[Music Recommendation: Dawn of Faith ~ Eternal Eclipse]

Gradually, days turned into weeks, with each passing moon leaving Oriana with one option; fitting into her new life. She tried her best to stay away from the eyes of men; she wasn’t interested in selling her body or even making money. Most of the time, she spent helping out in the kitchen or washing plates, so she didn’t have to stir up any trouble for herself and could avoid bringing any attention to herself. All this she did, waiting for her family to finally regret their actions and call her back home, but none of it happened.

On a bright afternoon, Oriana sat on the small stool provided as she scraped the large pot, which she rinsed afterward. As she was almost done washing, another girl dropped a bowl filled with plates in front of Oriana and, without saying anything, walked away.

The princess inhaled deeply; she really wanted to smack the girl on her face, but it would cause trouble for her. After the last warning she gave them, they had stopped trying to bully her, but that didn’t mean they stopped giving her attitude that showed she wasn’t welcomed.

Oriana sighed, wiping off the sweat on her forehead with the back of her hand as she carried the dishes and started washing them without saying a word. As she was busy with her work, she heard a few girls talking among themselves.

"I will be going to the fair to buy a new dress. I’ve made enough money to even leave this place," Oriana heard one of the girls say.

"What will you do if you finally leave here?" another asked.

"I will obviously open my own inn. Isn’t that great? I can even come and take some of you with me," the girl who now spoke had a high sense of pride in her tone. When her eyes fell on Oriana, she smirked, "Unlike some persons who would rot in a place like this because they’re playing chaste. Teh!"

Oriana almost laughed; she had seen most of the girls dream of leaving this place after making money by selling their body, but it never worked. She didn’t want to be a dream killer, so she just ignored them. But when she saw that the girl was directly trying to shade her with words, Oriana chuckled, shaking her head slightly.

"Did you just laugh at me?" The girl frowned, not liking one bit the look on Oriana’s face.

Oriana continued with what she was doing without replying; she knew exactly what the girl wanted. And it was to stir up non-existent troubles.

"Did you see that? She’s calling me a fool!" The girl exclaimed, now going to where Oriana was sitting, ready to push her shoulder so that a fight could start.

Oriana noticed the girl’s movement, and she grabbed the spatula close to her, gripping it tightly, ready to whack the girl’s head if she made any move on her.

"Ada!" The voice of Louis was heard. "Go and serve the new guests," the older man ordered.

The girl called Ada stared at Oriana for a moment. "Don’t think you’re lucky; I’ll come back for you, I’ll show you that I’m nothing like Kate," the girl threatened before walking away, and the other girls dispersed to continue with their chores.

Oriana smiled, dropping the spatula she was holding. She focused on her work.

"Princess Oriana, can you help me go to the market today? I have more work to do in the kitchen, and I don’t trust these girls with my money," the man who had noticed that if the fight had started, the princess would have beaten the other girl, as he had already heard from his daughter how the princess had singlehandedly dealt with other bullies who tried to cross her before. Though she had been quiet since she arrived, Louis knew that Oriana was a crazy one.

Oriana nodded; she was more than willing to help out in any way. But this would be her first time going to the market since she arrived, and she wasn’t sure if she would know her way around here. "I don’t really know this town so well,"

"Don’t worry about that; my daughter would be taking you there. Freya," Louis called his daughter, who mostly stayed around Oriana, but was always reading books.

The young girl moved her eyes away from her book. "Yes, Pa?"

"Take Princess Oriana to the market. I’ll give her the list and money. Make sure she doesn’t buy more books," Louis said to Oriana as he turned to leave. His daughter held his shirt. The man sighed, "Fine, Princess Oriana, get her some cookies too,"

Oriana saw the girl’s face immediately lit up as she hugged her father tightly.

"Thank you, Pa, I love you," Freya shouted with a bright smile, which her father returned before leaving the place.

Oriana couldn’t help but smile too; she had never experienced these simple things with her own father. For a moment, she thought about her mother and sister before she shook her head. Oriana stood up from her chair, drying her palm which was now looking rough with callouses on both palms. Soon she was on the road to the market with the young girl.

"Can I call you big sister?" Freya asked as they walked in silence. The girl decided to say something.

Oriana turned to look at the girl; she was the same age or younger than Bessie. Yet to understand what had happened with Bessie, Oriana didn’t want to get attached to anyone or even trust people. Though Freya was a sweet girl, she didn’t want to trust anyone.

"No, Oriana is fine," she muttered as they passed the crowded road of the market. Oriana didn’t notice the person who was sitting at a corner with his friend.

Not too far from the road Oriana had just passed, Adric sat with his friend.

"It’s always a pleasure doing business with you, Cortez. My men would come to take the goods back to Avon, but it will take some time no need to rush," Adric said, tapping his hand on the chair.

Cortez nodded before standing up, "If we are done, I’ll be on my way."

Adric narrowed his eyes, "Since when did you leave immediately after business? Let’s go and have some fun."

"I have to go back; let’s have fun next time," Cortez suggested, stretching his hand forward to shake his friend.

Adric chuckled, "You act like you already kept someone at home. Is there something you’re not telling me?"

Cortez chuckled, "Let’s just say I kept a trouble magnet back at home, and I have a feeling she’s living up to her reputation," the merchant replied.

Adric tilted his head to the side, giving his friend a knowing look. "Alright, it sounds like an urgent case of trouble. I’ll be going to Morado soon myself,"

"A piece of advice, the last time I was there, the Princess looks like she already has someone in her heart," Cortez said.

Adric hummed, "Oh really? I’d love to see how true that is myself." He replied, waving at his friend who was now leaving. The Crown Prince exhaled, standing up from the chair he was sitting on as he made his way out of the inn with his personal guard behind him. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

The Crown Prince walked through the stall Oriana was now standing in front of, pricing some goods, but neither of them noticed each other. Adric had already passed when he took a step back.

"Isn’t that the youngest princess of Orion, or am I now seeing things?" He asked his guard, who nodded in reply.

"You’re not; that’s Princess Oriana." Rowan replied.

Adric turned to look at him, "You knew she was in this town?"

"Yes, I think everyone knows that much," The guard replied. "The princess of Orion who was punished to now live with commoners; the news was heard by everyone."

"And you didn’t care to tell me?" Adric frowned, wondering exactly what the girl was being punished for this time around.

"You didn’t want to marry her, so I assumed there was no point in telling you anything concerning her. Since it’s not your problem,"

Adric rubbed his temples; he couldn’t retort because the guard was right, and that was what annoyed him the most. Ignoring Rowan’s words, Adric asked. "What is she being punished for?"

"From the news I gathered, she got caught for writing a fake letter to Avon." Rowan replied.

"She got caught?" Adric raised his brows, "How?"

"I didn’t gather that much, but all I know is Avon took over the case. Her Majesty decided to handle the punishment herself,"

Adric chuckled because it sounded absurd, "And her family accepted?" He asked this knowing how his mother had shown clearly that she didn’t fancy the younger princess.

"Her family accepted, Your Highness. Which is why she is here now." Rowan replied, "Should I call her attention?"

Adric shook his head, "Let her be; let’s leave." He turned without being noticed by Oriana.

"To Morado?" Rowan asked.

"Let’s make a stop first to Avon; I should pay my family a visit." Adric replied.