Chapter 2 How it started
For Aillenne, it all started eight years ago.
It is the first day and first month of the Imperial calender when the original Aillenne died by drowning when her cousin and a lady of the Count's house conspired her doom.
Her cousin, Danna and her friend Priscilla hated Aillenne so much. Aillenne, who they already knew is being treated like a trash and blatantly neglected by her family, is like a thorn in their eyes.
The girl who made the famous Winston family, a laughing stock in the high society... She was treated by her own family like an illegitimate child and was shunned of the things a noble should have.
She lives in a desolate house with only a nanny and a few workers. She doesn't go out often as she didn't have friends.
No, no one is insane enough to befriend her.
She's just stuck in the cold place far from the attention of her parents. Also, she was only given substandard clothes with little to no accessory despite being a daughter of a powerful Marqius. However, worst part for this case is that her appearance is no joke.
Yes, and nobody can refute that.
She resembled a goddess of the lake and looked so magical and alluring. Without any accessory, it made her looked pure and modest not shabby as they hoped. At the young age of 5, she possessed beauty that can already rival the beauty of the 4th princess whom they follow, and held the title of the most beautiful woman in the empire.
"The young lady of Winston is so beautiful that could rival the fourth princess."
"I agree. By the coming of age, there's a possibility that men from different continent will line up to be her suitor."
"Alas! Look at her feature! Her fine silvery-blue hair made her look mystical!"
"Yes. The look on her eyes also carries depth and allure."
The nobles who praised the fourth princess' beauty a few years ago suddenly turned their attention to the lady of the Winston Marquisate.
Princess Yssabelle gritted her teeth when she heard the nobles talk and stomped her foot loudly across the hallway.
She glared at the nobles and lead her way to her room. Certainly, what she displayed a little while ago didn't show manners coming from a royal family, but when her pride and position is threatened, she couldn't help but explode.
The pretty and luxurious room filled with expensive paintings and exclusive ornaments turned to ruins in just a few moments. The maids trembled as they watched the young princess' outburst.
"Gahhhh!!! Why is everything like this? Huh? Those petty bastards who look like hounds wagging their tail just a while ago turned their backs to me?! Lady Winston here, Lady Winston there!!! Ahhh!!! Shut the fuck up assholes!!!"
"Tell me, did I fall short with that child?! What did she have that I didn't?! Tell me!!!"
"You lack nothing, Your Highness. You have the right to always be on top. You deserve the title and not a young lady from a house far comparable to the imperial family."
"That's right. You know the right words...but that... that doesn't settle me!!! If I only have the chance I'm going to ruin that bitch's face! That freaking face! And you---!"
She grabbed Risha, her youngest newly assigned maid and beat her face and body, which is almost similar to Aillenne's build.
Smack! Slap! Slap!
After sometime, she let the body slump then turned her back to change her bloodied gloves.
"Your Highness, the fourth princess. The ladies from the Count's house is already here and waiting for you in the parlor."
"Yes... tell them I'll be there in a moment."
The servant bowed down with face looking indifferent despite the mess the princess made. It has always been like that and this scene isn't unusual. She was so obsessed with being on top and was extremely jealous of Aillenne Winston.
The servants would often ask her sanity for she always compared herself with a much younger child.
The princess glanced at the mirror. Blonde hair and common brown eyes. Nothing spectacular about her other than her lineage and beauty, but her pride was threatened. She can't let it happen.
The princess readied herself before going to see her playmates. However, a bloodied body blocked her path. Risha's consciousness is slowly drifting away.
The princess had beaten her badly this time. But, it has always been like that. When did ot start? A day ago? A week ago? It seemed too short but the pain she experienced amounts to long time exposure to physical abuse and trauma and the traces in her body proved so.
Born as an illegitimate child from a fallen Barony, Risha was brought to the palace as collateral for her parents' debt. They had so many debt not just from the imperial family. Her parents were nothing but bunch of worthless beings. They even sold three of her siblings to other families and their condition is much similar to hers in the palace.
She knew that her father and stepmother didn't intend to claim her again. An illegitimate child is good as dead in their eyes and the young Risha had nowhere to go and just clung to the Fourth princess' mercy. But that's never been the case.
Mercy? Her body was badly hurt everytime the princess had an outburst. She always wondered why she felt inferior to a child named Aillenne and how did the princess think they were the same. Risha was curious but also felt anger towards Aillenne.
For her, Aillenne brought tremendous pain to her both in mind and body.
"Throw her. I don't need her anymore. If I see even a strand of her hair, all of you will have your arms cut off."
Blag!
The door was slammed strongly by the enraged princess.
Risha couldn't understand why she was being cast aside. She had nowhere to go. She felt her body being lifted harshly and brought to another place. Her consciousness is playing black and white and she can't understand what she did wrong to live the life she had.
The sound of animals were heard and the cold floor was sticky and damp. Risha's body shuddered. She was really cast aside and thrown by the princess.
Hatred and resentment to the world filled her mind and body. But the next moment, Risha felt relief as if her intense feelings were being swept away and peace like spring came.
When she opened her eyes, she felt blinded by the light.
Risha saw her salvation.