When Your Feathers Flutter Down to Me

Chapter One: The Princess And Exile

"Ha! Look at those disgusting miscreants! They're so pitiful it makes me want to both laugh and vomit at the same time."

These words were spoken from a woman in a carriage as it rode along the cobblestone road. The wheels rattled outside, but the inside was rather comfortable thanks to the luxury of having suspension installed. Of course, to afford such a luxury, one needed a lot of money, and this particular individual was certainly not lacking in that department.

"Miss, must you antagonize them?" an attendant riding with the woman sighed.

"Oh please. If they don't want to be antagonized as you so put it, perhaps they shouldn't go around looking so pathetic. Not that it matters anyway. With those horrid exteriors and violent tendencies, they don't even qualify as people. All they are are wild animals, so it only makes sense that they find their place on the edge of the road as beggars."

The attendant sighed once more, drawing the woman's attention. "And, might I remind you," she said in a stern voice. "You have only been my attendant for a few weeks. Do you believe yourself to be so important that you think you can speak to me however you wish?"

"N-No, miss," the attendant said uneasily.

"Then perhaps you should remember your place as well, lest you end up on the streets with the rest of those things."

The carriage rattling along was decorated in a gaudy gold and white color scheme, and the windows were practically shining from how clean they were. Hanging on either side were small banners with the crest of the royal family on them. The design was simple, with it being no more than a lion's head with a wreath around it and the color of its whole being gold. Though simple it was, that crest held great power in the kingdom known as Endrelta.

The inside of the carriage was just as lavish as the outside, with its plush white cushions for seats and plenty of legroom. Currently occupying the space was an attendant who had only been hired recently. In fact, she was the sixth one within the last year. Wearing a typical maid's uniform and doing her best to remain attentive, she waited in silence in case her employer needed anything.

The one currently employing her was none other than the royal family. They had brought her on, giving her many lessons and warnings about this and that, and then sent her on her way to serve the most fickle person in the entire kingdom.

Sitting across from her was Princess Elisia Felbrun, first princess to the throne of the Kingdom of Endrelta. From looks alone, she carried a dignified aura. Her long, wavy blonde hair was combed every day to look as lush as possible. Her green eyes shone like emeralds, as if trying to convey her riches in a glance to those she looked at. Her height was average, and her bust size wasn't much bigger than the typical 20-something woman her age either, and yet she seemed to use even both of those to her advantage. Every step she took made it look like she was taller than she was, and that her chest stuck out with more pride than should be possible. Truly, from just appearances, Princess Elisia captured what it meant to be a royal.

Unfortunately, no one could appreciate it. While her outside looks were so stunning it made everyone stop and stare, her personality was so vile that it made every citizen of the kingdom despise her. She looked down on anyone who wasn't a royal, even other nobles. She believed money meant power and was sure to flaunt her wealth every chance she got. She'd laugh in the faces of other peoples' failures. Most of all, she was overly sensitive, meaning that while she believed it was perfectly acceptable to demean and insult anyone she wished to, one wrong look at her would lead to her asking for the person to be arrested or worse. Once, Elisia had bumped into a child, and within seconds she had demanded that all of the nearby guards detain this child and force him into manual labor.