I grew up in a place where sins and wickedness existed. A place that was called a church and orphanage, but the people there were vile.

"Hey low born!"

As I've thought, once you were to start as a nobody in this world, people like me won't have the privilege to enjoy life. There's always an 'imbalance' beyond noble and commoners.

"Hey!!!" I cried when another kid grabbed my hair and pulled it with all his strength.  I felt like my hair would separate from my scalp.

"You dared to ignore me?!"

He shouted. This brat of a noble really pissed me off.

"Go to hell." I said and kick his balls. He roared in pain so I took that opportunity to run away from him and return home.

Wait–

Home? what home exactly did I mean? Anyway, I'm already 16 years old and I still live inside that rotten orphanage. Nobody wanted to adopt me, I don't know their reasons. It's not like I want to, but I did hope that someone will come to me and get me out of that place.

Now, how fortunate I am to get grabbed by a noble guy and he's lucky that I was the one who kicked his balls. I talk highly to myself, there's no a problem with that.

"She's that girl!"

Damn it! Those are guards!

I glanced quickly at the emblem in their chest, and I almost gaped when I saw the crest of Bârlon family.

Shit. This is bad, really really bad. I might get executed for hurting a child from Bârlon, so what's the point of running away if you may ask?

To survive! I don't want to die yet, I want to live!

I continued to run as fast as I can until I blend in with the people that are walking and gathered in the plaza.

Why are there so many people? What's the event? Is there even any event to celebrate? Now's not the time to think about those things!

"Excuse me! Damn it, I said excuse me!!"

I shouted and pushed them away when I saw that the guards who are chasing me is already near. I focused my eyes in front and I got faster when a kid tripped on his knees and was about to fall but I catched him.

Thank God!

"Next time,be careful."

He said thank you.

"Got you!"

Oh gosh! Oh my gosh!

"Damn. You're so fast compare to other girls."

The guy commented and held my wrist tightly that I grimaced because his armor hurts.

"Don't even think of running away. People like you should be beheaded because you hurt the young master from a well-known and influential family."

I scoffed. So this is it? My ending?

"Excuse you, that thing pulled my hair and also hurt me."

His eyebrow raised.

"Did you just called the young master, "that thing"?

I nodded.

"So what if I did?"

"You!–"

"You must be dumb enough to answer with that tone of yours."

A deep, cold masculine voice interrupted.

The guard immediately got into his knees and pulled my hand to also kneel. The hell?

"Bow your head if you don't want to die yet."

I did what he told me. Whose voice was that? Who's the guy that we're paying respect? His Majesty, the Emperor?

Huh. That's impossible, how could I meet the hero who saved this empire from ruins, few years ago? He doesn't go to public places like here.

"Raise your heads."

The guy commanded.

Is he another noble? A grand duke, perhaps?

"Yes, Your Highness."

What?!

I immediately raised my head and look at the man who's standing almighty in front of me.

He's wearing imperial clothes! It's really the emperor! Wait, they said that he's merciful to commoners. This must be a blessing from the Lord! If I beg him to spare my life and explain what happened, he'll give me a chance, right?! He should! I am desperate to live and I still have a dream to achieve. I can't just die here because of that brat of a noble.

I'll beg him! I definitely will.

"Your Majesty–"

"You...you're still alive?"

Huh? What?

"Pardon?"

That was almost a whisper.

"No. More importantly,  why do you look so young? And why are you here, of all places? I thought you were dead, but you showed up unscathed."

Can somebody please explain what he's saying? He thought I was dead? Did I die? Does he know me?

"I beg your pardon, Your Grace. But, have we met before? Or, do you know me?"

I'm seriously digging my own grave.

"How fascinating to pretend as if we don't know each other."

People stopped by and watch the scene. They were also whispering about what he's saying. That I, and the emperor himself have met. Thus, we know each other. Don't make me laugh! I haven't met him. A commoner like me won't be granted an audience with a royal like this man.

"Hmm. The color of your eyes....are like mine."

Huh? I stared at his eyes and he's right. So what?

"You're not Devian, are you?"

The emperor is a handsome man. I mean, no. That's not the proper way to describe his beauty, it's an underestimation and not justifiable to his appearance.  He's like a god! He's tall and has golden hair!

"No, Your Highness."

I answered.

He stared back at me and studied my whole face.

"Indeed, you're not her. But you look like her. Are you her sibling? She didn't mention she had, though. Perhaps, niece?"

Is he insulting me? I don't even know my parents! I don't know where I came from or where do I even belong.

"I don't have family."

I said firmly.

"Oh? Who are you and where do you live?"

Why is he so curious about a commoner's background? And more importantly, who's Devian?

"People call me Phoenix because of my eyes, they're like the shades of flame when faced to sunlight. And I live in orphanage since I was a kid."

He smirked.

"I like the sound of Pheonix. So, you're an orphan and you don't know your family? Nobody adopted you?"

I nodded as an answer.

"Very well. Come with me."

Do I have to? I have no choice, he seems interested to me and I don't know why.

"You're the only person I met with the same eyes as mine. A rare crimson amber eyes that only from the East empire, and only some of the royal family members have."

What? He's not from here? Then, he's not the emperor? The eyes that he mentioned belonged to royal family, and he has it. So, he's definitely a royalty.

"Who are you exactly?"

He faced me and smiled knowingly.

"Vladimir Lémieux De Schiavone Of Vraimor Empire."

The emperor...of the East?