The king sitting on his throne smiled at Sydnee. "Raise your head," he said. Sydnee raised her head while she maintained her gaze on the floor. She was taught not to meet the gaze of the king as a subject. "Your daughter is indeed a beauty.""Thank you, My King."Sydnee tried hard not to pursed her lips nor to look at the Duke who was standing beside her. She thought that the Duke did not let anyone know that he could talk, except for his confidante. But it turned out that the king knew that truth all this time.It was good that only the King and the eunuch by his side was present in the throne room excluding the two of them. At least the information that Duke Theodore could talk was still a secret. It was nice not to invite unneccessary trouble on the household. After some time, the king granted Sydnee a tutor for both etiquette and education. She lowered her head and thanked the king, although she was indignant with the tutor of etiquette. Did the king think that she still neede
"What did you say, Mom?" Catarina faced Lady Geneva and gaped her mouth in shock. "Did you just say that Dad would make this trash the heiress of the dukedom?!"Lady Geneva hushed Catarina. They were still inside the hall and the place was full of aristocrats and officials alike. It was the day that Duke Theodore would announce his heiress. The royals were also present. "Keep your voice down!" Lady Geneva sighed. "We can't stop your father in his decision. Let's just accept it dear, okay?" Lady Geneva coaxed and placed her hands in Catarina's shoulder."No!" Catarina broke away from the Lady's grasped. "I can't accept it! Mom, I was with Dad all these years! I studied how to become a good duchess, but... but that trash take my inheritance away!""Catarina!" Lady Geneva said and dragged the girl onto the corner where no one was around. "Just let this event go in peace. We can deal with Sydnee later, okay?"Looking into the resolute gaze of Lady Geneva, Catarina finally calmed down.
The moon was big and round. It shone so bright that the stars could not be seen in the night sky. The night breeze caressed her skin. Sydnee closed her eyes and smiled. The translucent moonlight shone on her blue dress and the tiny crystals shone when the moonlight touched them. In the middle of the night, Sydnee was like a fairy who descended into the world. It was the scene that Anthony saw after he followed the girl. He was glad that Sydnee was granted another title, but he was unhappy to see her dancing with men. He wanted to also dance with her, but he was being watched by both the crown prince and the second prince. He did not want to implicate Sydnee. His foot stopped a meter away from the shining girl under the moonlight. He drew a breathe and called out her name. "Sydnee."When she heard Anthony's voice, Sydnee opened her eyes and looked at the man standing before her in a daze. The moonlight shone on his suit and his eyes emitted a gentle brown light. She smiled and walk
The group of criminals who had ran away went inside a shabby inn. They were running like a madman without stopping for the fear that the guards would catch up with them.It was also the place that the group agreed to meet with the lider of the spies in that night. The assassin looked around and only the old woman who was busy playing with the abacus was present inside the inn. "Hey, old woman!" the assassin yelled. "Give us something to drink!"The old woman paused and brought out a tray of cold drinks from the bottom of the counter. "Here. Twenty cents."The assassin brought out twenty cents and distributed the cold drinks on to his companions. He then motioned the one who was near to the door to check outside. After a few minutes, the man came back and shook his head. The assassin grinned. Those slow royal guards could not catch up with them? Hah. What lame guards!They planned to spend the night inside the shabby inn. The group just sprawled on the floor, wearied by the things th
Three years later...Sydnee frowned when she saw Nikolai dressed like a hooligan. The small body was covered by a thin black silk that was a gift from the Crown Prince. After Anthony went back from the convention, he brought great news that the two kingdoms had decided to end the war and signed a bilateral agreement. It was all due to Anthony's strength in persuassion. The king then asked what Anthony wanted as a reward, and being a sly man, he asked the King to grant him Sydnee as his wife. In the same day, Sydnee received an edict about her marriage with Anthony. Duke Theodore was not as surprised as she was because the duke had a bet with Anthony, that if Anthony would bring good news from the convention, then the duke would not obstruct his plan to marry Sydnee.A year after she was married off to Anthony's household, Sydnee bore him a son who had a great resemblance with Anthony. This called for a celebration. Since then, when Nikolai would celebrate his birthday, the maids wo
Just like the wind, I was invisible. No one dare to get close to me. During recitation, I would volunteer myself to speak in front because teachers wouldn't choose me. For them, I was the last option. I had no friends. Of course, they wouldn't get along with a poor girl like me, because almost all students here in my school were born with a golden spoon in the mouth. I was the exception. The good thing of being alone? I could do what I want. I smiled while watching the little kitten ate my leftover fish in my lunchbox. Earlier, I didn't finish my lunch because I need to finish some projects. So when I got pass by here and saw the kitten, I just gave my leftover away. "We're the same," I whispered under my breath. "People don't want us." I heaved a sigh. I waited for almost ten minutes before the kitten finished my leftovers. "Good," I said before I put back my lunchbox inside my backpack. When I stood up, I saw the students nearby looking at me with ridiculous looks. Sometimes
My forehead creased. "This might be a misunderstanding. It's impossible for the kitten to die. We ate in the same lunchbox, yet I am still alive." I shook my head. "This is crazy."I tried to turn around to leave, but the man grabbed my wrist. "Wait," he calmly said.I looked at him. He stared deeply at me. "What?" I weakly asked."The kitten was poisoned."I nodded. "I guess it is food poisoning.""And I'm afraid that it is after you."My forehead creased even more at what he just said. "After me?"He nodded. "Be careful.""That's impossible." I desperately laughed, but I guess it sounded like a nervous laugh. "And who would be after my life?"I shook my head at the thought of someone who wanted me dead. I could not think of a reason why someone's after my life. Not only that, but I think that idea was impossible."You're talking nonsense." I coldly said and shoved away his hand that was holding my wrist. "I don't even know you, so stop making a ridiculous idea, will you?"He weakly s
My innocent and young mind did not know the reason why we stayed on the streets, or why dad was not with us. I just thought of the fascinating city lights. I even tried to chase after the cars if not of my mother who scolded me like that was her last night.Not only that, but I could see how angry she was at me. She blamed me for why we are staying on the street, and why dad was put to jail, and why our house was burned. She scolded me like there was no tomorrow. Furthermore, she spanked me hard, even slapped me in my both cheeks.I cried because of so much fear and pain.And in that one night, I saw how cruel the world was. And still up to the present, I could still experience the cruelty in both my school and in my own home.Home. Is it really... where the heart is?I took a step forward. I walked closer to the nipa hut and entered in. A few more steps and I could enter the small kitchen.And I saw mother. She was silently taking a sip on her small bowl of soup. "Take some soup," she