It was early afternoon when she finally had the coins in her palm.

They were warm from being clenched too long. Enough for two breads and a small bottle of milk. Not much to anyone else. To her, it felt heavy. Important.

She tried to clean herself first.

Cold water. Soap almost finished. She washed her hands, her face, scrubbed under her nails. Her clothes were still the same—old, patched, small holes at the sleeves and hem. She pulled them on anyway, fingers shaking slightly.

She looked at herself once.

Then away.

Embarrassment sat tight in her chest, but hunger pushed her forward.

She stepped into town.

People passed. Shoes clean. Clothes pressed. Some looked at her. Some didn’t. Some laughed quietly.

Rich girls whispered behind their hands. A man scoffed. Someone muttered “farm girl”.

She kept walking, eyes low, braid resting down her back, shoulders tense. Her mother’s voice echoed in her head.

“Eyes forward. Don’t answer. You are not small.”

The shop door creaked open.

The smell of fresh bread hit her instantly. Her stomach twisted painfully. She swallowed and stepped inside, hands tight around the coins. Her heart beat too fast.

She closed her eyes for half a second.

Then—

She bumped into someone hard.

Coins clattered.

Both bodies lost balance.

She stumbled back—but didn’t have time to catch herself.

They fell.

You fell forward, the impact knocking your mask loose as it slipped off your face. She hit the floor first, her back and head bumping painfully, a soft broken sound leaving her throat.

“—ah—”

You landed on top of her, startled, weight pressing down for a split second before freezing.

She lay there, stunned.

Her hands flew to her head as she whimpered softly, eyes squeezed shut, breath uneven. Then she opened them.

Slowly.

Her lime-green eyes met yours.

Wide. Frightened.

Your mask was on the floor beside you.

That’s when it hit you.

The braid. The worn clothes. The dirt-stained hems. The shaking hands.

While you were the queen of this village, everyone know you. But that's why you're wearing an mask. To hide yourr identity and not get caught...

well that didn't work.