The Fake Princess

15- Five Years Later

The wind was blowing wildly, my hair was flying crazily. I am now 17 years old, I will be formally entering society next week on my 18th birthday. I will be going back to the Duke's mansion and live there for the rest of my life (until I marry), but I will be visiting the Temple.

As of now, I was doing my last mission for the Temple. I came to the Capital to feed the poor. I started a program for the orphans. Since people already think of me as the Saintess and want to get on my good side, I used the money given by the nobles to build an orphanage that is well equipped with hand- selected people. I hired the caregivers, I hired the chefs, I met with the merchant who will be giving the food and I hired a doctor that will be on call whenever a child is sick.

Everyone called me the Saintess at 15 when I created that program. The Duke approved of my plans and so did the Pope. Nobles have flaunted to me and there are two types of nobles that surround me. The first type are those who genuinely want to give back to the poor and improve the likelihood of others. The other types are those who fell in social rank and decide that allying themselves with me will boost their influence. I do not help them much, I send them to Ambrose for politics or Laxor for economics and I still take their money.

I knew that even if one was clothed and eating food, they wouldn't be assured a place in society. With no name and backing, they would remain jobless. So, I worked with nobles and had them find jobs for the orphans. Laxor helped too. He took most of the stronger boys and shipped them to wherever he takes them to become mercenary's. Other boys learned trade skills that were needed for industry and factories that was starting to be used more often. Girls either trained under artisans or worked as servants in noble households or rich merchants.

Today I was currently visiting the orphans. We were seated outside and they are currently braiding my hair. Summer was ending so I made sure to keep a mental note of who needed new sweaters, coats and shoes for the upcoming snow fall.

"Saintess!" I looked over at the oldest girl, 14 years old. She came barging into the room and the two other girls were giggling as they touch my pink hair, awing at the softness.

"Yes Wendy?" I ask.

"When is the super cute mage coming here? Is he going to swipe you off your feet again?" She taunts and the other girls squeal about his looks. I roll my eyes and give them a pointed look, knowing they're talking about their favorite mage, Ronin.

"And what do you know about cute?" I ask, joking with her and she giggles.

"Wendy was called pretty the other day." Sarah whispers badly in my ear and Wendy goes red.

"Shut up!" She stomps her foot and I smile.

"And who called her cute?" I ask, wanting to gossip with the little girls. I turn to the youngest and she giggles.

"Antonio. He's the butcher's eldest son." Olea confesses and I look at Wendy with a smile and she turned redder.

"Ooh... he's handsome." I smile with a teasing voice. "I can already see myself being sick with their puppy love. Tell me what happened."

"Well, I was getting food for Duke Vann as I do every Monday. I went to the butcher and Antonio was working that day. He gave me a flower and said I was prettier than it." Wendy looks away from me, face still red but a smile on her lips.

"Do you like him?" I ask, my head jerked to the side as one of the girls pulled too hard, but I ignored it. Sarah finished my hair and is now placing a ribbon on it to tie it.

"Well, I don't hate the idea of liking him." She drawls out. I tap my lips with a finger.

"You should gift him something." I decide. The two girls gasp and agree. "But what's a good, small gift?"