Chapter Seven
Two Places, Two Silences
While Clare and Noah were speaking near the café window, Aunt Laura finally noticed them.
She smiled and gently tapped Noah's mother on the arm.
"Look at them," she said warmly. "They seem to get along already."
Noah's mother turned and watched the girls talking.
"That's good," she replied. "It will be easier for Clare."
Aunt Laura nodded. "Next month, Clare will begin school here. Perhaps she can join Noah's class?"
Noah's mother's face brightened. "Of course. Since they already know each other, I hope they become best friends… like we did."
The two women laughed softly.
Across the café, neither girl knew that their future had just been quietly arranged.
The next day came too quickly.
Clare stood near the doorway of her aunt's house as her parents prepared to leave.
Her grandmother hugged her tightly.
"Be brave," she whispered.
Her father placed his hand gently on her head. "Write to us."
Her mother smiled — but her eyes were not smiling.
When the carriage began to move, Clare waved.
She kept waving.
Even after the carriage turned the corner.
Even after she could no longer see it.
The street suddenly felt bigger.
Quieter.
Clare lowered her hand slowly.
She did not cry loudly.
But something inside her felt empty.
She walked back inside.
Everything was the same.
But it didn't feel the same.
That night she lay awake longer than usual.
The next morning, Clare decided to visit Noah.
Maybe playing would help.
She walked to Café Noah with small hopeful steps.
But when she entered, Noah's mother smiled apologetically.
"Oh, dear. Noah already left for school."
Clare blinked.
"School?" she asked softly.
"Yes, she leaves early."
Clare nodded.
"Thank you," she said politely.
She stepped back outside.
The streets felt louder today.
Children passed by in groups, laughing in French she still couldn't fully understand.
Clare walked back to her aunt's house slowly.
She sat near the window.
Idle.
Quiet.
For the first time since arriving in France, she felt… useless.
Everyone seemed to belong somewhere.
She was still between places.
Meanwhile, in Europe—
The monthly church mass had begun.
Daniel stood near his usual place.
His eyes searched automatically.
Left side.
Second row.
Near the window.
But the seat was empty.
He frowned slightly.
Maybe she was late.
He waited.
But as the service ended, he saw Clare's parents walking toward the exit.
Without her.
A royal official approached Clare's father politely.
"Where is your daughter today?"
Her father answered calmly, "She has gone to France. To stay with her aunt for schooling."
The words felt simple.
But when they reached Daniel's ears, they felt heavy.
France?
Without telling him?
Daniel stood still.
The church suddenly felt colder.
The next day at the palace, Daniel did not focus during lessons.
He missed a royal class entirely.
Instead, he sat near the palace garden.
Near the vanilla plant.
He stared at it quietly.
It had grown taller.
Stronger.
But the person who planted it was gone.
Inside the palace halls, Princess Elza watched her brother carefully.
He was not reading.
He was not practicing.
He was quiet.
Too quiet.
Elza's small hands tightened slightly.
She remembered the dream from the full moon night.
Daniel standing alone.
Silent.
Sad.
Her small brows furrowed.
How did it come true?
She did not understand fully.
But she felt it.
Something had changed.
And somewhere far away in France—
Clare sat by a window, not knowing someone was missing her in the same way.
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