The TV's noise filled the honey-colored room, but nobody gave a damn. Tai was snoozing on Nova's lap, and she gently ran her fingers through his hair. She looked at the boy who'd saved her with soft eyes, memories of those days playing in her head.
---
A little girl with proud, honey-colored eyes sat in a golden room, watching a movie on a home theater system anyone would kill for. Footsteps approached, and she turned her head toward the sound. "What do you want?"
Her maid, with black hair and blue eyes, bowed and spoke softly, "It's lunchtime, miss. Here or in the dining room?"
The girl looked away, muttering like she couldn't care less, "Here."
---
The girl strutted through the streets of Aster, decked out in red, sparkly clothes dripping with jewels, sneering at the "common" folk.
"Hey, Ahisha, let's head home."
The maid bowed. "Of course, and it's *Anisha*, miss."
The girl smirked, "Like it matters."
She glanced around the city, reeking of fish and sawdust, lined with fish shops, the sea, and tiny fishing boats. With a disgusted huff, she said, "This place is pathetic. Stinks of fish, and everyone here's so low-class."
---
Riding in her carriage toward home, she stared out at the scenery.
"These trees are trash. I could buy every single one."
"If only everyone got that *I'm* the only beautiful thing around."
A few minutes later, the carriage pulled up to her mansion. She stepped out gracefully and headed for the entrance.
A loud *boom* echoed, and the stone mansion's pieces flew apart in a blaze of dark orange light. The blast threw her back.
Frozen, she tried to move her leg, but a sharp pain shot through it. She looked down, eyes wide with shock and disgust—a metal rod from the rubble was lodged in her foot.
She tried to scream, but no sound came. A shadow loomed over her.
Looking up, she saw a man in a black mask with a rat symbol, dressed head-to-toe in dark black. With a quick move, he grabbed the rod and yanked it out.
Her head jerked back from the pain, vision blurring. Her eyes locked on his gray katana, marked with the same rat symbol.
Blood loss darkened her vision, and she slowly passed out.
---
Her honey-colored eyes fluttered open, and she looked around, dazed. Slowly, she stood on snow-covered ground, but a sharp pain shot through her foot with her first step. Memories trickled back, but she didn't cry—she never had the right to show weakness.
---
The girl trudged through streets blanketed with small, heavenly snowflakes, but to her, they weren't beautiful—they were a killer, tormenting her to death.
Wearing tattered, worn-out clothes that screamed of a hard life, she was Nova—a girl with bruised eyes and a frail body, walking weakly toward death in the fancy city of Angelrand.
"Hey, you okay?!"
She barely lifted her head and saw a boy with a warm, kind smile.
Nova snapped, "Get lost."
The boy, with dark eyes full of indescribable warmth, looked at her. "I'm Tai. What's your name?"
Hesitant, she muttered, "Nova…"
---
Days had passed since Tai found Nova on the streets.
She lay on a bed in a honey-colored room, her foot stitched and bandaged. Tai walked in quietly, holding a bowl of soup, and sat carefully beside her.
Nova stared at him.
Tai stared back, studying her face with care. He flashed a warm grin and teased, "Y'know, you shouldn't stare at a guy with those pretty eyes."
Nova's cheeks flushed faintly, and she turned her face away. "Don't be such an idiot."
Tai gently scooped up some soup and brought it to her mouth. "Open up, princess."
Nova opened her small mouth, letting him help her eat.
Her mind went blank, focused on one thing—maybe she could get used to this life. Maybe she liked someone taking care of her like this.
A smile crept onto her lips as she locked eyes with Tai's dark gaze.
Nova: "Idiot!!"