1 Chapter 1: Melancholy

'Amber? Why haven't you married yet?'

Not again.

The fragrance of butter drifted from the freshly prepared omelet and filled the large dining room of the Reinfeldt House.

Amber had been spreading the house's chef proudly made lemon curd on a freshly baked scone. She heaved a sigh at the question.

'Even if I say why…' it would only cause trouble. It was not like she could marry herself. (Zuben: Try it. It would probably get her off your back)

Why did her sister always ask this question when she came to visit?

A black emotion stirred in Amber' modest chest.

But there was no point. She was not a child anymore, she was twenty.

Yet, this black emotion remained in the back of her heart.

'Do not worry too much, Leticia.' Amber said after she regained her calm exterior and began to slather more lemon curd on the scone.

Today was also good…

She bit into the crunchy crust of the scone and her mouth was filled with the exquisite light sweetness that went very well with the tartness curd.

The delicious flavor lifted Amber' mood.

However, Leticia did not consider Amber' feelings, as usual.

Leticia put her cutlery down and said, 'I cannot help worrying, Amber,' with a furrowed brow.

'You turned twenty last summer, you should already be engaged, otherwise, you will be left on the shelf.'

Their Kingdom of Berghausen was located in the east of the continent. It was customary for young people to début in the autumn of their seventeenth year. Of course, Amber made her début the same as others, but she had not met anyone. Now she was twenty, she would soon be on the shelf, as Leticia implied.

'That is correct…' Amber replied quietly, but Leticia puffed her cheeks out like a small animal.

'Are you even paying attention, Amber?'

'Yes, sister, I am.'

'So when are you planning on marrying?' (Zuben: Do they sell husbands in the market?)

Amber had no answer to the question. However, she could not honestly say that to her sister. If she did, her already fragile pride would shatter. Amber chewed for a while when she was done, she gave her elder sister a vague smile and replied,

'In a while…'

However, Leticia was on a mission,

'Amber, do not give me vague replies. Tomorrow? Next week?' Leticia asked innocently. (Zuben: is it innocent or sarcastic?)

Amber watched the eager sparkle in Leticia's eyes. Her eyes were innocent and green like newly budded trees. But her innocence was the cruelest.

'You attended the Marquis Foster's soiree last night, and you were asked to dance by many gentlemen…'

'Leticia…'

'That's it!' Leticia said clapping for herself, 'I know a lot of gentlemen, leave it to me. I will decide your husband for you!'

Leticia's innocent casual words have hurt Amber many times.

Whenever they go to a ball, many men invite Leticia to dance; most were hoping she would become their wife. To Leticia, who enjoyed the pinnacle of life as a noble lady, it was a matter of course. She could not fathom that her sister would want something different from that. She could not understand it.

'Sister, I am very happy that you want to assist me but-'

'Do not hold back, tell me, who would you like to marry?'

Even if Amber tried to gently refuse, Leticia would get upset. She was like a small cute animal wielding a blade in the guise of innocence.

'From the soiree last night; how about Duke of Braunfels or Marquis Wisteria?'

'That-'

'Oh, you were also invited to dance by Marquis Phrandor, and after that Count Cossette who is also acquainted with Marquis Foster.'

Leticia reeled off the names of the popular gentlemen of noble society one after the other. Was she serious? It couldn't only be on purpose that she was naming all the men that wanted to marry her.

These men had one after the other ridiculed Amber, feeling sorry for Leticia's younger sister whose appearance and mannerisms were very different from Leticia.

But...it was not her fault.

Leticia was innocent. She wasn't to know that her actions had caused Amber to hurt in the past. (Zuben: How would she know she's a blithering idiot if you don't tell her?) Leticia had no malice in her.

If she were like Leticia…

If she has a soft alluring figure that made men want to protect her like their deceased mother.

If she was like her sister with fluffy soft colored honey hair and glittering green eyes, whom no one would believe she was the mother of a four-year-old son.

If Amber did not take after the strong dignified appearance of their father…

If she didn't look like a witch with long straggly black hair and amethyst eyes that held no trace of compliance.

(Zuben: I need to avoid amethyst eyed female characters from now on. Amber' eyes are now violet)

She wondered if things would be different.

It was hard not to think that way…

Amber was different from Leticia and that was that.

It would not change even if she mourned.

She sighed inwardly and took a sip of orange juice to wash away the discomfort in her throat.

'Amber, which one of them would you like?' she continued to press with her innocence.

Leticia was not to know that Amber gave up on everything that fateful day, one year ago. After that soiree, she had taken her carriage was her maid waited and returned home early. She had decided then to avoid men that worshipped her sister like she was an angel and who ridiculed Amber as though she were inferior. She would concentrate on growing her embroidery and lace business.

She wondered if she should tell Leticia truthfully, she did not want to marry anyone.

Author: (Zuben: I suggest you do, otherwise you can continue self-flagellating)

Maybe Leticia would understand…

Yet, the expectation in Leticia's innocent words pierced Amber' heart like icicles.

Even if she was hurt and irritated, it could not be helped.

Amber was Amber, Leticia was Leticia. Even if they were sisters they could not understand everything about each other.

But the dark emotions swirled in her chest. Boiling up and dyeing her heart black.

It rushed up and out of her mouth and Amber found herself asking, 'Do I have to get married?'