Fast forward to the day that the tedious and long exhaustive journey Noelle dreaded eventually came to an end…
It was morning already. Unlike yesterday which was extraordinarily sunny. Today was otherwise, as those chubby clouds towering the once bluish sky were presently now quite overwhelmed in obscurity.
Noelle had already gotten out of the carriage not too long ago. Her majestic frame could be discerned standing amidst a pretty noisy and boisterous small neighbourhood.
Blatantly the neighborhood doesn't suit someone as magical and beautiful as her at all, not even a little. Simply because it appeared extremely filthy. Surrounding it were multiple dirts and trashes, layed aimlessly atop the slightly muddy ground. Looking like an area that would probably smell a lot, which it actually does.
The beautiful mermaid lady stood amidst the filthy road with her eyes upwards, as she was busy staring cautiously at the darkened, and cloudy sky. Seemingly having a trivial worried expression on her pretty face.
'It's going to snow soon,' Noelle thought as she continued staring at the gloomy sky conservatively. 'Hopefully it wouldn't come with a heavy storm.'
However the sudden growling of her flat stomach was what drifted her attention away from the gloomy sky. Causing her to stare haggardly downwards at her stomach as she rubbed it tenderly and pitifully with her palm.
"I'm so hungry," she fumfered ambiguously.
Soon enough, she looked away from her stomach. Then began walking forward with the luggage in her hands. Aside from those delicate muffins that James had packed on her behalf, Noelle hadn't tasted anything else for the past two days except waters.
Since those few silver coins which James had gifted to her on the day of their departure had been stolen away, Noelle had no other options than to as well starve. The only hope she has now was the person she was going to meet in Tyraneus, the capital of Sunria. Hopefully when she gets there she would be offered food.
Going to Tyraneus was really the only option she had left, at least for now it was. In Tyraneus there was someone she knew, an old friend of hers. Someone who would be willing to take her in and help her without any hesitation. Someone she had been familiar with since she was still a child.
That person was Noelle's late mother's best friend. Who was also formerly a Maidservant in their castle, but had left back then when Noelle's mother had died of that unfortunate illness, years ago. Perhaps she had felt extremely saddened and didn't want to stay in the castle and kept being reminded of her friend who died undeservingly.
Either ways Noelle didn't know why she left. All she knew was that this particular person would definitely be willing to help her of course, and would definitely not treat her with disdain, or reveal that she was the long lost princess of Sunria. This person was trustworthy enough to keep such a secret.
Thus Noelle had planned to stay with the woman until she found herself a job that would enable her to live properly.
Knowing the neighborhood she was supposed to go was a piece of cake. She occasionally use to visit the woman's house during her free time when she was younger. Therefore definitely, she was bound to be abundantly familiar with the area.
Noelle walked farther amidst some little children who were playing and running around in the filthy environment having no worries on their faces at all. Noelle cling onto her luggage with a firm grip.
The beautiful lady obviously didn't seem to be bothered by the pungent, and unpleasant smell of the neighborhood or by the trashes that were spread around disgustingly. Instead she was more focused on finding the house quickly, in that way she would also be able to eat quickly.
'Madam Danielle would be so surprised to finally see me after a very long time. It has been so long.'
Noelle thought about this and became slightly nervous.
'Indeed it had been so long. Her little son would've become an adult by now just like me. Hopefully they would still both be alive and wouldn't have been affected by the war that happened ten years ago. And most especially they would still be living here.'
Thinking back to the time when she still use to run around playfully with Madam Danielle's son. At that time they had shared the same best friend bond also, just like both their mothers had. But sadly the war not only changed everything, but also ruined it. Noelle could only pray inwardly that they should still be alive.
Noelle sighed.
She kept on walking. Reaching a particular house she stopped in front of it, and stared penetratingly at it.
"This is it…"
Nothing about the house had changed at all. Everything remained the same, even the large irrelevant tank of water which used to be there whenever she came there to visit Madam Danielle when she was still younger was still there, and still at the same position.
Noelle smiled slightly seeing this.
Gripping her dress nervously. She took in a breath and walked towards the house entrance confidently. It wasn't really an enormous house or even a mansion, it looked as though it was built for a middle-class family to live in, just like James house from earlier. Deeming like a wooden cottage, but instead it wasn't made with wood, rather it was made with bricks.
Approaching the house more closely. Noelle stood at the entrance like a Mario, then gradually taking a deep breath, even deeper than the last, she eventually delivered a knock on the wooden door.
'KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!'
Crossing her fingers and hoping that it would be Madam Danielle who would answer her and open the door for her or even her son.
"Who is there?! I'm coming!" Said someone from inside the house with a fragile voice.
And from what Noelle was percepting she could understand that it was a woman's voice of utterance.
Noelle withdrew her hands from the door and stopped knocking.
Patiently waiting for the woman to open it up with a pounding heart. Hopefully it would be Madam Danielle. She could hear some faint footsteps approaching her from inside the house.
'I hope it's Madam Danielle. I really hope so,' Noelle prayed inwardly.
The next moment, the door was opened from behind. Her eyes met with that of a slightly wrinkled eyes of a woman, she wasn't too old neither was she too young. Most importantly as expected it was Madam Danielle.
A smile formed on Noelle's lips upon seeing her.
Contrary to her, Madam Danielle seemed to no longer recognize her face anymore. But it was bound to happen as Noelle was not the same adorable little girl as before, instead she had grown into a pleasing young lady with excess charisma.
Madam Danielle gave her a complicated stare.
"Young miss, who are you? And how may I help you?" Madam Danielle asked. Knowing that she had never seen this young lady standing frontward her ever before.
"Madam Danielle…!" Noelle stated almost in whispers, but Madam Danielle still heard it.
The woman twitched her eyebrows. No one as ever called her that for ages, everyone she knew always called her Ma'am, or only Madam. Except for one person whom she use to know ten years ago.
'Could it be…? No it can't be!' the woman chased away the unlawful thought.
Almost immediately Noelle moved nearer to the woman. Closing the distance between them she blessed Madam Danielle with a tight hug. With tears already soaking up in her alluring eyes, and probably would drop any second soon, and slide down those smooth cheeks of hers.
With her melodic voice Noelle whispered;
"Madam Danielle It's me Noelle Orchid Nirvana. Remember, you gave me that middle name," Noelle stated. She purposely said her name fully, to create more support for her words. In that way Madam Danielle would be more rest assured that it was her indeed.
"I'm the former princess of the kingdom of Sunria," she added.
Madam Danielle was instantly amazed by what she just heard. She couldn't believe her ears. What just happened?! She had thought that Noelle had died long ago amidst the raging war. But now her assumptions had turned out to be completely wrong.
"Noelle…? It's you…?" Her eyes widened in spontaneous awe. Then immediately Madam Danielle tightened the hug, and embraced Noelle back more lovingly. Caressing the young lady's silky black hairs with her hands.
"How have you been my dear Noelle? You've grown up so well into such a gorgeous and matured lady. I've missed you so much child," Madam Danielle uttered genuinely.
"I'm fine Madam Danielle. And I've missed you a lot too, trust me." Noelle smiled amidst her tears. She didn't even know if she was weeping due to only missing Madam Danielle so much, or perhaps she was weeping due to severe famishments.
Ending the hug. Madam Danielle held Noelle's hands into hers as she mused at how beautifully her once sweet, little Noelle had now grown.
Seeing that Noelle was weeping, "Poor thing. Don't cry my dear. Here, let me wipe your tears away for you," she consoled.
Using the sleeves of her dress in form of a handkerchief to wipe away Noelle's profound tears. She smiled warmly at her, "There, now that's better. Weeping doesn't suit your adorable face. You don't need to cry anymore okay? I'm here."
Noelle nodded gently.
"Now come my darling, let's go in. It's quite chilly outside. You might catch a cold. I'll get you some orange juice. That should surely cheer up your sombrous mood," Madam Danielle added.
Carefully pulling Noelle's hand with hers. They both entered into the brick made house walking side-by-side eachother.
After so long, finally Noelle was eventually back to this familiar house and environment. It now really felt strange but also good at the same time.
At least now after so much unplanned starvation she would finally get something proper to eat. Besides no one knew her so well like Madam Danielle does. Back then Madam Danielle use to occasionally pamper her when she was still a little girl.
"Watch your steps my dear," Madam Danielle cautioned as they walked over some small steps.