"Do you still remember me, My Lady?" He whispered, his eyes filled with the reflection of stars up in the sky. He saw her face flash before his eyes as he stared at the twinkling stars. 

"I found someone I wish to protect. I couldn't protect you. But I promise to protect her with my life" He whispered, his hand holding the Ruby. That was the only memory he had left of the Royals. He wished, the people back home still remember them. 

"V-Vincent?" a soft weak voice spoke, pulling him out of this memory. 

There she stood, a mug full of tea in her hands. Some flowers in the other. He smiled opening the door of the stable gesturing for her to walk inside. "N-no. I should go sleep" He sighs.

"I see." He whispered as she extended her hands. "I harvested some mint and herbs from the mountains up top. I made some tea. These are the flowers that grow in winter. I-I find them very pretty. My mistress does not like red. I hope you accept them" He smiled taking them. 

She gave him a slight smile turning around but he grabbed her hand. She felt her heartbeat in her ears Like it was beating another ribcage. "Thank you Azolla" She nodded. She couldn't look into his eyes, She was too nervous. She feared, feared something greatly. 

He had to leave one day. To the castle. He would leave her one day. She couldn't let herself fall in love with someone who had so much to do. So many promises to fulfill. 

"People like you, are not allowed to even look at people like them. You work in mud, they work in the castle. With the royal guards." 

Words of her mistress rang inside her head. As she sat near the faintly burning fire. She stared at her hands, filled with ashes. She froze at the sound of the door slamming open. 

"Aye! Get me some food!" He yelled, drunk again. As he pulled the chair sitting over it. She fumbled in the kitchen. Grabbing the little amount of soup she made from the very little food her mistress got. 

The lack of money he gave his wife caused her to only make food for them. She had not eaten in two days, She heart wanted to scream out, Ask vincent for the small slice of apple he kept near his bed. But she was too embarrassed. He always gave her food when she seemed hungry. But these past few days, the mistress made sure Azolla did not see him. 

She was given enough work to keep her busy the entire day, She went as far as sending Azolla to her sister's house down the street to wash their clothes. 

"What is this!" He yelled throwing the plate off the table, the loud clacking echoed through the house as Azolla flinched stepping back in fear. He groaned, standing up and staring at her. She trembled to shake her head, "F-Forgive me-" Before her words reached his ear, he grabbed her hands causing her to yelp in pain. She gasps as he pushed her to the wall. 

"Stop !" She yelled as he lifts up her skirt, his dirty hands touching her bare legs as she cried for help. 

"What is that noise! " The sound of his wife made him stop. As he laughed squeezing her leg making her cry out. "What are you doing !" She yelled walking to her husband and pulling him off her. As Azolla cried, wrapping her arms around herself. The husband sighs straight at his wife. 

"What do you think you are doing!" she yelled slapping him. 

"All you gave me what that useless child. I might as well have my fill with this maid for giving you money!" He slurred making her furious. 

"I have had enough of you! You disgusting Man! I am leaving for my mother's this instant!" she yelled as Azolla stared at her with wide eyes. The sudden sound of horses catching their attention as her mistress looked out the back window. 

She gasps, pulling her husband up. "The Royal Guard from the gates is here. You better act well! I will go greet them" Azolla slowly walked out the back door looking at the shed, She peeked at the horses as the guard walked towards her Mistress. 

"I am here to send a message to the outsider. Where is he leaving?" She smiled walking the guard to the shed. They knocked on the door. It took a moment till Vincent opened the door, Azolla frowned walking to the fence but out of their sight. 

"You have been asked to see the new lord of this village in the morning. You shall be given orders and escorted to the castle to report the issue to His Majesty The King and his subjects for further discussion" 

Azolla covered her gasp with her fingers in shock. Her breathing getting heavier. 

He was leaving, He was leaving this place, He was leaving her. He was leaving forever. She heard some small talk before the guard walked to his horse. 

"A horse shall be sent with two guards to take you to Lord Peter within an hour" Vincent nodded. 

She felt the ache in her heart grow second my second. Her tears never stopped. As soon as The mistress walked in the house she started shouting profanities at her now passed out the husband. She woke up her child, grabbing her bad and yelling at Azolla to fold her clothes and pack them. 

"M-madam" She whispered setting the heavy bag on the floor. 

"Call for a carriage as soon as you are done packing his things" She gulped. 

"Madam" She looked at her with a glare. "P-Please take me with you madam" Her mistress laughed looking away in a shocking state. 

"Take you? Take you!? Who do you think you are? You will stay here or go die. I do not care." Azolla visibly flinch. Her mouth sucked in the sharp air as she kneeled in front of her Mistress. 

"Please, Madam. I will do whatever you wish. I will work wherever you wish, whatever you wish. Please. I have nowhere to go. Master's companions from work come home when you leave. It is very difficult for me Madam. I cannot bear to lose my virtue like this. I beg of you!" She begged to grab her leg when her Mistress pushed her away

"I have no use of you. Put my child's clothes in that trunk and go call for a carriage!"Azolla wasn't fazed by her Mistress pushing her with her legs. All she wanted was to be away. Away from that man.

"I beg of you. I need nothing but shelter over my head. I won't ask for food or a penny" The mistress rolled her eyes grabbing Azolla by her jaw. Her nails digging in her face as she cried. 

"Three pennies, if your call the carriage in one hour. You can go work for my sister down the road if she accepts, I will not do anything else for you. Now go!" Azolla nodded, her body trembling as she cried silent tears. 

Her shivering hands packed the young boy's clothes in a truck as he watched her.