The Fallen World

Four

"Wow, what kind of girl has hurt you when you just met her?"

“Who told you to speak to me like that? Do we really want to be kicked over?”

The princess began to cry bitterly. This was an unexpected situation, which Levis could not have foreseen.

What should we do now? Did I know how to comfort girls before? The boy was confused and didn't know what to do. In the end he chose the most common way:

“Sorry… Sorry, I missed a word!”

Levis implored in a low voice. He also had to stoop his limp figure and wave his hands wildly in front of him, half wanting to pat her shoulder, half not daring to because of his lowly background. After all, it's like Levis is doing some crazy dance.

… But it was surprisingly effective: Margaretha laughed at the silly act before her eyes and stopped crying.

"My lady, this is the boy who saved you."

said old Karma when Levis had finished coaxing the sobbing princess.

"WHAT?"

Margaretha showed a surprised expression followed by a disappointed expression.

“Do you not remember anything from the other day or something?”

Levis was taken aback. But he really doesn't remember anything.

“I just remember someone pressing on me, and then it was so dark I couldn't see anything. That guy always comforts me "It's okay, everything will be fine". Then I fainted.”

In the dark, Margaretha could only remember so much. The only girl standing next to her was a little boy.

“But I didn't expect it to be you. Before, I was hoping it was someone else, maybe handsome, arrogant and gentle. I didn't expect it to be you, the thing is both mean and ugly and ugly in appearance."

Margaretha's expression was as gloomy as the sky full of dark clouds.

“Where did you find someone like that in the mines? Paranoid! I'm sorry, I'm the one who saved you, a skinny little boy who looks like a skeleton."

Even Levis bowed to the princess's wild, romantic imagination. Obviously, in the mines, where can you find the person Margaretha dreamed of?

“And I thought a princess should have a servant to accompany her? Why did you come here alone?"

Levis was quite curious about the appearance of the princess alone. But anyway, he didn't want to let that appearance affect his work, so he turned to help Karma gather the straw into bundles.

“Ever since the day of the accident the servants have been following me around the whole time. I told them not to, but they still didn't let go, and didn't even have any privacy, so today I escaped to Karma's place to play."

With a click of his tongue, Levis sighed in response:

"It's really irresponsible, the people who look after you will take the blame."

"I don't care, I want to be free!"

Margaretha yelled at Levis immediately.

“Then next time something happens, no one will save you.”

"You don't need to care!"

The young couple kept arguing back and forth. Old Karma did not know how to reconcile.

“Okay Levis, take these food crates to the round lake.”

Karma spoke to break the tense atmosphere created by the couple. He officially kicked the boy out.

"Clear!"

Levis grabbed the scepter, packed two crates of food, and swam away, ignoring the smug princess. But no matter how well Karma chased and the boy tried to ignore Margaretha, she kept running after him.

“What is this?”

Margaretha was curious.

“It includes minced meat, liver, insects, rotten eggs and more. Avoid leaving, the smell is not pleasant.”

Levis warned.

“Who would dare eat this?”

"We'll prepare it if we have kids to eat, otherwise no one would make something that stinks like this."

Levis stopped at a field full of round stone pools with walls about a meter high covered with thin bamboo wicker screens like the mouth of a well but larger in diameter. He put down the light pole and opened the lintel. Princess Margaretha looked inside curiously.

"Wing..."

Margaretha jumped in surprise and fell on her butt to the ground.

“What… what… what kind of horror?”

Margaretha stammered at "what kind of thing" was fidgeting in the boy's hand.

“Ah, ground scorpion, food for storm lizards. Catch these, grind them, and mix them with grass for the lizards to eat. It's very nutritious for them!"

Levis replied with a sober face.

A few scorpions managed to get out of the lake and staggered over to Margaretha. Levis quickly grabbed their tails, four of them, each the size of half an adult's hand.

"Look, aren't they cute?"

Levis held the four scorpions he had caught in front of Margaretha. The little princess cowered in fear.

“Get that disgusting thing away from me, you damn it!”

"The ground scorpion stings like a bee sting, it's not deadly."

Levis laughed teasingly.

“LEVIS, stop teasing the princess.”

Karma hurriedly ran to the two children. Levis had never seen him lose his temper like that. His red face and Karma's clenched fists scared the boy a bit.

“So… give me these four scorpions, I won't tease anymore.”

Levis held out four scorpions in front of Karma.

“O God of mercy. You guys just take it, and then stop the teasing for me."

Levis laughed gleefully. He plucked all the stingers from the tails of four scorpions, then pulled out a few stalks of chicken grass around them, tied them to his side, and continued to feed the scorpions.

“I'm going to get grass for the lizards, you help me take care of things here, Levis. I'm also visiting Yorn, so I'll be back a bit late."

"Just give it to me."

Levis is confident.

“Ah, Karma, do you have salt, sugar, and chili in there?”

"In my shack."

Then he quickly drove away. The boy continued with his daily routine on the ranch - a job he had mastered three years ago: bundling and stacking hay, feeding the lizards, cleaning the barn and inspecting egg nest. Everything is like the steady rotation of a water wheel, without a superfluous movement.

Princess Margaretha trailed behind Levis, not saying another word. The girl attentively observed every action and gesture of the benefactor and appeared to be very interested. Margaretha had never seen a child about Levis's age who could deserve such a thorough job as a husband.

"How old are you?"

Margaretha spoke after a period of silence, and Levis breathed heavily, leaning against the fence after the exhausting work.

"I'm thirteen this year, and you?"

"I'm eleven years old."

Levis took the water bag from his waistband and tried to take a long breath, but he paused for a moment and then turned to look at Margaretha.

"Please drink first."

"Thank you. I've forgotten about it for a while now, my throat is dry with thirst."

Very naturally, Margaretha took it and then tilted her head back to swallow every sip of water. Levis watched her white neck undulating with each swallowing motion. He suddenly realized that his actions were quite rude, so he turned away and his ears turned red. The princess was so absorbed in drinking that she didn't realize that she was being stared at by that sexy neck.

Tsk! I'm a really nasty guy. – He scolded himself.

"Hey, it's boring to go with me, and it's also teased, why did the princess keep following me?"

"I don't know, I just find it interesting to watch you work."

Returning the water bag to Levis, Margaretha continued her squatting posture with her knees together and looked curiously at the boy sitting on the ground.

"It's up to you, princess, but you should go back to Veronica Street, everyone is probably worried."

“Just for today. I have to return to the Alchemy Kingdom tomorrow.”

“Does the princess lose her freedom?”

Levis was surprised. You think she must be loved and pampered as she pleases, and has plenty of time left, not like you are a working person.

“What else? It is to learn etiquette at the palace, learn knowledge from tutors, learn music too. I like the sword dance, but my father still nags me and refuses to do it. There's no time to run around and play, and no one responds to me. All the girls in the palace have to put on poses, they look disgusting."

"It seems the princess is a rebel, isn't she?"

Levis tilted his head back to drink what was left of the water, but his eyes never left Margaretha's.

"Sounds good, I like the name."

Margaretha suddenly patted Levis' shoulder, causing him to spit out the water he was holding in his mouth.

“Then let me give you a nickname too?”

“Fuck… I… I got it, the 'survivor'.”

Levis was still in pain from the Duchess' pat on the shoulder.

“Since when, after that avalanche?”

"A long time ago. I was found in the middle of the battlefield, no one alive, just me. But thinking about it after the incident just now, that nickname proves it even more.”

“That name sounds so tragic. Hmm… let me think of a nickname for you later. What are you going to do with this thing?”

Margaretha pointed to the scorpions on the back of Levis' pants.

"I ate them."

"Huh?"

Margaretha's face turned "Unbelievable". She had never heard people say that those hideous animals were edible. After all, in such a miserable situation as her, I certainly don't know what the poor people eat.

Although he only asked for sugar, salt and chili peppers, there were many interesting things in Karma's shack. Levis quickly pulled out what was needed: a mortar and pestle, a small hand saucepan, some lard, salt, sugar, and half a chili pepper.

Levis broke a branch near the shack, sharpened it into two sticks, skewered two scorpions each, then spread lard to stick and sprinkled sugar and salt on top. The remaining pork fat was put in the pan to melt until it was boiling, and he began to drop two scorpion skewers into the pan. A strange aroma is released that stimulates the sense of smell, taste and stomach. The rest of the salt he mixed with sugar and crushed and half a chili in the mortar.

Seeing as it was done, Levis turned off the heat and lifted the two scorpion skewers out of the pan.

Margaretha had been watching attentively all this while, she was strongly attracted by the cooking display she had never seen before.

"Give this to her."

Levis stuck a skewer close to Margaretha's face.

"No way, I won't eat that disgusting thing."

Margaretha panicked when Levis gave it to her.

"Well, I'm sorry. It's delicious.”

Levis removed a scorpion and dipped it in the mixture he had just pureed. He brought the scorpion to his mouth, took a bite of "Rub" and chewed it deliciously.

"Is it tasty?".

Margaretha asked again.

"If in doubt, why don't you try it yourself?"

Levis turned to look at her with half provocative eyes.

“Give me a skewer!”

Margaretha ordered with an annoyed look on her face.

Receiving the scorpion skewers from Levis, the princess glared at him with red eyes. Margaretha reached out her hand to touch the fried scorpion, then withdrew it immediately. The girl was a little scared.

"Eat it, you won't die."

Levis said and, face to face with the princess, the provocation was multiplied.

Margaretha took out a scorpion, dipped it in salt and pepper in the mortar that Levis was holding, then closed her eyes, opened her mouth, and chewed on the scorpion with a pained expression on her face.

“The outer shell is crispy, the body is greasy, and the bite is like shrimp meat. Dipping with chili salt with a little sugar makes the taste like dancing to the tune of the dish.” Soon two scorpions had drifted into the little girl's stomach.

“Ng… delicious, delicious!”

Margaretha scoffed.

“Can we eat more?”

"Yes, please, princess."

Levis cedes his share to Margaretha.

The snack ended quickly.

"Hey, you're weird aren't you?"

“Why do you say that?”

“Then I keep seeing you as different from other people I've met. The people I meet are all slick and flatter me, follow me like a dog to their master, always asking me after doing something stupid, "are you happy?", "are you satisfied?" If they praise, they look happy, and if they criticize, they feel disappointed. Only you are not like that, you still dare to provoke me."

"Huh? I thought the princess didn't like it?"

Levis turned to Margaretha in surprise. The kids in the Chiron neighborhood didn't like his sarcastic way of talking, but this girl was completely different.

Do you like being scolded? Then do you like being tortured by others? Freaks! Levis suddenly turned gray and looked at Margaretha with frightened eyes.

“Well… I don't like it, but arguing with you is fun. And don't look at me with those hideous eyes."

I see, at least she looks more like a normal person. Levis breathed a sigh of relief.

“Sorry…sorry. And thank you for not criticizing me. I'm so grateful."

“You talk as if you were never loved.”

Margaretha was somewhat sensitive when she noticed the irregularity in Levis's statement. As expected, the boy besides Fione and his colleagues, he couldn't even talk to the kids in the neighborhood he lived in.

***

It was past noon. Old Karma leisurely drove a grass cart piled high above his head back to the farm. As soon as he met Levis at the gable, he hurriedly asked:

"You don't tease the princess anymore, do you?"

“What do you think I am?”

Levis was annoyed, he struggled to help Karma unload the haystack from the car, partly put it in the barn, partly left outside for the lizards. Margaretha attentively watched the two of them work.

“Princess, you should return to Veronica Street. Is it past noon already?"

Levis said while carrying large bundles of grass on his shoulder.

"Yeah, I think so too."

"What are you still regretting that you haven't gone yet? Or are you going to wait for Karma to drive the car away? If that's the case, then wait for him."

Old Karma didn't know where he ran away from standing next to the car, leaving Margaretha and Levis standing there. The boy looked around looking for him to tell Karma to take the princess into the city.

Probably looking for a drink. – He clicked his tongue.

"While we wait for Karma, let's trade."

"Open? Exchange what?"

Margaretha pointed to the strap around Levis's neck.

“Give me your necklace, will you? In return I will give you my necklace.”

The princess proposed bluntly, without the slightest hesitation or hesitation.

Levis threw the bundle of grass onto the barn floor. He reached into the strap and pulled out a pendant that was broken in many corners.

“Does the princess really want this? Compared to the princess' necklace, it's rather ugly, moreover it's something very important to me."

"How important?"

Margaretha was curious.

“This was left by my adoptive father, who said it was in my diapers. Is it possible for me to know my origin through it? And I think my family must have all died in Nerve.”

Holding the pendant in his hand, the young man looked at it intently as if he wanted to memorize every line on those broken wings. He kept looking at him for so long made Margaretha feel a little awkward. However, the princess still refused to give up:

“This is also important to me, it was made specifically for me when I was born. So, exchange the same price? Change it, let's go!"

Hearing Margaretha's earnest plea and sparkling eyes, Levis relented.

"I promise to keep it carefully, my lady."

“I will also keep yours as my own treasure.”

Margaretha replied.

"Shall I call you 'eccentric'?"

"If the princess likes it."

There was no reason for him to refuse. Either way, it would be difficult for the two of them to see each other again. Whatever she calls me – that's Levis' opinion. Let this princess do what she feels good about.

"Look, you're handsome too, just a little thin."

Levis shyly turned the other way at Margaretha's unexpected compliment.

“Well, I have to go, thanks Levis. Thank you for saving me. Thanks for playing with me. We are very happy today.”

With that, the little princess ran away, leaving Levis alone in the middle of the empty barn.

Levis thought to himself about what he had just experienced during his working session… He wondered what this bittersweet feeling was?

"There's a party to see off the Royal guests of the Alchemy Kingdom tonight, so I have to help out."

Fione informed Levis when she returned to the farm in the afternoon. By this time, the day's work was done, so the two of us were quite free. Karma sat and tapped the fence with a stick and hummed some catchy tune in his mouth, while Levis picked out the longest and strongest straws from the straw to knit sandals.

"Then I'll wait for you at Karma's shack, can we go home together when we're done?"

The younger brother replied, his fingers still quickly shaping the straw sandals.

"Psychic right? Don't you want me to come home alone in the middle of the night?"

Fione smiled happily then hugged him and patted his head, ruffled his short hair. Although he hates being patted on the head, Levis sees Fione as an exception.

“No, I was just afraid that you would assault others on the way home.”

"The boy lost his temper."

Fione patted Levis hard on the back causing him to choke out some water.

“Not gentle at all!”

"I have no business being gentle with you, that's all."

Fione winked at Levis as if it were obvious.

“Am I the only one you treat so harshly? That's so unfair," thought Levis, wiping his mouth with his hand to wipe the water from the corner of his mouth.

“Take it and make your own dinner.”

Fione gave an Element to Levis, who knew what it meant.

"Clear!"

Accepting the coin, he put his hand on his chest in a military salute that made his sister laugh.

"And is there anything special today?"

Fione asked her brother when she saw Levis's mood as if he was in the clouds with his eyes blank and his mouth always slightly parted.

"He met the person he saved the other day, my dear."

"Who borrowed you to speak, Karma?"

Levis said.

"Wow, can you two talk to each other?"

Fione was curious.

“There are also a number of stories. How to say? Quite fun.”

Levis smiled and scratched his head.

"Geez, I didn't expect it. The gruff Levis also has the grace to talk to a noble lady?"

“Actually, the Princess. But can we stop talking about this? She's a princess, there's nothing to think deeply about."

"Okay okay, at least I'm happy."

Fione jumped to her feet and left immediately. Levis followed the cheerful look until she was completely out of his sight.

She always makes others feel optimistic. Levis chuckled.