•Ice Queen In Another World• [Discontinued]

Chapter 9: Her name was Althea.

Elizabeth's POV

"You. What's your name?"

I asked her. She gave me a smirk while the ice on her foot was still melting. "So we're going to the first name basis? Princess?" 

I crossed my arms and looked away. 'Princess.'

Such a stupid nickname. I AM A REAL ONE AFTER ALL. I huffed and replied, "Or I could just ignore you and leave my maid do the talking for me—"

"I'm sorry I was only kidding because I really didn't have a proper name but the other kids call me Althea. So it's nice to finally introduce myself, princess." (Althea) 

I felt something blew up in my stomach... I stop a bit and placed a hand in there. It was an overwhelming feeling that I've never felt before. Weird, perhaps I'm hungry. 

"Does your stomach hurt?" (Victoria) asked of me while looking worried. 

"N-No its nothing. I think I'm probably famished after using magic, at least it's not going out of control for the meantime. The gloves we got from Reviène works like a charm." I looked over at the gloves and felt thankful that I got new ones while having my old ones in my pocket safely. 

"Should I get you food? You didn't get to eat that crepe you bought— right." (Victoria) glanced at the kids who looked guilty when she said that sentence. I shook my head at her telling her its fine besides I can eat all I want once I get back from the palace but these kids... They really have nothing so who am I to complain about them stealing my food?

If I was in their shoes I would've been forced to steal from other people just to get by. 

"I'm sorry I know that I took your crepe but we really had nothing to eat and winter is coming. I'm not sure if we have much food to feed at least the small ones... We can get by not eating and just drinking water but... the smaller kids. I'm afraid not." (Althea) said trying not to lose her composure. She motioned for the other kids to relax and put back their weapon to where it was before. 

They had a small brown sofa which looked old and had stitches but nonetheless it was comfortable as we sat on it. A table was also in the center and the other kids came out of their hiding as they held hands keeping each other close. I saw the kid that had my crepe, she was hiding behind someone looking curiously afraid at us. 

I gave her a quick smile and her eyes went wide at first before blushing and hiding again... How adorable.

Victoria and Althea continued the talk, "This is why I'm asking you, there's an orphanage that needs no other requirements for you to get in and be taken care of. Why are you all here---?" 

Althea slammed her hands at the table. "That place, the orphanage. If I were to put it, its hell. We all escaped from that place. I gathered all the kids that I can save." 

"I grew up in that orphanage, I'm sure Sister Mary is making sure all the kids are well cared---" (Victoria)

"Sister Mary is gone." (Althea)

"W-What?! No one told me that she was... gone. You're kidding, right? Tell me you are, kid." (Victoria) looked sad and angry. The sudden news of this Sister Mary was shocking her even making her body shake. Who's sister Mary?

"IF she was still at the orphanage, me... no. All of us would've still been there." (Althea) 

"What happened to her? Sister Mary would never abandon the orphanage... She enjoyed working and taking care of the kids." (Victoria)