Where everything started

Keziah Vandeleur is a powerful and loyal knight to his majesty, every Vandeleur has served either the king or the crown prince. But soon enough this tradition will end

The Vandeleurs are very well known for their swordsmanship and being smart at making plans for wars or battles. Every Vandeleur was the captain of the knights. This would mean that Keziah is the captain currently

Setting those things aside, let's move on to the current time shall we?

Taylor was invited by the king to his chambers. Keziah was worried about this as he knew the king never really asked anyone to come to his chambers. Is it perhaps the two have fallen? No, something like that would never happen. Taylor is a maid and making her the wife would shock the empire, more than that people will show hostility towards her

Taylor entered the chamber and saw the king sitting in his bed. Though he looked like he was planning something, but all Taylor could think of- was that the king might fire her but that wasn't the case

The moment Taylor was near the king, he pulled out his sword and stabbed her in the stomach. Taylor was afraid, she wondered why she was killed? What did she do? Did she do something that upsetted the king? Did she say something that upsetted him?

Taylor wanted to shout, shout for Keziah's name but all that came out from her mouth was blood. She was on her knees on the floor, holding her stomach as she stared at the ground that was now stained with her blood

The king stared at the woman in front of him, holding the sword tightly and smiled a little

"You are a very dangerous person, I cannot let you live"

Dangerous? In what way am I dangerous? -Were Taylor's thoughts and soon enough she died

Keziah grew more worried as 5 minutes passed. After all, the king did mention he'll only talk to her for 5 minutes. But it passed to 10 now

He busted the door open and saw the king holding the sword in his hands as blood was dripping on it. But he froze once he saw his wife in front of him. On the floor was a pool of blood and she clearly had died

"Why?! Why did you kill her?!"

"Simply because, your wife is too dangerous"

"IN WHAT WAY IS SHE DANGEROUS?"

"Who knows? Find it out yourself. I want you gone, leave. Leave the knights and this empire as well"

Now people will say he's not cruel? Keziah had served him for nearly 7 years now and he knew the king would never act like this. And he did what he said. He left being the captain of the knights and moved away, along with his daughter who was taken care of his grandmother

The grandmother grew worried about his son and grandchild. And promised she would support the two, all they had to do was send her a letter and she will come to help them

Along the way, Keziah had thoughts. Was it perhaps the king was possessed? Or did he overhear something? Was he tricked by the nobles? Keziah knew that every noble was jealous of him and his wife. After all, even if they were nothing but just low life human beings, the king treated them both as if they were family.

The king saw Keziah as a brother and saw Taylor as a sister. But since something inside of him awakened, he killed his "sister" and banished his "brother"

He fled to Kleamantra, where the rest of his family and cousin lived. And upon arriving, he heard the news that both his parents died of old age. It was pretty impressive that they lived past a hundred, sadly it lasted only 110 years.

The man suffered from depression, he lost his wife, his parents and even almost everything.

Cynthia Vandeleur, Thalassius' mother let him live with them. She even promised him that she'll take care of Tabitha, his daughter if needed. She's willing to give everything to Keziah but he refuses major help. There were only a few things he wanted, and those things were for Tabitha. Right now he'll give everything to her within his power. But then again, what does he have?

Not long after, Keziah committed suicide and this was kept a secret from Tabitha. All didn't want the poor child to know his father had died from suicide. All they mentioned was he died from an accident. Thalassius felt bad, it was almost as if everything was kept a secret from her. She can't even go outside! Why are you saying kids at her age should enjoy life and not be fixated on books unless needed or wanted to. But you're here caging the kid up to her room?

There were many things Thalassius felt pity for Tabitha. That poor 5 year old child was left alone. She would've had nothing if they never existed or they had died

For the next few years, Tabitha was mostly taken care of by Thalassius and Cynthia was there to guide her and teach her ways a noble girl should. Not long after, Cynthia had also died of old age along with her husband. Leaving Thalassius to really take care of Tabitha alone. I mean he wasn't really alone since the maids were there to also take care of Tabitha.

Right now Thalassius is currently 15 while Tabitha is 8.

And since Thalassius is still a teen, he still needed to go to the academy, this would mean he would have to leave Tabitha since he has to focus on his studies first.

Before the day he leaves, Pierson. A friend of Keziah approached him and asked if it was alright if he takes in Tabitha in the meantime he's not around. Thalassius hesitated as he didn't know Pierson that well but seeing as he's a duke and their house raised children who became strong with titles. Thalassius agreed but requested if its alright a maid can come with Tabitha

Pierson agreed and introduced himself to Tabitha who looked very nervous conversing with him

"Hello Tabitha, I'm Pierson Ivory. I'm a friend of your father and mother. We've known eachother since we were little kids"

"N-nice to meet you…"

"I asked your brother Thalassius here, if it's alright that I can take care of you while he's gone, Don't worry I pose no harm and I will take care of you as if you are my own child. I have a daughter that is the same age as you I'm sure you two will get along well"

"The same age as me?"

"That's right, Her name is Delilah, You'll meet her later. I'll wait for you here while you pick the stuff you want to bring with you"

Pierson then sat down in one of the couches and crossed his legs then smiled softly to Tabitha. The shy little girl stood there awkwardly before slowly leaving to pack her things

By the time she was done, Thalassius bid farewell and promised he'll come back after the time in his academy ends. Tabitha teared up when Thalassius rode the carriage and waved goodbye to her, Pierson noticed this and comforted the girl.

Soon enough, both rode the carriage and began heading to where Pierson lives, Which was Okiyama, wherein Keziah was banished, Pierson had yet still so much to say to the girl but let her rest first and will tell her once they arrive at the mansion

When the two arrived, Tabitha was greeted by a cheerful girl who was a little shorter than her and beside her was a tall woman which seems to be the girl's mother

"Hi! Nice to meet you! I'm Delilah Ivory!"

"N-nice to meet you too, I'm Tabitha Vandeleur.."

Like she always did, Tabitha held the hem of her dress tightly and tried her best to avoid eye contact with the girl, which led her to make eye contact with the woman beside Delilah

"Hello dear, I'm Aeris Ivory, Delilah's mother and Pierson's wife"

"Hello…"

The maids carried Tabitha's luggage to her room and Delilah pulled her hand gently and started dragging her to every corner of the mansion, showing where everywhere was, showing what was her favorite thing or place, she also showed where Tabitha's room was located

During all the chaos, Tabitha couldn't help but stare at the gold frame of the pictures in the picture halls. Though Thalassius's mansion also had gold frames, Tabitha was more amazed in this one, everything was very detailed and the gold was thick.

Was it because Thalassius wants to keep it simple while these people like to flex?

"It seems the two have gotten pretty close huh?"

Pierson says as he laughed and hugged Aeris on the side, it looks like his decision was right. What would happen to this girl if she was left alone? He knew that the maids were educated and knew things and could teach Tabitha by themselves but Pierson was afraid Tabitha might not know everything she needed to know, that's why he took Tabitha. And he felt sorry for her too, she lost both of her parents at such a young age.

After a while, Delilah let Tabitha rest in her room before playing with her again, Aeris called Delilah over to tell her more things

"Delilah, dear, you see. Tabitha lost her parents at a young age. One was killed while the other killed himself. Her father was even banished from Okiyama"

"But why?"

"I cannot tell you that, only Tabitha can, I hope you'll get along with her well and I hope you'll be there for each other too. Don't forget to always help her alright? I'm pretty sure she's in a sad mood as her brother left today and had to come here to us all of a sudden"

"Okay mother"

Delilah left the room and walked to Tabitha's room, but as she was about to open the door, she heard sobs which made her stop from her tracks. She leaned her ear into the door to hear more clearly, Delilah knew she had been hiding what she truly felt. Delilah knew Tabitha wanted to cry in front of Aeris as Tabitha saw Aeris as her mother, Delilah noticed her tears but Tabitha quickly wiped them away and hoped no one saw but Delilah did

Delilah wanted to comfort her but never knew how. So she quietly walked in and hugged her. This made Tabitha surprised but when she felt it was Delilah, she cried more harder into the girl's arms

Aeris walked by and took a peek inside, she smiled at the scene. And quietly closed the door then walked away

Hours passed and it was finally day. The maid who served Tabitha- Kelsea walked in to wake Tabitha up and get her ready for the day. When she pulled the covers, she was surprised as Delilah was in her bed too

"Huh? Why is Delilah here?"

Without asking why, She woke the two up and got them ready for the day. Ever since then the two would hang out with each other. Both enjoyed each other's company.

Days had passed since then, the two basically knew each other's secrets by now. And Delilah would always tell Tabitha the secrets that this household has. Some of them are dumb and stupid but some of them are pretty much serious as well

Today, Delilah says she'll show me a place she had found and used as a place to hide from Aeris or Pierson. This was her 'escape from reality' she said.

Once we arrived at the place, it was pretty. There were a few butterflies and a bird was even drinking from the fountain that resides at the center of the garden, bushes and flowers were everywhere, there was even a fish pond, a gazebo, and even a small greenhouse!

"Are you sure you found this by accident?"

"Well I did but I'm pretty sure one of my ancestors owned or made this place but it's basically abandoned already. Come on! Let's just enjoy ourselves"

She then led me to the gazebo and we both sat down then admired the scenery in front of us. I can stare at everything here for an hour. Soon enough she began telling me the things she had learned from her teachers and I would often nod and hum in response. She was fine with me not saying anything anyway

"Though I wish both of us can go to school one day. I'd like to experience communicating with other kids than just our teachers. And the rooms we have as classrooms are boring! Sometimes the activities they ask us to make is boring too"

"Why don't we ask Aeris next time? I heard schools can only be entered once you're 10. But I'm still 8 so we have to wait"

"Aw… But it's your birthday soon right?"

"Mhm, then after 2 more birthdays then we can finally enter"