“Papa…” Ryunise couldn’t help but giggle.

“Be on your best behavior now,” He chuckled.

“What? But I’m always well-behaved. I can’t help what happens when other people have a problem.”

“Very good, my daughter,” Her father smiles, “Remember what I told you?”

“About trash, Papa?”

“Yes. About trash. Make sure not to be touched by trash. Make sure not to associate with trash. Don’t talk to trash. Because trash is trash, and they’re all trash.”

The driver and coachman made funny faces at each other, hearing their master excessively talk about trash. They silently laughed behind a hand and waved at their young Miss.

“Really, Papa. I think you need to get checked up by Doctor Ramoul for that.”

“About what?” He tilted his head innocently.

“Never mind.”

Marcaes drew her to him and kissed her forehead. Ryunise eyes opened a little, in pure surprise, and she couldn’t help it. It was so loving and sincere it made her feel completely relaxed and safe. Has she ever had this in her previous life…? It would be nice if that were true.

“Be eased, Ryunise,” He said.

“Be eased, Papa,” She returned and smiled at him prettily. It was almost breath-taking and stunning in her father’s eyes.

“…you are so cute!!”

“Oomph!” She muffled squeaks when she was squeezed instantly into his chest, “Papa…!?”

“My cute, adorable, darling daughter!!”

“Gods and Goddesses, Papa, leggo!”

The rules for entering the Church was to carry your invitation. He saw her to the public entrance hand in hand. The doors were immense; double doors shaming thirty feet high and each fifteen feet wide. They were accompanied by one smaller door each situated behind an elaborate guard shack. The holy ordained soldiers recognized Marcaes Emerodelle instantly and bowed with a hand over their chest. One was trained personally by him years ago, and the other heard his history and accomplishments, so their bows were especially deeper in their respect.

“Okay, Papa. I’ll see you later,” She waved her hand at him.

“Bye, sweetie.”

Ryunise picked up her skirt properly and ascended the large, long steps. One approached her and greeted respectfully, but had a hint of curiosity at the young girl. He asked her for an invitation and she presented the wine-dyed envelope. The man was caught off a little at seeing it and the silver knitted trimmings. With a hand he signaled to his partner, who also made a second signal, and the doors were opened.

She stepped in and looked straight up first. The ceilings were unbelievably high, steal-the-air-from-your-lungs high, and held up by quartz marble pillars that seemed to have grown marble branches as if real trees in beautiful threaded archways. The floors were glassy ivory shot with bolts of mineral red that glittered faintly in the light. Grand carpets of merlot were rolled in one continuous motion down every hallway as if poured uninterrupted from a freshly opened bottle. The very air even smelled of it with hints of vanilla oaks.

“Umm…” She mumbled very softly. As if she didn’t feel short enough, being here made her feel like a mouse.

Ryunise opened her invitation and tried to glance through it. Despite carefully reading the message, it didn’t tell her where to go. There were people leisurely strolling around, speaking in small groups, in pairs, or trailed to where they needed to go with purpose. Robed scholars, apprentices, masters, nobles, politicians, official government workers, lower clergy, all adults, but none she felt she could ask. She was the only child, and unaccompanied. In the Church it probably was frowned upon.

Upon her entering, she didn’t realize it at first. Every single gaze stabbed the corner of everyone’s eye to stare at her. Every adult may be masters at subtle side eye, but Ryunise could read the atmosphere as plain as the skies.

Before she could sigh in quiet exasperation, a brazen voice brayed like an untuned trumpet aimed straight for her.

“Who the hell is this pipsqueak? Don’t people know you can’t bring rodents inside?”

Oh ho. Really?

Ryunise told herself not to even bother looking. She simply drew her light shawl around her shoulders, casually re-folded her invitation, and pivoted her shoes forward. There was a tickle of snickering from the adults, who were apparently all male. Interesting, she thought.

“Someone go find a cat and chase that mouse out!”

She rolled her eyes. There were footsteps pursuing her smaller ones. Just keep walking. Any direction should be fine.

“Wow. Its ears must be so tiny. Maybe it’s deaf. Lost and deaf, the poor thing.”

Sigh. In a church, of all places. Ryunise’s body may be quite small, but she’s only ten.

“Hey, don’t get too close. You might catch a disease.”

“Yeah. Don’t you know all rodents carry diseases? They’re always scurrying under people’s feet.”

“Eww, that sounds disgusting. They should’ve just stomped on its head!”

Oh goody. It’s a pack of gaggling, giggling youngsters. Gross. I think I’m going to be sick, she thought to herself.

Eventually she found herself surrounded, the side of her profile in line with a niche. They were a little ways down from the entrance of the Church, just around a corner. Damn. Maybe this way wasn’t exactly the best direction to pick. Not that she was counting on any real adult to do anything.

This was off public hours, meaning only those with exclusive invitations are allowed to be here. Normally that would speak for itself and be enough to keep anyone from asking questions, but not these types. Off hours usually meant the arrogant and aristocratic of the castes would pitter around, sometimes for hours, and use it as ammo for future civil conversations to amaze and flaunt. Off hours also meant less security patrolling the halls.

“Look. I think this little baby’s scared!”

“She’s so short. Maybe I should make her be a maid for me!”

“Nah! I think you should use this thing as a foot stool. Didn’t you say you needed one?”

“I need one! My father said I could have anybody as my servant. I think this little bitch would be happy if I offered her the job!”

“Just awful! Are you into things that look like mini shits from bigger shits?”

“Hmm…” One of them said, a hand under his chin, “The face isn’t too bad. Those green eyes are decent. Maybe I should snatch them out and put them into one of my sister’s dolls. She’s been bitching that none of hers are life-like enough!”

“Careful. It might be infected with sewage. She’s so dirty. Don’t even know where this bitch’s been!”

“Oh, we all definitely know where it’s been. Between some whore’s legs, obviously!”

The crass gang of eight teenage boys roared their heads back laughing. They’ve been talking so loudly. Clearly there was no authorities in the general area. The halls also had decent acoustics, so that meant this wing was without. Each one was at least fourteen, and younger than sixteen. Their outfits were gaudy and obnoxious, thick with silk and fineries, and dripping with noble familial arrogancy. Not that she cared.

Ryunise briefly sighed. She was exhausted. Up since before dawn, a long and annoying carriage ride, an overbearing but loving father, she was just tired. It would be nice if she at least knew where to go. If she had to choose, even if he was the most irritating person she’s ever met, she would rather deal with Epsilon than waste her precious minutes on such high-classed cretins.

“Gentleman, did you see that?” One smirked.

“Yeah. I see she’s breathing my precious air,” Another snickers.

“Wait, I thought mice don’t need to breathe?”

“You’re thinking about roaches, Kole.”

“Maybe she’s really a roach under that ridiculous get-up.”

“Not much of a disguise!” They laughed again.

Ryunise still didn’t respond. She wasn’t even angry. Their game was pathetically weak she almost felt pity. Just almost. But it was getting late. The girl turned to walk away, but got blocked.

“Hey. How dare you ignore us. Don’t you have any idea who we are?”

“You really have no manners.”

“I think we should teach her some! Especially if she’s going to be a maid for one of us!”

“Trash is only good at being just trash,” Ryunise finally spoke, “Trash are incapable of teaching anything, let alone manners.”

The boys stood there, stunned, and gaping.

“What?”

“What did you say?”

“It’s no one’s fault if trash can’t understand plain language,” She simply said, “Because trash have no ears.”

“How dare you…?!” They looked horrified, red, or purple in the face with burbling rage.

“I dare,” She said with a straight posture, “I dare against trash everywhere.”

“…this…” An older teen, meaty, stalky, and more enraged than his friends, “This bitch! Hah! Let’s see if you have the cheek to talk back when you become my slave!”

“Slavery has been abolished for exactly 110 years. The mention of ‘slavery,’ even as a joke, is considered a capital crime that’s heavily enforced. Besides, trash can never afford me,” Her voice was cool and flat.

“Bitch,” He approached and lifted a thick hand lined with rings, “How dare you talk to me that way! I’ll show you!”

“I wouldn’t suggest you do that,” Ryunise said.

“You shut the hell up! I am Hearst Jacobson, sole heir to the greatest house: Oceallist!”

“You tell this bitch, Hearst!!”

“Yeah! Teach this bitch!”

Oh great. The trash has trash cheerleaders. What a headache.

“I’ve been blessed by the Goddess Kriverla! And I have the highest affinity in this kingdom! You will bow to me, rags, commoner filth, and all!” Hearst hollered in his puffed chest and frills.

“Mess her up!”

Ryunise steeled her eyes, and her frame followed. She wasn’t going to back down. Bring it.