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Chapter 9
Meloria
One of my most vivid childhood memories is of a holiday parade when I was around six years old. The royal family was in it and me and the other orphans got to see them in person from maybe ten arms lengths away.
“Hey, doesn't Princess Valoria look a little bit like me?” I asked innocently.
All the other orphans laughed hysterically.
“Princess Valoria doesn't have brown teeth!”
“Princess Valoria has two normal eyebrows, not one huge one!”
“Princess Valoria's ears aren't the size of dinner plates”
“Princess Valoria’s skin isn't covered in blotches!”
And on and on they went pointing out all of my flaws, long after the royals drifted out of view. When they were done I countered.
“Yes, but aside from all of that. Can't you see it?”
They cackled like I managed to say the one thing dumber and funnier than the last unbelievably hysterical dumb thing I just said.
“There's nothing left after all those things, Melon Head! You're just a dumb, stupid orphan trying to feel special about nothing!”
That last comment came from Dichard. He loved the Princess and hated me so the idea that we could have anything in common offended him personally.
But I think at least one person agreed with me. When I looked into the princess’ eyes and felt that recognition, her eyes had widened right along with mine for a second. But then Chief Minister Graxoth rushed her to another side of the platform.
We later learned she had fainted somewhere along the route and would not be present at future parades to preserve her health.
Dichard decided that it must all be my fault somehow and punched me in the stomach the first chance he got.
Every now and then my mind always wanders back to that parade. It's why years later, when I'm no longer a ward at the orphanage but a caregiver, I don't bat an eye when Chief Minister Graxoth calls for me. Gives a flimsy excuse for needing my services in a far flung province. Whisks me away in another direction entirely…
Okay, THIS time I think we've covered the whole cast of players. Probably. The story isn't finished yet so I might just surprise myself. This one really is fun though so we'll make it to the end. DEFINITELY EVENTUALLY 😉