CHAPTER 2

A FEW DAYS HAVE passed since that incident at the lake, and some things have changed, like my family's treatment towards me.

"My lady, his grace requested your presence in the dining room. He asked for you to join them for breakfast," the butler informed me. This was the fourth time I was invited to join their meal.

Marina was in the middle of applying light make-up on my face when the head butler, Caesar, barged into my room. He was a man in his mid-40s, almost the same age as my father.

He had always been this disrespectful towards me, and normally I would just let it pass. However, things have changed. I'm already old enough to be called a lady, and my body has changed as well. They should know their place by now.

"Caesar," I called him, looking at him from the huge mirror in front of me. "You shouldn't barge in a lady's room like that. You might be reported as a pervert if someone had seen you doing that," I continued and turned to face him. Caesar kept his head low, and I smiled as I noticed his hand trembling from my words.

I don't expect them to respect me as a human anymore, but they need to learn how to at least respect my personal space. "Kindly knock and wait for my approval before you enter my room from now on, so we can avoid any indecent situation," I added as I stood in front of him.

"I understand, my lady," his voice was low, but I could sense the embarrassment lingering in it.

"Great."

Once Marina was done with my hair, I quickly went out of my room, ignoring both Marina and Caesar's insistence of changing into a different dress.

We're only eating breakfast anyway, what's the fuss about wearing a much more formal dress than this indoor dress?

Back then, they wouldn't even wait for me before they started with their meal, and now the duke, my father, personally requested my presence.

"I apologize for my tardiness, your grace," I greeted, bowing to them as soon as I entered the dining area.

"Take a seat," the duke said, pointing at the seat on his right. I sighed inwardly. On his left were my brothers, glaring openly at me.

I was a little happy that I managed to hide the disgust on my face, knowing that I'd be sitting face-to-face with these trash-like bastards.

I kept my gaze low as I took my seat where I was told to. I didn't want to meet their eyes, it would drain my mind having to deal with their impertinent behavior. To think that I was begging my entire life to be loved by these fools. The thought infuriates me so much.

"How is your health?"

Surely, the duke himself would ask the people in his estate about their health. I remembered him asking the gardener once when he was caught up in an accident. He must be doing the same thing to me.

"I've been well, your grace, thanks to your concern." I lifted my head and smiled at him. I should at least reward you with a smile, right? This is payment since he's been letting me have my own budget ever since I was young.

"Shouldn't you address your father properly?" Eclipse commented, emphasizing the correct way to address the duke.

I smiled at him. "I believe we're past that cringe-worthy pet names. And besides, didn't his grace and the young masters dislike to be addressed that way?"

Hah. I might get a stomachache because of this nasty atmosphere.

I didn't notice the change of expressions they had after I said those words. I was too busy admiring the marble plate in front of me. The room fell silent as we started to eat. That's great, I was hoping to enjoy real food after that exhausting rest I had.

I was so immersed with the food that I didn't notice the smile forming on my face. I really love the taste of meat, but I won't eat these veggies. I should put them on the side of my plate, so I could enjoy my precious meat.

I'm a simple person. Meat makes me happy.

"Is the food to your liking? You seemed to be enjoying them. Would you like some more?" The duke asked. He had been doing this since we started dining together, and honestly, it's getting harder and harder to refuse him.

I smiled at him again after taking a sip of my grape juice. "Yes, your grace. The meat is delicious. However, I cannot eat any more than this. I am planning on taking a nice, long walk today, so I need to eat in moderation."

The duke looked a little disappointed for some reason when I rejected his food offer. And on the other side of the dining table, the two dirtbags seemed surprised with my schedule for today. An overreaction, I would say. They should stop doing that.

"You just recovered your strength a few days ago, and you're already planning to exhaust your body?" Eclipse said.

"Do you really want to die, huh? You should have said so! I wouldn't have saved you back then if I knew that." Caspian clicked his tongue at his side comment.

"Enough. We're in front of the food," the duke interjected.

I scoffed. Hah. Look at these jerks. I placed my utensils on the side of my plate and grabbed the napkin to wipe my lips off with the grease.

"If it wasn't too obvious to you, young master, that was exactly my intention. I would've been grateful if you had let me die back then," I uttered, a mocking smile painted on my face. I glanced at the duke. "I'll be leaving now, your grace. I apologize for my insolence, and for unintentionally ruining your breakfast."

I stood up and bowed at the duke. I didn't want to make a fuss even more, so I quickly left the dining room. I really despise those fools.

I SIGHED AS I SAT under the shade of the huge chestnut tree. I've always felt that the tree seemed old because of the energy residing in it. I usually visit this place whenever I'd feel sad, and I'll talk to myself as if the tree was also listening to me.

I didn't bother changing my dress, like what Marina suggested, and just took my book, my notebook, and my quill with me. I had had these since I was young, the humble gifts given to me by my late mother. She said that I should learn to control my abilities by myself, and not tell anyone about it.

As far as I can recall, my mother has a frail body and we originally lived in a small house in the forest. She was the one who taught me all about the basic education a normal human should know, like the empire's official language, a few languages from the other continents and countries, philosophy, and most importantly, basic things about magic.

She told me how the world was cruel, and that people will take advantage of me if they ever find out about my knowledge and my ability. So, she wished for me to hide it and only to wield it when I reach the age where I can protect myself. And I guess that's right now.

Another sigh escaped my lips as I looked at the manor in front of me. The Eveningstar estate is huge, but I wouldn't compare it to the Eveningstar dukedom on the east. I've only visited that place twice when I was young, and I really love it there.

Currently, we are in the Abyssian Empire's capital, Clorence City, where the emperor resides. The Abyssian Empire is a powerful place filled with magical bloodlines living here. And the most annoyingly powerful people in this empire are the four founding houses. They have specific abilities or powers that most certainly protect this empire.

The House of Celesté, the direct bloodline of the emperors of the Abyssian Empire. It was said that the first emperor drank the blood of the God Celestia, which is why they became the direct descendants from the Gods and received divine blessings.

The underdogs of the empire, House of Eveningstar, are said to be the opposite of the great imperial bloodline because they took the blood of the Dark Lord to gain the power to protect the empire from any harm.

On the other hand, the other two founding houses are known for their magical abilities and swordmaster skills.

The wise shield of the empire, House of Morningsun, wields a great power of magic and their family had been the empire's prime minister since its founding.

And lastly, the empire's sword, House of Moonfleur, where great swordsmen are born. It has been a part of their family rituals that the Moonfleur's family head is chosen by the next emperor. Their main purpose: to serve the imperial family and become the emperor's shield.

Not that I'm interested in them, I just had to read that 'Great Family Tree of Nobility' book when Caesar punished me before. It was boring, but it was fun looking at the ugly faces of this empire's ancestral lineage.

What I liked to study was philosophy and magic. I've read a couple of philosophy books from different philosophers. And I really liked Plato's 'Republic' and Aristotle's 'Nicomachean Ethics'.

They were like a story book to me that I always read at night before going to sleep. Well, until I've discovered the magic books section in the estate's family library.

I wasn't sure if I was allowed to read those books, so I often sneak into the library and hide in the corner to read them. The most memorable ones I've read so far was the 'Art of Magic', the book that has a lot of volumes.

And an interesting book called 'Summoning 101: A Book for Beginners'. I had thought that it would be like a child's play book, but I was wrong. It has more basic explanations about summoning, though it won't beat my mother's book.

After I was done reminiscing, I placed my mother's book on my lap and opened it. I'll just reread the basics of summoning and try it out later tonight. With the mana flowing in my body, I'm fairly sure that it will be enough to summon a spirit or a mystical beast.

"So, in order to summon a spirit or a mystical beast I'll need to carve a summoning circle, pour enough mana potion for the carved circle, a drop of my blood for the pact, and the right incantation to chant. Sounds easy, huh?" I whispered to myself as my index finger traced the instruction in the book.

"And I'll need to go to the market for this. Then I shall do this tomorrow night, I'll practice something else in the meantime. Something useful," I added and wrote down the things I needed to purchase tomorrow.

I pressed my back against the trunk as I continued reading. I was so immersed with my book that I have forgotten the time.