CHAPTER 2

That year, on the same day that the royal couple were blessed with the princess, did another life took it's first breath, in one of the houses in the Kingdom.

"Rub her feet!"

"Someone get us another pot of warm water!"

"Oh no! Her body is turning cold! I think..."

But before the lady could finish her words, the body on the bed fell limp.

"She... is gone."

The two women who were in the room fell silent, as they looked at the woman who was now dead on the bed, with sad faces.

Just then the door of the room opened and another woman came in, carrying the new born child after cleaning it.

"Is the mother... Dead?" Her voice was low, almost as a whisper. And the other two woman nodded their heads.

The room fell silent again, before one of the woman sighed and shook her head, "It is truly unfortunate. A few months ago, her husband lost his life after being bitter by a poisonous snake. After his death, she had cried some much, and did not at all take care of herself. Her body had also become weak. And couldn't hold to anything after she delivered the baby."

The other women nodded.

"Truly, how young she was. This was her time to enjoy the bliss life had to provide. But sadly, what she experienced were the worst of life."

The woman holding the baby, looked down at the child in her arms and said, "But the most unfortunate one is this little one." They looked at her with their lips curved downwards.

"She has a beautiful face." She said.

"What should we do now?"

Sighing, one of them said, "What can we do now?" One of you, contact the cemetery workers and officials. We need to have her body buried.

And with the baby, I think it would be better for her to give it to the orphanage." The other women also agreed to the suggestion.

The orphanage was funded by the royal family. And the children living there were taken quiet good care of. And at this situation, it was the best thing they could do.

"But before that, what would the little girl's name be?" The unfortunate child after all, had no one to name her.

The woman who was carrying her, gazed at her face and smiled, "Her name will be Gwen. Her mother before she went into labor, was talking to me. She said that she had a feeling that she will have a girl child. And she wanted to name her Gwen.

***

Ten years later...

"Hey! Do you know that the officials will be distributing sweets in the evening today!"

"Yes, yes, today is the Princess' birthday. I heard she is the same age as ours."

"I wonder how does the princess' celebrate her birthday..."

A few little girls chatted as they walked out of their study class.

The royal family had implemented study institute in the town, where a governess would come to trscb so that the little commoner children, could get their education free of cost. All the little children of the orphanage too went there to study.

Gwen was also among the group of little girls, as they were talking about the princess' birthday celebration.

A small smile crept up to Gwen's face, when she remembered what happened earlier today morning. She was called by the warden of the orphanage, and the woman greeted her 'A happy birthday'. That is right. Growing up, she had learnt that the also had her birthday today.

Then the warden also gave her a candy. And just the thought of it, made her feel sweet in her heart.