Walking along the long hallway of the fourth princess' palace, a sound of fluttering heavy dress could be heard. Numerous women lined up following like chicks to their small mother hen leading in front. They were bowing their heads with strides seemingly calculated.
Each of their hand held variety of items, it may be a hand mirror, an ivory comb, a chest with utensils to test poison and even ten colorful fans each of different sizes as the princess' mood changes every now and then. These materials are vital to each maids servicing the fourth princess because the way they handle the things and the way it matches the princess' mood, depends their body's state and their lifeline.
Indeed, working for the fourth princess is both a blessing and a curse.
The fourth princess, which was favored by the Emperor has everything and whatever she wanted, she could have it just by a simple mention to the father Emperor. If the princess they're serving has this kind of privilege and attention, hence they will also be blessed and gazed with envy. However, if they could gain glory and honor in serving the beautiful princess, they should put their lives beneath her feet.
Just like a fool.
"Oh my. I never thought the princess would feel threatened. There should be nothing in this empire to dare threaten you."
"I agree, Your Highness. Should we solve your problem? We can't afford to make the princess feel distressed."
In a glamorous pink sitting room, the scent of sweet pastries and the current trend rose flavored tea spread and filled the room. However the scent clashed with their differing perfumes making the princess tear up due to allergies.
Yssabelle's tear fell continuously and by the momentum, she freed her feelings. She shared her fear and envy to the two regarding her future title being snatched by Aillenne, while professionally hiding her weakness, her allergy.
Being loyal to the princess, the two fools planned to scare young Aillenne.
The two didn't succeed on the first try but on one occasion, they devised a grand scheme enough for Aillenne to run away to the forest. There she may trip or fall leading to having a scratch to her skin, most favorably, her face.
"Hey Aillenne. I have something to show you. I found tombstones near the area and it was said to be a portal. Fairies are the keepers of that place and during this special occasion, it was said that they come out to greet people. Would you like to come with me? I really want to see the fairies with you."
Aillenne who was hungry of love and attention followed her cousin to the forest. After arriving near the tombstone, Danna pushed Aillenne's body making it roll in the dirt.
"Why?"
"Hahaha look at that dirt in you. It definitely fits a dirt like you. You even asked me why? Are you that stupid? Of course because I hate you. You're useless. You're even being neglected by your parents as if they wished you to die."
It was such an absurd reason, but nobody can understand everyone's way of thinking.
Aillenne wiped off the mud that stuck in her face and the streams of tears fell from her dewy eyes. She knew. She always knew that despite whatever she did, her parents won't ever look at her.
After a short sermon, the sounds of dogs barking came. Feeling powered by the situation, Danna grabbed Aillenne's hair trying to make her look more ugly, but it's impossible.
Nonetheless...
By the grand scheme, fortunately and unfortunately, Aillenne didn't have a scratch on her face but she died when she fell to the lake while running away from wild dogs brought by her cousin and Priscilla.
***
The knights found her body in a cold and dead state. Her father and mother didn't even shed a tear when that happened, only clucked their tongue at the annoyance that such valuable asset died.
Only her nanny Sabbie cried when she held the cold body while wishing that her most precious person be brought back to life.
"No! No, this can't be! Bring me back, my lady!!! Huhuhu! To the gods, I beg you, please bring her back!"
On the verge of being crazy, the nanny went to her knees and begged like a lowlife she is to the Marquis, to wait for the young lady to be revived as she could feel that the lady is still alive and just asleep. Seeing that there is no reason not to allow, as it is already a corpse and a lost cause, it doesn't matter to him if the body is buried or fed off to the dogs. He also thought that the nanny was crazy amd keep on babbling nonsense thus he paid no mind.
He turned his attention to making Adele, his youngest daughter, take the dead Aillenne's role. The papers containing her death certificate is in front of him along with a special family registry from the imperial palace. He's contemplating whether or not to erase Aillenne's name as if it never existed. The decision was put on hold.
Then the main house was filled with people from different places, who were tasked to put their attention to the youngest lady forgetting funeral and such because the cold body didn't matter anymore.
'What's the use of it other than throwing the body on the pile of meat to be fed off to the dogs they owned?'
The main house is warm, but the west house where Aillenne reside is cold where only the nanny and the cold body was left.
No firewood and no workers were left as they were all transferred to the main building. The people vacated to the main mansion leaving the two alone in their own world.
Aillenne's body was nursed by the nanny in the cold and desolate room. Praying almost every minute that the young lady will be brought back to life. Despite criticisms of people in the house, the nanny didn't give up and nursed the body. She did everything with care and love just like when the lady she served was still alive.
She didn't give up just because she doesn't believe that Aillenne was already dead but the greatest factor is her dreams in the past few months that vividly showed her Aillenne's death and revival. So she believed and tried her best to nurse her.
Then.
First month and third day of the Imperial calendar, Aillenne's cold body breathed again.