Chapter 2
When Licht reached the back of the café he told his boss that his father had come pick him up from work. He asked if another waiter could finish taking care of the one patron in his dinning section so he might end his shift early. His boss knew it had been a slow day and Licht seldom asked for favors. He willingly agreed to the request. Licht put away his apron and felt a sense of relief knowing he would escape from the pretty girl before he did or said something to her that might later get him in trouble. He threw on his jacket, clocked out and returned to the table at which his father was waiting.
"We can go now," he said without sitting down.
His father said nothing. Licht looked at his father to ascertain why he had not moved. He found that the King was staring with mouth agape at the beautiful girl Licht had just served. Licht nudged his father. It was clearly rude to stare and to stare at a stranger young enough to be your own child was simply lecherous. It was completely out of character and unacceptable. "Father!" he said sharply but discretely.
Viktor looked up. He'd been plucked back into the present. He felt rather embarrassed and wondered if his son had misunderstood his actions. "Yes, of course," Viktor arose and the two gentlemen strode outside and climbed into the awaiting carriage.
Before pulling away, Viktor motioned at the young girl visible through the store front window. "She looks nearly identical to someone I had met in my youth." He wanted his son to know he had not been taken by the girl's undeniable beauty, but that his stare was born more from curiosity. "I felt as though I was looking at a ghost."
Licht nodded. The carriage began to pull away from the curb when another carriage stopped in the road in such a way that their path was blocked. The nobles could hear the coachmen discussing something in mumbled voices. Licht who had keener hearing and was closest to the window was able to make out that the coachman from the other vehicle was trying to apologize for inconveniencing them and explain that they were simply attempting to collect a passenger. The coachman steering the castle's carriage was insisting that this was unacceptable.
"Father," Licht queried, "if you are in no hurry, may I inform our driver that we are willing to wait a few minutes to accommodate those passengers in the carriage to my right?"
"Yes," the King replied. "By all means." The King was grateful for the pause. He was lost in thought and wanted to get another look through the café window before departing.
Licht informed the coachman that they were in no hurry and would willingly wait until the neighboring carriage had safely collected its passengers. The coachman snorted, but only very quietly. He understood the position and power of his employers and would rather not do, or say, anything that might contradict their instructions even if the master was often too benevolent.
An older woman emerged from the carriage and nodded gratitude toward Licht as she scurried into the café. One glance at her face and it was evident she was the mother of the beautiful girl that Licht had just served. While she was much older, the resemblance was uncanny. Licht sighed. The girl that made his heart jump was going to age gracefully and continue to be stunning once he'd reached his father ripe age. His mind wandered back to Patricia, his betrothed. He tried to remember what it was Bruno was always telling him. 'Don't judge a book by its cover.' Yes. Surely Patricia had to be at least quite interesting.
Viktor made an audible gasp, which awoke Licht from his reflections. Viktor was watching the mother hurry the young girl out of the café.
"Father," Licht asked, "is something the matter? Did she forget to pay?"
"No," Viktor responded. "I just…. I thought….". Viktor paused. "Licht, I just recalled that there is some business I must attend to. Would you be able to take a cab back home as I need to use the coach and may be out and about for some time?"
Licht relished the idea of having a bit more time around town outside of the watchful eye of his father. He dutifully left the carriage and walked a few blocks away where he was sure he could locate a carriage for hire.
Viktor, meanwhile, called the coachman into the carriage. "I would like you to follow the carriage to my left but please do so very discretely. And I would appreciate it if you did not mention this to anyone."
