Chapter 12: Hina's Family Past 1.
Year 907 in the Sun Calendar
(South Main City of Givnu Island — Samuh Kingdom)
(There are two gates in the southern city — an outside gate and a main city gate. Both are the same in length and height and have equal levels of security. However, right now, travelers don't need to pay a fee to pass through the outside gate; only the main city gate requires an entry tax.)
Two men were standing in front of a massive, thirty-foot-long and fifteen-foot-high entry gate. The surface of the structure gleamed in the afternoon sun, its iron hinges thick as a man's arm.
"Hello, I am Hira. I'm a current member of the Givnu Island Tax Committee. I need to ask you — are you the one newly appointed as the tax collector and guard of the island?" said a man wearing a flower-patterned half-sleeve shirt with matching shorts.
(He had the same orange-colored hair as Mira, but his eyes were the same deep red as Hina's. His expression was warm and gentle.)
He was Hira, father of Mira and Hina.
"Yes, I am," replied a knight in armor, a man in his early fifties with white hair and black eyes. His armor, though old, was well-maintained, and the way he stood made it clear he was a seasoned soldier.
"I just need to ask — when Supervisor Gilbo isn't present, to whom should we submit the collected tax? Do we hand it to you, or do we wait for him?" Hira asked politely.
"You can submit it to me. I'll deliver it to him when he comes," the knight said firmly. Then, his tone softened as he added, "But please, tell the villagers to pay the safety tax. There's an increasing risk of bandit attacks around the island, and the Kingdom won't send aid if your people fall behind on their payments."
"Yes, I understand that you're worried about our safety," Hira replied calmly, "but I don't think anyone can afford to pay more than they already do. Most are already giving nearly 40–60% of their monthly income in taxes to the Kingdom. Still, I'll speak to them again if you insist."
"Alright," said the knight. "Do that."
He turned toward the gate, signaling to one of the guards before pausing again.
"Papa! Papa! Mama is waiting for you! Hurry up!"
The call came from a seven-year-old girl running toward Hira. She wore a light pink shirt and blue pants, her red eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming, Hina. Just wait for me there," Hira said, turning toward her — but before he could even finish, she was already at his side.
"Is she your daughter, Hira?" the knight asked with a faint smile.
"Yes, she's my elder daughter, Hina," Hira said, lifting her up onto his shoulders.
"Then you need more security than anyone else," the knight replied softly. "Please be careful, and do try to convince the villagers again. I must make my rounds now, so I'll take my leave. Goodbye."
"Okay, I'll do my best to speak to them. I'll meet you again in two days to discuss a few things, alright? Goodbye," Hira said with a respectful nod.
The knight walked off, his armor clinking faintly as he disappeared toward the main gate.
"Papa, isn't he the one we met five or six months ago?" Hina asked, tilting her head as if trying to recall.
"Yes, he's the same one we met six months ago at Grandpa's house," Hira said. "But I think he didn't notice us that time because we were in another room while he was talking with Grandpa about something important."
Then his tone shifted.
"But that's not important right now. If you're here, then where's Mira? Didn't I tell you not to leave her alone? Your mom must still be shopping, so you should've stayed with your sister. She's only four — that's four years younger than you. She could get lost, Hina," Hira scolded mildly.
"I didn't leave her alone!" Hina protested, pouting. "She's hiding behind that tree. She got scared of that old knight, so she hid!" She pointed toward a nearby tree with a tiny finger.
A small girl, about three or four years old, peeked out shyly from behind the tree. She wore a yellow T-shirt and blue pants — it was Mira.
"Sis, did he go? Can I come out now?" Mira asked softly, her voice timid yet sweet.
"Yes, you can come out now, Mira! He left! Now we can go back to Mom!" Hina said cheerfully, flashing a wide grin.
Hearing that, Mira stepped out from behind the tree, walking toward Hira with small, careful steps. Her little hands clutched the edge of her shirt nervously.
"Papa, who was he?" Mira asked in a quiet voice.
"You don't need to be scared," Hira said, patting her head gently. "He's the guard who'll protect us and the village. You can ask him for help if you're ever in trouble, alright?"
"Then hurry, Papa! We need to stop him!" Hina exclaimed suddenly, her tone playful but serious-sounding enough to make Hira blink.
"Huh? Why do we need to stop him? We're not in any trouble, Hina," Hira said, confused.
"No, you are, Papa!" Hina said with mock severity. "Mama told you to buy apples and wait near the coach in half an hour — but you didn't buy any apples, and you're already half an hour late!"
"Oh no!" Hira gasped. "How could I forget?! I need to buy them before she gets there!"
He panicked, quickly lifting Mira onto his shoulder and preparing to run — only for Hina to add mischievously,
"So, Mom told me to tell you that if you don't come early with the apples, you'll have to sleep outside tonight!"
"Wait — her shopping is already done?!" Hira exclaimed in mock horror. "Looks like I need to run for my life!"
And with that, he sprinted toward the market.
The South Market of Givnu Island was lively that afternoon — merchants shouting prices, the air rich with the scent of fruit and spices. Hira stopped in front of a fruit stall where a young woman, probably in her late twenties, stood behind a counter full of vibrant fruits. She was wearing green clothes with an apron over them, her dark hair tied up neatly with a piece of cloth.
She smiled as Hira approached.
"Ah, hello there! Need some fruit today?" she asked warmly, holding a small green apple in her hand.
"Yes, a full bag of apples, please," Hira said, still slightly out of breath.
The woman nodded and quickly packed a bag. Hira paid her, then handed the bag to Hina.
"Hold this tightly, okay? Don't drop it," he said.
He was about to lift Mira again when the little girl tugged on his sleeve, pointing toward the shopkeeper.
"Papa, what is that green thing? Can I have one?" she asked curiously.
"Oh, you want one?" the shopkeeper said with a kind laugh. "I have two left, so I'll give you one — but only if you agree to my condition."
Mira blinked and nodded eagerly.
"It's a green apple," the woman explained, smiling playfully. "And only cute and beautiful girls or women can eat it. When you eat it, you'll become even cuter and more beautiful! So, tell me — are you cute and beautiful?"
"Mama says I'm just as cute and beautiful as she is — and Mama is really beautiful, so that means I am too!" Mira said proudly, puffing out her cheeks.
"Yes, you are!" the shopkeeper said with a delighted laugh. "Here, take this little green apple. And if you want, you can share it with your mom later, okay?"
She handed the fruit to Mira, who accepted it like a treasure.
"And if you ever want more apples, come to this stall again. You can call me Madam D'Souza, alright?"
"Okay! Thank you!" Mira said happily, holding the apple close to her chest.
Hira tried to pay for it, but Madam D'Souza waved him off. "It's a gift. Let her keep it."
"Mira, give me the apple — I'll hold it until we reach the gate," Hira said gently.
"No! Madam said only girls can hold it. Papa's not a girl — I'll give it to Mama," Mira said, puffing her cheeks again.
"Alright, fine," Hira said, chuckling. "But don't talk or bite your tongue while I'm running, okay?"
He scooped her up and dashed off toward the South Outer Gate.
Half an hour later—
Several coaches lined up outside the South Outer Entry Gate, preparing to depart. The faint rumble of wheels and chatter filled the air.
Among the crowd stood a beautiful woman in orange clothes. Her long red hair flowed in the warm island breeze, and her red eyes burned with growing irritation as she glared toward the gate.
She was Rema, wife of Hira and mother of Mira and Hina. She had been waiting for nearly an hour.
Her foot tapped impatiently against the ground. The coachman beside her was already checking the harnesses, ready to leave.
Then — finally — she spotted Hira running toward her in the distance. In one hand, he held Mira, and on his other shoulder sat Hina, clutching the bag of apples so tightly it looked like her life depended on it.
As he drew closer, his pace slowed.
And when he finally stopped before her, he froze — because Rema's sharp, fiery eyes were locked directly on him.
The silence between them was so thick that even the bustling crowd around them seemed to quiet for a moment.
—_—END—_—