Chapter 2: Alicia Cloden's Decision (2)

To tell you the truth, in the novels I've read, I haven't made an effort to fix my relationship with others, like the main female characters in those novels who get into the bad female characters. Or I haven't made an effort to have a good relationship with the female character of this world.

Alicia's biggest problem was her power. Ever since she was a little girl, she couldn't control her power and she didn't have an adult to guide her or help her. That's why I paid more attention to it.

When I was six years old, by chance, I was consumed by my power and was about to die when I came under the care of my master. My master was a wanderer who refused to be the master of the alchemy tower. So I traveled the world with him while learning alchemy under my master.

When I was 11 years old, the master of the tower died and we had to return to the empire. Since the alchemy tower was in great chaos at that time, my master had no choice but to become the master of the alchemy tower. At the age of 13, my master fired me, saying that he had nothing more to teach me.

At first, I didn't understand why he did this, but seven years later, when I returned home, I understood better. My master had sent me to my family, hoping that I would have a good relationship with them. Although I did not refuse his request and came home, it is more difficult than one might think for family members who are strangers to come together.

Contrary to my master's expectations, my family did not welcome me well or badly. They were indifferent when I arrived, as they had been in the past. There were many times when I wished they had behaved badly. 

Maybe it would have been better to be hated instead of being invisible every time I was with them. At least I could be sure that they had feelings for their child Alicia, but their attitude showed that I wasn't even worth as much as a human being in their eyes.

Despite all this, in a year I had already turned into a lady who would be the favorite of all society. I was knowledgeable in many areas such as etiquette, politics, economics, trade, military, etc. Since my master taught me most of these, the teachers hired for me at home were short-lived.

All this made me the center of attention. The most noble lady and a flower at the top of the list of marriage candidates. Although no one knew it, I had found a dragon's treasure while traveling the continent with my master and had become rich enough that I didn't need to work for several lifetimes.

So my goal was to leave my home when I reached adulthood. I couldn't start a business here because I wanted to leave the Empire, and frankly, I wasn't interested in that right now. In my previous life, my days were spent working.

The excitement and happiness of traveling the world with my master was strong enough to make me want to go on a journey again.

In the Ingrid Empire, girls became adults at 16 and boys at 18. And I had already turned 16 a few days earlier on May 15th.

I had learned to control my power, which was my biggest problem. Even though it was no longer a risk to my own life, I couldn't stay here and stay under the shadow of my family and wait for them to marry me off to someone else one day just to get rid of me.

I really didn't expect the main characters in that novel I once loved to read to be so cruel and selfish. It was a big disappointment.

When I heard the voice of the coachman saying, "We're home, my lady," I blinked my eyes in surprise, not even realizing when I had left the tower and come home.

Normally the young lady of the house would have been helped down by the knight of the escort, offering her a hand. But I, the ugly duckling in this house, was unlikely to receive such treatment.

As I got out of the carriage on my own and made my way to Cloden Manor, every eye that looked at me was filled with scorn and derision. No servant would attempt to be nice to a family member who was not known to the head of the house.

Scorn and mockery followed me, but I entered with a calm expression as it was my duty to hold my head high. Once in my room, I asked one of the servants to prepare hot water for me.

I didn't have a personal maid as no one wanted to serve me. I was already uncomfortable with people always watching me and I had already learned to do everything on my own for more than thirty years, counting the sixteen years I spent in this world with my other life.

But in this world, young ladies could not do anything on their own. They had to have their own servants. This was an important aspect of their family's power and status.

So I had to enlist the help of servants for small things. The servant I summoned was displeased, but she did as I asked without showing it. After she had completed her work properly, I let her leave.

I remember the first time I asked them for something, they did some very creative things just to show their contempt for me. Once they realized that I was a crazy person who cut off their hands, they no longer dared to belittle me in front of me.

Even if they didn't try to win my favor and still looked at me with condescending eyes, it didn't matter if I couldn't express it in front of them. In the end, they were all just a bunch of insects that I could crush at any moment.

So instead of Cloden's madman, my sister, as graceful as a flower, was their leader and the master to follow.

After soaking in the hot water until it was almost cold, I put on the robe and went out. When I noticed the maid waiting in my room, I hesitantly looked at her.

''I remember I told you to leave, why are you still here?'' I asked expressionlessly and the maid, startled, replied.

''My lady, I came to inform you that the master has called you for dinner,'' the maid said and my eyebrows rose.

I usually did not join them for dinner and ate alone. There were two reasons why Duke Cloden might have asked me to join him for dinner. Either he had something important to discuss or we had a guest.

I first mentioned the second option when I asked, "Do we have a guest?

''No, my lady, no guests have come to the manor.''

''Hmm, then he must want to discuss something important,'' I muttered as the maid continued to stand there.

''Are you waiting to prepare me?'' I asked and she tilted her head. ''I see. The others must be waiting to help,'' I said as I looked at the energy of the three people I felt behind the closed door and the maid looked at me wondering how I knew that.

''Call the others. Let's not waste too much time," I said as I turned around, leaving her curious gaze behind.

''Yes, my lady.''