"That's what happened, very bad luck on my part, I'm to blame for being curious..." Drying my body, I put on clothes that were in one of the drawers outside the room. After getting dressed... I just wait, setting everything else aside. I missed the prayer night with the other children... "They must be angry," I thought to myself. Right now they must be asleep... I still have a few moments to say goodbye to them, I suppose, in the morning. Sitting on the floor, I wait for the young people from the empire to come out of the bathroom. I didn't want to spend more time with them; from what I saw on the battlefield, I knew immediately that they weren't just simple nobles: "Strong bloodlines, and with them some descendants of the gods. My goodness, what luck I have." I frowned a little... "I could say that I bathed with two beauties, this is the strangest day I've had so far…"
Soon after, the door opened. The first to leave was the young man with blood-red hair. He looked at me, gave a meaningful smile, and continued ahead without saying a word. Leaning against one of the walls, he closed his eyes again.
Getting up quickly, I stayed silent in a corner. A few minutes later, the two young people came out... silently observing them, I could feel the clear difference between us... on one side, there was me, I was one meter sixty... very small for my age, considering I turn 16 in a few hours. It's almost December 31. My clothes were humble: a somewhat neglected black t-shirt, with visible stitching in some areas done by hand. My pants were a bit short, of poor quality, and the fabric was mostly made from cowhide. In short, clothes of a commoner and the bearing of one. I felt very uncomfortable right now; I couldn't complain though—it's what I have.
Old Colder and Sister Jenny have done a lot for me and the other children. We do what we can with what we have. I can't be ungrateful and ashamed of that. I understand that kindness is returned with kindness. I can't understand how Charlotte forgot something so basic. Thanks to Old Colder and Sister Jenny, I know how to read and write, something that, although it seems normal, is very difficult for a commoner to even achieve.
But the difference is huge. Now I think I understand the meaning of feeling inferior on every level. Something insignificant and small, the clothes they wore had some shining jewels, dresses so light and radiant that they seemed to have been made by the most delicate hands in the world. The fabric was of much better quality than mine; it was almost an insult to try to compare. The dress the young woman with blue hair wore was of a celestial navy color, fitted at her waist with a sash. There were some blue and celeste jewels on it. The dress reached her knees, covering her whole body perfectly. It was radiant and beautiful, the epitome of delicacy and beauty...
On the other hand, the young woman with golden hair had long pure white pants, a light green blouse with some bright decorations, a few stones on it, a bracelet on her wrist, and a shining ring on her finger. Just like the young woman with blue hair, she had earrings in her ears that sparkled like diamonds... and she wore glasses, which further highlighted her cold and serene beauty. Red, plump lips and an exquisite face... The young man with red hair was simpler—just a red t-shirt and black pants—but even so, it was clear that the fabric quality was the same as that of his companions.
Looking at myself again... a dark thought passed through my eyes: "I wonder how much one of their jewels is worth…" I'm sure that just with one of them, the orphanage would have no more problems with the winter for a year, besides expanding it a bit and fixing some things in the house, buying presentable clothes and food... and for the children... "Charlotte..." A voice full of growing anger escaped my lips...
"Charlotte?" The young woman with golden hair tilted her head slightly, her eyes shining for a moment: "Oh... my little sister... right, she came from this village, I almost forgot."
Looking directly into her eyes... I already knew that Charlotte was adopted by a noble family, but I didn't expect her to be from one of the houses descended from the gods... I had many questions to ask, but... "What do I have to do? I want to go rest." I was frustrated. Now knowing she came from such a family, what was stopping her from helping the first family that took her in when she was just a baby, that cared for her and protected her when she was nothing, that fed her and cared for her for years...? And in addition to the indifference of the young woman with golden hair... it seems like they don't care about us at all. None of the people who live here seem to care whether we live or die...
The young woman and her friends noticed the frustration in the young man but remained silent. Cristina looked deeply at the young man: "Charlotte never mentioned anything about you. I didn't mean to offend you or anything like that, I was just surprised you knew her. Can I ask how you know her, if you don't mind?"
Looking at what is now Charlotte's sister... "She doesn't seem like a bad person, the problem is her indifferent expression..." Thinking to myself... I stayed silent for a few moments: "I met Charlotte when she was just a baby. I was the one who found her abandoned at the church doors. For me, she was like a friend, since it was just the two of us until that moment. When more children like me and her came to the church, I protected her and took care of her like a little sister until they took her away when she was 10 years old."
"I understand..." The young woman with golden hair stayed silent for a few moments, as if thinking about something. Frowning, she extended her hand, and out of nowhere, some small shining jewels appeared: "Here." She extended her hand: "For taking care of my little sister."
Looking at the shining jewels in her hands... I closed my eyes. Charlotte was very loved by little Ana, she was very loved by the village, she was the star of it. Everyone around always treated her like a princess, after all, she was like a little angel—joyful, gentle, and kind. When they took Ana away, the other children cried a lot for her departure, but we always hoped for at least a letter from her, at least that. But as the years passed, nothing ever came. We never expected money or anything, just letters, nothing more, just for her to tell us how she was doing and how she felt. One day we found out she was adopted by a noble family, and as the days went by, we stopped expecting anything from her. Even little Ana holds resentment, like the other children, including me. The winter two years ago was the worst of all. Little Ana almost died, and the little church almost didn't survive the winter. Luckily, the villagers helped us, donating clothes and some food. We do what we can, help each other, and take care of each other. That's the only way we can survive. Charlotte, the saint of the empire, forgot that we exist, forgot where she came from, and forgot the kindness that was shown to her...