by a woman at the back of a store. When the little boy said something with tears streaked eyes the woman shouted pushing the boy away to get inside the store and close the back door. The young boy banged the door but it never opened.

Sliding down the wall, she saw him break into tears. Furrowing her brows and without a thought she walked straight towards the back alley to sit down in front of the boy who had his head hidden behind his arms.

"Hello there."

The boy looked up alarmed to see who it was with a sad and tearful expression.

"Is everything alright?" she asked with a kind voice.

"Yes, it's none of your concern," the boy retorted turning his head to the side and wiping his tears with the ragged sleeves.

Wow, for a small boy who was small and crying now he sure had good words to exchange, thought Katie. She knew life wasn't easy to most of them and this one looked like one. She didn't know how life in the town went by but the south land wasn't a paradise exactly, she had heard few things about the life in the town and it wasn't all good.

Wondering what to do she asked,

"Are you hungry?"

The question had caught the boy's attention as he looked at her with furrowed brows and Katie saw him reluctantly nod his head and she smiled before getting up.

"Come on then," she said taking him to the little shop right in the corner of the inn, "I am Katherine Welcher . What's your name?" she asked.

"Samuel," he answered and she pondered if he were an orphan.

When the food was placed on the table, the boy looked at her hesitantly. Katie sent him an encouraging smile and the boy began eating like there was never going to be a tomorrow. In between when he stopped eating, Katie asked out of curiosity,

"What is it? Isn't the food good?"

"It is more than good ma'am but...is it possible to pack the rest so that I could take it home to my sister," he asked pleadingly and it made her heart melt.

"Why don't you finish all of it while I go and ask them to pack some more food separately, hmm?"

"Oh no! You've showed me enough kindness and I am grateful. I can't ask you for more," the boy said with his eyes wide but Katie waved him off and went to talk to the owner of the inn.

She sighed looking at the pocket watch which she usually carried around with her. The coach must have left by now and she had enough time again for the next carriage and she offered to carry the bags of food she had asked which she thought was plenty enough for the boy and his sister to survive until the next morning.

Following the boy, she noticed he lived in a narrow alley that luckily had a roof above which prevented the rain and harsh sunlight. Earlier when the boy mentioned about his sister she had expected to see an older sibling but instead was greeted by a small girl who laid on an old mattress.

"This is my sister Fanny, she hasn't been keeping well past few days," the boy informed her and she went towards the bed, placing a hand on his sister's forehead. The small girl still had a slight temperature.

"Don't you have parents or any family, Samuel ,apart from your sister?" she asked to which he shook his head.

They were orphans, the state they were in pained her. She knew it wasn't an uncommon thing but if a couple didn't want a child they should have prevented this kind of situation than give birth to them like animals and leave them on their own.

"Let me tell you a trick on how to bring down the fever," she guided the boy taking the handkerchief from her coat and dipping it in the water. She taught him little things and helped in feeding his sister.

Time was quick to fly as she chatted with him and it was late in the evening when she noticed it. Giving him the little amount of money she had, she handed her coat to the small girl assuring the boy that he could repay her back in the future and there was no hurry.