Eden was just about finished with all her chores for the Rose Clan. Lidia was slumped over the dining table bored out of her mind.

"I think I’m just about done, Miss Lidia. Is there anything else you need from me before I go?"

"No, it’s okay. Thank you for your help as always Eden. Feel free to come back whenever you’d like."

Eden couldn’t help but notice a bit of sorrow in Lidia’s voice. She slowly walked over and sat on the opposite side of the table to face her.

"Is everything okay, Miss Lidia?"

Lidia took a moment to respond.

"I’m just thinking about her again. It’s been years but it still feels like I lost her yesterday. We may not have been related, but she really was like a daughter to me."

Eden knew she was talking about the Rose Clan member who disappeared because the king deemed it necessary.

"If you don’t mind, could you share the story of what happened with me? I have a feeling it might make you feel a little better."

"As long as you don’t mind a sob story, be my guest."

"I’m here for you, Miss Lidia."

Lidia sighed and began speaking.

"Hurry up and move those carts! We hardly have any daylight left and we still got six loads left!"

"Miss Lidia, we’re exhausted! Why is the king making us work overtime all of a sudden? Is the end of the world upon us or something?!"

"No complaints or I’m making you take one back yourself! Hurry up and help the others out!"

The man slouched and walked toward a cart full of crops to help his friends. Lidia got in front of a cart on her own and heaved it forward. This was a very common thing for her to do since the fields were always understaffed with people. Her and her ten other noble family members could only do so much with their powers.

After a few trips to and from the kingdom, Lidia brought the final cart back by herself. After she dropped the cart off in the plaza, she decided to stick around and help unload all the crops for the people. However, when she jumped in the cart to grab her first handful, there a was deathly thin girl chewing on a raw potato with all her strength.

When she noticed Lidia spot her, she jumped off the cart and ran away with the potato in her hand.

"Hey, wait! Come back here!"

The little girl didn’t listen and kept running forward. However, being so malnourished, she hardly made it twenty feet before curling up in a ball and hugging her food tight. Lidia slowly walked over to her and bent down. The girl looked to be in her teens. Her hair was dark brown, oily and knotted, her skin had dirt all over it like she was working in the fields with them, her clothes were torn and battered, she had bruises all over her body and face. In every sense of the word, she looked dead.

"Oh, my goodness. What happened to you?"

Lidia bent down to try and comfort her, but the woman flinched at her hand. Lidia decided to slowly back away and come back with more crops from the cart: carrots, radishes and some turnips. Instead of handing them to the girl, she slowly set them on the ground where she could see it and backed up slightly to give her space.

The girl looked through her messy hair at the food and hesitantly started picking at it. Soon, she got enough confidence to devour all of the food whole. Lidia smiled at the sight of it.

"I’m glad you like it. As a thank you, can you tell me your name when you’re done?"

The girl started panting from her small feast, trying to catch her breath. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"M-my name?"

"Yes! It’s like the thing people call you to get your attention."

The girl remained silent for a bit, staring at the ground.

"Why did you help me? You’re a noble, right?"

Lidia started chuckling slightly.

"Answer my question first and I’ll answer yours next!"

"... my name is Iris."

"Hm, Iris? That’s a lovely name you got there! My name is Lidia, nice to meet you!"

Iris remained motionless, still staring at the ground with a look of sorrow.

"Well, I helped you because you looked like you needed help! Why would I not help you?"

"...because no one helps you if you aren’t valuable to them. Normally they expect something in return. So, what do you want from me?"

Lidia started laughing.

"I don’t need anything from you; I just wanted to make sure you were okay!"

Lidia started walking away.

"W-wait."

Lidia turned around hearing the girl’s voice.

"Do you have any more food?"

A small smile appeared across Lidia’s face.

"I fed you enough to keep you good for a few days. If you want more, you’re going to have to follow me."

Iris looked up from the ground at Lidia.

"W-what do you mean follow you? Where are you going to take me?"

"Hm... I guess you’re going to have to find out, right? I would just rather not keep giving you dirt covered vegetables is all. Besides, if you have to return home, I understand."

"I’m never returning there again. I’d rather starve."

Lidia began walking again.

"Well, I gave you your choice. I hope you find the strength to choose in the next few moments. I’ve been known to be a fast walker!"

Iris stared at Lidia’s back as she walked away. Desperation grasped her heart. Following Lidia seemed much better than needing to sleep on the streets another night. As Iris went to catch up with Lidia, she tripped and fell on the stone street. When she hit the ground, her leg completely snapped. Her bones had become so fragile from the lack of food, a small force broke them easily.

Iris started to black out from the pain. She tried calling out to Lidia, but her throat was dryer than a desert. All that came out of her mouth was air. Not long after, she lost consciousness laying in the street.

When she opened her eyes once more, she found herself laying in a large bed with clean white sheets. She felt much cleaner; she was wearing a large red nightdress that covered every part of her body, and her hair was completely unknotted. When she looked at herself through a large mirror in the corner of the room, she could hardly recognize the reflection.

’What the hell happened to me?’

Even her leg seemed to magically heal while she was passed out. Suddenly, Lidia came through the door holding a wide variety of food and a large glass of water.

"Hey! You’re finally awake, Iris!"

"Is that food for me?!"

Lidia placed the tray down in front of her.

"I thought you would be hungry and thirsty when you woke up. Eat up, we have a little bit to discuss!"