13 Chapter Thirteen

'I'm… Tired.' I thought to myself, panting.

I was taking a rest after running away from the northwest area. Invisible I easily left that place passing through the guards without being noticed.

But now I was feeling weak, which made me worried. A mage can't keep using magic if they are too exhausted. At this rate, I will not be able to keep myself invisible anymore.

'I didn't sleep at all last night... And when was the last time I ate something?' I asked myself, worried. 'If I pass out here there is no way I will not be found by someone.'

I decided to stop using invisible magic because it consumes a lot of mana. But, of course, I wouldn't be walking around without hiding my appearance, my golden eyes, the proof of my bloodline. So, I used the light manipulation magic to change my hair and eyes color, just like I always do.

Though this magic also consumes a lot of mana, it is needed way less mana than making myself invisible.

'For now, I think I have some time to spend before getting out of mana. But, I still need someplace to rest where I will not be found.' I realized.

But, then my stomach growled pretty loud.

"...Maybe I should go eat something first." I said putting my hand on my belly.

Quickly I went to the kitchen. It was already night, no one will be there right now. Every time I went to the kitchen at night to get some leftovers there was no one in there.

I could already hear my stomach growling louder when I held the kitchen doorknob. Excited I tried to open the door, but it didn't open.

"W-What?!" I asked myself, surprised. "Why doesn't it open?!"

'I come here almost every day and it is always unlocked, so why is it locked now?' I thought, mad.

Just then I realized that is probably exactly the reason why. They probably finally noticed that it wasn't because of the rats that the food was disappearing, but someone's fault.

"But why now? Why did they decide to lock the door just when I most need it? Why am I so unlucky?" I asked myself almost crying.

'Maybe I should just go back to the northwest area. At least there I may find something to eat.' I thought.

"...But I don't want to go back there." I said, clenching my fists mad.

They imprisoned me for a whole day, letting me starving. They even stole the few things I had to make some money. If I see them now I can't be sure if I can keep myself calm enough to not attack them.

If it was in my past life I would just feel defeated and do nothing about it, but now I have power, I have my magic. I won't deny, it is pretty tempting to use that power to revenge myself, but I can't forget my place in this world.

I'm the King's bastard, a child nobody knows about. If the first news about me is that I attacked the maids that took care of me… How would everyone think about me?

I looked through the window, staring at the moon in the sky. "Maybe, I should just leave this place."

I sighed. If I leave the palace I will have nowhere to go.

'I don't want to sleep on the streets… At least here I have a bedroom. Even if it's a small and dark bedroom, it is still better than sleeping on the streets.' I thought, helpless.

Knowing that it would be for the better, I decided to go back to the northwest area.

"What are you doing here?"

I was still in the main area, on my way back to the northwest side when suddenly someone noticed me.

When I looked at them I got surprised. "Prince Noah?"

At the top of the stairs, there was Prince Noah staring at me with a serious face. Behind him there were some maids, probably his personal maids.

He went down the stairs and then he stopped in front of me, crossed his arms, and then he asked me with his usual arrogant tone. "So, won't you answer me?"

"I am… I am just going back to my room." I said, nervous. I was anxious, I didn't expect to be seen by him.

But for some reason, Prince Noah didn't seem to be satisfied with my answer. He was staring raising an eyebrow. "Then, why are you crying?"

'Crying?' I asked myself surprised. Quickly I wiped my face with my hands, and then I realized that Prince Noah was right. There were tears on my face, I didn't even notice that I cried.

"...I wasn't crying." I said, embarrassed, avoiding eye contact with Prince Noah.

Prince Noah rested one of his hands on his waist and asked. "You know that it is a crime to lie to a member of the royal family, don't you?"

"Is it?!" I asked shocked.

But, then one of the maids behind him, a young brunette maid, looked at me and then shake her head with a small smile on her face.

'So, it is not true.' I realized, relieved.

"Now will you answer me why you were crying?" Prince Noah asked, but this time he wasn't using his usual arrogant tone. He was looking at me in the eyes and seemed to be genuinely interested in my answer.

Knowing that he wouldn't let me go without answering him, I just decided to tell him the truth then. "It's nothing, Your Highness... I just had a bad day. That is all."

"Is that so? Well, commoners' life must be tough, huh." Prince Noah said with a smirk on his face. But, then he scratched his head, and avoiding eye contact he said. "You know… If you want, I can help you."

For a moment I couldn't believe what he said. "Do you want to help me, Your Highness?" I asked surprised.

Prince Noah frowned and looked at me embarrassed. "I-It is not like I want to help you! It is just… You helped me back then, and I still feel like I own you. S-So, if I can do something to get quits with you just say it!"

It was the first time I saw someone yelling at someone else while trying to be nice. I felt moved for a moment, I wasn't expecting him to even still care about me.

When I was about to answer him, my stomach growled pretty loud, I was sure they heard it. What made my face get hot and my cheeks blush.

"Maybe… Can you give me something to eat, Your Highness?" I said, trying not to die from embarrassment.

"They don't feed the servants here in the palace anymore?" Prince Noah asked staring at me while I was eating.

After that awkward moment from before, Prince Noah accepted my request and made me follow him and his maids. They took me to a room and soon after the maids served me a meal. But, for some reason, Prince Noah decided to make me company, sitting in front of me drinking tea, while I was eating.

"Yes, they do, Your Highness. It is just that I had any today." I answered him.

"Why not?" Prince Noah asked me confused.

"...Punishment." I decided to say. Well, it is not a lie, it could be considered a punishment what they did to me, though I didn't do anything wrong.

Prince Noah made a weird expression of surprise for a moment, but then he quickly composed himself, and then he said with his usual arrogance self. "A servant's life is indeed tough, huh."

'Why did he decide to stay here with me, anyway? Just to annoy me?' I thought.

But, I decided to not giving him too much attention, because I had something way better to be focusing on. The food!

It has been already some time since I started eating the leftovers from the main area, but this was the first time I was eating it warm. It was so delicious that even Prince Noah's presence couldn't ruin my mood.

For a moment, I could feel like I was back at home eating a delicious homemade meal with my family. It was like if I closed my eyes I could hear them talking and laughing, just like I was still there with them.

"W-Why are you crying?!" Prince Noah asked surprised.

This time I knew that I was crying, I tried not to, but I couldn't hold the tears. I started sobbing and crying louder than I wanted to.

Ashamed, I tried to hide my face with both hands. "I'm...I'm sorry..."

I didn't know if I was saying sorry to Prince Noah or if I was saying that to my family. Because I knew that I could be there with them again if I wanted to. When that angel-like woman said I could reincarnate anywhere I wanted, I could try some way to go back to my family, but I didn't.

It is all because of my ridiculous wish to live in a magic world, and now that I do, all I want is to go back to my family and stay with them again at least once.

'I ruined everything.' I thought, guilty.

But then, suddenly someone hugged me. I was surprised when I noticed that it was Prince Noah the one hugging me. "Calm down.. It is alright."