Chapter 2

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1995, step-grandma death day

" Finally, she died! After a week giving her poison, The wealth is all ours!"

I can hear Duke Rasyl cheering for her death. If only I can smack his head. Duchess Raffle's action is similar. Both of them were blind in everything. They were smart but they don't use that blessing well. I walk away and holding back my tears. Why won't they care for her?

They won't let me go to grandma's funeral. I still remember how I spoke to her yesterday.

~~a day before

"Lily, why won't you get inside? Come in,"

She invited me with that gentle smile. I walk to her and hug her. In this house, only this old lady can call me Lily.

I feel disgusted if others say my name with that cruel mouth of theirs, so they call me by my second name, Railda.

"Are you still feeling sick?"

She shook her head. Liar. But rather than spouting nonsense and tell her to take care of herself, just let me take care of her by myself. I desire those who are dear to me the most.

I hold her hand. Her hands are cold and thin, almost like a stick. Of course, I will still say she looks pretty all the time.

"Lily, I want to hear you call me grandma,"

I stay quiet. Family? I can't accept her that easily.

"Call me grandma, please?"

In the end, I get out of her room and didn't bother to look at her face. Why? Why is she that kind to me? I will call her grandma soon. Soon...

"Grandma...grandma..."

If only I called her this on the day she was still with me. Won't she feel better during the pain she was enduring all night? It is pointless if I say that now. She is gone.

I am sorry.

\----A MONTH AFTER HER DEATH----

They treat me like scrap. I am honestly, hurt by that attitude of theirs. I may not show my emotions, but I have feelings. They won't talk to me, and Rose was taking the 'joke' too far.

"Miss, you can go down and eat,"

A maid knocked on the door. Eat? Oh, you mean, their leftovers?

"I don't have the appetite,"

I said my same answer. I usually eat three times a week. Only now do I realize that how typical my hands with grandma's hands.

"Duke Rasyl, Duchess Raffle, and Miss Rose are waiting for you, young miss,"

What? I quickly open the door and walk down the stairs. Not because of excitement, but fear. When I arrived, I look at an empty seat beside Rose. Should I sit on it?

"Sit beside Rose, Railda,"

I nod my head. I sit properly beside her and look down. The table is empty, they don't have the initiative to give me food, anyway.

"Soon, we will go to the palace,"

And they are thinking to bring me there? Oh yeah, I forget. This family act as they treat me nicely in front of others. I guess it will be strange if they don't bring me to the palace.

I nod my head. What else should I do, smiling? That is what an abnormal person would do.

"You will be learning etiquette, you are a woman after all,"

Again, I nod my head.

"Learn it properly! Walk with confidence! Make sure you looked elegant,"

I.Love.Learning.But.Sometimes.The.One.Who. Teaches.Me.Have.Quite.A.Problem.

I was trying to do the same thing as she did, but I guess it is kinda hard. I learn it and do it over and over again. I was so hungry and tired that I ate every breakfast and lunch for a week straight. Of course, their leftovers.

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I get off from the carriage. It has been a long time since I ride one. The first time was when grandma took me to the family's house.

The second time was when she took me to a place where I will be accepted as an adopted daughter by law. I guess this is the third time?

I walk beside Rose. My cloth is pink colored, yuck. Since when they give me such type of clothes? Meanwhile, Rose doesn't wear the types of clothes that she liked. She wears a cloth that hides her childish and hypocritical side, white.

The palace is huge. I mean, the size is terrific. I would love to be the king if I can.

I want to put my hands in my pockets, thus I realized that the pink dress doesn't have a pocket. Old habit. I walk in fake confidence that my teacher taught me, I think I am doing precisely like her.

All of the maids bow down since Duke Rasyl has a strong background. Part of the reason why I do not like him is, he doesn't bow down back, neither do Rose and Duchess Raffle. I guess that was how my ego looked like.

I wish I can bow down back to them, but I guess I can't, even I can't do anything I want right now, even only to pronounce a single phrase.

I am like a marionette.

As soon as I arrived, I saw the king enjoying his tea time. Another arrogant rich guy. All of us bow down our heads, so do the Duke and the Duchess.

Women's etiquette and men's are different. Men will bow their heads and put their hands on their chest, while women will greet the king by bow down from head to waist.

"Greetings to the glory of the empire, King Stephan,"

"You may rise,"

All of us back to our original position. Rose is smiling strangely, what is the reason? It is frightening, I don't think I like it.

"Ahh... It is Duke Rasyl's family. I have heard about your loss,"

The King looks kinda cool, though.

"I am honored that your majesty knows about the occurrence,"

Yeah, you poisoned her. Of course, there is no more than an honored thing than that.

"Hahaha, don't be. Please have a seat to talk about the marriage,"

Marriage?! Rose is going to get married? With who? Duke Rasyl sit down, so do the duchess, Rose, and me.

"The crown prince will be well-known about this marriage with Rose soon. Of course, only if I approve of the marriage. So, how do I make sure if you want the crown prince as an in-law for real or you just want my prosperity?"

Even if I don't look at the duke and the duchess's face, even I can know they are guilty.

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