Starting Line

"My lady, are you sure this is everything? Maybe you're forgetting something! Are these clothes enough already? Maybe I'm forgetting something..." Hearing Amy's worried and anxious voice, combined with her worried expression, I can't help but chuckle.

Time passed again, and now, It was finally time to start attending at Royal Academy. Last time, I said I just need to wait a 'few' more months when in reality, I still need to wait for several and more months. I technically still need to wait for a year to pass. I probably said 'few' because I got ahead of myself, I also felt a little excited. I... want to leave this house as soon as I can.

And now, I'm also finally eighteen years old. Other than some small physical changes like my height increasing slightly, and my body figure becoming more 'adult-like', nothing really happened, and Gaos is still pestering me as much as he can

"Don't worry, I'm sure we already packed everything." I said as I look at the two medium-sized luggage.

"Really?" She asked, sounding suspicious as she also looks at the two harmless luggage, "My lady, aren't you going to bringing more things? I'm sure the other noble lady has more than two luggage." She said. In truth, besides the two luggage, I also used the dark dimension. The two luggage contains clothes, undergarments, some important stuff and such. Then I decided to put the potions in the dark dimension – which I secretly purchased from a shop at Illira City when I secretly sneak out the other day.

I also bought some cloaks, daggers, and a sword which I stored inside the dark dimension as well.

As for the reason why I decided to bring all of these things with me to the Academy, there's really no particular reason. I just thought that I might need them in case something happens.

"My lady, please don't forget to eat properly. Be friendly and do not forget to try and get along with others. Please be careful as well, and don't do anything reckless." Amy said as we walk. She's carrying one of my luggage while I'm carrying the other. At first, she refused and said she can carry both – or maybe she'll call a butler for help. In the end, I was able to convince her to let me carry one of the luggage.

"You worry too much Amy." I said, teasing her. It's as if she upgraded from sister to mother. But... I'm truly grateful, and I feel slightly happy knowing that she truly cares for me.

"I'm serious, my lady!" She exclaimed. This time, she was blushing hard. I can even see both the tips of her ears turning red. I let out a giggle – something that I can probably only do when I'm with Amy. I... can only let my guard down when I'm with her, and that's because I now know that I can trust her. And it was really nice, being able to act like this even just this once.

It feels refreshing.

"Amy." I said as I stopped walking, she also stopped and looked at me with a frown, obviously confused and wondering why did I stop. Letting the luggage down on the floor, I stared at her. I have to stay and study at the Academy for three years, which means that I'll only see Amy if I go home during holidays or if we're given a vacation, but I probably almost wouldn't see her at all unless I graduated.

Since... I already started acting like this, just this once, maybe it's alright. I will let the walls down for a moment. Just for this moment, maybe it's okay to let myself do this – to be honest just this once. I'll let myself be spoiled for today only. That's not bad, right? It's okay for me to that, right? After all, this person... is the only person I consider as someone close to a 'family'.

Thinking such things, I smiled a little, too little that it was almost not visible. I let a sigh escape my lips as I closed the distance between us, and I hugged her tightly. Startled, Amy accidentally let go of the luggage.

"My lady?!" She exclaimed, shocked, "You shouldn't so this, lady Aksia! A lady should act proper! No proper lady would hug a mere maid!" She said, panicking as she looked around the hall, checking if there's anyone that could see us. Both of her hands were still midair, obviously unsure where if she should hug me back or not.

"No one's here." I said, still hugging her, "I can only do this here since we're alone. Just this once, let it slide?" A few seconds passed. When she didn't say or do anything, I felt a little sad. However, when I was about to let go... she hugged me back.

"I'll truly miss you, lady Aksia." She said in a very soft and gentle voice. Although I can't see her face right now, I'm sure that she's smiling, and I know, I am too.

"I didn't say it before but you really are like my little sister. No, you are my little sister." She broke the hug, and I chuckled when I saw tears freely streaming down her face like a waterfall. Amy is an airhead, she's naive but loyal. She's also kind. She can be clumsy, but at rare times, she can also be serious. I'm truly grateful to her.

"I'll write letters to you." I said.

"But how are you going to do that? The Duke and Duchess will know about it." She asked, tilting her head slightly.

"I'll find a way." I simply said, "Stay away from mother as much as possible. Avoid her at all costs. I know you don't really see her much, but I'm saying this just in case. If something happens, run away immediately." I seriously said. I was able to change the future, Amy didn't... die. She's here with me by my side. However, I'm still uneasy.

She laughed and I frowned, confused.

"You're the one worrying too much now." She said, smiling. I just let out a sigh before smiling as well. I reached for the luggage that I put down on the floor earlier. Amy did the same, and I nodded as we continue walking. My smile was gone like it wasn't there, and the walls that have been briefly let down was up again.

As if nothing happened, we arrived at the front gate or entrance of the Euridice territory. A carriage was already waiting there. It was grand and huge, to say the least. It was color white and was designed with diamonds. The Euridice crest – A crow and two swords crossed together, could be seen in it as well.

"Aksia." Hearing my name, I looked at the Duke who called me. Both he and Duchess were also here. I guess they're going to bid me farewell, but I know that they're not here to tell me to 'take care of myself'. It was probably all for formality.

Not showing any emotions on my face, I walked towards them as I vowed slightly – it was a sign of greeting and respect.

"Do well." The was all that the Duke said while looking at me coldly.

It wasn't an encouragement or anything of that sort – it was a threat, a warning. An order. There wasn't even any emotion on his face. I glanced at the Duchess to see if she also have something to say, and as usual, she was glaring at me.

I wonder if we still look like a family to an outsider in this situation? A father who's looking coldly at her daughter. A mother who despised her own child, and their daughter who continue to act as their emotionless doll with no freedom or own will. I'm... not aiming to fix this family and turn it into a 'happy family'. In the first place, I think that's impossible. I don't think I can forgive them, and a person can't simply change.

Can this even be repaired? Our relationship with each other... is far from being family. We're worst than people who don't even know each other.

The real Aksia spent her whole life wanting to earn the love of these two people. She's with them her whole life and yet, they remained the same – always ignoring her, hurting her, abusing her, and using her. And now, she's gone. There's no way they'll change when I'm not even their real daughter, there's no redemption to them for me. And even if they somehow do change, I probably won't like it. I will even hate it.

I might just lash out and say 'I'm not your daughter you fools!'.

"Don't do anything that will tarnish the Euridice reputation." The Duchess said, unusually calm. However, the hostility and hatred in her voice were clear, and she said all of that as if I'm not part of the Euridice family.

Not showing any emotion, I simply gave them a blank look,

"Yes, I will promise to do my best. Please do take care, mother, father." I said. The Duke didn't show any reaction while the Duchess simply showed a displeased expression. That's probably because I called her 'mother'. It's kind of funny, I keep calling them by their titles in my mind, and yet, I continue to call them mother and father when I'm talking.

As for Hariz... we didn't talk to each other again ever since my debutante. Amy just informed me that right after my party, Hariz immediately went back to the Palace with Prince Anakin. Maybe he gives up on making me accept his apology – and maybe that's a good thing.

Giving Amy a final look and a nod which she responded with a smile, I rode the carriage as a butler took and put my luggages somewhere.

"My lady, should we go?" I heard the coachman ask from the front. There's a small open window in front of me – the purpose of that is probably so that the passenger and the coachman can talk to each other.

Feeling a mix of emotion, I nodded my head, "Let's go."