Chapter 2 The Return

[Demesne Empire, 456 Century, Winter]

*klack *klack *klack

A pair of high heels, a red dress, and her blonde hair fell on her back.

Ophelia Abellone strolled across a corridor of the Abellone Family House. Snow fell on the outside part of the window in that shady room. Despite the cold, Ophelia, with her long red satin dress, arrived at the end of the corridor.

In front of her was a huge door, and she could hear chatter from behind it.

(How can we trust this empire to such a young-should I say, GIRL!)

Ophelia smiled upon hearing that sentence.

"This empire will definitely come to its end if we let that stupid girl-"

"Are you done talking about me, Duke Alamos?" Ophelia crossed her arms, standing behind the old man with a cold stare in her eyes. She walked past the dukes, and with only a slight glance from her, all the men inside the room looked away.

The Abellone Family was one of the duke families that ruled the Demesne Empire. This plutocratic kingdom had stood for years in the hands of the Abellone Family. But tragedy struck.

In the past 10 years, the Demesne Empire's throne was left empty due to the death of all members of the Abellone Family. Fire was the main cause of it. But some people at the time were skeptical.

Some said that the family was trying to shirk their duty. Others said the Abellones were fighting among themselves to protect their family inheritance. There were also claims that they were murdered.

The kingdom fell into chaos, corruption, and an epidemic. Poverty led some to revolt against the dukes, and many children died from illness. This continued for 10 years before Ophelia Abellone showed up, claiming herself to be the rightful heiress of the Demesne Empire.

"Pardon me for my tardiness. I was looking around for this room. It's quite fascinating that this house was rebuilt, but not in the same way as I remembered..."

Silence.

The woman smiled as she sat on the chair. "I thought that maybe ANYBODY would come and welcome me... BUT, apparently not... So, aside from that, shall we start this meeting?"

Ophelia began by saying, "As you might know, the Abellones had ruled this kingdom for

years. Thanks to all my great-grandparents, and also my parents who died in the fire..."

"Luckily, I survived..."

. . .

[10 years ago]

"Perfections, Ophelia! Perfection!!!!" said the old lady to young Ophelia.

Young Ophelia, with books stacked upon her head, walked on a thin piece of wood, wearing heels. The 12-year-old girl's eyes were red and puffy. She stopped walking and glanced at the old lady.

"Grandmama, please, my head hurts..."

*slash

"You know what would happen if you're tired now, don't you, Ophelia?" Madame Abellone, Ophelia's grandmother, slashed a long, thin wooden stick on her hand.

"Repeat! And remember, perfection!"

After hearing what her grandmother said, Ophelia shuddered as tears streamed down her cheeks.

This harsh training method has been enforced since the Abellone family first ruled the empire.

Madame Abellone was known for her grace and perfection, becoming the duchess of Demesne at the time. But after her husband died, she gave the throne to her son, Lucas

Abellone.

She had high standards for a duchess; well, look at her. She even trained Ophelia's mother, who was the daughter of an earl, which she considered 'not royal.'

When Ophelia was born, Madame Abellone already had her training planned. After Ophelia reached that age, she was transferred to her grandmother's house, only to cry

every single night before bed.

Young Ophelia often sneaked into the woods near her grandmother's house for some fresh air. She often went in the middle of the night after everybody was asleep.

She prayed on a huge tablet stone, hoping to escape the hell she'd been living in.

A big wish came with big consequences.

One day, when she was training, a guard came in a hurry, knocking on Madame Abellone's door.

"For God's sake, could you please behave normally?!" she cursed at the guard's attitude.

"My apologies, madame, but this is urgent..."

<...>

The old lady's eyes went wide, and she fell onto the ground after hearing her son's name along with the news of his death.

Young Ophelia's body froze; she blinked a few times as tears streamed down her cheeks.

----

to be continued.