I closed the status window after reflecting on its familiar details.
That sky-blue screen had become part of my daily life, almost like a mirror of myself.
I let out a small sigh, then rose from the bed, feeling the hunger gnawing at my stomach as if to remind me I hadn't eaten since yesterday.
I left the room and headed toward the second floor—specifically to the kitchen, where the smell of food always filled the castle's halls and drew me in.
As usual, the old cook greeted me with his familiar smile, saying:
"Good morning, young man. You seem more energetic today."
I smiled back and sat on the wooden chair beside the long table. Before long, he placed a bowl of hot soup in front of me.
Its smell was pleasant, and its taste even more so—perhaps because I needed something warm after last night's events.
I ate slowly, savoring every spoonful as if I were feeding on calm itself.
With each sip, I felt as though I was regaining my balance.
When I finished, I thanked the cook politely and left the kitchen feeling lighter, as though the warmth of the meal had washed away part of yesterday's exhaustion.
I began wandering through the castle without any particular destination.
I first went down to the first floor, then up to the third, strolling quietly through the corridors.
The place was hushed, every corner telling a special kind of silence.
But as I descended from the third floor to the second, just before reaching the staircase leading further down, I suddenly stopped.
I had spotted someone standing before Noble Valis's chamber door.
Looking closer, I saw it was only a little girl, no older than eight.
She stood there strangely still, as if spying or waiting for something.
Her hair was a crimson red, falling in soft strands on her shoulders, and her bright blue eyes gleamed with curiosity.
She wore a small elegant dress befitting a noble child.
She must be Noble Valis's niece—the one I'd heard about.
I approached her quietly.
But the moment she noticed me, her eyes widened, and she lifted her small skirt slightly before running off as though she had committed some crime and feared punishment.
"Huh? Why did she run?" I muttered in surprise, before dashing after her.
The girl ran with unexpected speed, darting around corners and corridors, then down the staircase to the first floor.
I hadn't expected her to be this energetic, but her steps were light as air.
I chased her until we reached one of the hallways on the first floor, where I finally managed to catch her.
Placing my hand gently on her shoulder, I stopped her and said with a smile:
"Got you, you little rascal."
She was panting hard, glaring at me with an annoyed look before lowering her head slightly, as though caught red-handed.
I spoke playfully, trying to ease the tension:
"Why were you standing in front of Noble Valis's chamber? And why did you run when you saw me?"
She suddenly raised her head and answered in a haughty, arrogant tone:
"That's none of your business, old man!"
I froze for a second.
Old man? Me?!
I slowly opened my mouth and replied, trying to keep calm:
"I'm not old. I'm in my twenties. And even if I were, that doesn't give you the right to speak to your elders that way."
She raised an eyebrow and said coldly:
"And who do you think you are to lecture me?"
Then, with an arrogant tilt of her head, she added:
"You must be one of the guards who protect me and my uncle. My uncle can have you dismissed with a single word from me… and you'd never see your salary again."
I stared at her silently for a moment.
This child… how could she have so much arrogance? Who had taught her that people were measured only by money and power?
I tried to keep my tone calm as I said:
"But you can't treat your elders with disrespect. In fact, you shouldn't treat anyone with arrogance and disdain—even those younger or lower in rank than you."
Her eyes lit with indignation as she replied, as if stating an obvious truth:
"And why not? Why shouldn't I treat those beneath me with condescension? I'm richer, prettier, and higher in status."
She said it as if announcing universal facts beyond debate.
I sighed, a heaviness pressing on my chest, and said:
"Little one… that's not how the world works."
Then, in a serious tone, I added:
"Would you be happy if someone of higher status treated you with the same arrogance you show others?"
She fell silent, not answering.
Her expression revealed she had never thought of it that way before.
I continued:
"Looking down on others is wrong… Do you want to be the kind of person who does wrong?"
She suddenly shouted:
"I'm not evil!"
I raised my eyebrows and said:
"Really? Then why treat others arrogantly? Don't you know that's bad?"
She insisted stubbornly:
"And who says it's bad?! People should be grateful I even bother speaking to them!"
I stared at her in disbelief.
How could a child this young think like that?
I answered gently:
"That doesn't change the truth. Arrogance is still wrong."
She said with a child's stubborn seriousness:
"I only treat people according to their place. It's not my fault they're beneath me!"
I shook my head slightly and said:
"As I said, we must treat everyone with respect, even those of lower status. Respect isn't bought or forced… it's given."
Her gaze turned uncertain, and she asked hesitantly:
"You're strange… why should I respect them?"
I smiled and looked into her eyes as I replied:
"Because… we're all human."
Then, in a softer voice, I added:
"And because every person, no matter who they are, has dignity and deserves respect… except for a few rare cases, as you can imagine."
She went quiet for a moment, then turned her face away with a clear pout.
She didn't seem fully convinced, but at least she was thinking about it. That was enough for now.
I sighed, smiled again, and asked:
"Anyway… what's your name?"
She crossed her arms proudly and said:
"And why should I tell you my name?"
I held my breath for a moment, forcing myself not to get annoyed, and replied calmly:
"Didn't we just talk about this a moment ago?"
She turned her head with hesitation, then muttered in a low but still haughty voice:
"M… my name is Rosheen. Remember it!"
I smiled and told her sincerely:
"What a beautiful name… it suits a little girl like you."
Her cheeks flushed pink, and she said in a softer voice:
"Isn't it? My name… it's really pretty."
I nodded and added:
"Yes, yes. The little princess has a beautiful and special name."
She blushed even more, lowering her head slightly as she muttered:
"You're just… exaggerating."
I struggled to hold back my laughter. Despite her arrogance, there was a true childlike innocence behind her lofty words.
I then asked kindly:
"Anyway, why were you standing in front of Noble Valis's chamber?"
Her expression suddenly grew serious, and she fell into a long silence.
Long enough that it felt like she was hiding something more than mere embarrassment.
So I said gently:
"If it's something you don't want to talk about, that's fine. You don't have to answer."
She hesitated, then whispered so softly I almost didn't hear:
"The truth is… I'm afraid."
I raised my eyebrows in surprise.
"Afraid? Afraid of what?"
Rosheen took a deep breath and said:
"Before we came to this castle, my uncle bought me a doll from a rare auction—as a gift. At first, I was so happy with it. It was beautiful… with long black hair and red eyes. It seemed so rare."
She paused, then continued nervously:
"But one night, while I was asleep, I woke up to a strange sound… light footsteps, like someone walking slowly on the wooden floor. I got out of bed to check, and guess what I saw?"
She locked eyes with mine and went on:
"I saw the doll. It was standing in the middle of the room—far from where I'd placed it. And it was smiling."
A shiver ran through me—not from fear, but from memory.
The doll again… though it had been removed, its shadow still lingered in stories told by a child I hadn't even known existed minutes ago.
I asked warily:
"Do you mean… the doll that was placed in the storeroom?"
Her eyes widened in shock.
"Yes! How did you know?!"
I hesitated, then answered carefully:
"Uh… don't be startled, but… that doll could move and speak."
Her mouth fell open in shock, then she shook her head quickly and exclaimed with sudden joy:
"That's exactly what I wanted to say!"
I stared at her, surprised.
"You knew it could speak?! Why didn't you tell Noble Valis?"
She lowered her eyes and spoke quietly:
"It's not like I didn't try… he just didn't believe me."
She added sadly:
"But at least he agreed to put it in the storeroom to calm me down. He just didn't think I was serious. He thought I was… just scared like other kids."
Her voice broke as she continued:
"But I wasn't imagining it. I know what I saw. And even after it was put away in the storeroom, I still felt like it was watching me… still scaring me."
I felt a pang of sympathy.
The arrogance she displayed was nothing but a fragile mask covering a frightened soul.
So I told her:
"Well… there's something that might surprise you."
She looked up at me expectantly, and I added:
"The doll… is no longer in the castle."
Her eyes widened.
"Really?! How? And how do you know?!"
I sighed softly and said:
"Some things happened last night that made the doll… leave."
I wasn't ready to tell her the full details—some things weren't meant for a child her age.
But my words seemed to comfort her. She smiled with visible relief, though a faint shadow of fear still lingered behind it.
---
She waved her small hand and said:
"Thank you, uncle."
Uncle? Me?!
Well… at least she didn't call me old this time.
I replied kindly:
"You're welcome."
She hesitated for a moment before turning to leave.
"So… I'll be going now. See you later."
I watched her steps as I said:
"Yes, see you."
And she walked up toward the second floor.
I watched until she vanished at the top of the stairs, then smiled quietly to myself.
Despite everything, it seemed this world still held some innocence.
I took a deep breath, then headed toward the guards' chamber.
I pushed the door open slowly and found Cairo awake, sitting on a chair, staring out the window.
I approached him and said:
"Good morning, Cairo."
He replied in his tired voice:
"Good morning."
Then, with some hesitation, I asked:
"So… shall we go and tell the others about what happened last night?"
He fell silent for a moment, as if recalling it all, then answered with hesitation of his own:
"Let's go and tell them."