A fortune-telling princess

Smack!

“Ow!”

“Ah!”

“That hurts!”

“Waaah!”

Suddenly, something flew toward the children—small stones. They shrieked in pain and burst into tears, clearly hurt.

“Do you want more?”

It was her. Camilla!

“Ow! Waaah!”

Camilla, armed with what looked like a slingshot, loaded another small stone. The children wailed and fled, leaving me sitting on the ground, crying.

I stared at Camilla in a daze.

“Don’t cry.”

“Huh?”

“Crying will only make people dislike you more. Don’t cry when things like this happen.”

“O-Okay!”

I nodded furiously. I didn’t fully understand what she meant, but it felt like she was right.

“Get up.”

I looked at the pale hand extended toward me. Forgetting my tears, I smiled brightly.

A friend.

It felt like I had finally found a good friend.

“Camilla, here. Eat this.”

I handed her an apple I had saved from the snacks given earlier. I hadn’t eaten it because I wanted to give it to her.

The bright red apple looked delicious, but I resisted the temptation.

“For me?”

“Yeah!”

“…Thanks.”

Camilla’s face turned as red as the apple. Seeing how happy she was made me glad I had saved it for her.

“But, um…”

“What?”

“Can I give this to my mom?”

“Your mom?”

“Yeah.”

“Of course!”

She’s so lucky to have a mom.

Seeing Camilla’s face light up made me smile too. She seemed eager to give the apple to her mother and stood up right away.

‘I want to play more, though.’

She can give the apple and come back to play, right?

Thinking that, I followed her to her house. What should we play today? Maybe draw pictures together?

“Camilla.”

As we neared her house, a soft yet unfamiliar voice called out. It was a beautiful voice.

But the moment I heard it, an odd fear froze me in place.

‘Is that her mom?’

Peeking cautiously, I saw a stunningly beautiful woman standing with Camilla.

“Where did you get this?”

“A f-friend gave it to me.”

“A friend?”

“Yes.”

“And now you’re lying to me?”

“W-What?”

“Tell the truth. Where did you get this?”

“It really was a friend—”

“Camilla!”

‘Gasp.’

My body froze at the woman’s furious shout. Her distorted expression as she glared at Camilla made my blood run cold.

A mom? She’s supposed to be her mom? Moms aren’t supposed to act like that.

‘The moms in books… they’re not like this.’

This wasn’t right.

“I’ve heard there’s been someone stealing fruit from the orchard recently. Was it you?”

“N-No, it wasn’t—!”

“More lies!”

Camilla clamped her mouth shut, trembling.

“I told you, never lie.”

“…”

“I should’ve never had you. Haa…”

“I-I’m sorry, Mom.”

I was frozen.

No, Camilla didn’t steal it. I gave it to her! I needed to run out and tell her, but I couldn’t move.

‘I’m scared…’

The woman, scolding Camilla like a witch from a storybook, terrified me.

Camilla, meanwhile, didn’t cry. She hung her head as if she were used to this. My own tears, however, streamed down uncontrollably.

My friend.

My new friend lived not with a mother but with a witch.

****

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”

“Why are you apologizing?”

The next day, I cried again when I saw Camilla.

“Don’t cry. Didn’t I tell you? People won’t like you if you cry. That’s why I don’t cry.”

“I’m sorry.”

I quickly wiped my tears with my sleeve.

“Here, eat this.”

Once again, I handed her the apple I had saved. It was the only thing I could give her as a friend.

“…I don’t want it.”

“Why not? Don’t give it to your mom. Eat it yourself.”

“…It hurts.”

“Huh?”

Camilla pressed her hand against her chest, over her heart, while staring at the apple.

“It hurts here. I can’t eat.”

Tears welled in my eyes again.

“I’m leaving today.”

“What? Why?”

She had only moved here recently.

“We were only staying briefly for work. Now that it’s over, we’re leaving.”

At her words, my tears started falling again.

“Camilla.”

“…!”

The witch!

At the woman’s call, Camilla immediately stood up. She glanced at me one last time before running off toward the woman.

“Sob!”

And that was the last I saw of her.

My friend. My princess-like friend left with the witch.

“Laila.”

“!Waaah!”

“What happened? Why are you crying?”

“My friend… she left with the witch!”

“What?”

“Waaah!”

“Now, now. There’s no time for crying.”

“Sniff… Huh?”

“Someone’s here to meet you.”

“Someone?”

“Yes, the people who will become your parents.”

The orphanage Director smiled gently, stroking my hair. She took my hand, leading me forward.

I turned to look back one last time, but Camilla was already gone.

I thought that was the end of our connection.

But…

“Are you going to keep standing there like that?”

When I met my friend again, she still reached out her hand to me.

“Thank you for your help.”

She was still beautiful, like a princess.

“My name is Laila.”

She didn’t seem to remember me, but it didn’t matter.

‘Because I…’

Because I remembered her.