Chapter 45 Orphan

Aillenne went out of the greenhouse and immediately asked for directions for the powder room and asked for a basin of water. She immediately doused her skin and washed off the sticky feeling off her body.

It actually feels like having a paste all over the body, and as the rays of the sun hit the skin. It felt like there are cracks and crisps all around the area when I move around.

She cleaned again for the last time and patted her skin dry. She looked at herself over the mirror, surely her skin have red spots. It looked weird.

Aillenne's body is so white and having red spots made her looked like a person with skin disease.

Sigh...

It was never a good thing to be associated with the prince. No, I shouldn't have come to the palace. Can I find a way to reject his invitations?

Sigh...

He may looked handsome but he looked more like a hungry wolf. Hmmm.

Aillenne who finished cleaning and grooming herself proceed her walk. From the crown prince palace who stood proud and oozing of splendor, everything made my eyes shine. It is such a beautiful place to lay my eyes on.

The beautiful artificial flowers and the trees that barely had leaves, ...all it looked is beauty and a tinge of romantic atmosphere that lay down the path.

The imperial palace seems so peaceful, the flowers in bloom were sparse due to the heat and the number of trees that gave off shade. It may be too hot, but Aillenne didn't mind. The hot weather is normal from the place she used to live.

She walked aimlessly and alone trying to erase the memories she had experienced. She's afraid to let someone near as they might see the marks and as advised by Derrick.

"Don't let anybody see these marks, Aillenne... and please, limit your interaction with His Highness. I don't want to see you in harms way."

"Yes, I understand Derrick. Thank you for worrying."

As she walked along the path, she remembered her conversation with Coral, her personal maid.

"My lady, what's your relationship with His Highness? It seems like you've become closer than in the past."

Do we? That's one thing I really wanted to know. But...

"Hmm... I think it's similar to a superior and subordinate? Well I'm a citizen of the empire and it's His royal duty to know about the problems of the people?"

... let's play safe.

"Problems? Well... ahh... okay. I understand now, My lady. But, I hope you'll get more closer to him than you are now."

I have been hearing this for a while now. Is it because I am fated to be the crown princess-empress candidate?

"Why?"

"Because, if my lady became closer to the prince, wouldn't that be one step towards attaining your and master's dream? Besides, if you have good relationship with His Highness, you'll gain the Marquis' and Marchioness' attention."

"I don't need it anymore."

"Hmm? Don't say that, my lady. You even have an inseparable relationship with them. Even if the masters were acting like that, let us just understand them. They may have a reason for doing so."

She just nodded as if she understood.

Aillenne didn't knew much about relationships because the orphanage doesn't teach about such. The children were left ignorant for the benefit of the adults. The thought about family is prohibited inside the place as children were taught to be independent for themselves, but should be dependent to adults. It is such a complicated logic if you think about deeply, but since the children were made to be ignorant, they believe so.

The children do the chores, bake and sell goods, then work again, eat and sleep. They bear the weight of labor yet could barely get the money. They will only return to the orphanage when the world almost became dark. The routine is as usual but the children were shuffled on where to work the next day.

There is no learning as the orphanage is poor and the government is corrupt and pay no mind to orphan children in the orphanage. There were only limited amount of books and the time were stolen not for learning but for work. Work, work and work.

However, Sierra's much better than other kids since she can read, write and do practical things.

She was transmigrated at 16, but the learning she had is limited with no proper education. The only thing the children was taught is to accept a man's touch and please others, and other than that is work.

Considering that she doesn't know much, she was glad to be able to learn properly in this world.

Aillenne looked up the sky. She felt resentful but at the same time, she couldn't help but feel blessed. Here she can study all she want, eat whatever she wanted, play however she can and almost do what she can't do in the past.

I am skeptical though, of all people why should it be me?

Sierra Zynne lived in the orphanage since she's a baby. She didn't know who her parents were and she were only left wrapped in the white cloth while shivering in front of the cold door of the orphanage. If elder Begonia, the children's caretaker, were one step late, she might end up freezing.

Aillenne and Sierra had the same birthdate. I don't know if it's too much of a coincidence, but living in another world far from where I used to is much peculiar than anything.

Nevertheless, her life now is better. All she needs to do is escape the plot and live happily.

Yes, that's my only wish.