Chapter eight

A young girl stood on the training grounds doing some warm up stretches. She had her hair tied up as she appeared in her Hanfu but it looked different, it had pants. She loved the outfit and had seen actresses wearing them in Chinese movies and she loved them. She looked very energetic as she kicked the air multiple times.

Meanwhile, Gabriel and the guards looked helpless at the moment, why was she so hyper this morning? They couldn't even keep up with her in during the physique training. She kept on running around even if she passed out she'd get back up and run around again. Just so they wouldn't look weak, they had to keep up with her. Why did she have so much energy??

Martha looked over from the shade and was glad the lady didn't insist when she declined her request to join her for training today. She peeled fruits and set them up. " Okay, why don't we have a break "

As soon as she said that this, the guards and Instructor ran over happily and and sat around Martha their saviour. Gabriel had a dumbfounded expression, Traitors!! He couldn't leave Abigail alone so he could only continue with the physical exercises with her while the others cheered them on while they sat in the shade.

" Big brother, why don't we take a break ", she said as Gabriel laid motionless on the ground. What was this girl made of?? Why the heck does she have so much stamina, she went on for thirty minutes without a break and you want one now??

After the break , the two stood in front of the instructor as he began to teach swordmanship. He went over the basics of wielding and cultivating with a sword for Abigail's sake and she was touched but she already knew the basics. After an introduction, he began to teach basic sword techniques and movement skills. Although the progress seemed slowed, she still enjoyed the lessons. Abigail and Gabriel then began to spar with each other so she could get used to basic maneuvers.

" Your highness ", A guard walked up to Gabriel, " The Duke and duchess have asked me to announce their arrival and they request an audience with you in the dining room ".

" Oh... I see, I'll be right there after I change ", the young lord said before excusing the guard.

Abigail felt somewhat dejected but she knew she couldn't keep practicing with her brother so she called it a day and decided to continue another time and as for her parents, she wasn't interested in seeing them and since they didn't invite her they made it easier for her to avoid them. They never asked her to eat with them whenever they were around and only asked Gabriel and Rose to accompany them since she was an embarrassment to them, she felt hurt at first but gradually got used to it. These parents of hers already disappointed her and she'd make sure to leave them very soon.

" Where are you going?? ", Gabriel brought her out of her thoughts, she saw this brother of hers and smiled.

" I'm going back to my room ", she replied.

" Oh then hurry up and get dressed, let's go and meet Father and mother together ", he said as he urged for her to go quickly.

" W- what?? I don't need to go, you and Rose are always invited so you go ahead without me ", she tried to force a refusal but Gabriel just wasn't budging. With his poker on full display he won the argument against a helpless Abigail and she found herself walking behind Gabriel towards the dining. The Duke and duchess were surprised to see Abigail and weren't expecting it but they ignored her presence. After the greetings, Gabriel and Abigail sat beside the duchess while Helen and Rose sat opposite them and the Duke sat at the head of the table.

As they began to eat the Duke and duchess constantly asked Gabriel and Rose about their progress in lessons, training, piano and whatnot. They completely ignored Abigail as they saw Rose and Gabriel as their true children. The Duke cared highly for his reputation this is why he valued these two children and disliked Abigail because of the constant tantrums she threw in public and people began to laugh at him because of this further causing him to neglect her. The duchess felt the same towards Abigail and was focused on raising ideal children that could represent her in society. She cared for the two even if Rose wasn't her daughter, she wasn't really bothered that the Duke had cheated on her and the result was Rose. She ofcourse didn't care about their marriage as this was a marriage alliance between their two families and had no real feelings for the Duke.

Abigail sat at the table, although she felt saddened at how she was ignored, she still felt happy she wasn't being questioned like that. Gabriel glanced at her and she gave him a knowing look. He then began to talk with her and put food in her plate. Everyone at the table were shocked when they saw the two siblings behaviour.

Helen clenched her fist and decided it was time, " Abigail, how have your lessons been going? "

" Lessons, I... "

" I'm afraid elder sister has been absent from lessons for a month now and the teacher has told me to advice her several times but she seems to ignore my advice, oh no I shouldn't have said anything I'm sorry ", Rose said acting innocent and had an apologetic look on her face.

" Then why did you ", Abigail couldn't help but snapped at her but she put on a nonchalant persona.

" I was just concerned for elder sister, please don't be mad ", she replied timidly causing the Duke and duchess to be dissatisfied.

" You did the right thing ", the Duke smiled at Rose before glaring at Abigail, " Is this how you waste the resources I spend on you, you unfilial daughter ", he looked at her with contempt.

" I apologize father, I'll improve myself in the future ", Abigail said and everyone there apart from Gabriel were shocked. Abigail would normally talk back and talk about the incompetence of her teachers or say she didn't want to study which would anger the Duke more. But not only did she not talk back she acknowledged her mistakes!

The table fell silent once more after the Duke punished her to write the history of the empire in two languages. As they ate silently Rose noticed Abigail's dress and shoes, she thought it was exceptionally beautiful and she wanted one like it , " Sister I heard you invited a seamstress to prepare clothes for you, can I know who she is so I can ask her to prepare one for me as well ".

" No ", Abigail replied eating her meal quietly, Rose was infuriated but had a wronged look on her face.

" I was asking sister cause I liked her dress ", Rose said sounding depressed. Helen was mad and she also wanted to know the name of the designer so she urged Abigail as well to tell them but she was still firm on not saying anything.

" Abigail, why don't you just tell your sister since she wants to know?? ", those were the first words her mother said to her in a long time and every time she talked to her it was always about Rose, she sneered in her mind and her eyes full of disgust. Why would she and her brother resemble such parents. Her father had jet black hair, just like the siblings but Gabriel took his beautiful blue eyes. Gabriel looked like his father while Abigail had her mother's grey eyes and delicate features. But no matter how much she resembled them, she didn't feel like they were family. Most of their resentment also came from the fact that she didn't possess any magic or innate abilities. She was born powerless which was the first case in the whole of the Stone family. Her family was proficient on ice magic and among her generation, Rose and Gabriel had the best talents. Gabriel had a high ice innate abilities while Rose was the first to possess chlorokinesis, the ability to control plants and vegetation so she was highly valued. Compared to the two, Abigail was worthless in their eyes. She clenched her fists and stood up from the table.

" You rarely talk to me and only do when it's about Rose but the truth is I don't care, you can't force me to share information. It's my business, I apologize for this, I'll leave right now ", Abigail bowed then left the dining room.

" How dare she, I'll have to increase her punishments ", the Duke hollered.

" Don't punish her father ", Rose said with a sad look on her face but she was overjoyed in her head.

" You don't need to stand up for her dear, you did nothing wrong ", the duchess said comforting her.

" BANG!! ", Gabriel abruptly stood up from the table with a grim expression, " Excuse me, I'm leaving now ", he then began to walk towards the door.

" But you haven't finished your meal yet.... " , his mother said but he quickly interrupted her with his cold gaze.

" I've lost my appetite ", he then left the room and the atmosphere became silent.

" Why did he leave like that?? ", the duchess asked.

" Maybe he isn't feeling well mother ", Rose said and quickly changed the topic and the group quickly forgot about the two siblings and enjoyed the rest of the meal.