163 Sylvie (1/2)

Many years ago

Sylvie lay on the table. Her contorted face was wet with tears. Their insults and mocking laughter still echoed in her ears. They were so mean to her. She only wanted to be a part of their group.

The door of their house opened. A man in clean expensive fur coat with boots made of leather entered. He had an aura of extravagance around him.

Other nobles in Vanadis were not as rich as her father. Her father was just a Baron but the way he acted surpassed the extravagance of most merchants. But this wasn't always the case. A few years ago she remembered their old house to be battered and old with a smell unique to old houses. Their serfs were few and their household servants even fewer. They were nobles in name only.

Everything changed about two years ago when her father was appointed as one of the treasurers of the king. She could still see the wide smile of her father when he received the appointment. A few months later and their old house was demolished. Built on top of it was a new one- larger and more beautiful. The number of serfs they had also increased. They even had properties here in the noble district of Holm. Salary for treasurers must be good, she thought.

He took his coat and hung it on the coat rack. His leather boots were set aside. Servants came rushing towards her father, bearing new sets of house clothes.

”The little miss is crying sire” one of the servants said.

”Again?” He looked at Sylvie ”Why?”

Sylvie didn't reply. She just avoided her father's eyes.

Her father walked towards her. He dragged a seat close to Sylvie and sat beside her.

”The other noble children again?”

She nodded ”I don't know why they don't like me. I just want to be friends with them. They shunned me like I was a disease. They called me names...”

”What names?” Her father asked with anger ”What names!?”

Sylvie flinched. ”Deranged thief” She looked down ”They said that the Omniscient is punishing you for stealing in the treasury by making me weird”

A loud slam on the table sounded. Sylvie's eyes went wide. Her father was fuming in anger. ”Shameless gossipers! Shameless all of them. They don't have evidence so why are they acting all high and mighty?” He looked at Sylvie and put his hands on her shoulder ”Sylvie, don't associate with them again. Do not talk to them or believe what they are saying. They are liars! Do you understand?”

Sylvie nodded immediately. She doesn't want to see her father like that. It was terrifying.

But the next day she again went to the other children in the noble's district of Holm. She doens't want to disobey her father but she wanted to try again. Being the only child, she had always been alone. Even if the servants were willing to accommodate his conversational needs, she still felt lonely. It was so lonely. Sometimes she would talk to herself just to pass time.

Hopping on the streets, the strap of a basket was slung on her shoulder. The basket was filled with apples to appease them. If they don't want her, then she will force them to. Sylvie smiled just thinking about their acceptance.

Below a huge tree in the noble's district, the noble children congregated. They were all sons and daughters of Barons just like her. They sat and were talking about something.

”I swear, the princess is beautiful. She'll be mine in the future” said a Baron's son.

”Dream on. Your blood is too low to even talk to her. She'll be married to a son of an Earl”

”Or a prince from other kingdoms” added another noble boy.

”Well I suggest you don't give up in your dreams. As for me, I'll have the prince. And then I will become the Queen!” said a noble girl.

”Or one of the Queens” added the same noble boy.

”Can you please shut up? I will enchant him with my charms that he will only have eyes for me”

”Let's just stop this nonsense dreams. We all know that we are too lowborn to even exist in their presence”

All of them were silent. Awkward smiled formed on their faces as if acknowledging the fact. Sylvie saw the silence as her opportunity to catch their attention.

She cleared her throat and all eyes turned towards her ”The princess is beautiful. But you know what's more beautiful?” She showed them what she brought ”Apples!”

”What are you doing here you deranged thief?”

”Your father is stealing money from the treasury. He is a thief. That makes you a thief. A deranged thief. We don't want no thieves here!”