"Have you ever feel so embarrassed and small that you just want to end there".

**splashes water**

"beggars should know their places, how there you try to seduce my son! you rotten girl!", an old lady shouted.

" I only gave him back his coat he lend me yesterday"

"Hah! do you think you can fool me? why would my son lend such a beggar his coat?"

" I'm telling the-"

" I'm sorry on behalf of her bad behaviour! please forgive us!"

"hah! fine, but make sure to displine her when you get back, if she try to get near my son again, i wouldn't forgive you" **walks away**

Anna sighs," Anne my dear, just what were you doing?"

"I was just giving him back his coat! whats so wrong about that!" **pout**

" okay, i get it.. but make sure this wouldn't happen again next time."

"... why are we treated differently just because we're orphans"

Anna kept quiet and doesn't say anything more as we walk home.

"Shh, be quiet, if you wake Mother Reina up, she'll definitely scold you!" Anna whispers to me.

I went to my room and dry myself up quickly thinking I'd definitely be late for the class.

After I've finished drying myself up, I take a little peek into the class. I could see that Mother Karina's taking the class. She is the most strict person in the church and everyone do not dare to disobey her.

I sneak into the class carefully, thinking I wouldn't be seen.

Just then..

"Anne Louis"

I shivered

"yes, Mother Karina"

"you may not take the class today as you are late".

I look down and I know that everybody in the class are looking at me.

"yes Mother Karina".

**closes door**

**smiles**. "Haha! Now I have a free time!"

"not really Anne" Anna came towards me. "Mother Karina told me to tell you that you need to clean the clothes today as your punishment"

"Humph!"

" should i help?"

"of course!"

"i was just kidding, Mother Karina does not allow that, anyway good luck!". **walks away**

"seriousely.."

"Someday, i'll get out of this place and have a wonderful adventure".

I look at the sky thinking about something. Before i realize, it was already night.

"Children! go to your room, its time for bed!"

"The moon is so beautiful tonight".

"Its as if it is trying to tell me something"

"I want to get out.."

"hmm... sister Anne..is something the matter?"

**smile** Nothing!

"Abbie today, i'm gonna go out of the cage and find something new"

"what do you mean..?"

"I don't want to spend my entire life living in the church and become a nun. I want to choose what i want to be because i will never be happy living my life always following others."

"Tell the others that i am very thankful for raising me when i don't have anyone"

"And tell them that i will definitely come back someday and bring lots of delicious foods and jewelries"

"I will tell you all about my adventures there"

"I will always be thankful and never forget who i was."

"Sister Anne, are you going somewhere for a long time..?"

**smiles** "yes".

"Then, i'll give you this, i made it today, isin't beautiful?"

"..yes"

"thank you.."

**Abbie smiles**

"good!"

"be careful"

I pack my things and headed out quietly.

When i finally got out, i could feel the breeze and the sound of the water dropping as there was a small lake nearby.

I thought to myself how brave i was.

Looking at the moon, i felt relieved. I look back just once, i would've become a different person when i visit the church again.

"From today onward, i will become 'Kara Anne Louis'. I will no longer be Anne louis anymore."

\*

I suddenly woke up not knowing where i am. The place where i slept was in the grass beneath a big tree. I do remember, I was in a ship and then i got off and.. nothing else i could remember.

Just then, i hear a footstep coming. I don't really know this place so i just hide in the tree.

"come out!"

"are you an intruder?"

Hearing his voice, he seems to be around 18 years old perhaps. Maybe, it wouldn't be too bad to just reveal myself instead of running away. He could be just some commoner.

So i slowly turn around..

"..."

A tall man with green eyes and hair.

"puff! haha! so hilarious!", he laughed.

I my face got blank in confusion, even though i met for the first time only he's got the serious face as if he was ready to kill someone before he laughed. He doesn't seem like the a man who would just laugh off.

"are you a lion? or a gorilla? your hair looks like a bird's nest!" he laughed harder.

By this time, all my nervousness and fear are all gone and now i got a little mad and hurriedly fix my hair.

"Now, do i still look like a gorilla to you?"

"hm, no..."

"my name is Kara Anne Louis, and i come from the Juria Kingdom and as far as i know this place is definitely not the Juria Kingdom right?"

"..."

His face looked as if he sees an enemy and hold his sword saying

"This is the Alynthia Kingdom and why are you here. Especially in the dukedom.?"

"I am truly sorry to have slept here in the dukedom without anyones permission."

"go back to where you are and if i see your face again, i'll definitely kill you, is that clear?", he glared.

"...yes, but i came all the way here from the Juria kingdom and.. i have no plans to go back either but i will leave your dukedom."

"..you ran away? or you were evacuated from the kingdom and come here."

"i..you can say i ran away from home."

"stupid..no children would ran away from their homes you just don't know how dangerous the outside place is."

"...i know that but i still chose to run away because i want to live on my own."

"how old are you" he asked with suspicion.

"14 years old"

Just then, he was about say something but someone called him and he seems to be his butler or something.

Of course, i tried to sneak away but he grabbed me in the clothes and drag me along with him.

"e-excuse me, but you are not suppose to just touch a lady! sir!", i shouted and bite his arm.

That was the moment i knew, i'm done for.

He drag me inside and throw me to the floor inside a big mansion.

"young master, he is just a kid! please be merciful to her" his butler shouted.

He glared at his butler with a scary look on his face, he then kept quiet.

"You look a lot like someone i know from a long time ago so you can stay the night here"

I was so confused but not happy at all. But i just can't refuse looking at his scary face saying he could kill me in just a second.

"..yes, but only for this night, right?"

"of course, i don't want such a dirty maid like you"

I got a little furious by that time, but i just kept quiet as i don't want to cause a trouble.

He called the maids and tell them to bath me but i refuse as i always take bath myself and i just don't like it when others touch me too much.

After the bath, i got eat some delicious food made by a chef and finally sleep peacefully in the guest room.

No, of course not! how could i just be so comfortable in a stranger's house and many other maids and workers were staring and whispering while i was eating and i didn't get to eat much because it was so uncomfortable. Although i am alone now, i don't get used to sleeping in a fluffy and silky bed and i cannot make too much noise as there are three guards guarding me the whole night.

\* \* \* \* \* \*

It was already afternoon when i woke up. I was confused why they didn't wake me up at all but i hurriedly pack my things and slowly half opened the door.

I peak a little and did not see anyone around so i quickly ran to the balcony and then jump down. I was relieved. The reason i just sneak away like this is because i want to avoid everyone in the mansion because i couldn't imagine myself seeing him again and the maids as well. Anyway, i left a little note on my room so i hope they understood.

After i left the dukedom, i was already starving so i take a little break in a shop nearby.

As the drink and food i ordered came and i eat, i thought about the church and my old friends. They must be worried thinking about how a 14 year old girl could just set out and live by herself. I also thought about it too and i don't even have any plans on where i wanna go, and also when i got out of money what will i do?

I'll just become a homeless beggar like before. I sigh deeply and out of nowhere, the shop owner asked me what had happened to me because i look so troubled and worried.

"its nothing much.." i replied.

He then asked where i come from and when i told him about my home town and all he kept quiet for a while and looks worried and troubled.

"Is there something wrong?", i asked.

"Young lady, you must get out of this kingdom before he sees you." he told me.

"why? who is he you talking about?"

"Archduke Xavier Von Fernandes, he is a cruel man to all mankind to be honest thats what the rumors says about.. i heard he killed many people in the Juria kingdom, i heard the reason he killed many people there, is because he holds a deep grudge to the people living in the Juria kingdom"

" Archduke Karl take him as his child and inherit him as the next Archduke. He was appointed as the Archduke when he was just 16 because Archduke Karl died because of an illness. In the past two years he has been torturing lots of people from the Juria kingdom and the people who betrayed and disobeys him."

"How come i never heard of him at home or in the town?"

"Are you perhaps from the church there in the kingdom?"

"yes"

"Maybe thats why because he does not harm people from the church. But i don't know the reason either."

After all i've heard about that Archduke, i feel a little scared but as i am from the church and if i did not meet him i will definitely be safe anyway. The shop owner lowered the pay and then i began to start my journey.

To be precise, i do collect some money from working at different shops. And also have a small home of my own when i turned 16. You may think of where i must've been living in the past two years, i don't live anywhere else, i just used to rent a small room from one of the shop owners i work at.

I thought to myself, if i collect a lot of money and even made my own designer shop since i loved designing things, i will definitely live my life to the fullest.

Although it was not an easy thing to do.

One afternoon, a shop owner ask me if i could wash the clothes for her as she was busy staying at the shop and have to look after her kids. As i am a capable person i agreed and it was also not for free of course, i ask for a 600 ounces of gold for washing her clothes and she agreed!

After finish washing all the clothes, I was so tired already by that time and i just lay down on the pond nearby and look at the clear beautiful sky.

I felt kind of proud of myself of how far i've gone without anyone beside me. I was even called the 'Beauty and Mighty of our town' i never think i'd get famous for my appearance and my hard-work, but i do help a lot of people in the town and even some of the nobles.

I didn't regret living in the Alynthia kingdom because the people there does not treat me like a beggar unlike in Juria.