Princess Thief [✔]

Side Story: Night

LAVENDERS ARE FOR DEVOTION

timeline: before the main story

The day I escaped that hell, I had nothing but a ring and crushed lavender.

The ring helped me find a new home and a bunch of lavenders was always sent once a month. Mother told me lavenders symbolized purity and devotion but looking at the violet hues could only churn my stomach.

I could not stand the sickening color so much that I could not even tolerate my reflection to see the purple irises that the bastard abhorred.

But the sender was unwavering and it seemed like I inherited the same trait of stubbornness. Every time one was sent, it was thrown right away. It went on for months until the backyard of the small cottage I had been staying at had been filled with dried flowers.

Cindra, the person who took me to this holy land, once asked me why I did that but I never wanted to admit the atrocity my so-called father did. Reminiscing meant remembering the cruelty I suffered and the hatred was too much that even my mother's unyielding kindness could not pacify it.

***

Years swiftly passed by then and time was a healer. The loathing mellowed, those forsaken memories were not easily rekindled anymore as new memories overlapped.

Until that day.

It was my first mission as a temple knight, the greatest honor of an Amica to personally serve our priestess. So they say but it was a shitty job. It was something I did not want but I could not fvcking refuse even if I went outraged. Her words were absolute law.

If not for Cindra, who was the current leader of the Crusader Organization, recommending me for knight training, I would not be standing here.

I would rather do my most favorite pastime. Nothing could beat the adrenaline in causing havoc in the underworld with all the heists I did. I was undefeatable. Commoners, nobles, Amicas, and Cattivos hired me for there was no one that could stop me from intruding on countless manors and stealing things.

The wave of excitement never failed to make me forget the damned past.

But, the moment I saw that face of the sleeping girl on the teenager's lap and paired with the sprawling uniformed knights that had a familiar emblem on the sleeves of their tunic, memories rushed in like a broken dam.

Her face was too similar to hers, only younger. My eyes stoned as my jaw tightened.

"I'll send her back," I said without waiting for anyone's reply and took her from that boy's arms.

It was such a sick joke that after several years, I still remembered the way to this palace but unlike me, they would live a different life. A life I had once experienced before shit went spiraling down.

I laid the girl as her ginger-colored hair blended with the green lawn. It was a conspicuous place and knights normally patrolled the outside borders.

Turning my back, I walked off without regrets, only to be welcomed with a huge scolding from Cindra when I returned after leaving the priestess all alone.

***

The next day, the same young man I met on the streets appeared in front of the holy land. As an Amica he was freely able to enter. He said he was sent by the priestess and I still had some decent manners thanks to Cindra so I let him in.

I was sizing him up when the door creaked and Cindra appeared.

"Oh, you're here. I have an announcement to make. Starting today, you'll have a housemate. Isn't that wonderful?" she said without hesitation.