THE BOY WITH THE FAN

[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: ICARUS ~ PHILDEL]

After the young master left, the woman raised her face and looked down at the gold coins, then she looked at the girl.

"You're one lucky rat," the woman mused before dragging the fragile little girl back to her shop. The woman offered the girl a piece of bun and water.

Oriana didn't care how she was treated; in fact, all she could see now was the woman who was her savior. The girl sat on the floor and devoured the entire bun, almost choking before she drank all the water. This was what heaven looked like to Oriana at that moment. She thought she was going to see the white light if she didn't get anything to eat soon. Done with eating, the girl got to her feet and bowed deeply to the woman who had saved her.

"Thank you, kind lady," the girl said before walking away, retracing her steps back to where the maid had left her.

The bun seller was surprised at the girl's action. Did she forget so quickly that she was going to be flogged, or was the girl just plain dumb? The woman asked herself, watching as Oriana walked aimlessly, searching for something.

Oriana had walked around the place for several minutes before she finally realized that she had lost her way.

This was another issue. She had solved the problem of hunger; now she was dealing with finding her way. Oriana didn't know if she should shout for help or tell people that she was a princess. Turning her back, she looked around for where the loud noise was coming from; it would lead her back to where the village trade was being held.

With Oriana walking with her back turned, she didn't realize that someone was behind her, so she bumped into the person, losing her balance and falling to the ground.

"You?" The person Oriana had bumped into was none other than the young master who had saved her. Now, he pointed at her with his wooden handfan.

Oriana quickly got to her feet, cleaning up her dress. She didn't cry or complain for falling on the ground; she smiled at the young master brightly.

"Chicken brain," the young prince muttered. "You fell and you're smiling?"

Oriana nodded. "Nana said there's nothing wrong with falling, except you fall and never stand." The girl remarked. "So I can fall as many times as I want and still stand on my feet. See?" The girl tried to demonstrate by falling again, then quickly standing steady on her feet.

"I see. Your Nana must have seen how unladylike you'll turn out to be for her to suggest that." The young boy hummed, looking at the girl's dressing for a minute before he sighed.

Oriana shook her head. "Nana said it's because I'm different. I love to be outside and free like a bird. Do you think birds should be caged?" She asked innocently.

"No, I think they should be let free to fly as high as they want. But then, not all cages are harmful. Sometimes, the very freedom you chase could also harm you," The young master said, his brown eyes looking at the girl.

Oriana bit her lower lip, her Nana only told her that it was good to live freely but never told her it was something bad.

"There was once a prince named Icarus who longed to live free, so his father made wings for him. Icarus, with his greed to chase freedom, flew so high and close to the sun that his wings melted, and he fell into the sea and drowned." The young master narrated.

Oriana held her hand close to her mouth. "D-drowned? Icarus's father should have told him not to fly close to the sun, that way he would be free and also not drown," The girl explained innocently.

The young boy moved his fan elegantly and smiled. "Chicken brain, his father wanted him to drown so he let him think that freedom was the best gift. He is just like you."

Oriana shook her head in disagreement. "He is not like me. I am Oriana," The girl replied confidently.

"Did Oriana not try to escape her cage, which was the exact reason she was tagged as a thief?" The young boy asked with his hand behind him. "Learn to be ladylike; the freedom you're seeking outside is harsh and might drown you." He looked at the girl's unkempt hair before his eyes moved down to look at her leg where the band was tied it was a wound above her knee.

Oriana was now lost; she didn't understand what was being said. It was too heavy, the words she heard. "I can just follow you around and be your servant so that I won't drown. You'll pay for my buns with your gold coins too." She smiled, showing her upper tooth that was missing.

The young boy huffed. "I can't. I prefer girls like the princess of Morado. She's my style," He said as he started walking away, while the girl followed him behind.

"Why? I'm a princess too; will you prefer me then?" Oriana asked, wiping sand off her face, smearing more dirt close to her cheek.

The young master looked at her one more time and shook his head. "Never. My first love would forever be the princess of Morado. She has charisma and fears nobody; she can even survive the freedom outside unlike you," He replied.

Oriana pouted; she wanted the young boy who saved her to also like her. Now she wanted to be like the princess of Morado he spoke of.

Getting to a crowded area, Oriana turned to see her family members; then she saw the young master walking to the other side. She shouted,

"What is your name? I'll remember you when I grow up, and I'll show you that I can be free and not drown," The girl bragged childishly.

The young boy turned, moved his hand fan gently, and said to the girl,

"I am Cro-wn Prince A..."

"My princess, there you are! Oh my, I thought I lost you,"

Oriana wasn't able to hear him clearly because the maid was now trying to clean her face off. When the maid touched the burn on her leg, the girl winced. When she raised her face, the young master was gone.

The maid noticed that the young princess was looking at something. "What is it, my princess? Did you lose something? I'll go look for it."

Oriana shook her head. "I'm fine," she muttered, wishing that she had listened clearly to get the boy's name. She would show the boy when she grows up that freedom wasn't something foolish to chase.

The maid quickly carried the princess back to where their carriage was waiting.

Far away from there, the crown prince turned to see the girl being carried by her maid.

"Your highness, did you know that she was a noble blood?" The servant asked.

The young boy turned, moving his fan to blow his face. "Was I the only one who witnessed the show, when the youngest princess of Orion fell.." He drawled, walking away from there.