When Your Feathers Flutter Down to Me

Chapter Four: The Princess And Insults

"Guys, come on, we shouldn't taunt the princess so much," the girl said, showing fake sincerity while causing plenty of harm herself.

Seeing Elisia writhe in pain on the ground, the children giggled. Gorose went to scold them, but before he could, they ran off. "Why even bother?" Elisia muttered. "Didn't you say you can't control people's words?"

"True, but children should still be taught to be kind to others," Gorose said simply. "Now, I have other business to attend to. Elisia, Hanen, please act in a manner that won't shame this village."

"I'll do my best."

"As if I care about this backwater shack-town."

With a sigh, Gorose left, leaving the other two behind. "So, princess, where to?" Hanen said. Having only just stood back up, Elisia gritted her teeth to bear the pain and keep herself upright.

"Like I would have the slightest idea where to go," she spat. "Perhaps the palace?"

"If I could send you back there, I would," Hanen said.

"Really?" Elisia said, surprised.

"Yeah," Hanen said, then put on a vicious smile. "I'd pack you up nicely and make sure it was addressed to the prison underneath."

"You insolent low-life," Elisia said, glaring at him. "If I ever get the chance, I swear I'll put you in your place."

"Sure thing, princess," Hanen said, sounding cocky, then continued in a breezy tone. "Boy, I thought today was gonna be rough, but I think I'm actually gonna enjoy it. There's no way anybody'll let you walk by without triggering that spell thing that's attached to you, especially knowing it'll cause you pain. Serves you right, after everything you've done to people like us."

In all the years Elisia had lived, she had experienced plenty of hate. Hearing the barbed insults from the people on the street was nothing new to her. However, her current situation was much different. Before, she was able to simply ride away in her carriage or command guards to shut them up. She never had to face such aggressive hatred nonstop. And now, on top of that, the very hate of the people in the village was combining perfectly with the conditions of consequence for Elisia's branding spell.

When the idea of escape had come to mind, Elisia hadn't considered it much. She had no idea just how far the boundaries of Dehl Village went, nor how the branding spell would define them, so she assumed she would be stuck in the village. But, if being trapped in that place meant a constant barrage of burning in her shoulder, Elisia was beginning to think that trying to test out the boundaries might not be such a bad idea. "At least I would be able to put some distance between me and these barbarians," she thought. "Who knows? Perhaps I'll get lucky and the territory will extend to an actual human town. Then maybe I could find a mage or alchemist of some sort to remove this damn spell..."

Now, plotting her escape, Elisia smirked to herself. However, her enjoyment didn't last long, as another resident of the village passed by with a nasty "Oh look, the princess has graced us with her presence."

With more pain rocketing through her body, Elisia scowled. "I swear, one day I'll make all of them regret treating me this way."

Honestly, it was kind of a backwards way to think. The only reason Elisia had gotten into the situation she was in boiled down to two things. One was the failure to keep her plan from leaking to the public. The other was the hatred she had stirred up among demi-humans and monster people. All that was really happening was that everything was coming back to her. As the saying goes, what goes around comes around, and if you send out hate, you have to expect it'll come back for you eventually.