All Izatha did was stare at her.

How did she get past the escort? Still, it is a bit of a blessing. Say something cool, like something grand and ceremonious that you read in a book! she thought, but she couldn't think of anything good to say.

The awkward stare continued.

The servant, however, bowed her head to avoid making eye contact with the princess. It seemed she could feel her gaze burrowing into her, for she became red and twitchy. She bit her lip and clenched her fists from nerves.

She could thinks you're going to get mad at her. Say something, anything!

"What is your name?"

Izatha came off stronger than she wanted to, and the girl winced at her voice.

"I- I am Winry, Your Highness," she spoke softly.

A bit startled by the timidness of the girl, Izatha tried to ease her mind so as to not frighten her. "I am Izatha Hela. Is it just Winry?"

The girl barely nodded, saying, "I am an orphan of no family, Your Highness."

An orphan living and serving in the palace? But, by the way that the system works, an orphan who doesn't know who their parents are have no house to claim. They would probably be ranked lower than all peasants, on the same level as outcasts. Something extraordinary must have happened to allow her to stay here.

But what?

Izatha stopped her thoughts short. Am I looking down on this girl? Just this morning, I was an orphan with no knowledge of my family. I didn't even know what species I was! In fact, I am still an orphan and barely know anything about my parents.

So I know my name, yippededoda. Look at that, I know this servant girl's name too. Wow, all the questions I've been asking all my life are all solved! Not.

But wait, Winry hadn't known who I was earlier today. No one had. Even so, she covered me, whether out of kindness or pity or whatever.

Shut up Izatha. You're staring again. Talk to her!

"Did you get in trouble earlier? For giving me the cloak I mean. It was nice, so I assume it was some lady of the court's," she said.

Winry looked up for just a moment, tensing herself. "No, not at all, Your Highness! You but not- you need not divide- uh, problem- you need not problem yourself with me," she stuttered.

A smile came on her face. In two steps, she was an arm's length away from her. With force, but gently, she lifted Winry's head so she could gaze into the girl's eyes. When she shifted her line of view away again, Izatha moved to where she was looking until it was clear that she wanted her to look into the princess's eyes.

Winry's irises were a beautiful grey, sharp from years of working and heavy with anxiety. Her lips quivered as she tried to stay strong in front of her superior.

"So it was yours then," she realized. A solemn aura fell upon her. "In that case, I must return it to you. Come to my quarters an hour before lunch tomorrow."

Stepping back, she was pleased when Winry was still looking at her. "I'll most likely be leaving the court soon to return home, so I'd like to get it back to you as soon as I can," she said as she turned to go.

What did she just say? She had spoken without thinking, blurting out the first thing that her feelings told her to. It wasn't a lie, though. There was nothing holding her here, and soon enough everyone will hate her so much that they say good riddance if she would disappear.

She didn't have a place here, not really. The only important things in these people's lives were fighting and climbing as high as they could. It would be fun for a video game, but not the cultue she wanted. Earth was her true home, and she wanted to return to it quickly. Every second here was poisoning her mind.

My life isn't a book, and even if it was, I don't want to be the protagonist of this story, she thought.

"No you can't! We need you here!"

At the outburst, she whirled back around. The servant's head fell to the ground again as she apologized for taking back.

Izatha smiled at her, stepping closer.

"So you can speak on your own. Tell me why you think an outsider like me could be needed in the most powerful court in history. I am nothing compared to them."

"That's- that's not true," she squeaked. "You are the first third-generation--"

"Humbug! I've been alone my whole life, so I don't need a history now!"

Her chest ached a little at her own words, but she suppressed the feeling. It was true, after all. If she hadn't been a Nora, they might have thrown her out anyway. If only because-- only by the generosity of humans had she survived.

Flashes of grey caught her interest. Once again, Winry was looking at her head on. Being a person with nothing to identify herself with, she could be killed for such an act and no one would care, but she did it anyway.

"I have a good feeling on you. Although I do not know you, I think that you are a person of honor. How you talk with the nobles, you growing up on Earth-- you can change the court. We need a humble ruler like you, even if you are not strong. If you leave, where is there for you to go?" she replied.

For a moment, the world stood still. Her words struck a chord deep in Izatha's heart. Slowly, her lips turned slightly upward.

"An hour before lunch. Don't be late," the princess replied.