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"No... it's nothing. Please don't mind..." Aya said with a pale face as she crouched down to pick up the broken pieces and threw them into a waste basket nearby. Turning back with a smile, she said, "Speaking of which, you're doing well with your language learning~~~ Even understanding the meanings of 'ball' and 'princess'."
Since Aya changed the topic abruptly and her expression had altered dramatically, Mengdie could deduce that the "ball" was definitely related to her, and it was a topic she didn't particularly like. Mengdie wasn't one to pry into others' privacy. If Aya didn’t want to talk about it, she wouldn’t press. Instead, she smiled back and said, "Hmm, Rapolna."
Seeing that Mengdie didn't ask further, Aya's complexion gradually returned to normal. She smiled slightly and said, "No, no. Miss Mengdie, although 'Rapolna' can mean 'yes' or 'okay,' it only has that meaning when embedded in a sentence. Used alone, it means the opposite – 'no' or 'not okay.' And if it follows the interjection 'hmm' and is read a bit faster with a heavier emphasis on 'Po,' as in 'Hm Rapolna,' it becomes an insult."
"Insult? What does it mean?"
"Don't worry about it. The less such language is known by girls, the better. In such situations, you should say 'Alarna.' That's the word used to formally agree with someone."
Mengdie hummed in acknowledgment, putting the matter to rest. However, as Aya walked into the kitchen smiling, Mengdie noticed Nia's restless glances. That look clearly indicated she had something difficult to say.
As the sun passed its zenith, Mengdie's new hairstyle naturally caused more surprise and admiration among the people. Fortunately, at her insistence, the butterfly knot in her hair was changed to a simple ribbon wrap, which likely prevented more people from falling out of their second or third-floor windows.
After filling the house's water tank, Mengdie returned to sit at the dining table and took out the porridge Aya had prepared that morning. Halfway through eating, the front door gently opened, and Nia walked in, looking dejected.
Mengdie glanced at her, not speaking, and pointed to the seat opposite her. Nia quietly sat down, seemingly wanting to say something but not knowing how to start.
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Mengdie didn't ask directly and continued eating her porridge. When she finished and was about to leave to grind flour, Nia finally spoke up.
"Sister Mengdie!"
Mengdie stopped, sat back down, and waited for Nia to continue. But instead of speaking, Nia just sat there uncomfortably, trembling. After a long silence, she didn’t say another word.
Alright, it seems this little sister can't say it. Then let me start.
"If you don't say it, I'm leaving."
Mengdie knocked on the table and stood up again. This action worked. Nia, who had been silent, looked anxious and finally spoke up.
"Sister Mengdie! Would you like to hear a story?!"
Mengdie nodded lightly and sat down again. Seeing that she didn’t immediately leave, Nia seemed greatly relieved. She took a deep breath and began to speak slowly—
"In this world, there is a country called the Silver Moon Kingdom. In a poor neighborhood of this country, there was a happy family. The parents loved their two daughters dearly, hoping to see them grow up carefree and happy forever."
"But one day... the parents died. Because the family was poor, two-thirds of their hard-earned income for a year was almost entirely taxed by the state. During a tax collection by the knights, they were beaten to death for protecting the last bag of rice in their house, right in front of the two little girls. At that time, the elder sister was eight years old, and the younger sister was just two."
Mengdie's heart jolted, and she involuntarily clenched her fists.
Nia tilted her head with a bitter smile and continued—
"This incident had a significant impact at the time, causing many oppressed poor people to revolt, but they were suppressed by the Silver Moon Kingdom's army. After the suppression, perhaps not wanting to escalate the conflict, the kingdom adopted tax reduction and compensation measures. Compared to the soldiers who died in the rebellion, the deceased civilians received more compensation. Subsequently, many favorable policies were implemented, lasting for a long time."
"The anger of the poor is fearsome, but over time, this anger was gradually worn down. Especially with reduced taxes, complaints against the kingdom have not been heard in recent years. That incident seems to have become a memory few wish to recall."
"But... what is the real truth? Even though people can eat every day now, life is still difficult. This may not be evident here, but just stepping out of the poor neighborhood reveals the disparity. And recently, taxes have been gradually increasing again. For a complete family, life is already constrained, let alone for two sisters who have no one to rely on, surviving on begging and charity."
"Facing increasingly difficult life, the elder sister, not wanting to worry her younger sister, always forced a smile. She would rather starve herself than let her sister go hungry. Several times... several times, the younger sister realized her sister was considering offering 'special services' to the rich in exchange for food. Once, the elder sister even inquired about tips for such services from women in the city! Each time, the younger sister who followed her sister closely to prevent her from making a mistake was extremely nervous... very nervous..."
Nia struggled to control her emotions, but tears could be seen in the corners of her eyes. Mengdie clenched and then unclenched her fists, restraining her feelings and waiting quietly for Nia to continue the story.
"Finally... the moment to change their fate arrived..." Nia wiped the tears from her eyes and continued, "The prince of the Silver Moon Kingdom had reached marriageable age and was about to select a princess. Any woman confident in her appearance and manners could apply through an assessment."
"Becoming a princess naturally meant a better life for the younger sister. Thinking this, the elder sister did just that. She secretly registered, waiting for the day of selection."
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