Your Weight in Gold

ARC 1 PART 5

I couldn't tell you how many insufferable days I spent following the orders of that High Priest, but the worst work I was forced to do was in the Royal Library. Every single day, that old man instructed me to go to that place and sweep or sort books for no reason. At this point, I was pretty sure he was just giving me busy work so he didn't have to look at my face.

I picked up a heavy book bound by leather and blew on it, releasing a cloud of dust. Not many people came here at all it seemed, but the library itself was massive. "This place...must hold thousands-no, millions of books." I whispered under my breath, staring up at the different floors of the building, each connected by gorgeous mahogany staircases. Just then, I heard a shout from outside the glass windows.

Beyond the library I was "imprisoned" in, there was a large courtyard that I sometimes saw the royal guards practice on. I shifted my gaze to the outside when I heard the man's voice, but what I saw only made me feel worse about my situation.

The other metal warriors thrust their swords forward in sync, following the directions of an important looking soldier. "That's it!" I heard the man yell, "It must be the spirit's power! You men learn faster than any of our knights!"

I rolled my eyes and went back to sweeping the dusty wooden floors, but I couldn't help looking out at them enviously. "Pick up your swords!" The soldier ordered, and I gripped the broom in my hands tightly.

"Now, forward!"
I stepped forward.
"Block!"
I swung the broom in front of me, following the same steps the others showed. When the training session ended, I went back to sweeping.

I continued working in this manner every time I saw them training, and I was sure at this point that I might even be better with my broom than they were with their blades. It was a good thing I was alone and no one witnessed me practicing- how embarrassing would that be!

—

My silver plate clattered on the wooden table as I plopped down next to the guys. Louis gave me a dirty look and Jared seemed uncomfortable, but Andrew (my current favorite of the bunch) seemed unbothered, taking a swig of his beer.

"I didn't know they let just anyone in here. Shouldn't you be sitting with the nobles and ladies?" Louis scoffed and looked at my appearance. Sure, compared to their shining armor and flashy weapons, I looked quite out of place. These days, maids that would not speak to me came by and styled my newly-golden hair and dressed me in the silk robes of a priest, but I was definitely not treated on the same level as the rest of the people here.

"Oh, shut it." I grumbled at Louis, tired of hearing his nasally voice at this point. "If you don't want me here, I would prefer if you would just say it instead of trying to play it off like a snide comment." Jared choked on his food like he was trying not to laugh.

"Listen here, little girl," Louis's narrow mouth snarled to reveal weird looking tiny teeth. "None of us want to even be in the same room as you." This was already expected behavior from the iron bastard, but I was pretty sure Jared and Andrew didn't have much of an issue with me.

I looked to Andrew who was sitting beside me, his eyes like silver stars staring down at his cup. Well? I thought, waiting for him to say something like "It's fine, you can sit here" or even "Louis, stop being an asshole" but nothing left his mouth.

I huffed. "Fine, guess I'll go eat in my room then, since I'm not wanted." I hastily picked up my plate and tried to walk as quickly and calmly out of that hall as possible. I didn't want them to see that their words had gotten to me, or the tears welling up in my eyes.