/About three hundred years ago/

At that time, people still lived in peace and almost all races existed as a single symbiosis. Except for ogres, trolls, and witches. The former were too brainless, the latter just liked to play pranks, doing dirty tricks to ordinary people, because of this they were not loved. And witches... witches were just on their own, but due to the fact that they used black magic, love spells and curses, they were despised.

Although the lands were geographically divided by invisible borders, but people and creatures of different races could live wherever they pleased. This applied to everyone except the elves. Their existence was initially isolated, although at that time it was still easier to get to them.

Vampires did not exist then, so people did not feel fear and lived in harmony with each other and nature.

In higher esteem than the rest was a race of wizards led by King Tristan and Queen Joanna. They were wise rulers who maintained the whole world and order.

There were two children in their family – Prince Rafael and Princess Amanda, who were loved by everyone without exception, because they were the kindest-hearted children. Responsive, selfless and noble despite their young age. From early childhood, their parents instilled in them the idea that they were free to choose who they should be in life, but there was one very significant nuance that greatly depressed Raphael as a teenager.

And this nuance was procreation. The wizard’s power passed exclusively within the race, so the royal family could not afford to mix blood and they passed this way of life from generation to generation so that their power did not lose its power and so that their kind did not cease to exist in the saddest way.

Wizards were very powerful, but their lifespan was no different from that of an ordinary person. It was in this capacity that they were inferior to the elves, who could live for many hundreds of years, but were also not immortal.

And there was mutual understanding and mutual assistance between all races.

Exactly until the daughter of the then supreme witch matured and began to aim for her mother’s place. It was a turning point that did not catch anyone’s attention, as it was a common occurrence.

But no one took into account that young Lillian was initially endowed with not the best human qualities in abundance. She was more envious, selfish and arrogant than the rest of the witches, she was alien to excessive compassion, and especially she was annoyed by wizards and elves, whose power caused her envy and desire to possess her.

Raphael was seventeen when he met Artemis, she was a year younger. Everything happened by accident and banal.

When he bumped into her on the market street, she dropped out of her hands the products that she had come to buy on her mother’s instructions. Her gaze was immediately attracted by a young guy who was very cleanly and neatly dressed, and the fabric of his clothes looked very expensive, as if he was an aristocrat.

At first she was afraid of her act, as she did not look around when she walked, but then she was taken aback when he began to pick up dusty vegetables from the floor, completely not thinking that his perfect hands could be dirty.

- I’m really sorry that I pushed you. I should have been more careful. – he said and scratched his head, smiling.

His smile was like the bright sun at noon, which is capable of blinding anyone who looks at him openly.

- Oh, it’s not your fault, it’s my fault. - Artemis hastened to say and, with a slight tremor of her hand, dropped the groceries again, causing the guy to burst out laughing.

But this laugh did not cause her a feeling of awkwardness or shame for her crooked hands, but on the contrary, she felt that he was not looking down at her or condemning. As a result, he once again helped her to collect everything that she had dropped.

- This is a rather meager grocery set. – the guy suddenly said, without saying anything about the appearance of the girl who walked in a washed faded dress with a certain number of patches in places where the fabric was worn out the most.

- This is enough to cook soup for one family for four days.

- This? For the whole family? For four days? – his eyeballs were rounded to the point that they were ready to fall out of their sockets.

He noticed that the girl’s eyes were downcast.

- Wait here, I’ll be right there. – he said. – Promise that you won’t go anywhere, otherwise I will report you to the guards that you pushed me.

His eyes flashed frighteningly, and then he burst out laughing at the horror on the girl’s face. His face regained its former benevolent expression and he left, leaving Artemis standing in the place where she was, surrounded by a crowd of big-eyed passers-by.

She shifted from one foot to the other, worried that she would be late and her mother would scold her, since her mother always had an excessive sense of worry for her daughter.

But soon the guy came back again, smiling all over his mouth, shining like the brightest star, and in his hands he had a huge basket with the best fruits, vegetables and meat products that she had ever seen.

- Here, take this and take it to your family. – he said, handing her a heavy basket, which she could hardly hold.

Raphael noticed that the girl hesitated, not wanting to accept a gift from him.

- I was the one who pushed you and now the tomatoes you bought look battered and cracked. So this is as an apology. You’ll accept it, won’t you? - he froze, a little nervous because she looked discouraged.

- It’s too much, I can’t take it all.

- You’ve already accepted, since you’re holding a basket in your hands. - Raphael said and noticed how she was trying to give it back, but he took a step back, noticing that she almost dropped this basket too. – If you drop it now or leave it somewhere, I will consider it as a personal insult.

The girl frowned in surprise, but quickly assessing the situation, decided not to argue, accepting it as a gift from the gods.

- Well, then, I’ll just thank you for your generosity, milord. – she tried to bow, but because of the burden in her hands, it was problematic to do so.

- Call me Raphael. - She lifted her head, sealing his image in her eyes.

- I... - she wanted to correct him, because it was wrong because of their situation.

- What’s your name? - he interrupted her.

- A... Ar... Artemis. - she stuttered, not knowing why she was so worried.

- You have a beautiful name, Artemis! – the guy smiled. - Take these products home and eat plenty with your family, since you are as thin as a reed.

She nodded sheepishly and thanked him, preparing to leave.

- Wait. - he touched her forearm lightly, not insulting her. - Open it when you’re alone.

He shoved something into her apron pocket and smiled again, waved his hand and left, disappearing from her eyes.

Artemis was still shocked by this strange meeting and this weighty gift that she did not deserve, but still there was no choice and she went home.

At home, mom, of course, arranged for her daughter to be interrogated about the appearance in their house of so much food that they could never afford. Fortunately for Those, her mother was a good woman and although she did not like the fact that it could put her in front of some obligations, she still let go of the situation this time and for the first time in her life, she learned what it was to eat plenty of very tasty food. It was the best day of her life, and the delicious food lifted her mother’s mood as well.

Artemis entered her small room and put her hand into her apron, feeling for the rough paper there. Taking it out of his pocket, it turned out that something was wrapped in paper.

Curiosity got the better of her and she climbed onto the bed, rustling paper, unwrapping the treasure hidden inside.

Inside was a generous handful of dried candied berries, raisins and dates.

Artemis felt tears running down her cheeks as she put one date in her mouth. It was too sweet and too good for her to believe she was tasting such food.

Sweets and desserts were too expensive, so only rich people, to whom she did not belong, could afford such food. And raisins and dates were products imported from abroad and cost a fortune. Even their tiny house could not pay for this handful of dried fruits.

She doubted whether to treat her mother, because it would expose her to questioning again, but realized that she would not be able to forgive herself if her mother did not try these desserts.

And while Temi indulged in the enjoyment of food, Raphael indulged in his own feelings, which shouted to him that he was irrevocably lost in the charming eyes of Artemis. He did not care at all about her appearance and her material condition. He only cared that she ate well and smiled more often. It was love at first sight, from her first breath, when he accidentally touched her in the market.

This was his fate, which he did not want to let go, and therefore followed her unnoticed to her house, like some kind of maniac. But his thoughts were pure in relation to Artemis, he just wanted to see her again, touch her brown hair, drown in her unearthly eyes.