The sun shone brightly over the Brightmore Estate. It was a dull mansion whose walls looked completely faded.Cracks ran across its outer walls, many of them patched over recently. The garden was brownish-green, with untrimmed bushes growing wildly along the pathways.
The estate looked worn but it was still lively.
A woman wearing wornout maroon dress chased after a small girl with untied hair and a pink dress. She was running holding a comb in her hands.
"Selena !! Don't run while wearing that dress!" She calls out. "You'll fall selena!" The young girl only giggled and ran faster.
She rushed into a shabby room. Faded marks covered the walls where old paintings had once hung. The desk was cluttered with papers, reports, and documents. Behind the desk sat a tired man with heavy dark circles beneath his eyes. The room was fiilled with coffee musk .
It was the study of Marquess Adrian Brightmore.
Adrian Brightmore stared silently at the papers before him while sipping on dark coffee.
He sighed while gripping his head.
He was so focused on the documents that he did not notice the little girl standing beside him.
"Daddy."
The girl tugged on his sleeve. Adrian blinked before looking down.The moment he saw his daughter, his tired expression changed completely. A warm smile appeared on his face. For a moment, he looked ten years younger.
"Selena," he said softly. "You look beautiful."
The little girl smiled brightly "Daddy, do I look pretty?" Adrian gently lifted her onto his lap "You are the most beautiful girl in the world."
Saying that he kissed her temple.Selena happily kissed his cheek in return. Sabrina looking at this daughter father bond felt jealou and happy .
Then selena suddenly asked "Daddy, can you do my hair?"Adrian sighed lightly "Selena honey , can your mom do your hair this time? Dad is busy."
Selena pouted.
"Please, Daddy ,You make my hair very pretty." Figiting her dress she adds " I want to look the prettiest at the party."
Sabina adds while kneeling to the level of selena ."selena , your dad is busy okay . He has to work so he can buy you lots of toys"
Selena still has a pout "but but i dont want toys i want daddy to do my hair"
Adrian looked at her pleading expression before finally laughing"Alright Go to the dressing room. I'll come soon and i will make you preety "
Selena immediately jumped down and ran toward the dressing room. "Careful, Selena!" Adrian called out. "Don't run!"
Sabrina follows her saying "Adrian stop enabling her"
Selena giggled as she disappeared down the hallway.
Adrian slowly gathered the papers on his desk and placed them carefully into a leather bag.
He looked at the documents for a long moment.
Then he quietly closed the bag. Whatever was written inside it seemed important enough to make his hands tremble slightly.
He stood up and walked toward the dressing room where Selena was waiting.
________________________________________
The Brightmore carriage stopped before the Valden Mansion. Adrian stepped out first. He wore a worn-out formal suit, a leather bag hanging from his shoulder, and carried a bouquet of flowers in his hands.
Beside him stood a woman in her thirties carrying Selena.Selena stared at the mansion in awe.
The Valden Mansion was decorated beautifully.Lights covered the garden.The entrance was filled with expensive decorations.Nobles from across the capital had gathered for the celebration.
Adrian suddenly felt self-conscious about his clothing. "Honey," the woman beside him whispered. "I feel out of place here. Are you sure we should attend?"
Adrian looked toward her. "We have no choice," he replied quietly "This may be our only chance."
The three slowly entered the mansion.The party was being held in the garden. Tables were filled with refreshments, exotic food, wine, and desserts.
Adrian had only seen such food from a distance. For a moment, he wanted to taste some. But he restrained himself.His family came first.
"Sabrina," Adrian said quietly handing her bouquet "Take Selena and get something to eat. I'll find the Duke."
Before she could respond, Adrian quickly walked toward Ronan after spotting him among the nobles.
Selena looked around excitedly .It was her first time seeing so many elegantly dressed people. Then her eyes landed on a chubby boy sitting near a pile of gifts.He was opening presents one by one.
The first gift was a wooden sword with beautiful engravings. The boy looked at it for a moment before casually placing it aside as if he was not interested in it.
Then he opened a toy snow wolf.His eyes immediately brightened. He began playing with it by himself.
Selena pointed toward him. "Mom, is he the birthday boy?"
Sabrina looked toward the boy."Yes, dear That is Aarav Valden.Do you want to wish him?"
Selena nodded eagerly. Sabrina led her toward Aarav."Happy birthday to you…"
Selena paused as she looked around. She forgot his name . Sabrina looked embaressed. Then selena noticed his name written on the cake.
"Aarav!....Happy birthday, ....Aarav Valden!"
Aarav looked up with a blank expression.
Then he gave a small bow. Sabrina handed him the bouquet.
Aarav placed it on top of the pile of gifts before returning to his toy snow wolf.
Sabrina turned to leave.
But Selena noticed the wooden sword lying beside Aarav "Can I see the sword?" she asked innocently. Aarav looked surprised noddding slowly .
Selena excitedly picked it up. Sabrina was about to stop her.But Aarav quickly spoke.
"It's alright." Selena smiled "Thank you."
Aarav scratched the back of his head awkwardly before adding "Do you like swords?"
Selena swung the wooden sword carefully.
"Yes! I love swords.When I grow up, I'm going to become an army captain!"
Aarav smiled faintly "Yes , yes you will."
For a moment, the two children remained silent. Then Aarav quietly asked,
"Hey…I'm bored.Do you want to play tag in the garden?"
Selena's eyes immediately brightened."I'm the master of tag! .Yes! Let's play!"
The two children ran into the garden. Sabrina smiles and gors back to sit on the chairs leaving the kids to play.
For the rest of the evening, Selena and Aarav played together beneath the warm sunset.
Eventually, the party came to an end.
Carriages slowly began leaving the Valden Mansion. Soon, only one carriage remained.The Brightmore carriage.
The sky was unusually dark .
Aarav guided Selena toward the mansion while they waited. Inside the mansion stood four large figures.Selena froze.Their faces were hidden beneath the shadows.
But their voices echoed clearly through the hallway.
"SeLenAaa AaRav is YoUr fiAnCé.You wILl mAke tHe BRightMoRe faMilY PrOud.TheY wiLL taKE cAre of Us.
Selena's small hands trembled seeing the figures . She slowly stepped backward.
Then suddenly a large figure appeared before her. A chubby boy stood in the darkness. But he was no longer the innocent child from the garden.
His face looked older and angrier.
"Why is it that bastard, Selena? Tell me.Why won't you love me?Look at me . Will you fu*king look at me if I kill him."
Selena began crying. She turned around and ran. Then suddenly she stumbled.
The floor beneath her feet disappeared.She fell into a pool of blood.At the center of the pool lay Lucian.His body was covered in wounds.
"Selena…You're the reason I'm going to die. Why did you team up with meee."
Selena slowly looked down. Her hands had grown older and they were covered in blood.
"AAAAAAAAAA!"
Selena woke up screaming.Her pajamas were soaked with sweat.Several maids rushed into her room.
The room was completely different from the Brightmore Estate she remembered as a child.The cracked walls were gone.The faded curtains had been replaced with silk.
New paintings decorated the walls.
Even the old wooden floor had been replaced with marble.
The Brightmore Estate was no longer poor.
But Selena had never felt more trapped inside it.
"Mistress! Are you alright?"Selena rubbed her forehead."Yes I'm fine.Just hand me a cloth and prepare my bath. I need to leave early."
The maids quickly bowed. Selena looked toward the mirror while wiping her sweat.
"So it was just a dream…" Her eyes fall on a polished sword rack stood near the window. It had many steel swords but at the end there was just a wooden hilt of the sword . The blade was broken . She turns her eyes away from it in disguist . She walked into the bathroom.
The room was filled with the fragrance of lavender oil. Selena sheds her pajamas before stepping into the warm bath.
The maids carefully washed her hair and prepared her for the academy.
Later, Selena wore her academy uniform.
As she passed her father's study, she paused near the door.
"Father , I'm leaving for the academy."
Adrian looked up from his documents.
"Alright, Selena."
Selena hesitated."Father…Are you free this evening?"Adrian blinked slightly."Yes, why?"
Selena looked down while adjusting her uniform."Nothing I just want to talk." Adrian smiled gently "I'm free now too .You can talk to me now."
Selena avoided his eyesI'm late for the acadmmy ,I need to leave."
Without waiting for a reply, she walked away.
Adrian watched her leave. The smile slowly disappeared from his face.
________________________________________
The academy was packed with students. Carriages stopped near the main gate as noble children stepped down and entered the academy grounds.
Selena arrived quietly.She walked straight ahead without looking back.Then she turned toward a smaller side gate.The gate used by the commoners.
Selena waited near the gate.After a few moments "Selena!" Lucian waved as he approached.Selena, who had looked serious until then, smiled softly.
"Hi, Lucian. Come on. Class is about to start." As they walked together, Selena nervously adjusted her hair "Did you do your homework, Lucian?"
Lucian froze"Homework?"
Selena stared at him "Don't tell me you forgot Ptincipal Aldron gave us homework on magic chants yesterday in special class"
Lucian's face turned pale.
"Can you give me your homework? I'll copy it quickly."Selena sighed"Fine ,here you go ."
She handed him her notes.The two sat down at a table in the cafeteria. Lucian began copying the homework as quickly as possible.
Selena watched him for a moment. Despite everything she had dreamed about earlier the fear ,guilt and anger . Seeing Lucian panic over homework made her smile.
"Tell me if you need help with anything," Selena said softly.
Lucian shook his head.
"It's alright. I'll manage."
Selena giggled quietly as Lucian desperately copied her notes.She lifted her coffee and took a small sip. Then she looked up.Her smile disappeared.
Two familiar figures stood near the academy entrance and was escortted by her homeroom teacher .
Duke Ronan Valden and his knight, Cassian.
A cold feeling rose inside Selena's chest.
Anger.
Sorrow.
Guilt.
All of it returned at once. She subtly moved behind Lucian. Then quickly stood up "Lucian, Come on . We're getting late."
Lucian looked up in confusion "But I'm not done copying We'll finish it later."
Selena quickly began walking toward the classroom. Lucian hurried after her, still holding the notes.