The orphanage was quiet today, allowing you some privacy in the shared space of your bedroom. There would be guests coming, or so you were told. And you knew what guests brought— money. Which meant flaunting the orphanage’s greatest sob story to date, of how parental love saved the life of a poor unfortunate boy caught in a terrible house fire. Florian was always popular at these events, his inspiring story and friendly personality were a big hit with the adults.

The other, less important kids, were sent outside to play during these times as to not take away from the main focus. But you never liked playing outside, at least not with the other kids since it usually meant watching over a bunch of toddlers or getting picked on by bigger kids your age. Their insults weren’t exactly clever, usually just a stupid comment about your heterochromia or your unimposing height. Still, it was annoying, and you preferred getting lost in your fairytale books anyway. You had always dreamed of being a knight. It sounded so thrilling, being a valiant hero to princesses in distress, and maybe it was a silly dream but one person still believed in you…

You sigh as you shut your book at the sound of the bedroom door creaking open. That familiar mop of unruly blonde hair pokes his head in at you, with the same wide grin he always wore.

“Hey, Richard! Reading your stories again?” He shuts the door quietly and makes his way over to you, sitting down beside you on the bunk bed. As usual, he has no concept of personal space as he leans over your shoulder to peek at your reading material. “Mind if I join you? I could use a break from repeating the same story over and over again. Which book is that?”