Anastasia

Anastasia looked out of the carriage with still an expressionless face.

There were multiple demihuman riding on horses beside the carriage, the window was closed so no wind entered the carriage making It melancholy soon with no one speaking.

Anastasia was used to the silence so it didn't bother her. Even though she didn't want to, she started to think of why she ended up like this.

"Sigh....." Anastasia sighed while still her head turned towards the carriage's window.

Anelete stared at Anastasia with an interested look, but she couldn't see Anastasia's face as she still looked out of the window.

Anastasia was already lost in her thoughts by then.

It had all begun on her 8th birthday, Anastasia lived in the Kelinwer palace since the day she was born.

No maids or servants liked her in the palace, they were even scared of her. When Anastasia was left in front of the main palace with just a letter accompanying her.

The servants were surprised at Anastasia's blue jewel-like eyes which were the same as their king. It didn't take long for this to reach him.

When the king of the Pheorous kingdom, Phoulerec carte mesweit read the letter which was left along with Anastasia, his expression turned cold.

The moment he finished reading the letter, a massacre had occurred. He killed every last person who read the letter besides him. 

So the content was not known by anyone excluding the Phoulerec. This incident had just painted Anastasia's image in red.

And the nobles didn't like Anastasia's existence as her mother's origin was unknown.

After giving his last name to Anastasia, which was the same as accepting her as his daughter. Phoulerec just left her in the Kelinwer palace and totally ignored her existence.

Anastasia lived in the Kelinwer palace for eight year receiving the disdain from the servants. Her life was totally covered in the veil of gloom.

But at her 8th birthday when it was time to check her magic talent, it was found out that she had immense talent in using magic.

It was only possible to check a person's affinity with mana after they turn 8 year old as they must have formed their own 'will' by then.

A big party was announced in celebration of Anastasia's talent. 

That was when Anastasia for the first time in her life had met Phoulerec, her father. 

Phoulerec had crimson red hair and blue jewel-like eyes. He had a cold expression as he looked at Anastasia's eyes.

Looking at those eyes, Anastasia had only one word on her head.

{'beautiful....'}

Those cold glimmering blue eyes mesmerised Anastasia. Handing her a book as a gift, Phoulerec left the party hall immediately.

Hearing what the servants and the noble said after Phoulerec left, Anastasia was able to know that he was her father.

It was probably this moment from when it might have all started.

Anastasia wanted to be loved more than anything else, she had never received any love from anyone from the day she was born. Knowing that she had a father, she wanted him to accept her, love her...

The palace in which Phoulerec lived was very near Kelinwer palace. It was even possible to walk there.

Anastasia started visiting Phoulerec more often and showed the magic she learned to him and always acted obediently in front of him. But Phoulerec's response was always cold.

Anastasia also got to know that Phoulerec had another daughter just one year younger than her. 

What saddened Anastasia was that Phoulerec's attitude towards his other daughter, Selena, was the total opposite of her. He always talked with Selena, having soft eyes and a smile on his face.

Even after that, Anastasia did not give up, she kept trying to make Phoulerec treat her the same way as he did Selena.

But even after turning 13 year old, Anastasia was not able to make Phoulerec accept her or change his attitude towards her.

Not being able to take it any more, Anastasia asked Phoulerec what she had been hiding deep within her.

{'' what do I have to do for you to love me, please tell me!?''}

Anastasia looked up at Phoulerec's face who was standing in front of her with a tear-stained face. But her father, Phoulerec, coldly looked at his daughter, who was crying at his feet.

{''should I become like Selena? Then will you love me? Then will you warmly look at me? what should i do...?"}

Anastasia felt incredibly lost, she did not know what she needed to do for Phoulerec to accept her. She was at her limits, She didn't know what else she needed to do.

{''Then will you treat me warmly instead of the way you have been treating me till now?"}

{"Never"}

{''But why!?"}

Phoule didn't hesitate to respond back. He didn't even blink at the sight of his usually obedient daughter crying with despair.

{"I'm also your daughter! So why only Selena! why not me!?}

Anastasia begged with all the courage she could muster. This was Athanasia's first and last plea. She had never asked for anything else. But her father was cold to her till the very end.

{''foolish being"}

Phoulerec pushed away the frail hand that was holding on to his leg. He looked at her with contempt. A cruel voice crept into Anastasia's ears.

{" I have never considered you my daughter and it would be the same in the future.''}

Anastasia felt more desperate than she ever had in her entire life. A deep despair was visible in her glimmering blue eyes. She looked at the ground with still tears falling down her chin.

{''take her away."}

Phoulerec said coldly to the mages guarding the room. That was from when Anastasia was put into a house arrest in the Kelinwer palace.

'I was really foolish back then.....'

Anastasia thought, as she stared at the horses moving beside the Carriage. She had long given up on making Phoule accept her.

Anastasia just wanted to go far away from that place now, she could think what she wanted to do after that.

The academic city is the best place Anastasia could think of going right at the moment. 

(End of volume 2)