She strode towards me with purpose and a sharp look. I almost got the urge to turn and walk away, but I have the feeling she would come running after me.  

"Hello."  

The girl said, as she put her hand out. Why would she do that? What does she want? 

 "I don't have any food."  

I found myself replying. "I wasn't asking for food," she said.  

"My name is Colette, and yours?" A pause followed.  

"R.. Rubellian."  

"Are you hungry Rubellian?" 

It was a question many had asked before. Each one out of malice. When I went to town, people would offer food. In return for something. They figured; I would take on any job for a crumble of bread. They were right sometimes. Slipping poison in someone's food, assassinating people at night, that was the only way to feed mother. They told me I wasn't fit to clean, since filth would only make things filthier. I think that was the first lesson I ever learned; 

 "Trash takes care of other trash. ..but you're not trash." Rubellian paused. 

"What do you get from talking to me?"    

The answer that I received was not what I expected, since most people I meet dance around the truth.  

"I feel better when I'm nice to people worse off than me." She smiled.  

"So, do you want cake?" She plopped down on the ground, with one big huff, muddying her clothes. Which looked way more expensive than mine. She took her little bag and zipped it open, taking out a large piece of cake.  

"Here you go." I took it hesitantly, it was pointy and jiggly. It wasn't like bread.  

"It's strawberry." She said as she saw my expression.  

"Go on, you'll like it." So before I could protest, my growling stomach repeated after her. It landed in my mouth and.. It was..  

"jum... jum.... jum.... thwis iws nwot lwike brwead."  

"Ha! Told you, you'd like it." 

While I was still licking my hands off from the leftover cake, Colette started asking me questions.  

"Have you really never had cake before? But you life close to the palace. I heard they have the best pâtissiers in the entire empire!"  

I sat down next to her, I probably shouldn't, because I smell, but after today's events, I couldn't help but answer.  

"They said someone like me doesn't deserve a meal. I've never been invited to that place." 

"Really..? But that's-! That's so unfair! Everyone deserves a good meal. I eat one cake a day, to keep the sadness away." 

"That's easy for you to say." I found myself snapping at her before I realized it. Of course she would call it unfair, but there are plenty of people who don't have the money to afford that every day, or one day.  

"You were born with a golden platter. Everything you wish for will be served." I don't want to play these girls games. She told me herself; she's passing her time with me to feel better. 

I stand up. 

"Thank you for the meal. I should be going now." 

She looked down to the ground, biting her nails as if she was panicking. Like something would happen if I'd leave. 

"..Why were you crying?" 

I stopped in my tracks.  

"..I lost someone important to me." 

She stood up. 

"How?" 

"The palace guards chased her down and shot her with an arrow." A lady like her would start crying now, even if this has nothing to do with her.  

"I see. Was she your family." 

Strange. "She was my mother." 

"So what are you going to do now?" She pressed on. 

"I'm going back home." 

"Alone, after your mother was shot? Don't you feel.. Angry? 

"I don't feel anything. My mother said there wasn't any difference between life and death for her." 

"But isn't there any difference for you!? There won't be someone waiting for you at home! You lost your family! Aren't you furious!?" 

"I can't do anything with those emotions, so why should I have them?" 

"I've already been angry so many times, and I did something about it! When my brother made me 'Miss Snotty' in front of everyone at a tea party, I locked him up inside the horse stables! You can pour those emotions out; you can take revenge!" 

"..revenge? I can't start something like that. Against who? The imperial knights?"  

"I'll help you." 

"Help me!? Why!? What's there for you to gain? You,  you girl... you're crazy!" 

"You don't have to know why. If we succeed, I want you to accept a favor. In the future." 

Colette stood up. I must go now, otherwise my daddy will notice that I was gone. But I'll come back for you, I promise.  

She ran off, leaving me behind with many questions.