The days that passed the Duke was curious about the niece the Duchess was talking about. The Duchess was feeling happy about the news of her niece being another child in the household.
"We must bring her to the church to be blessed! The Divine festival is coming, maybe Emily is the one!"
"We could bring her but the goddess reincarnation is a girl born of this empire."
I listened in as I poked at my breakfest quietly eating. The thoughts of the goddess being a girl from this empire is laughable. A kind goddess who helped the royal family and sealed away by the goddess of night before marrying the first Crown prince of the Empire. The Curse of Night have plagued the royal family for years and the only time a girl is chosen as Crown Princess every 100 years is to have the soul of the goddess and the Divine birth mark seen at night on her back.
"My Emily, will be able to be Crown princess to bring her family glory."
The Duchess smiled at the thought as my face was blankly staring at the food on the table. The Duke looked towards me but not in disdain but in a half-hearted tone. A tone of a stern father but it's hard to read if he is worried.
"Oriana, don't you want to go to the temple to see the festival? It would be good to go out every once and a while. You get so clumsy that you injuried yourself again."
My lips parted my eyes wondered to the Duchess who frowned displaying her disdain and back to the Duke smiling effortlessly.
"I would love to Father but I wanted to know if I could cast an extra prayer for our family. I don't want to be a center of attention. I want to pray for our happy and lovely family."
"Such a thoughtful child, don't you agree dear?"
"....Yes."
The Duchess snapped her head in anger at the door of the kitchen as if she was waiting for someone to walk in.
'Is the niece she expects is coming? That's the only reasons why-'
A girl with curly brown hair and blue gems for eyes walked in. Her ringlets of hair framed her face and her eyes beamed. Her face was innocent and screamed two-face.
'What, she's beautiful and looks like the Duchess but she is a Princess of another kingdom?! Why would the Duchess invite her?!'
"Sweetheart this is Emily, Emily this is Duke Oaklee, that child there is Oriana. The adopted child but she is no less our child."
"Aunty I am happy to see you again and to Duke Oaklee the pleasure of meeting you finally!"
Emily grew chatty but the scene feels lonely when the 'parents' you knew surround another child.
"It would be wonderful to show Emily around town! Oriana will you escort Emily today during the festival? Introduce her to your friends and other nobles!"
"Yes, Oriana, please do not embarrass Emily or us."
The Duchess scowled as she glared into my soul but the Duke was cheerful. The Duke was an oblivious man, a fool who can't tell if his wife is bullying a mere child or he is just turning a blind eye to this.
"Yes, father and mother."
"Prepare a carriage right away!"
The Duke yelled as he turned away to summon a coach.
Emily made her way to me as she held my hands in excitement.
"It's nice to meet you Oriana, I hope we become good sisters."
'Sisters? What the hell is she-'
As I look at her face her eyes glowed purple like Mines. As I did a double-take her eyes are blue. What the hell?
I pretend I didn't notice but I felt creeped out. This girl was creepy and her false niceness was showing obviously. Emily slowly turned around towards the Duke and Duchess.
"You know, the day is lovely why not make this a family outing!"
"Ah, you are right my dear niece! I have been coped up in her for so long. Prepare a dresses and outfits!"
"Yes madam!" The maids repeat back as they retreated to the rooms to grab outfits.
"My, My dear niece, I have crafted an outfit for you."
I noticed the outfit the Duchess pulled out a dress the mocked the goddess first dress. The Duchess is insane, I am not going to embarrass the family but she is.
"Thank you, Aunty!" Emily smiled as she took the ancient looking dress and eagerly changed.
'You will never amount to nothing, you miserable girl.' The Duchess whispered in my ear. 'Get that dream of being the reincarnation of the goddess because my Emily is chosen'.
I was shocked that the Duchess could be so bold to whisper that insult loudly but I was interrupted by the sound of clanking decorations.
"How do I look?" Emily walked out in the dress as we all changed she stood out.
"Beautiful, my niece looks like the primordial Goddess of Divine!"
Everyone eagerly chatted but again I was isolated and didn't take things with a grain of salt. After what the Duchess put my through she is ready to use Emily as her heir. The Duke was infatuated with Emily and loved that she is biological member of the Duchess family. More than likely she will be heir and I will be reduced to nothing.
'I will not get my hopes up, all I can do is pray and hope my 'family' forgets me or better cut ties with me to give me the independence package.'
As I follow everyone to the carriage I felt a headache as the sky briefly turned purple.
'All who worship light will be suppressed by the night, those who let the Goddess of Divine inhabit their souls will die by my hands!'
'What?'
I heard the voice echo as I slowly raised my head to see everyone waiting for me.
"Hurry up, Oriana!!"
"I'm sorry!"