Chapter 1.
Your stomach tightened under your hunger. You felt dizzy, and cold, and the moaning wind did nothing to improve your state. You curled up against the wall scratching your back, almost invisible, stuck as you were in this tight dead-end. Footsteps suddenly brought you back to reality, and your head rose from your light blanket. A mother and her daughter were running to take shelter from the weather, stopping under the awning of a merchant.
You could tell by their clothes that they were from high nobility. The little girl especially, was drawing everybody's attention by how shiny she was. Smiling and laughing of the mess in her hair, she was incredibly joyful and looked like a little sun among the rain. Furthermore, she was wearing the most beautiful dress you've ever seen. It looked soft and warm, and the material was incrusted with diamonds and woven with golden threads. A long ribbon of silk bedecked her waist.
Your eyes darkened under the influence of your jealousy. You weren't a Princess. You were never the royal heroine you heard talk of in the fairytales. You were a tramp. An orphan, thrown away in the street. Nothing more. You barely remembered your early childhood. You just knew that the district where you have been wandering was probably the one where you have born. You kept a rather good memory of the dozens houses with a red light hung out, leaving no doubt about the nature of those establishments. Brothels. Your mother was certainly one of them, and your father a consumer among so many others. It was more than a hypothesis, to be honest. But starving as you were every day since your birth, the uterus from which you get out and the prick which filled it nine months earlier was truly not a matter. You didn't give a fuck about it. Now, it was too late. You were here. And you were planning to stay for a while. « Thanks, Mammy ! »
The Princess's little voice brought you back to reality once more. Her mother just bought her a brioche beaded with sugar. You licked your lips, envious. You could kill for a mouthful. Letting your blanket fall from your shoulders, you stood up.
You were really short, even for a dwarfling. But for once, it could be an advantage, because it allowed you to get unnoticed. You went along the walls, hidden by shadows, and waited for the Princess to get distracted. Her mother was talking to the merchant, not paying attention to her anymore. Finally, a rabbit running near her feet made her lose her concentration on the pastry. You seized your chance and jumped from your hideout, catching the brioche. The Princess's hand instinctively tightened on it, but hopefully, she didn't scream in surprise. Your gazes met, and if you saw surprise in hers, she only got genuine fear in return. Your hand fell from the sweet pastry and you stiffened, getting ready to run. But before you could move, the Princess divided her sugary bread in two, holding out one half to you. You started, but you took the gift anyway before running away without a word. Not that you didn't wanted to thank her, but you were so dumbstruck and stressed that you momentarily lost the ability to came back to your hideout as fast as you could, the pastry held against your chest as is you were protecting your most precious treasure. … Well, in fact, you totally were…
After catching you breath, you took a moment to look at your prize. You were savouring the instant. It was not every day that you get something like this. Finally, you took a bite, and your eyes widened. The flavour was new, soft, and incredibly sweet. The pearls of sugar were deliciously melting on your tongue. Never before you tasted something so damn good.
« You don't like it ? »
You started and screamed at the voice. Just near to you, the little Princess was standing. Strangely, she looked kind of sad.
« They sell some filled with strawberry jam too, but the jam really tastes awful, that's why I already choose a normal one when I come here. »
You stayed silent, not understanding the situation.
« I'm Luvan, she smiled. What's your name ? »
Your eyes darkened again.
« I don't have one. »
« One what ? »
« Name. I don't have a name. »
« Your mammy didn't give you one ? Or you forgot it ? »
« I don't have a mother either. »
She started :
« What ?! You don't have a mammy ?! Really ? »
« No. »
« And a daddy ? »
« No. »
« But… If you don't have parents… How did you born ? Are you… a fairy ?! »
She looked so excited and innocent that you couldn't help smiling.
« I'm not a fairy… Let's say that I've got biological creators… But I don't know them. »
« Oh… So you're an orphan, that's it ? »She looked genuinely sad for your fate, and she finally sat down next to you, her pretty dress getting soiled by mud. You took another tiny bite of pastry, and the Princess spoke again :
« You didn't answer me ! »
« W-What ? About what ? »
« The pastry. You don't like it, do you ? »
« Yes I do. I find it really tasty. »
« So why are you eating it so slowly ? It reminds me when I eat vegetables… I really can't resolve to eat it. »
« I'm savouring. »
« Savouring ? »
« Yes. And the longer you chew, the more sated you'll be. »
« I see… »
« Speaking of the pastry… Why did you shared with me ? You felt sorry for me ? »
« Sorry ? No. I didn't even understand that you were an orphan…When you're nice, you share, that's all. »
« You don't even know me. »
« And so what ? You're hungry, I've got food, I share, that's all. »
« You're… »
She tilted her head, curious.
« I'm what ? »
« … Nice. For a Princess, I mean. Usually the rich girls are real bitches. »
« Ooh ! You guessed that I was a Princess ! How ?! »
« Your dress. It sparkles. »
« Ha, you're right, it's pretty… Mammy will skin me alive when she'll see the mud, by the way… »
You laughed loudly, not excepting this answer.
« Say, Lady Orphan… Do you think we can be friends ? »
« F-Friends ?! How do you want to manage that ?! I mean… We'll probably never meet again. »
« You're wrong ! »
She stood up, her gaze suddenly full of pride.
« I'm Luvan, daughter of Rogon, the King of the Iron Mounts ! I'm not like the rich bitches you've seen earlier in your life, I'm THE Princess ! The only heir of the KING ! So if I decide that I want to play with you, my friend, nobody will stop me ! »
Your eyes widened and your lips parted. This girl was truly amazing.
« And if we are friends, I'll bring your more pastries. »
How could you resist to that ?