"What exactly do we need to discuss? Why do you keep helping me? You want something from me, don’t you?"

Lidia started chuckling.

"Everyone needs something from someone else to keep on living. Whether it be attention, labor, love, friendship, or family. We are always going to desire things from other people whether we want to or not."

Iris continued finishing the food in front of her. It all tasted magnificent. Small tears rolled down her cheeks as she bit into every bite. Struggling to keep her composure, Iris started sniffling to herself and wiping her face with her sleep.

"I’m sorry. I haven’t had food that isn’t spoiled in quite a while."

Lidia smiled and put a hand on Iris’s shoulder.

"It’s okay. Take all the time you need."

After a short while, Iris was able to compose herself enough to talk.

"I think I’m ready to talk."

"Very good! You see, we hardly have enough people in the fields currently to meet the king’s demands. We could really use all the help we could get. So, I’m here to offer you a proposal."

"You need me to work in the fields and help you guys?"

"Yes, I do. However, in return for your hard work, I will provide a roof over your head in the palace as well as all the food you need!"

Iris was hesitant to speak at first.

"...is that all I need to do?"

"Yes, that’s all. I will be your boss for the time being. What do you say?"

"Well, do I have much of a choice?"

"You can walk out of here if you would like and go where you please. I am simply giving you an opportunity. You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to."

"...I’ll do it. What should I wear?"

Lidia smiled brightly and wrapped Iris in a bear hug. Iris was so shocked, her heart started racing. She had never been hugged before. It felt so warm and... suffocating.

"I... can’t breathe!"

After a few desperate pleas, Lidia let go.

"There should be some clothes for you in the drawers! And by the way, I must say you have the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen! I’ve never seen such red eyes before! I guess it was hard to see them when your hair was down."

Iris started blushing.

"T-thank you. I think you’re the first person to not be creeped out by them."

"Really? Man, people have no taste now adays. Anyway, meet me by the gates of the kingdom! I’ll lead you personally to the fields!"

Iris nodded and slowly got up from her bed. She put on a strange white outfit fitted with long sleeves. Ther linings of red that streaked across some parts of it that perfectly complimented her eyes. Giving herself one final look in the mirror, she left her room and started looking for an exit.

As she walked through a hallway, she could hear silverware clashing against plates. Somewhere, people were having breakfast together. Turning the corner, she saw all ten members of the Rose Clan sitting together, chatting, eating breakfast and laughing. When someone saw her, they gave her a smile and waved.

"You must be the girl Lidia brought back! Welcome to the Rose Clan! The exit is through that door if you are lost!"

The man pointed to a door across the room. Iris bowed her head.

"Thank you very much for the hospitality. I’ll be on my way."

She left the room with little issue. It was a strange sight to see people sitting together, eating and talking without ever arguing. All Iris was used to was eating alone, arguments at the table, or being yelled at for eating too much by her father. It almost felt like she was dreaming, being given this new opportunity.

After a bit of trial and error, Iris finally found her way to the exit of the kingdom. Lidia was patiently waiting for her. Once she saw Iris, her face lit up with excitement.

"There you are! I was starting to get worried that you changed your mind! Follow me!"

Iris quietly followed behind her. They walked for miles towards the fields hidden behind the kingdom. There, she was met with a familiar cart that carried loads of vegetables from the fields. There were also dozens of people picking up crops from the soil and putting them in bags to prepare them to be thrown in the cart.

"Alright Iris, I’m going to have you decide. Where would you like to help? You can help water the soil, pick up crops or be a part of a carriage team to carry the goods back to the kingdom and unload them."

After thinking to herself for a moment, she made up her mind.

"I would like to help with picking the crops from the ground please."

Lidia’s smile widened.

"I was secretly hoping you would say that! You can grab empty crop bags by the carts and start wherever you’d like! If you need anything, I’ll be helping the cart teams out! Good luck, Iris!"

"Thank you, Miss Lidia."

Iris spent all day ripping plants out of the ground. She wasn’t the greatest because of her poor health but never gave up until she had to go home. Her entire body was weak on the walk back to the kingdom. She was only able to fill one cart by herself whereas others around her were able to pack three or more.

Lidia walked over to her when they finally finished unloading the last cart.

"Hey Iris! How was your first day?"

"Truthfully, it was extremely exhausting. I don’t think my bodies used to doing so much manual labor."

Lidia let out a loud laugh.

"You’ll get used to it in no time! There should be a bed for you somewhere in the palace, but if you can’t find it, just come see me in the Rose Clan dormitories."

Iris looked at Lidia wistfully and started walking towards the palace with her head down. Lidia ran up to her so they could walk together.

"Hey now, what’s wrong? Did I overwork you?"

Iris met Lidia’s gaze with tears in her eyes.

"I just wish sometimes I could be a bit more normal. That’s all. It feels like I haven’t gotten to choose much in this life. I feel like a slave."

Lidia put her arm around Iris and brought her closer as they walked.

"Listen, there’s going to be a lot of things in life we don’t have a choice about. But hey, that’s just how life is. Just think, wouldn’t it be so boring if everything went exactly how we wanted all the time?"

Iris thought for a moment, wiping her face.

"If everything went how I wanted, I would never be bored."

Lidia rubbed the top of Iris’s head, messing up her hair.

"I guess it doesn’t hurt to desire such a life. Just don’t beat yourself up for not having it, okay?"

Iris nodded and for the first time in a while, she smiled. Lidia noticed and smiled back without facing her.

"Is it okay if I tell you something, Miss Lidia?"

"Of course. Tell me anything you want."

"I feel... different. Something is different about me, and I don’t know what it is."

Lidia scratched her head.

"Well... you are around that age I suppose."

Iris started blushing a bit.

"N-not that! I mean something else. It feels like I can sense something in your body moving."

"Something in my body moving?"

"Yeah. I don’t know what it is but it’s going all around your body."

"You mean my blood? That’s the only thing I can think of that moves around my body."

"I... think so."

Lidia’s face brightened with curiosity.

"Try to control it."

"What?"

"Try to control that feeling. You said you can feel it moving, try to slow it down, speed it up or even try to stop it."

"I can try, Miss Lidia."

Suddenly, Lidia felt her blood start to flow faster through her body. Oxygen was being carried a lot quicker to her limbs, filling her with rejuvenated strength. Lidia blinked in amazement.

"Well, I’ll be damned. Say, how long have you had this feeling?"

"I feel like I’ve had it for a while, but I’ve been so hungry that this is the first time I can really focus on the feeling without thinking of food."

"Interesting. Forget about going to the normal palace dormitories. How about you stay another night with me?"

"Are you sure, Miss Lidia?"

"I’m absolutely sure! This is great news, you know! You’ve been given a blessing! Not only that, but it’s almost the same power as the king himself!"

"T-the king?!"

"That’s right! But can you promise me something if you are going to stay with me for a while longer?"

"Anything you need!"

Lidia’s expression turned serious.

"Promise me that you won’t tell another person you have this power. Not even the king can know. Understand?"

Iris looked at Lidia a bit confused, but she nodded her head, nonetheless.

"I promise."

"Good. I actually have one more question if you don’t mind."

"What is it?"

"Do you have any parents?"