I felt a presence behind me.

“Excuse me, girl is your name Moria?’ said the stranger.

I almost jumped in fright and hid behind the well. I peeked at the stranger she wore clothes from the east. Her hair was black and her eyes were brown. She was different like me, but her eyes were not like me. They had confidence that I did not have. But I became alert almost instantly because she knew my name. She also had the aura of a noble.

“Ah I’m sorry, did I startle you. I didn’t introduce myself my name is Emilia. Is your name Moria?” she knelt on the ground.

I immediately came from behind the well, “Yes that’s me um you don’t have to get your dress dirty.” If it had been a man, I would have run away by now. I heard recently that the local Lady was looking for servants specifically cook servants. If I could possibly get that my whole life could be set.

“You are? Wonderful! I am so happy to meet you. I have a prop..” Before she finished I immediately said,” I would love to my lad.” and did my sad attempt at a curtsey remembering that I was wearing pants and decided to bow instead.

“I was not finished. I was trying to ask if would like to be my daughter?” She smiled.

“Um, why would you want me?” I shrugged.

“Ah, how should I fraise this? I’m just going, to be honest since you will need to know everything. I know you are the daughter of the Emperor.” She said softly.

I laughed out loud, “My mother said the same thing. That’s a funny joke.” It had been a while since I laughed that much my stomach started to hurt.

She looked at dead serious. “Moria you are the bastard child of the Emperor Torian of the Empire Sunrose. I swear this on the light God that this is true.”

I was shocked, to swearing on the light God is the greatest of promises. It has to be true since you can die if you lie. But it can’t be all these years of suffering and living like an animal. How could he do that to me? How…I could feel tears welling up in my eyes.

She came close and hugged. She stroked my head, “It's alright to cry just let it out.” She smelled like caramel. I broke down and cried thinking about the time my mom gave me a piece of caramel.

After a while I stopped crying, “Is that why you want me to be your child?"