As soon as Gilbert got married to Agatha, Anastasia's torture began. Despite being a brilliant child, the little girl couldn't escape from severe punishment. And what made it worse this time was that Agatha kept hearing other people compliment Anastasia for being mature and very brilliant. Even her father who didn't seem to care for her was proud of having such a child, which made that evil woman very annoyed.
" That little girl is annoying me. I thought taking care of her will be easy. I must hurry up and crush her. I'm the only woman in this mansion that should take compliments. "
Agatha thought that if she hit Anastasia, she will make her afraid of her, and eventually, she will be able to control her, but that did never happen again. Every time Anastasia was being hit on her tiny legs, she never cried or begged. Instead, she has kept glaring at Agatha with eyes full of anger and hatred.
" What is this girl? Doesn't she feel any pain? how could she stand up like nothing is happening? "
Gilbert also was a little bit confused when he saw his daughter like that. she supposed, at least, to cry, but she took the punishment without complaint.
The stepmother has never got what she wanted which made her very flustered, and without realizing it, she hit Anastasia violently in front of her father. Gilbert held his wife's hand to stop her.
- STOP! I think she had enough.
Agatha threw away the stake, then she left the room without saying a word.
Anastasia's legs were bleeding, yet she was still calm. She asked one of the maids to treat her wound without even looking at her father.
Gilbert wanted to help his daughter to walk. When he reached his hand, suddenly, Anastasia pushed it away:
- I'm fine, father. I can do it myself.
- A...Alright...
Then she left him. At that moment, Gilbert felt that his little daughter hates him. And since that day, he kept a closer eye on Anastasia. He watched her moves and how she was behaving.
" I heard a lot of compliments from the teachers and the maids, I thought that they were exaggerated but that's not true. My daughter is very brilliant and mature comparing her age. Why does Agatha keep punishing her? "
Gilbert felt that something was wrong, he tried to have a conversation with Anastasia:
- Good morning, Count.
" Count?"
- Good morning, Anastasia, have a seat.
Anastasia was kind of nervous, her father has never asked for her in the past.
" What he wants from me? "
- Father, did I do something wrong?
- No, that's not it! I just wanted...to...to ask you something.
- What is it?
- What do you want as a birthday present, you will soon become seven years old.
Anastasia took some moments to understand what her father demanded then she replied unconsciously
- I want you to act like a father...
Those words hit Gilbert deep in the heart.
Anastasia realized that she said something wrong, she immediately stood up and showed her little legs that were already full of scars.
- I'm sorry father, I...I'm ready to take the punishment.
Gilbert was shocked by his daughter's behavior.
- I...I did never hit you.
- But you allowed Agatha to do so, isn't that the same thing?
For the first time, Gilbert felt so bad for his daughter. Anastasia was the daughter of a Count, yet she was treated so badly.
And since that day, every time Agatha started beating Anastasia, Gilbert stop her right away.
Agatha couldn't stand that any longer:
- WHAT ARE YOU DOING? CAN'T YOU SEE THAT I'M EDUCATING YOUR CHILD?
- What did she do this time?
Agatha became confused, that was the first time her husband question her behavior.
- SHE...SHE ATE A COOKIE WITHOUT PERMISSION.
- Anastasia is a brilliant girl, she is doing everything perfectly like a grown-up lady. Hitting her that hard for something trivial is unfair.
- NO, THAT'S NOT TRUE! SHE IS STILL LACKING SO MUCH.
When Agatha was screaming and her face showed so much hatred, Gilbert realized that his wife has never loved his child. He snatched the stake from her hand and glared at her:
- AGATHA, I THOUGHT THAT YOU LIKED MY CHILD AND YOU WERE PUNISHING HER FOR HER SAKE, BUT IT SEEMS THAT I WAS WRONG. FROM TODAY ONWARD, YOU ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANASTASIA'S EDUCATION. I'M GOING TO ASSIGN ANOTHER RESPONSIBLE FOR HER.
- WHAT ARE YOU SAYING? I DID MY BEST TO EDUCATE HER.
- No, you did your best to torture her. How did I not notice that...That poor child...
Agatha became shocked, her plan was ruined. She lost her husband's trust and she won't be able to lay a finger on Anastasia anymore...That little girl beat her.
Anastasia could finally have some peace. Her new teacher was very kind, and her father started smiling at her.
" Things started changing, no one will hurt me, but that's not enough for me to escape. Agatha is acting differently. She kept smiling at me and acting as if she care about me to gain father's compassion again. I'm sure that, after a few years, she will try to sell me off to that old man. I must stop that marriage at any cost. "
When she became twelve years old, she started hearing about the victories of the warrior with the iron leg.
" So, this is the time when he starts leading the army and defeating our enemies. As I remember, In a few years, our kingdom will become an empire and that warrior will be a legend. Considering that he is working under the king, I suppose he didn't remember what happened to him in his past life. I must get in touch with him as soon as possible. That man suffered a lot and I shouldn't let that happen again. If it wasn't for his sacrifice, I wouldn't be given this second chance. "
On Anastasia's thirteenth birthday, she decided for the first time, to ask something from her father.
- What do you want, as a gift. Just tell me.
- I do want something, but I think father will refuse.
- I won't, I will give you anything you wish for. Come on, tell me.
- I...I want to learn Fencing...