"My Lady… I don't feel this place is safe," the guard knight spoke in a low, uneasy tone. "If His Highness Cornelius Valerin finds out that I assisted you… I could face severe punishment… even be beheaded. I humbly request—please do not go near that slum."
"Sir Friesen," Riana turned to him calmly. "What do you see when you look at me?"
"Do I look weak to you?"
"My Lady, that's not what I meant—please don't misunderstand," the knight quickly replied. "I've received reports about this place. There are no rules here… people live however they want. Killing someone isn't even considered a crime."
"I know," Riana said quietly. "I also know that children are bought and sold here."
Her eyes sharpened.
"If I sit back after knowing all this, then I have no right to become the future ruler. If I cannot solve the problems within my own kingdom… how will I protect this empire from external threats?"
"My Lady… I'm only worried about your safety. The future can wait."
Before he could continue, loud shouting erupted nearby.
Riana immediately rushed toward the source.
"My Lady! Wait!"
The knight barked orders to the others. "Follow her! Quickly!"
---
It was a cold winter morning.
The slum was unusually lively—New Year was approaching. People bustled around, buying clothes and food for their families.
But amidst the noise…
From a broken, half-collapsed house, voices could be heard.
"So you went outside again?" an old woman snapped angrily.
"I—I didn't want to go… It felt like someone was calling me…" the girl replied weakly. "I'm sorry…"
Slap!
The sound echoed through the room.
"Listen! You're lucky I even feed you. Anyone else would've sold you by now!" the old woman shouted. "Useless girl! You can't beg, you can't walk properly, and you're blind!"
Her voice turned harsher.
"Even your parents abandoned you here. Why should I take care of someone else's burden? I'm not that kind-hearted. If even God doesn't care about you… why should I?"
In the corner of the room, the girl—Valerina—curled into herself, trembling.
Tears streamed silently down her face.
Her clothes were torn, her shoes nearly rotten. Her frail body shivered in the cold wind blowing through the broken door.
And then—
Riana arrived.
She stood silently at the doorway, having heard everything.
The icy wind howled inside, yet the old woman showed no concern.
"Don't tell me you've started making those so-called prophecies again?" the old woman sneered. "Didn't I warn you? If you keep spouting nonsense, you'll regret it!"
Her eyes darkened.
"If people find out you have that kind of ability… do you even know what will happen to you?"
Raising her hand again, she moved to strike—
—but suddenly stopped.
Someone had grabbed her wrist.
"Who are you?" the old woman snapped. "How dare you touch me? Can't you see I'm teaching her manners?"
Riana looked at her coldly.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"Let go of my hand, you brat!"
"And if I don't?"
"Then you'll see what I can do!"
Without hesitation, the old woman raised her other hand—
Slap!
She struck Riana across the face.
Riana could have stopped it.
But she didn't.
The sound echoed—and moments later, the guards burst in.
The knight froze upon seeing her.
"You filthy old hag! How dare you touch the Princess?!" he roared. "No one can save you now! Captain!"
The old woman panicked.
"I—I didn't do anything! I was just disciplining that blind girl! This child appeared out of nowhere—it's not my fault! Please, have mercy!"
But her pleas fell on deaf ears.
The knights dragged her away.
---
"My Lady… my life is over…" the guard whispered nervously. "I told you—this place has no rules. Please… let's return to the palace."
He turned to the others.
"Prepare the carriage. We're leaving."
But Riana wasn't listening.
Her gaze remained fixed on the girl.
With a subtle gesture, she signaled the knights to step outside.
---
In the corner, Valerina sat silently, her body curled up, tears still falling.
She didn't understand what was happening.
"Your name?" Riana asked gently.
The girl hesitated.
"My… my name… Valerina…"
"Just Valerina? Nothing else?"
The girl lowered her head, clearly hurt.
Riana softened her tone.
"Then… can I call you Ria? Since our names are similar?"
"And… will you come with me?"
"Ria?" Valerina frowned. "My name is already Valerina. My mother gave me that name. Even if they abandoned me… I won't change it."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"Or is it because someone like me… a filthy slum girl… sharing your name hurts your pride?"
Riana shook her head.
"You misunderstood me."
"I don't mind that we share the same name. I just thought… if you wanted, you could start a new life today."
She paused, then asked softly,
"How old are you?"
"And… do you recognize me? We met in the market. I told you—I would come find you."
Valerina fell silent, thinking.
Then, quietly—
"I'm sorry… for how I acted before. Because of me… you were slapped today."
Riana smiled faintly.
"That's nothing. If anything, it was my fault. You were hurt because of me."
She extended her hand.
"So… will you come with me?"
"…Where?"
"To the royal palace."
"The palace…?" Valerina whispered. "But I live among filth… I'm not clean…"
Their conversation continued—
about leaving, about fear, about hope.
A new life.
A new dream.
And the first step toward a future neither of them could yet imagine.