Chapter one
_Reality and Stability
" Lucia!! It is you, why are you late?!..."
" You know the reason, Aunt Cathy.."
The girl entered and uncovered her dark indigo hair and her bright gray eyes. The features were the same, but the expressions were different; the stern and tight expression had been replaced by a gentle and warm one—an expression she showed to only a few people in her life...
Catherine smiled tenderly at the young woman in front of her, then playfully pulled her hand to come inside:
" Come, come, Laura and Rina are here.. Come, come "
Lucia sighed because she knew she would hardly be able to get away from them, as they were the biggest gossips in the village...
She smiled kindly at Catherine and allowed her to pull her until she reached the living room, which contained a number of chairs and a table carrying tea cups and piled plates of sweets. Then her eyes moved to the two ladies sitting in clothes that were somewhat expensive for the common people, though they were ordinary to her. The first was Rina, in her mid-thirties, with light brown hair and green eyes, wearing a yellow dress decorated with flowers and smiling affectedly. The other was Laura, in her early thirties, with short, faded red hair and brown eyes, wearing a flowery pink dress. From their gestures, she understood that they were trying to imitate the noble ladies they worked for...
" Miss Bons, sit with us "
Lucia suppressed her mockery and sat in one of the seats while Catherine sat in her usual place. Lucia looked at Catherine, who, despite being considered among the wealthy of the village, was a simple and kind woman who did not understand the complexities happening around her, as she sat with them naturally without even removing her slightly stained apron..
Catherine poured tea for Lucia, who accepted it with a smile and looked at the two ladies who were watching Lucia's graceful and calm gestures. Laura had sworn to Rina that Lucia was a noblewoman who fled after a scandal, and Rina also suspected that, but they could not speak of the matter because of Lucia's personality—gentle on the outside but stern and harsh on the inside. She had once nearly made Rina wet herself from a cold glare that almost made her shiver with fear when she tried to spark gossip about Lucia...
And because they could not talk about Lucia's affairs, they moved to other topics:
" Have you heard what happened several weeks ago in Walter in the East?!"
" How would we know what happened in Walter while we live on the southern borders of Carson?!"
" But I know "
Laura was speaking dramatically to grab their attention, which made Lucia sigh in boredom. But despite showing indifference, her ears sensed the necessity of hearing the news..
" I heard that two months ago the Archduchess fled, but everyone thinks she might have been killed as well... Anyway, immediately after that, the little Prince was kidnapped—he hadn't even finished his seventh month..."
" Oh my God!! Why are the small children always harmed?.."
" Madam Catherine, if it were just a kidnapping, it might have been bearable... but "
Rina gave a truly sad face, even Laura who resumed the talk:
" After a long search, the little Prince was found, or rather, his body—mutilated, eyes gouged out, organs removed, and buried near a mill in a village close to the palace.."
Lucia looked at Madam Catherine, who burst into tears. Many knew she was soft-hearted and saddened by hearing such news. Lucia was going to stop them, but she was curious to hear more, so she looked at Laura, who almost went silent if Lucia hadn't spoken:
" Perhaps it was the body of another child, why was the Archduke so sure it was his child?..."
" I heard from my lady that the child has black hair like the Prince's hair and was wearing the same clothes he was kidnapped in. It is said that the one who kidnapped him was a close maid, and I heard she is from a traitorous family and was very resentful towards Walter..."
" Even so, why hurt an innocent child like that?! How cruel "
Lucia wiped Catherine's tears gently and said in a tender voice:
" Do not upset yourself, Aunt Cathy, your health will suffer "
Catherine gathered herself, then wiped the remains of her tears and smiled affectionately at Lucia, saying as she folded her hands in devotion:
" I hope his soul rests in peace, and that he is born again in a warm place "
Laura and Rina made the same wish. Lucia smiled, then rose from her seat and turned her gaze to Catherine:
" Auntie, I will be late if I stay longer, I must leave..."
Catherine stood up with a quick movement despite her stoutness, went to the kitchen, and brought out a basket full of eggs and a large gallon full of milk, giving it to Lucia. Before Lucia could take out the money, Catherine spoke:
" I will not take money from you this time "
" Why?! It is the price of the eggs and milk "
" You helped me so much yesterday with cleaning and milking and wouldn't accept money, so take this as compensation for your hard work, and if you need more, just let me know.."
Lucia smiled at Catherine and hugged her lovingly:
" Aunt Cathy reminds me so much of my mother "
Catherine smiled broadly and patted Lucia's back gently:
" Take good care of yourself, my little one, and don't forget to visit me from time to time "
Lucia nodded in agreement, bid Catherine farewell, and left...
* * *
Amanda was walking among the maids as usual, giving orders and organizing their work. Her job hadn't been affected, but her confidence in her judgment and in others had been shaken..
" Lily, clean that corner well. Mary, put the candle holder in its correct place. Tـ...."
" Madam Amanda?!..."
" Tina, polish those shelـ..."
Amanda knew the stubbornness of the one calling her, so she took a deep breath, turned around, and looked at that maid with the beautiful face, green eyes, and beautiful short blonde hair. Her beauty was dazzling for a maid, but she was nothing more than beautiful; she wasn't someone who possessed that presence that makes you pause and takes control of your limbs just by looking at them. Amanda was just trying to forget Nila's betrayal, but the girl in front of her was insistent on reminding her:
" Yes, Lina..."
" Madam, you asked me to clean the drawing room and..."
" And have you finished it?!"
" Yes, completely, madam "
" Then clean the dining room and the library "
" Fine..."
Despite her attempts to be cheerful, Amanda always burdened her with work—difficult work—to keep her away from her sight. Amanda turned herself completely back to work when Lina spoke in a tone that made her sound sad:
" Madam Amanda feels ashamed... the wonderful and loyal girl killed the young Master and hurt him badly. Did no one realize that Harvey came to take revenge on the Archduke? Harvey is a traitor, yet the Grand Duke allowed his daughter to work here, and the price was a betrayal greater than the one before..."
Amanda turned fully to Lina with a face flushed with anger:
" Lina Franz, do you wish to be arrested on charges of blasphemy?..."
Lina swallowed her fear. Although her words were accurate, no one ever opened this subject, questioning the Archduke's wisdom..
" I will go to finish my tasks "
She bowed quickly and left. Amanda turned to the surrounding maids, who started their work quickly so they wouldn't receive any reprimand from their mistress...
* * *
The wind had calmed down and returning home became easier. Lucia raised her head to the sky and sighed:
" It will rain soon, I must hurry "
Despite the weight of the items, her quick and graceful steps brought her closer to the house, which sat on top of the hill overlooking the entire village. It was a house belonging to Madam Catherine, but she had rented it to Lucia..
The afternoon sky was overcast with clouds, making the path a bit dark. She finally reached the house and placed the items carefully inside...
The house consisted of one floor containing two bedrooms, a bathroom, a living room, and a small kitchen...
Lucia hadn't bought much furniture—not because she didn't have the money, but to avoid drawing unnecessary attention. She slept on a large, warm carpet in the bedroom and owned a fair number of kitchen tools, clothes, and essential items.
After removing her cloak, she headed to the open bedroom and searched the pile of blankets that covered a small spot, but what was supposed to be inside had disappeared. Lucia's heart dropped, and she began to confirm that the house windows and doors were closed and hadn't been opened or forced. She swallowed her terror, and before she reached the kitchen, she heard the clatter of plates. She moved quietly, and when the kitchen was revealed before her, she smiled warmly..
There was a child, not yet nine months old, playing with the plates and seemingly enjoying it.
She approached him quietly so as not to startle him and placed her hand on his soft black hair, patting it gently. The child laughed happily, making her unable to resist picking him up while scolding him gently:
" You scared me while playing with the household utensils... naughty boy "
The child laughed, revealing eyes that resembled the color of smoke, which greatly resembled her own. Lucia patted the child's soft hair and then the edge of the ruby necklace around his neck, which emitted a faint magical energy...
" Everything is for your own good, Damian... "
The child laughed at hearing his name and held onto her tightly. The child could feel her true emotions..
Lucia put the child back in his warm spot while rearranging the house. She prepared a bottle of milk and began to feed him while thinking:
' In the novel, the child was kidnapped when he was three years old by the same person, Nila Harvey... I kidnapped him as in the novel, but I didn't throw him to the mercenaries. I fear the novel's events will repeat themselves... '
She hugged the child strongly yet gently, feeling anxious...
" Everything will be alright "
* * *
My name is Hiyori, I am thirty-six years old. I got married one year after graduating from university—certainly not because of love, for he was the son of one of my father's partners. As a daughter born into a family of the world's top business tycoons, I had to work hard to prove my worth in this world because I am a girl...
I always graduated in first place and was the best in everything, except in the eyes of my father and husband. But I used to console myself with my achievements, which actually meant nothing to me...
Despite the miserable life I live, I was resisting. My husband, who has many mistresses and scatters his scandals here and there, while I quietly clean up after him so the company's reputation isn't affected. The burdens of the company and their criticism of me for my inability to bear a child...
I remember those harsh words that pierce my soul whenever I see a child:
[ " You are useless, even in the thing that women are good at, you are incapable... it is the curse of your whore mother " ]
My shame was that my mother left my father when I was a child and ran away with her lover. In fact, my mother lived in hell, but sometimes I thought selfishly: if my mother had stayed, would my life have changed?! But I always find the same answer:
No!!
So I endured everything in silence. I worked and worked hard. Everyone praised my exceptional abilities in business management, except, of course, my father and my husband...
Since my mother's escape, I lost the ability to express my feelings, I lost the ability to love. I lived thinking that I had given up on my emotions...
On that day, before arriving at the company, I received a call from one of my husband's mistresses, and it was clear she was talking while my husband was with her. I didn't care, but I controlled myself so I wouldn't hang up in the face of her foolishness..
[" I am pregnant... I will have a child instead of you " ]
I felt a tear in my gut. Perhaps I had lost the ability to feel and desire, but I still had one wish: to become a mother. But there was no hope for that..
I hung up the phone in her face and quickly regained my composure. This is me... I do not waver..
As I walked, everyone was showing me respect as usual, except for two young women who were deeply engrossed in a book. I knew they were new recruits. I didn't try to bother myself with their foolishness, as I had always lived older than my age...
I passed in front of them and made them realize my presence. They bowed respectfully, and in the confusion, the book one of them was carrying fell. They swallowed their breath, and before they could justify anything, I picked up the book. It was a romantic drama novel—to find it in the workplace was a mess if I returned it..
" Act maturely next time.."
I took the novel in my hand and went to the office to finish my work as usual, as if nothing had happened...
When I returned home after midnight as usual, I found it empty. I felt a bit cold, and remembered that I had left my hair wet for a long time in the morning, which might make me susceptible to a cold. I prepared a cup of hot tea, as I hate the presence of servants who might expose what remains of secrets to the world..
I looked at the open window and ignored it. I sat down to rest my nerves, and before rushing to sleep, I found the book I picked up in the morning from the recruits. I held it in my hand and decided to see what was special about it; I had never read a novel in my life. Although I read everything that came into my hands, I ignored novels in my desire to gain praise from my father...
" Emperor from the Ashes "
It was a good title for a novel. I thought for a moment, since I always suffer from insomnia, why not read it..
The story revolves around Carson, a powerful land and an empire that dogs fought over to scatter, but it always held firm. Carson had three Duchies and one Grand Duchy. Two of the Duchies aspired to seize power in Carson, and one was neutral. The greatest terror was Walter, which was the "dog" of the empire. So, to take the reins of affairs in Carson, they first hid the only son of the Emperor to make him like a toy in their hands, and then weakened Walter. The same method was somewhat implemented: inciting the Archduchess to flee, and then kidnapping and killing the heir. The executioner was easy..
Nila Harvey, whose father was sentenced to death for betraying Walter. The strange thing was that the Grand Duke allowed her to work in Walter despite her father's betrayal, but people praised the Archduke for not wanting the child to bear her father's guilt..
But she did indeed betray the Archduke and kidnapped the child, though she wasn't criminal enough to kill him; she threw him to the mercenaries and then fled. However, it was said they got rid of her after finishing her mission...
Damian de Walter, in a period of his life, met the hidden and besieged Crown Prince. They became friends and helped each other, and were able to rid the empire of the evil of the two Dukes. The heroine of the novel was the Princess of the Duchy of Ruisa, who supported the Crown Prince and they fell in love. Damian de Walter emerged victorious with them, and even though he knew which family he belonged to, he reached the "Duchy of Ashes". The Archduke had died from a strange disease, his mother had fled, and he found that nothing was worth living for there, so he left the empire...
The novel talked about the Crown Prince and the Princess and their happy ending, but no one talked about Damian's disappointment, who found that he lived for a mirage..
No family, no love, no hope, and nothing to mention...
I felt a surge of emotions that had been frozen inside me for over thirty years. I cried and cried hard..
Why does he live like this? Why didn't the author do him justice like the others? Why didn't he find someone to love and help him? Why did no one love him...
I found that I was complaining about myself. I found that my soul, which had been trapped in devotion without return, had released its rebellion for the first time, even if by crying...
I had never cried in my life as much as that night, and perhaps it was the last time I cried in that body.
...... To be continued .......