First Step To The End III

Laura watched the blonde girl as she stepped inside her room. She has been expecting Tine to come, and now that she's here she can affirm that what's written inside the journal of hers is true.

"It's nice to meet you sister. My name is Tine and I hope we could get along with each other."

"It's nice to meet you too. My name is Laura, and I hope for the same."

Tine looked at Laura with a judgemental look, however, she couldn't notice any flaws to be noticeable on her. She wondered how a commoner girl like her could have a beautiful appearance.

Tine was worried that other nobles would be in Laura's favor because of her icy cool feature. However, she shook it off since she knew that there was no way Laura could beat her through beauty.

Tine looked at Laura's black hair and thought it was disgusting. She has never seen anyone with black hair since most of the people in the kingdom had either blonde or brown hair.

And only royals, including the duchess' family, had silver hair.

"Your hair looks different."

"It is, and that is why I always stand out."

"Don't you want to dye your hair?"

Tine had stepped on a landmine and saw the distant expression Laura had on her face. It was as if she was trying to tell Tine that it had nothing to do with her and that she had to back off.

Tine continued acting gently in front of Laura as she asked the servant for tea to be served.

"Is there a problem with my hair?"

"No, not at all."

Once Laura had stepped into that estate, she had to build herself a wall. She knew that there were certain nobles she should not befriend because of their rotten personality.

"Helga, do you know when father is coming back?"

"Master should be here soon. He had wanted to welcome Laura, but he's late because of his work."

"It's sad that father is late to see you."

"It's all right, I'm used to it and the count had always loved his work."

Tine couldn't embarrass Laura as her walls were too high. She also wondered how a commoner girl like Laura can act so well mannered, despite not taking any etiquette lessons.

Tine had become cautious around Laura because she seemed like a dangerous girl. She also didn't want the things she loved to be stolen away from her.

The door suddenly opened and stormed in the count who gave Tine a hug and looked at Laura who looked irritated. Count Harrison had called Percival and as he entered Laura's room he was holding a box containing a piece of jewelry.

Count Harrison then got the box and handed it to Laura, who seemed shocked.

"This is a welcome gift for you."

Laura opened the box and there she saw the necklace she had seen being displayed in the jewelry shop. Her eyes softened as she saw the beautiful pink stone.

She remembered people calling it "The tears of the goddess". She remembered that this necklace was supposed to be for Tine and it made her speechless that he had given her such an extravagant gift.

Tine's eyes were filled with jealousy, however, her face didn't show it. She continued smiling as if it wasn't a big deal at all.

"I saw you staring at it and I thought that you would really like it as a gift."

"I really like it. I never expected you to buy me such an expensive necklace."

"As for Tine, I'll buy something else. Is that alright?"

"It's alright father. You were busy after all."

Tine continued smiling despite feeling envious. She had always wanted to get that necklace, and yet it had been given to Laura. She couldn't believe a girl like her could receive such a gift upon entering the estate.

"Father, I'll be going back to my room I feel a bit tired after studying so much today."

"Is that so? Go ahead, get some rest"

"Alright. Sister, it was nice meeting you."

Tine stormed out of the hallway and bit her fingers furiously. She couldn't understand why her father didn't give her not even a single jewel and had bought one for Laura.

Tine's maid Helga had asked her to stop biting her nails since it would be bad if someone had seen her do such an unladylike deed. Tine ignored Helga and continued walking back to her room, but suddenly she tripped and fell onto the ground.

Lester who saw that Tine had fallen onto the floor immediately walked over to help her out. As Lester held out a hand to help, Tine's eyes displayed something he had never seen before as it was burning with fury and she looked dark and furious.

Lester had never seen her eyes changed like that and he got frightened.

"Miss Tine?"

Lester called Tine's name, and as she regained her consciousness, she looked at Lester who has been offering his hand then realized that she had almost shown him her true nature.

She embarrassingly accepted his hand and stood up, dusting off her dress.

"Thank you, Lester. Let's go, Helga."

Tine rushed going back to her room as she felt embarrassed as someone had seen her act like that. She then got herself together and placed her smiling face on.

Lester scratched his head in confusion and continued walking towards Laura's room. He knocked on the front door and entered upon hearing Laura's permission.

He closed the door and as soon as he saw her, he was at a loss for words. He never expected a girl like her, could turn into a gem in one day.

"Lester?"

"No, it's nothing. I just thought you looked different."

"That's rare for you to say a compliment towards a girl." "It's not a compliment."

"Then are you saying she's not gorgeous?"

"I said nothing like that."

"Just kidding. Anyway if you need anything you can just ask Lester, I'll be going to my room to have some rest."

As Count Harrison was about to leave, Laura suddenly stopped him just before he stepped out of the door. She shyly thanked him for the present and he smiled like it wasn't a big deal.

After he left, Laura pondered as she remembered Tiyne's words.

'Something that you wished to have will be yours.'

She can now confirm that the old lady wasn't lying, but she just never expected her to have magic powers. Only chosen people were granted a special gift, and it was the power to do magic.

The royal family had such possession, and that is why from generation to generation they have always ruled the empire.

"Oh, that's the necklace master was suppose to give miss Tine."

"Really? I never knew that."

"Don't you remember that I was with the master when he bought it? I also saw you."

"You did, Lester?" "Yep, I did."

Laura laughed as Lester resembled a dog wagging his tail as he talks about his master. She wondered why Lester calls Count Harrison as master, it sounds like he was trained under him or something.

Mary stepped up to clear the table after the teacups have been emptied. And as for the jewelry, Laura asked Mary to keep it safe. Laura closed her eyes as she slowly drifted to sleep as today was a tiring day for her.

Noticing that Laura wanted time alone to rest, Mary and Lester left her room quietly seeing how tired she was. Laura had to step in the battlefield, and her life in the estate had begun.

Her time in the estate has ticked by and she could no longer go back. This is the start of her second life's revenge.