─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
What do I do now?! She clearly saw my hair color. If she was unsure, she wouldn't have been so confident to have called me out so bluntly. There's no escaping this situation. I tried the fight or flight situation, which was a big bust for me. She is far too fast and smart for any of my tricks. This is it. I surrender. If I need her help, I need to be straightforward with her.
"I… I don't know what to say… I... " My voice cracked.
"Listen, kid, there are only two people in this whole land with black hair with green colored eyes. Your hair says it all. No need to explain. But what are ya doing here, all by yourself with no security? Shouldn't ya have full security? Even nobles of lower status have security up the ass." The curly-haired girl explained as she crossed her arms.
I looked down on the floor like a child who is getting scolded.
"I tell you what. The Moon show should have started already, and the night is still young if anything… your pops is… I mean… the emperor… is most likely waiting for you there… wait… did you really come with his majesty?!" The curly-haired girl questioned loudly as she grabbed my shoulders.
I cringed once again as a response.
I nodded slowly.
"Sorry… I should not be touching royalty like this. I will help you find his majesty. However… I need a favor in return. Deal?"
The curly-haired girl released me from her grip and placed her thumb on her chin as she posed.
Damn… what kind of favor could she possibly want? What if it's a favor that I cannot complete? I need to compromise with her. If her request is far from my reach, I will have to decline her help and find the trashman myself. But what if she tries to blackmail me? She wouldn't… right?
"Can I hear your favor first? I cannot agree on a deal if I have no chances of fulfilling your favor." I negotiated
"Don't worry. I'm not gonna sell you off or anything. Ya see, my pops used to be a fisherman out by the docks. But he fell into some shady stuff with a few land sharks and now owns a lot of money. To top it all off, he was laid off a couple of weeks ago because of cutbacks. I'd like to help my pops, but I am only 13 years old. No one would hire me. I say, If I help you find your family, a mere gold coin or two wouldn't be too much as a reward… right?" The curly-haired girl circled me as she explained her situation.
She's asking for money… Gold coins are the highest currency there is in this land. Many locked-up rooms in the imperial palace are filled up to the ceiling with gold coins and jewels. Surely the trashman would not mind giving away two gold coins for my safety.
"Just… two gold coins?" I asked nervously.
"What do you mean 'just'? A gold coin can buy you ten acres of land! You have no idea about the value of a gold coin…all you do is live comfortably, eat three square meals a day, and sleep in a large, comfortable bed at night. What do you know about being poor? Have you ever wondered how it is to live in our shoes? Not being able to eat for days because you have no money to eat? Wearing the same clothes because it's the only clothes you have?"
Her voice cracked towards the end of her sentence. The emotion and suffering in her tone hit me like a ton of bricks—a feeling I am all too familiar with. Of course, I know the feeling of being poor. I lived that life for 17 years before coming into this world. I know more than you think. Perhaps she is right. I have gotten used to living like royalty, that I have forgotten the feeling of how the rest of the world lives like.
I looked up at her and nodded.
Perhaps she is using me as her only chance of survival for her and her family. But honestly, I am alright with that. Her intention is to protect her family in need. I would do the same.
"My dad has knights with him… I am sure they are all searching for me right now. This might make our search much easier. As long as I am returned safely to my dad, I can promise you that he will reward you handsomely." I assured her.
She nodded with confidence.
"Let's go return the missing princess!" She skipped out of the alleyway with glee.
She quickly turned around, facing me.
"Oh! Make sure you stay close to me and wear your cloak. Sorry for ah… ya know... Ripping it up… I get a bit aggressive sometimes." She laughed as we entered the brightly lit street.