During my first week of torture, I ate breakfast under Lady Nort's supervision. She wanted to see if we still remember etiquette and further enlighten us on how to behave at a table. I haven't digested food in a week. Now that we don't need her anymore we would eat breakfast like humans.
We were invited for breakfast by Dan so I have dress pretty. I wore a purple dress with long sleeves. And before I forget to mention I have a newly found hatred for red and black, mostly roses. After throwing me on roses and Lily on lilies, I hate flowers as a whole. I can still feel the pain from the corset.
I took a seat on the far end of table, not that far but a chair away from the head of the table. I couldn't help noticing how long the table was for a small family. Lily came out shortly after me and sat opposite me, besides a sick looking lady. "Do you feel well today, mother?" I heard myself say. I say stuffs unconsciously sometimes, nothing weird. She must be Carmel. She smiled weakly and said,
"I am sorry I couldn't attend your coming of age ceremony." Lilyanne held her hand and saying,
"You don't have to be sorry, we just want you to feel better."
I remember now, she was the last string of humanity left in Rose. Carmel was the only one that cared about Rose, even when her father only saw her as tools for more power and cared for Lilyanne only. The only problem was that she was sick and couldn't overwrite the traumatizing experience of having a terrible parent. Carmel still tried to be there for Rose as best as she could, what can I say, red haired stick together, am I right? After the book kicks off and Rose starts scheming with Jupiter... I finally remember her name, she wouldn't do anything to hurt Lily until her mother dies.
In the book, the Percando family are a very powerful family that has power even over the emperor. They were said to hold power right from the founding of the country, which makes me wonder why they even need to marry Rose off to the royal family. Are they losing control? Or is it just greed?
Dan married Carmel because of her strong magic ability, that magic was passed into Raphael and Lily leaving Roseanne out. Raphael and Lilyanne are both blonde with emerald green eyes like their father, while Rose is just a photocopied version of her mother, which made her the least favorite. Dan has no affection towards Carmel at all but remained faithful for reasons best known to him.
Speaking of the devil, he walks in with an unwelcoming aura. Breakfast was served and everyone ate in silence, if you're not told you won't know that this is a family. I'm surprised that Lilyanne has a shortage of words, I guess I'm not the only one feeling exhausted from that ball yesterday.
"It's been a while since we all are together like this," Lily said smiling. Did I say shortage of words? "With brother always out and mother feeling unwell." Hey, read the room you dumb protagonist.
"That's right," Raphael said smiling. Sister complex!
After breakfast I stood up to leave already imagining my comfortable bed away from this awkward place.
"Sylphie, Roseanne, I have gifts for you two as congratulations on turning eighteen," Dan said. In real sense he just said, "Lily congrats, Rose good job now you can go get me more power." Two butlers walked in holding wrapped gifts and handed one to each of us. Lily squealed as she opened hers, I just stood there staring at mine and said,
"Thank you," with the best fake smile I could give.
"Open it," he ordered looking at me with a hard stare. I sat down and started unwrapping it when I heard,
"Wow, it's pretty." I look up and see Lily holding a necklace with an emerald pendant, is that gold? I unwrap mine and see a necklace with blue pendant and earrings of same design. It was blue like Rose's eye, I smiled for real this time. Well, of course mine is silver it just can't be gold. It's pretty though, that much I can accept.
"Thank you," I said. At least he was fair this time.
"You didn't have to, the present you gave me was enough," Lily said. Does this protagonist read minds? The moment a thought enters my head she counters it, it's funny. Dan smiled at her and it took everything in me for me to not barf. I noticed Carmel was looking at me and tried hard to hide the cringe.
"You have both been invited to Lord Green's ball that's in a few weeks. I have asked the seamstress to get you new dresses, wear that to the ball," he ordered and walked out with Raphael trailing behind. My smile died a long time ago leaving a weird feeling behind. That ball is the beginning of Rose's misery, Lily will be too engulfed in her male leads from that point that she didn't realize it when she became a bitch.
"Let me walk you to your room, mother," I offered.
"Oh, thanks," she said standing up. We both walked quietly to her room, and shut the door.
"Congratulations, Silver," she said the moment she sat on her bed. That's a real congratulations, I should be happy but for some reason hearing the name 'Silver' makes me sad and angry.
"Don't call me that," I said quietly.
"Come here, child," she said opening her arms. I walked closer and hugged her, I really needed that after everything that happened. I miss my mom so much, it's kind of comforting being in a mother's arms, but it just makes me miss my mom more. I should help the one I have here, I'll help Carmel, I'll save her. I don't want to see Carmel die, she's basically my mom.