Thrown Into A New World: Let The Punishment Begin!

While Yvonne St. Claire was practicing horse riding with her etcher and the Captain, there was another little girl who was also busy with her own little life.

In the small town of Baskin in the territory under the administration of Viscount Lumex was a family that lived in peace and contentment.

The Lumex fief wasn't a very large one but there was peace in its land due to the Viscount's excellent management.

The fief was divided into many small towns and one of them was the town of Baskin where a new family had migrated from the St. Claire fief many months ago.

Baskin was close to the border between two fiefs and hence most of its economy was due to the traveling caravans that moved about for business purposes.

Even right now, the town of over 250 population was bustling with newcomers who were here just for a few days before they moved to the next town.

The town circle, the busiest spot when these travelers arrived as it served as their depot to sell their goods to the townsmen, was crowded with people.

"Hear ye, hear ye!" A loud voice echoed through the crowd, halting them as they turned towards the voice.

Standing in the midst of the crowd was a little girl who looked like she was about the age of seven or eight.

Head full of thick, fluffy dark brown hair, and big curious brown eyes which flitted around to make out what was happening around her.

In her hand was a woven basket that held loaves of bread that she had purchased from the bakery at the end of the town circle.

However, before she could return to her home, her attention was diverted by the man who had just called for everyone's attention.

The man was standing on top of a wooden box he had used as a step stool to elevate his position and in his hand was a large metallic cone which he was holding close to his mouth.

Looking at this single instrument in his hand, many people there had an inkling of who this person might be.

Hearing something, the curious little girl glanced at the woman who was speaking to her son as they stood next to her.

"Mum, what is that man holding?" The young boy inquired as he tugged on his mother's long plaid skirt.

The mother held his hand and smiled at him.

"That is called a 'Loud Hailer' and only two kinds of people use this instrument." She taught him something new today.

The little girl too paid attention to what was being said and thus she learned about the instrument and when it was used.

"Either this man is a town crier sent by our King to announce a certain news or he belongs to an Opera group that has come to showcase their plays in Baskin." The lady revealed and pulled her son closer to the makeshift stage that the man had made.

The little girl took a moment to comprehend what she had heard and then fixed her attention to the man who had begun speaking once people had come closer to him.

"Our kind and caring King has sent a present for the town of Baskin." The young man in his mid-twenties yelled to make his voice reach to the ends of the Towncircle.

Joyful murmurs rose after his first sentence as they were wondering what their King might have sent for them.

"A certain play had caught the eye of Our King and he wishes to share this beautiful stage show with the rest of his people." He proclaimed with a wide smile.

Baskin was a small town with a small population, hence there had never been an Opera group that had performed for them.

If there ever was a group of theatre artists who had come to their fief, then they would certainly set up their tents in the town where the Baron lived as that was the wealthiest part of their fief.

Due to this, the people of Baskin had never watched an Opera play in their town ever before.

If they fancied a play, then they would have to travel to the central town of the fief to watch it.

The town crier who had just completed speaking signaled to his subordinates who immediately got to work.

The people who were standing around him all received a small pamphlet that held information of the time and place of the play that he had just spoken about.

"It is free of cost?" One old man gasped when he had completed reading the paper.

This alerted the others and they too read the paper in haste only to find that the old man was speaking the truth.

The theatre arts performed by Opera groups often cost a day's wages to the common man so they would treat it as a special occasion when they went to see a play at the theatre.

However, here a man was distributing sheets that promised them a free show which had received the praise of the King as well.

To be able to receive the accolade from their King meant that they were a stellar group and for them to perform for free here in their town could be considered a blessing for them to witness.

Hence, once again there were excited whispers that rose among them.

"As you have read, the show is free of cost and will take place two days from now when we set up a tent right here in the town circle." The man declared and then got down from the box which had served as his stool.

The little girl then watched the man with his associates leaving the town circle while the others remained discussing what they would wear on the day of the play.

'I should tell Mother and Father about this!' She exclaimed, excited to see a play for the first time in her life.

Holding the basket tight in her hands, she ran all the way back to her home which was at a distance away from the town circle.

When she finally reached the place she called home, she bent forward as she huffed and puffed to catch her breath.

"Huuu…" She sighed as she looked up at the sky once she could regain her composure.

Then glancing at the board above her home, she smiled while shaking her head but just as she was about to enter, she heard the sounds of movement coming from within.

"There was no guest when I had left earlier." She frowned and then tiptoed into the building.

Upon reaching the main lobby, she found her father standing before three men with a wide smile on his face.

However, she could not make out who the other three men were as they had their backs towards her.

"Don't you worry, Sir! Cozy Inn is the best lodging you could find in Baskin!" He assured with confidence at the business he ran.

The man's eyes then glimpsed in the direction of the door where he found his beautiful daughter standing there and watching them with confusion in her eyes.

Chuckling, he gestured for her to come over which she followed.

"Hilly, come meet the new guests who want to book our entire inn for the next four days." The father announced his daughter had reached his position.

The three men then looked down at the little girl who was holding a heavy basket full of bread loaves and smiled at her.

The girl was surprised to hear what her father had just said as this would mean a huge profit for their lodging business.

However, her surprise turned to shock when she saw the faces of the men who were now before her.

'The town crier and his subordinates!' She gasped as she had recognized them in an instant.

The men were not expecting her to react that way and were now curious about her reason for looking so stunned.

"What is it, Hilda?" Her father called her by her full name when he saw her behaving this way with the guests.

Hilda, the girl with dark brown hair, bowed in apology for being rude before she glanced at the men.

"I saw them in the Town circle." She revealed her reason for surprise and heard her father chuckling in response.

"They belong to an Opera group who is going to perform in Baskin after a few days." The father nodded as they had spoken to him about their reason for arriving in their town.

The confusion faded from Hilda's face and a bright smile appeared on her face as she finally greeted their new guests.

"Welcome to Cozy Inn! My name is Hilda Thomas and I would be happy to be of help while you stay in our Inn!" She chirped, eliciting smiles from everyone who heard her words.