850 C-5, Sun Month 1, Moon 13
“Where’s breakfast?” demanded a male voice at the far end of the table.
“It’s two in the afternoon. If you wanted breakfast, maybe you should’ve woken up for it,” a female voice replied.
“Shut up. Who do you think pays for this food?”
“I’d love to know because it’s sure not you. When was the last time you worked?”
“I’m the territory lord! Why would I work?!”
“Celestials forbid you try and make this territory profitable...”
“The Celestials themselves wouldn’t be able to make anything off this shitty land,” he spat. “If I’d known that I’d be screwed over with this appointment, I’d never have taken it.”
“And what? You would’ve stayed a low-level magistrate in the royal capital?”
“At least I was respected there,” he grumbled.
“Respected... Sure you were,” she said, rolling her eyes. “They respected you enough to exile you here in all but name.”
“It was a minor setback. I told you. We’re going to regain our honor and wealth someday. I guarantee it.”
“And when’s that going to happen? Do you have some kind of plan?”
“Do you really think I don’t?”
“I’ve grown tired of believing in fantasy,” she sighed.
“Fantasy? The only reason none of my ideas have worked out is because of the incompetence of everyone here! It’s like they were sent here to keep us down! That has to be it. They’re being paid to inhibit me... If they’re being paid, maybe I should raise taxes. It’s only fair considering how much I have to pay the kingdom to keep this worthless territory and my title.”
“Raise taxes even more?” she scoffed. “You’re lucky we just had a new family move in here, and now you want to raise taxes even more?! You truly are an idiot. I have no clue what I ever saw in you.”
“I only married you because your family promised a large dowry. And what did I get instead? Nothing! Squat! All because you had to estrange yourself from your family!”
“Oh, sure. Put the blame on me! You want me to associate myself with a family that supports equal rights for nonhumans, especially beastkin? They’re filthy!”
“They are, but if pretending to be in line with their stupid ideas of equality is all that separates you from a fortune, be an actor!”
“Easy for you to say. You didn’t have those filthy beasts sitting at the same table as you, sharing the same food, speaking our language, and pretending that they’re our equals!”
“I don’t care if you had to lick out of a bowl to drink water like them! You cost us my fortune!”
“Your fortune?! It’s my money!”
“It’s what I’m owed for having to marry you!”
I silently got up from my seat at the table and walked out of the dining room through the familiar noises of argument. My parents arguing might as well be as normal as birds chirping outside. I couldn’t remember a time in my eight years of life when they weren’t arguing.
I walked to the entrance of the house and sat down to put on my shoes. I winced as I bent over, the bruises on my stomach hurting. Usually, these kinds of bruises I’d received from my parents’ “education” healed quickly, but the past few days had been a lot worse than usual.
Despite times like these, I’ve recently found something that could cheer me up. I excitedly exited the house and headed into the forest. About a week ago, I’d come across one of the best things I’d seen in my life: a stick. It was a really, really cool stick, and it was all mine. I’d made sure to keep it in the forest so nobody—especially my parents—would throw it away. Nobody else would really appreciate how amazing it was. It’d take a very special person to do that.
Before I knew it, I was humming and practically skipping toward where I’d left the stick. My spirits felt light, but then I heard a voice. It sounded like a girl, and the direction of her voice sounded like it was coming from... No way, right?
I picked up the pace and moved through the forest, stopping behind a tree near where I’d left the stick. I cautiously peeked over, and there I saw a young girl, maybe just a little older than me, wearing a boyish outfit consisting of shorts, a short-sleeved shirt, and what appeared to be open-toed shoes.
Who dresses like that? Is she one of the farmhand’s kids? No, but they don’t have kids, do they...?
I tried moving a little closer to get a better look, but suddenly, a twig snapped, and her head turned toward me.
I had to say something. I’m sure if I explain that the stick’s mine, she’ll give it back to me.
“U-Um... That stick...”
She tilted her head and began examining it. Her expression changed from confused to pensive to joyful.
“Cool stick, right? I found it!” she said, proudly beaming.
“W-Well, I...” You found it? It’s my stick!
Once again, she tilted her head but soon enough nodded as if she understood something. “Oh, I get it! You want a stick like this too, right? No prob! I’ll help you find one!”
“Th-That stick is...mine.” I looked away, evading her inquisitive eyes.
“It’s yours? Why’s it just lying here, then?”
“My parents say playing with sticks is childish...”
“Uh, aren’t you a child?”
“W-Well, yeah, but...”
“If you’re a child, why can’t you do childish things? My dad always tells me that I should act my age, and I should never let my imagination die. Don’t your parents say the same thing?”
“No, we’re nobles. I-I have to learn how to be an adult.”
She scoffed at my answer. “Well, that’s stupid. What’re you doing here, then? Shouldn’t you be learning how to act like an adult somewhere?”
“Whenever my parents argue, I leave so I can survey the land and our subjects.”
“Subjects?” She tilted her head once more. Then, she began thinking deeply before clapping her hands together as if she figured something out. “Ca’al, right? Are any of your ‘subjects’ in this forest?” She grinned teasingly.
She knows my name? “No... Do I know you?”
“Nah, my parents met yours the other day, and they told me about the only other kid here. The name’s Soreya, by the way! I just moved in next door...well, the house near yours. It’s not like our houses are right next to each other. There’s at least a field’s distance between us...”