Part 1 â The Hungry Girl in the Great Hall
The royal banquet was filled with music, golden candles, and nobles dressed in silk.
Then the doors opened.
A tiny girl in torn, rain-soaked clothes stepped inside barefoot.
The hall fell silent.
She looked starving. Mud covered her legs, and her hands trembled from cold and hunger. But her eyes stayed fixed on the long royal table covered with warm bread, roasted meat, and fruit.
Very softly, she asked:
âMay I sit here and eat?â
Whispers spread instantly.
âThis filthy child shouldnât be here.â
âThrow her out.â
Lord Percival, the royal steward, stormed toward her and grabbed her wrist harshly.
âYou do not belong here,â he snapped.
The little girl lowered her head.
âIâm sorryâŠâ
But before he could drag her away, the old king at the end of the table slowly looked up.
King Aldric.
The ruler who had not smiled since losing his daughter years ago.
May you like
And for some reasonâŠ
he could not stop staring at the child.
