Chapter 13: Hina's Family Past 2
Year 907 in the Sun Calendar
(South Main City of Givnu Island — Samuh Kingdom)
At some distance from the South Outer Entry Gate, several coaches were lining up, preparing to depart soon.
Hira had stopped because Rema's furious eyes were locked directly on him.
He put down Mira and Hina carefully. Then, in a guilty and pleading tone, Hira said,
"Sorry I'm late! I was talking to the new guard Grandpa told me about, and I got held up."
Everyone went silent for a moment.
But Mira, without a trace of guilt or hesitation, suddenly raised her cheerful voice and skipped toward Rema with excitement.
"Mama! Mama! Look! I got a cute little green apple! That good apple aunty gave it to me. She said, 'Only cute and beautiful people eat it and become more beautiful,' and because she had two, she gave the second one to me! I'll eat it with you and Sis!"
"And since Mama is the most beautiful, I will eat it with Mama!"
"Isn't it cute, Mama?" Mira said again, smiling widely and proudly showing the small green apple.
She was holding it with both her tiny hands, even though the apple was still quite big for her. Her fingers were barely able to wrap around it. Her eyes sparkled as she looked up at Rema, continuing brightly,
"Yes, yes, darling, it is cute, just like you! After all, you are my daughter," Rema said, smiling confidently. Then she asked, "But you didn't tell me why you want to eat it with your sister."
"Because I want Sis to become just as beautiful as you! And Mama will become even more beautiful after eating it!" Mira said, her voice full of innocent conviction.
"Oh, my cute little sister, you want me to become beautiful too?" Hina said, patting Mira's head affectionately and smiling.
"Yep! Mira wants all of us to be beautiful and cute!" Mira said proudly.
Rema chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Okay, so we all will become beautiful and cute! Both of you go ahead and wait for Mama and Papa in the coach, okay? Hina, take Mira carefully."
She looked at Hina, closed her eyes with a warm smile, and added, "Make sure she doesn't drop her treasure."
"Okay, Mama. Come on, Mira, we'll go and wait for Mama and Papa at the coach. We can also see the horses there. You can give me the apple—I'll keep it safe until we reach," Hina said gently, smiling as she patted her sister's head.
"Okay… but don't lose it," Mira said seriously before handing the apple over.
Hina took the apple and carefully placed it in the same bag as the other apples. Then she held Mira's hand and started walking toward the coach.
The moment they were gone, Rema's expression shifted. She turned to Hira, her eyes narrowing like a hawk's.
"Sit on your knees. Now."
Her tone was cold and commanding.
Without a word, Hira immediately sank to his knees, knowing what was coming.
"I hope you know what you did wrong, right?" Rema said, glaring down at him.
"No, I don't… maybe I was just late?" Hira mumbled hesitantly, avoiding eye contact.
And then—BAM!
Rema punched him on the head.
"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!" Hira yelped, rubbing the spot.
"How many times do I have to tell you not to hold Mira like that while running so fast?! She's still a kid! What if something gets in her eyes? What if she bites her tongue? Do I have to remind you every single time?" she scolded sharply, her eyes blazing.
"No! I told her not to open her mouth and not to bite her tongue! But I'm sorry—I won't do it again!" Hira said quickly, his voice full of guilt. "I got late talking to the guard, and if I had walked normally, we might've missed the coach, so I had no choice but to run here. Sorry…"
Rema glared at him for a long moment before sighing deeply. Her expression softened slightly.
"Okay, fine. Because nothing happened to Mira, I'll let this go this time. But I won't tolerate it again. Now, go talk to the driver—he said he needed to speak with you."
She turned and started walking toward the coaches, her anger fading.
Hira stood up and went toward the coach driver.
🍎 Inside the Coach
Inside the coach, Mira and Hina were already waiting for their parents. The coach rocked slightly as the horses shifted outside.
Hina was slicing the small green apple into neat pieces while Mira sat in front of her, counting them with deep concentration.
"Hey, Mira," Hina said teasingly, "what do you think would happen if we gave one of these pieces to Papa?"
"Huh? I don't know, Sis," Mira said curiously, blinking her big eyes.
"Papa would turn into a girl! Then we would have two mothers!" Hina said, breaking into laughter. "Haha! Hahahahaha!"
Mira's eyes widened. "Really?!"
Before she could say more, a familiar voice came from behind them—soft yet sharp.
"Oh? Is that so? You want two mothers now, huh?"
Both girls froze as Rema opened the curtain and stepped inside the coach. The black drapes had blocked her approach completely.
She sat down next to Mira, pretending to look serious.
"No, Mama! I was just teasing Mira!" Hina said quickly, trying to defend herself.
"Is that so? I thought maybe you didn't like me anymore, so perhaps I should just go away," Rema said with a mock sigh.
Before Hina could explain, Mira's eyes filled with tears.
"Wah! Wah! Mama is going away! Nooo, I don't want Mama to go!" she cried loudly, her small hands clutching at Rema's sleeve.
"Oh no, no, Mama isn't going anywhere! Don't cry, sweetheart," Rema said softly, pulling Mira into her arms and rocking her gently.
"Yes, Mira, Mama's just joking! She's not going anywhere," Hina said hurriedly, feeling guilty.
"You're not lying, right? Mama's not going?" Mira asked in a timid, shaky voice, looking up into Rema's eyes.
"I'm not lying, my love. Mama's right here." Rema smiled warmly and wiped her tears. Then she picked up a piece of apple and said, "Why don't we eat this, hmm?"
She brought the slice to Mira's lips.
Mira took a bite, chewed, and smiled brightly. "It's good, Mama!"
"Good girl," Rema said proudly.
"Hey! Not fair! I want one too! You both forgot about me!" Hina said, puffing her cheeks in mock anger.
Rema chuckled. "Here, open your mouth."
She fed Hina a slice too.
"It's good, Mama! But why is it so sweet? Aren't green apples supposed to be sour or bitter?" Hina asked, puzzled.
"They're a different kind," Rema explained while feeding Mira another bite. "That's why they're rare around here. These apples are green but sweet. The merchant who gave them must be a wealthy trader from outside—someone rich enough to bring such fruit."
As she spoke, her tone carried a hint of pride—as if rare things should naturally gravitate toward her family.
Mira, still chewing, asked innocently, "Will Papa turn into a lady if he eats it?"
"No, he won't… probably." Rema paused, pretending to think seriously. "But maybe I should test it. I could give him one piece and see."
"Mama!" Hina laughed. "Papa would get so mad!"
"Then we better not risk it. We should eat all the pieces ourselves so he doesn't get any chance to turn into a lady," Rema said teasingly.
"Okay!" both girls said in unison, giggling.
Together, the three of them finished eating the apple, laughing and talking as the coach swayed gently.
🛣️ On the Road to North Village
After a while, Hira returned and sat beside Rema. Hina and Mira were already engrossed in their book on the opposite seat—its cover decorated with hunters, forests, and wild beasts.
The coach jerked slightly as it started moving. Outside, several other coaches began to roll along the dirt road toward the North Village.
"What were you talking about with the driver?" Rema asked, turning toward Hira with a raised brow.
"Nothing serious. Just the usual—he said the coaches would be running fast, so there might be turbulence. He reminded us to stay seated and lock the doors properly. Same old stuff," Hira said casually.
"Just that?" Rema asked suspiciously.
"Yes, just that."
"Hmph." She folded her arms, not entirely convinced. "If it was really that simple, he could've told me directly. Why did he need to talk to you privately?"
"He probably didn't want to disturb you," Hira said quickly, flashing a nervous smile. "After all, you look like a princess from the royal family. Maybe he got nervous."
"Don't try to sweet-talk your way out of this," Rema said sharply, glaring at him again. "I want to know exactly what he said. Are you hiding something from me?"
Her tone was half-serious, half-playful—but Hira knew better than to test that boundary. He scratched his neck awkwardly.
"No, I'm not hiding anything! You know I can't lie to you, right?" he said in a sheepish voice.
"Hmm…" Rema leaned closer, staring into his eyes for a few seconds before smirking. "You'd better not be."
The tension broke as Mira suddenly giggled from across the coach.
"Papa, Mama is scary sometimes, isn't she?"
"Shh!" Hina whispered, covering her sister's mouth.
Rema turned slowly with a dramatic glare. "Oh, really?"
Hira sighed and slumped back in his seat. "You're digging my grave, Mira…"
The two girls burst into laughter while Rema tried to hold back a smile. Hira, on the other hand, stared out the window—half in peace, half in terror.
Outside, the sun had begun to set, painting the sky in soft orange hues. The road stretched endlessly ahead as the family's laughter echoed faintly inside the coach, fading into the steady rhythm of wheels turning over the earth.
—_—END—_—