Chapter 65 (2/2)

Lisbeth.

She was staring at me with an expression I had never seen before. She was looking at me like I was a monster.

I gave her a silver hairpin with a sapphire that matched her blue eyes. As she looked at me with an unpleasant expression, the hairpin shined ominously.

The girl’s world was always filled with bright hope. When growing up in her home, she was the center of her universe.

The Bonafit was a powerless family in Cransia, but it still ruled an entire colony. At least in Aeal, the Duke of Aeal and his family had absolute power.

Lisbeth was the only child. She, therefore, never experienced any hardship. She never lacked luxuries including silk clothes and priceless jewelry.

Everyone treated her like a treasure. She grew up like a spoiled princess.

Then she came to Cransia.

Here, the girl realized how small and insignificant her world and her life had been until then.

No one cared about her in this castle. She finally realized her father’s rank was meaningless and even lowly. She saw how her father had to grovel to many young noblemen.

Her mother, the Duchess, who ruled her home like a queen, also looked poor compared to the other noble ladies in Cransia.

Then, she met him for the first time. It was at a party and she was wandering around like an outcast. Her dress, which her mother prepared herself, looked old-fashioned compared to the other young ladies’ outfits. No one seemed to want to talk to her.

Then he walked in. He looked like the prince from a fairy tale. Everyone turned to him with admiration. She heard someone whisper.

“Prince Lucretius, the heir to the throne…”

Lucretius.

The girl already knew this name. Ever since she was a little girl, her parents told her he would be her husband.

Lucretius le Cransia.

The future emperor of Cransia.

Based on the old contract between Cransia and its colony, Aeal, she was to marry him when she was older. She knew the name, but she didn’t know how beautiful he was until then.

Her father took her hand and walked towards the prince. Her heart beat fast and she blushed.

Lucretius was the first guy she ever danced with. It wasn’t that he only danced with her that night, but it was magical enough for the little girl to fall in love with him.

From then on, the girl counted the days until she became his wife.

As she became older, the girl learned the sad news that, as the emperor, Lucretius would have many wives. When she realized she wouldn’t be his only wife, she cried.

However, her parents consoled her that she would be the most beloved of all his wives. The girl finally accepted the reality of her situation and tried her best to learn the proper manners necessary to become the emperor’s wife.

The girl tried her hardest, but it was too hard. She was no good at all. Her mother hugged her and said she was lovely and beautiful, so it would be alright.

Then when the girl turned thirteen, horrible news arrived. Instead of marrying the prince, the girl was ordered to become the old emperor’s concubine. Her parents were furious, and the girl cried every day, but there was nothing that could be done. Aeal was powerless against Cransia.

They postponed the wedding date with an excuse for the girl’s young age.

Then one day, her father came back from his hunt with a black-haired girl. She looked a few years older than her and had an unusual skin and hair.

The strange girl said her name was Sa Bina. Bina had similar hair color as her father. Her mother, at first, hated it because she suspected the Duke had an affair and Bina was his bastard daughter.

However, Sa Bina couldn’t speak their language and other than her hair, she looked very different from the Duke. The Duchess had no choice but to accept that Bina wasn’t the Duke’s daughter.

Her mother still didn’t like Bina even after the Duke decided to send Bina instead of his own daughter to become the emperor’s concubine.

No matter what her mother said, to Lisbeth, Bina was a godsend. Lisbeth didn’t want to marry the old emperor and finally, her arrival saved her!

At first, Sa Bina didn’t know anything. Lisbeth tried her best to be kind to her. Bina would be sent instead of her and although the Duke said Bina owed them for her life, Lisbeth still felt guilty.

In less than a year, Sa Bina learned their language as well as the necessary etiquette to become the emperor’s wife. Lisbeth felt bad as Bina accomplished what she failed to do in three years. However, Lisbeth was prettier, and Bina would be forced into marrying an ugly old man, so Lisbeth felt better.

Besides, Lisbeth would marry the handsome prince.

Of course, Lisbeth later learned things didn’t happen as she expected.