"Suri… we love you…"
"Our beautiful little princess, you are the brightest sun. The first brilliant light in spring that will shine the whole land with your warmth."
"Isn't the crown too big, Honey?"
"Ahahahaha, you're right. But I couldn't resist putting it on her head because she's so beautiful, just like you. I fell in love at first sight with her. She is the most beautiful girl I have ever seen."
***
"Suri… are you okay?"
"My dear wife, look what our daughter has magically done…"
"What to do? Should we hide it?"
"But this is a miracle. Our daughter is the child of prophecy... This is a blessing for all of us!"
***
"EDNAAAA!!!!!"
A girl with curly brown hair screamed vehemently at another girl's ear who was sleeping with her head on the table. A book about finance was left open in front of her because she was exhausted and fell asleep after reading it.
"Uff… ugh … My head is a little dizzy, Lucy. Can I rest for a moment?" she asked while holding her head.
"What did you just say? Rest? At such an important time? The party will start soon and I have not prepared anything. Get up now or I'll tell Mother!" shouted the girl named Lucy right in the girl's ear named Edna.
Edna. A seventeen-year-old girl. An illegitimate child of Marquess Westfall. Ten years ago, Marquess Westfall returned after a world expedition for several years. A huge commotion then broke out at the Westfall residence when the Marquess came back with a daughter named Edna.
Edna had no memories of herself before she was seven years old. Marquess Westfall, her father, said she fell into the ocean and hit her head on something so she lost her memory.
Not even the memory of her mother or whether she was happy before her father brought her home to her new family was left in her head. Edna Westfall was the illegitimate daughter of Marquess Westfall born by an unnamed woman during his world expedition. That was it. And because Marchioness loved her husband dearly, she finally forgave his mistakes and accepted his love child.
Even so, it was not easy for Edna to adapt to her father's new family. The guilt toward his wife made Marquess Westfall turn a blind eye for every hostile behavior his two other daughters showed to Edna.
Edna was treated like a maid. Fortunately, she was still provided with an education. The girl was a genius and was often praised by the teachers because of her intelligence. Marquess Westfall once said to Edna that her mother was a brilliant person and Edna might have her mother's intelligence.
The Marquess wasn't a bad person. Although he let his two other daughters bully Edna, he often came to Edna's room just to hug her. He secretly gave food to Edna, bought her favorite books when he went to the city, and gave her beautiful dresses although they were not as pretty as Lucy's and Marionette's, the Marques did all of it.
As an illegitimate child, Edna's existence had to be hidden from the public and other nobles. She had never been formally introduced since she first set foot in the Westfall residence. Only some of the relatives knew that Marquess Westfall had an illegitimate child.
Edna did almost everything; Being a maid for her two stepsisters, managing the family's finances, taking care of her sister's fashion, handling the household affairs, and becoming the source of wealth of the Westfall family.
Yes, Edna had been the source of the Westfall family's wealth for the past ten years. There was a secret that no one out there should hear about. Once a week, Edna gave her blood to her father because he asked for it to be used as medicine and then sold it out.
Marquess Westfall then built relationships and trust throughout the kingdom using Edna's blood, as her blood was special.
It was painful for Edna. As a daughter, however, she had to help her father, right?
Her father once said, "Just a little longer, endure the injustice of your mother and stepsisters, Edna. Once I have more money, then we will live together, and I will protect you after this. You will get treated like a true noble lady."
That promise was what kept Edna going.
Edna visited Lucy's room again for the umpteenth time. Lucy was preparing herself to go to her friend's debutante party. If she went, then Marionette would also go. Surely, Edna would soon be dragged here and there. Every corner of the house would be filled with screams for her name.
Edna did Lucy's hair, brushing it before curling it beautifully. The atmosphere in the house was still very quiet, and it made Edna a bit puzzled.
"Lucy, why didn't I hear Marionette call?"
"Don't ask too many questions. Just do your job. I'm in a hurry. Let her be. I gave her some sleeping pills, so she fell asleep and couldn't go to the party. This is Mr. Fredrikson's party. Marionette also likes Mr. Fredrikson. I don't want her to seduce him because he is my future fiancé."
"Ah, is that so?"
It wasn't a secret that Lucy and Marionette secretly competed with each other. Luckily, Edna didn't stand out much, so she could avoid things like this. Deep inside, Edna was glad that Marionette couldn't go to the party. She was already tired after doing all the chores and now getting Lucy dolled up. If Marionette also asked to be served, then Edna wouldn't be able to rest.
Moments later, Lucy was ready to go to the party. The girl was dressed beautifully and wearing the most expensive dress she had. After Lucy left with her carriage, Edna turned around and planned to rest in her room.
However, as she turned around, she ran into the two people she feared the most. Her stepmother and Uncle Jo, the younger brother of her stepmother.
Her stepmother was an intimidating person. Edna had always felt that Marchioness Westfall's gaze would bore a hole and kill her at any moment if she let her guard down. The hatred that the woman had shown since eight years ago never faded, even just for a tiny bit. Edna believed that she could be kicked out at any time if she behaved against the Marchioness' wishes.
Moreover, there was Uncle Joe. The man was also intimidating, but in a disgusting way. He often smiled at Edna with a sickening gaze like they were an intimate couple. And Edna had a trauma with the man. Every three o'clock in the evening, when Uncle Jo was staying at Westfall residence, he always tried to sneak into her room since Edna was ten years old!
One day, his effort bore fruit. The man touched Edna with his disgusting hand. Luckily, Edna screamed her lungs out and her father arrived just in time, kicking Uncle Jo out of her room.
But what else could Marquess Westfall do? Just kicking Uncle Jo out of Edna's room was never enough. He was the brother of Marchioness Westfall. One of the most influential families in this kingdom.
Marquess Westfall was just someone who happened to be married to a woman with a title, so when the Marchioness allowed it, all Edna's father could do was cover his eyes, ears, and mouth.
Several times, Uncle Jo still tried to get into Edna's room. That was why she never slept every time Uncle Jo stayed over. She would stay awake until three in the morning because Uncle Jo would only attack her when she was sleeping. Once Edna was awake, the man would pretend to enter the wrong room, sleepwalking, or utter some other sickening reason.
"Has Lucy left yet?" asked Marchioness Westfall.
"Yes, Mother. Lucy has departed."
Edna hesitated to tell her mother that Marionette had been given sleeping pills by Lucy. She then shook her head. It would be better if she pretended not to know.
"Edna, take care of the bookkeeping this month. The harvest season will come soon. Increase the budget for herbs for next year as Jonathan will be starting his pharmaceutical business soon. I want the family to continue to support my family's other businesses and strengthen the pharmaceutical business in this kingdom."
"But mother, there is likely to be a famine next year. Father said that the budget would be used to build irrigation first."
"Tsk. What does your father know? Your father only knows that he went sailing for years and came back with an illegitimate child. This is a family business. If this business succeeds, then who will be benefited the most? Of course, you and your father will benefit too," replied Marchioness Westfall, making Edna instantly purse her lips.
"Alright, Mother. I understand," said Edna.
Edna was just about to do the task from her stepmother when she heard quick footsteps coming towards her. A girl bumped into her and suddenly grabbed her by the collar. The girl shook Edna's body, causing the previous dizziness Edna felt to rush back at once.
"EDNAAA! How dare you not wake me up! Are you stupid? Tonight is Mr. Fredrikson's party! You let Lucy go alone! You wench!"
"Marionette? What's going on?" asked Marchioness Westfall.
Marionette, who realized her mother's presence immediately turned around and then whined. Marchioness Westfall gestured to Edna to leave them immediately. Seeing it, Edna rushed away from there.
***
Edna finally regained her composure after returning to the library. During that moment of silence, she tried to remember her strange dream again. A dream that often came when she was exhausted.
However, no matter how much Edna tried to remember who they were and what actually happened, a thick fog blanketed her vision, as though forbidding her to see what happened there.
One thing Edna believed in. In her dream, she felt a warmth that she had never felt before. The voices that spoke to her also sounded so gentle, and Edna felt so loved there.
"What am I thinking? That will never happen," Edna muttered bitterly.