I remembered that night. That pouring raining bight. The rain continuing It started to fall just after I found out my fiancé, David, and my sister, Rebecca, was in bed together - naked.My heart shattered into pieces to see my future husband and my very own sister together. David and I have known each other since we were kids. I've been in love with him since the first time I fell off the tree, and he saved me. All the happy memories that we shared were shattered like broken glass. Each precious memories from our childhood to lovers were all lies. I'm partially to blame since I've been working and helping him with his business. I've spent all my time and money to help him and support him from one failed company to another, and not once did I complain. But suddenly, he successfully opened a restaurant with the help of my younger sister. She works in a bank that helped start David's restaurant. I was thankful for her help, but every day Rebecca visits David while I'm not around. I
As we continue to travel down the road during the night and leave the snowy mountains where my castle resides. I close my eyes to rest but never expect to recall Alice Von Rozen's memory. Being an illegitimate of a duke and a lowly maid became a target of bullying and mistreatment. I never received the same treatment as my sister and older brother, Julian, who are both legitimate of the Duke and his wife, Lavender. I was treated below the social status of servants. In this Alice's memories, she was weak and timid, easy to get picked on by others. The maids and servants around Rozen's estate treated her like an insect. Easily disgusted and hated, and easy to stomp on. The only person who treated her nicely was her grandfather, Cornelius Von Rozen. A decorative war hero who fought during the war many years ago against the monsters. He was given the title of a duke after the war was over given by the king. The Rozen family are a long lines of warriors, born to fight in the war and hav
"My lady, we've arrived." I opened my eyes after hearing Zayn's voice waking me up once the carriage stops. Blinking my drowsy eyes and yawning to stretch out my arms and stiff neck. I didn't realize I slept until a blanket was over me. Knowing the only person who's inside the carriage with me. I smile. Zayn steps out first as the sun is bright outside making my eyes blind. He extend his hand as I took it with his help in getting out. Took one step as my heels stepped on the ground. The first thing that caught my attention was the golden gate and the Rozen family sigil. "Miss Alice?" I blink my eyes and look at Zayn. "Let's go." I approached the gold gates as two guards stand in front. Once they spot me walking toward them, they were on high alert. "Excuse me, Miss, state your business?" The guard on the left asked with a little hostile tone. It's been five years and most of the servants here have never seen my face so I don't blame the guard to express that way to a stran
"Please, right this way," Francis ushered me to my grandfather's study room. It's been a long time since I stood in front of these large doors. I remembered looking up at my short child's body. My neck would be stiff sometimes. Coming all the way here, nothing has changed here Francis knocked on the door twice and announced my arrival. "Grand Duke. Lady Evangeline has arrived," he opened the door. "Please." I nodded my head as Zayn, and I entered the room. Francis bows and closes the door. I stood frozen as the man with a strong aura of authority was right in front of me. The person who may seem cold on the outside, but I've seen him smile beneath that poker face expression with a long scar across his right eye. Cornelius Von Rozen. One of the four powerful dukes of Withhold. Four dukes serve and protect the kingdom. The Von Cornelius decorative war hero is also called the Black Knight. He was ruthless against his enemies and never showed any mercy. You must run whenever enemies
How can this woman look like me? Every detail, from her face to her ruby red hair color except for the eyes other than that I'm like a splitting image of her. It's like seeing through a mirror, like a portrait of me that has never hung on the walls of this estate. "Who is she?" I asked as look up at the old man. "Seraphina Eckhart, Whitheld's strongest archmage, head of the Magic Tower, and your grandmother.""What?" My whole body cringed and froze at this sudden outcome. "My grandmother? But my father is her son if she's my grandmother?"Grandfather shakes his head. "No." He says firmly. "You are your father's daughter. Your mother, I did not know she was Seraphina's daughter."Did not know? If Seraphina is an archmage for this kingdom, a powerful one to be recognized, then why did her daughter, my mother, become a maid for the Rosen family? Being an archmage is one of the achievements in the world. Some people possess magic given by dragons. It said in ancient times, those who d
The feeling of the warm bath water washes away the dirty skin off me. After the talk with Cornelius, Francis ushered me to my room. It was late, and everyone was asleep. Grandfather wanted to surprise me on his birthday in front of everyone. The reaction is what I'm anticipating, especially Rebecca. As I bathed, I closed my eyes and recalled the stories about my grandmother, Seraphina, the Archmage of Whithold. Grandfather continue to reminisce about their childhood together. Sera wasn't a beauty, as my Grandfather told me. She had a boyish look and always got into fights with other kids. Grandfather would be her older brother and protect her. As many years went by, their friendship grew, even their appearances changed, and Cornelius fell in love with Sera. But before Cornelius could confess to Sera, his brother made it difficult and made my grandmother leave the Rozen estate to become the most powerful mage. Sera's reputation was known 50 years ago till this day. Her sacrifice s
I let out a quick yawn as I have four maids to get me ready for the birthday party tonight. I slept late reading Sera's journal filled with entries about her daily life and information involving magic. It is a thick book, and I haven't finished it. I fell asleep with the journal on my chest. I continued to read after waking up and then took a nap. Since I couldn't leave the room without my family noticing me, they wouldn't want a woman in a white gown walking down the hallway like a wondering ghost. I mean, I won't mind and haunt them, but I'm too lazy to call Prisca maybe to give them a scare. I know she would love to pull on pranks. That would be a grand sight to see. But I don't want to bring any more of my people here and scare off the guest. People wouldn't like me to get monsters to attend the party. Thinking of my friends made me miss home, and I wanted to get this done and over with. I yawned again. "My lady, would you like a cup of tea?" One maid, Lucy offered. I reac
I inhaled slowly and was a bit nervous as I squeezed my hand. A warm hand is placed over mine as I glance at Grandpa. "Relax," he says and reaches to touch my face. "You will ruin your makeup."I softly giggle. "It's normal for me to be nervous, Grandpa. After all, it's been a while since people have seen my face."His hand over mine clenched. "Alice, whoever tried to kill you five years ago, let me handle this case."I closed my eyes and then opened them. I know Cornelius was furious to learn about the assassination attempt. I'm glad he wants to track down the villain who killed me, but he doesn't know what the killer is, none other than his other granddaughter. If Grandpa knew his blood was the culprit, family punishment would be more severe than servants. The rule in this family is never to hurt any family members, including death. Rebecca knew the rules, yet she still killed this Alice. But now I've taken over this body. Once she sees her older half-sister alive and well, it wi