"There were times when I once believed that the demon was the most notorious of all beings."
Agnette, whose dress was tattered with her face and body covered in dirt and bruises, was staring into the sky from above as rain poured into her eyes.
She was lying on the cold, muddy ground with dead, unblinkable eyes while tightly clutching the pocket of money in her hands.
Earlier....
"Just gave it to us, and it's over!"
Shouted by the boy who was continuously kicking her stomach where she could barely feel her organs being twisted and swollen.
*Argh...*
'Bare it, they will go away soon!'
She thought, but a few minutes had passed until it turned to an hour; they did not have a second thought to stop their heinous act, continuously kicking and punching her on the ground while she was curled up in pain.
'Hurts! It hurts! -
"-S...top it....."
She mumbled, pleading for them to stop. She felt her body being numb as a rock, while visible bruises were appearing like stamps on her skin one by one.
"Argh! I had enough! Even though we kill her right now, she would not budge!"
"This is frustrating!"
As she was about to be beaten to death, the sky darkened, giving a roaring sound of thunder before droplets of water poured on the ground.
"Let's just go; she will die anyway."
The freckled kid spoke, leaving Agnette behind.
'Ah, it's cold; maybe this is the way I die.'
'I hope I could at least have a family in my next life or at least live a peaceful life. I hope I will not stray. I hope to be rich so I won't steal from anyone anymore.'
"I... *Cough!*.....I wish... *Cough!*... I could live a happy life."
Agnette spoke it from her mouth while watching the happy family eating inside the restaurant when all of a sudden a black polished leather shoe that looked so dear had stopped in front of her, holding an umbrella in his hand.
"Won't you regret dying in vain?"
'W-Who?'
She tried to look up as she heard the voice of a man, shielding her from the rain.
He just smiled while reaching his hand and then never spoke again.
Neither of desperation to live or fulfill her wish to live in peace, Agnette gladly took his hands, where she later found herself in front of the big, built man sitting on the throne, surrounded by the kids, who seemed a year older than her.
"Your Majesty, she is the talented kid I'm talking about!"
Boasted by the man in a suit as he presents Agnette in front of them with anxious eyes.
"I am not that kind of a talent.-
Before she could barely speak, she was taken aback by the noble tightly gripping her shoulder, preventing her from speaking, especially when in front of them was his Royal Highness Vasillis Con Sekar, a fraudulent man who secretly adopted kids to his liking, making them his servants, a mere toy he could play with to satisfy his lust and greed for money and power.
"She is the known thief in the town! She's very good at her job, so there's nothing for you to worry about, Your Highness!"
Agnette's eyes widen in surprise while the others scowl.
'Thief?! If you say that, then I will be punished! -
"Very well."
He smirked while caressing his chin, leaving Agnette confused at the scene.
'Huh?!'
Her hands fidget before she heard the king speak a word from his mouth for the second time.
"Do you have a name?"
She looks around.
"Oh...Im A-Agnette"
The way she spoke sounded so timid.
"Then, Agnette, you will be living in the castle from now on."
'Wa-wait what! What is happening right now?!'
Her mind was puzzled by their act as she noticed the King gave a sack of gold to the noble.
Not just weeks had passed, but months to years Agnette's name was always the talk of the castle; unlike his adoptive sisters and brothers, who were rumored to be ruthless and psychotic, she was well known to be the opposite.
"Father, today, I treat the shredded wings of the bird when it falls from the tree-
She was immediately cut off before she could barely finish her word.
"-I'm so disappointed in you, Agnesia."
The King scorned, giving him a cold shoulder as he always tried to ignore her.
"Wait, father, I-
"Stop wasting my time on babbling rubbish nonsensical things!"
His voice got firm and loud.
"I think I just wasted money, picking up trash!"
Her eyes widen as a humid expression covers her face, hitting her with reality, especially when one of her sisters purposely bumps her shoulder where it was heading straight towards the king's seat.
"Father, today I successfully robbed the bank in the south. I bet the news has now spread!"
She gladly spoke as if doing bad deeds was already part of her routine.
"Have you left any prints?"
The girl smiled.
"Nope, I silenced them all!"
Hearing it, Agnette almost puked, making her look so pale just by listening to their horrendous crime.
That's when she knew that having a happy family only existed in a book—a fairy tale—a mere fantasy that would never happen.
"I was wrong. Humans are more ruthless and cunning than the devil himself."