Alice & Alicia: Religious Twin Daughter

The First Stop City

The first day of the journey passed quickly. Alice and her entourage arrive at the city's first stop just before the sun hides behind the world's horizon. They used a hotel managed by the Saville Trade Union.

"Welcome, Your Highness Crown Princess el Vierum," greeted the hotel director of the Saville Trade Union. The male servants lined up on his right, while the female servants lined up on his left. They stand upright making a posse. When Alice and the scholarly girls passed by, they bowed respectfully.

Anna was seen coordinating with the hotel's director. So it was the Florentine scholar who patronized the scholarly maidens. Each room is occupied by two people. Alice with Aria, Aristia with Mainne, and Rosemary with Akilla.

On this journey, they are not just on vacation. As the Pearl Palace functioned, Alice and her comrades flocked around the city to see its condition. Not much different from the streets indeed, but they really run the task well.

"We're in a downtown neighborhood right now, so things look really good" Rosemary said. The town square is very crowded. There are hawkers here and there. A street bard or freelance poet is seen humming under the city's monuments.

"Let's pay attention to the details" Alice took them to one of the food stalls. They wear the clothes of girls that are commonly worn by ordinary girls, long-sleeved tops and also long skirts. They shut down the aurat. Moreover, Akilla is complete with a veil that perfectly covers his head and hair.

"Welcome, beautiful ladies," said the hawker seller. He smiled kindly, but in his heart he kept trying to control himself so as not to offend the customers. Although their clothes were simple, he was sure that at least they were the daughters of rich merchants seeing the cleanliness of his clothes.

Aristia who represented her comrades bought the hawker. He cleverly bid the price. The seller was convinced that they were rich merchant girls. So, he didn't fight much.

"Thank you, Young Miss," said the seller, looking down, "Good food."

"What's that?" Mainne only asked after they left and rested in the garden. In his hand was a packet of fried food that was still warm. The smell was fragrant even though it was still inferior when compared to the food in the Pearl Palace.

"It's fries" replied Aristia. He ate the potatoes too greedily. The savory taste feels right pampering the tongue. What an unbelievable pleasure.

"Where are we going?" Akilla asked as her fries were about to run out.

"We wait for Anna and Flo" Alice finished eating. He looked around and saw Anna and Florence who happened to be almost there.

"Kids, how? Did you enjoy the walk this morning?" ask Florence cheerfully.

"Hm," Aristia nodded. It's the most exciting here. "Let's go to the place that Anna's sister told you last night."

"Yes, we're going there now" Anna took them all out. They arrived at a small, clean alley. Unlike the other alleys they had previously seen.

"This place is very quiet. Is this really the place?" Rosemary asked unsure. For him who greatly upholds the honor and dignity of the nobility, walking in that place is very uncomfortable even though it looks clean.

"Follow it. We got information from the Saville Trade Union last night. Now, we will request from the agent appointed directly by the Pearl Palace."

Not long after they went deeper, a melodious chanting sound rang out. This is different from the verse that the bard denotes in the square. The language they cannot understand, but makes people feel at home to hear it.

Anna said her greetings in front of a building at the end of the alley. A moment later, the chanting voice stopped and the voice of the old man who answered Anna's greeting sounded.

"Oh, are you the princess' entourage?" asked a white-robed old man whose beard was already gray. Western voice. Rosemary and the others could not believe that the man had just read the chant, but there was no one but him there.

Anna nodded. He introduced Alice to the old man who a moment later bowed respectfully and let them into the building.

That place is so loose. There was no furniture other than a shelf containing old books. The floor is lined with antique tapestries that have lost their velvet. So, the place felt a little rough even though it was warm. For the clothes of the subtle intellectual girls can cope with it.

"I heard the Princess' entourage that came yesterday" the old man asked Alice for her needs.

"How's the city been doing all this time?" ask Alice without further ado.

"The city is in good condition especially after the city lord heard the plan for the arrival of the Princess," the old man began to explain, "He immediately repaired the damaged road whose project was delayed first. Orphans in the suburbs also get compensation suddenly. It was only natural because in the past the city lord had gotten a rebuke from the previous Pearl Palace Owner."

The old man also explained the condition of the farm in the city. Trade flows and economic turnover are also security in inner city circles. "There is still a lot of theft around the outskirts of the city, but the lord of the lord has already acted by assigning guards there."

"That's enough. Thanks for the information," Alice stared at the dull tapestry floor. Hearing that the city lord had executed his mandate well enough made Alice able to breathe a sigh of relief. However, he was still worried about the problems in the suburbs.

"What did you sing before you came?" Aristia asked making the others curious. They remembered the chanting after listening to the condition of the city at length. The old man frowned. He replied, "It's neither a song nor a verse, Young Miss. It's a scripture reading."

"What does it mean? It seemed like it was written in a different language," asked Rosemary interested in the chant.

"Praise upon God and His power, proclamation in servitude, and supplication to be always given a straight path" the old man explained. He then explained the next letter he read, "There is no doubt in this book. It is the source of all knowledge. Verses sent down by God. If a human statement or theory is found that contradicts this book, then the theory is re-corrected. Indeed, the theory is just a human conjecture that has not been proven true. This book is a guide to those who believe."

Without them noticing, the sun had almost risen to its peak. Anna said goodbye and went with the intellectual girls. He was grateful for the information that the old man gave.

"It looks like the chant is similar to what the Princess used to read" Mainne said, turning Aristia and Rosemary over. They then agreed. It wasn't just Alice reading it. Akilla and Aria also often read it in the palace.

"That's the same thing. Do you want to learn it?" Alice offered, "Sister Anna will guide her later."

"Yes, we want to" said Mainne, Aristia, and Rosemary.