I still remember the night everything changed.
I was only nine — too young to understand the world, but old enough to remember the way my father's voice cracked when he said,
"They know."
He came home late that evening — his cloak soaked from rain, his face pale like he'd seen a ghost.
"Pack your things," he told my mother. "Now. We must leave. The king knows."
I didn't understand what he meant. Not then.
I only knew fear had taken hold of our house like a shadow that wouldn't let go.
My father — Lord Emrick Valen — was a Marquess. A noble. One of the king's closest allies.
Some nobles are born with supernatural powers. Most are not.
I was one of the rare ones. So was he.
That night, he discovered a secret.
A truth the king had buried deep.
By morning, our house was burning.
King Matthew — praised as just and merciful — sent his assassins to erase us.
Servants. Guards. Cousins. Friends.
Slaughtered without hesitation.
Only my mother, my little sister, and I survived.
We fled in darkness, hiding our names, my magic… and our past.
We lost everything.
Now, people call him the greatest ruler in history.
But I know the truth.
He is clever. Cruel. And worst of all — loved by those too blind to see the blood on his hands.
The empire of Havelardo is ruled by a golden lie.
Its people are divided into three classes: the royals, the nobles, and the commoners.
I was born noble. Born powerful.
But power makes you a target in a kingdom built on fear.
With no home, no gold, and no one left to trust…
I did the only thing I could.
I became a thief.
"Stop right there, you little thief!"
That voice had become too familiar.
Boots thundered behind me as I bolted up the stairs of a four-story sweets shop, breath tight in my throat. My pocket still had the warmth of the silver coins I took yesterday – no, stole yesterday.
The shop had four floors — too many for a place that sold sweets. I didn't care. I just ran. My heart betted that there will be surely an escape while my mind betted there soon will be a new scar joining the club. The sweet smell of sweets anchored in the shop, making my mouth full of saliva, but it wasn't the time, I kept running. As I ran, the silver coins bounced off in my pockets making me worried. But then I saw it
A gate covered with brown boundaries.
A gate that joins the roof to the staircase, a gate that may save me. I rushed for the gate with my hands forward, as I came close enough my fingers along with my palm brushed of the gate making it wide open, the night was beautiful but my situation was surely not, but I managed to have a glance of the full moon visible tonight, it really is beautiful, leave the moon, but how I am going to escape? I was too busy thinking how to escape to even notice the texture of the walls, that the gate was attached to, and almost believed.
I have been caught but then I spotted a second staircase leading down the shop. I spun and rushed for it. My leg hurts as I run as all the bruises start screaming at the same time, well it's good that I have to run by legs not my back, because if I had to, I would be done for by the pain. The thud of guards chasing me could be heard clearly. My messy bun accepts its fate and lets its wings spread across my shoulders making me regret for choosing to make a bun.
By the time I reached down the second floor, my breath became uncatchable, and a thought found its way to crash my mind that this wasn't my battlefield. It was theirs. The guards knew the shop's layout far better than I do. They could trap me from below.
Then I saw it — a window with painted roses as its boundary, probably for decoration.
Narrow. Open. Dangerous.
I didn't even pause to think. I jumped. After this stupid thing out of instincts, I couldn't help but blame my stupid brain for my upcoming injury. It would have been better to have a scar than a broken bone, but the problem was my ego.
For a moment, there was nothing but wind and the roar of my heartbeat. My body is trained but no training lessens falling damage - I shattered my eyes in agitation.
Creak.
I hit something rough and soft. It didn't hurt as much it should have; I opened my eyes in curiosity.
Hay.
I'd landed in an abandoned animal cart. Pure luck — or maybe something more.
"Thank you, reckless cart driver," I muttered, and forced myself up.
I didn't stop running even though my running was more like walking thanks to the fall. Through narrow alleys and twisting lanes, I cut across the shadows of Havelardo, making my way towards Bruen Verle, the kingdom's famous trade road, it is also known for its security among the tourists, but I don't really believe it as it is my favourite spot to rob but it was once hard for me to don't get caught – and it still is.
The Bruen Verle is loud as usual, people are giggling, running, shouting and cursing, no one could have possibly told if it was almost midnight if it wasn't for the moon. Due to the walking style of the people whose parents did not trouble teaching them walking properly, the air is filled with mud making it nearly impossible to breath. After some time, the mud in the air vanished, making it feel so dreamlike to breathe, as I happened to catch up my breathe, a sweet aroma filled the air
Apple pie.
It is the sweet scent of apple pie, Anna would have loved to eat one, as it is her favourite. Maybe, I can buy her one, can't I? But it is already midnight, I wonder if she would be still awake?
Despite being the famous Bruen Verle, the lane is filthy – not because of its condition but, the hearts of devils it covers by, making the pure ones dark as well, it is not a big deal to see it around here, and I am the perfect example of it.
As I continued to walk, the mansions turned into houses and houses changed into tents and soon, the condition of the lane became worse and by the time I reached home — a tent hidden near the edge of the merchant district — my legs burned, but I was used to that.
Anna, my dear sister ran to me the moment I arrived at the entrance. Her hazel eyes sparkled like midday sunlight, under the street lamp, and her straight blond hair bounced as she hurried to hug me.
"You're back!" She said with her smile as big as ever.
"You're still awake?", said I trying to look as a good big sister.
"I waited for you. Mother said I could."
A little smile escaped my face by seeing her cuteness, "Then I suppose it's okay,"
Inside, our mother was waiting too — as she always did. She was heavy-eyed, quiet, but somehow still graceful, even here.
I sat down with my back against the wall, catching my breath, as I stretched my arms a little. The walls surrounding the three sides of our house are grey and pointy, the entrance is covered with a dark blue fabric.
"Sister, I have made something for you, do you want to see it?" asked Anna with joy in her eyes, I couldn't refuse.
"Yes of course, I want to see it!" I forced a smile while my lids became too heavy to open.
Anna ran outside and came with her hands behind her back, I wonder what she has made for me?
"Surprise! I have stitched a handkerchief for you with mother's help", she said, the glory in her voice was so bright unaware of the world's cruelness, her arms stretched towards me, offering me the handkerchief.
"Oh, thank you so much!" I picked up the handkerchief from her hands gracefully while fighting my instincts to not snatch it away. I take a look at the handkerchief. "You have made it really nice Anna, you really have talent for it!", I said while knowing she had made mother to make it, but a smile escaped my face to know that she thought to make something for me.
"Welcome, sister"
Anna turns her back towards me heading towards a corner giggling, still happy with the appreciation, she sat down in another corner, but for some reasons mother looked tired.
She studied me for a moment. Then finally asked,
"You're only thirteen, Elicia. Do you really think this is the life you should be living?" she said her face filled with worries for me.
I couldn't help but sigh, "Looks like you haven't let it go well, it's not about what should be," I said softly. "It's about what is. If I don't do this… who will?"
"I could try to find work." She looked disturbingly serious.
My hands find way to my chest, "And who would hire a widow with no name? Father left this family in my hands, and I won't fail him."
She sighed, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. "Then I trust you. Goodnight." She said with a frustrated voice but still, I didn't expect her to give up so easily, I think she is finally starting to understand the living in the streets.
"Goodnight." I said with a small smile.
Anna turned off the small lamp on the corner of the room, although the most of the light was provided by the street light in the corner. Darkness filled the tent.
I leaned my head back and closed my eyes. I hope I don't find my way to that dream today.
It didn't take me long to fall asleep.
I'd escape the guards, outrun the streets – but not the truth. And it was coming for me.