44 Chapter 30: Childhood

It was a sweltering summers day.

My father was visiting some poor noble's estate to propose a deal. I didn't know much about this poor noble except for the fact that he was poor and was a talented inventor.

That didn't matter to me, I wanted to go home.

As we got closer to the manor, I noticed how the stony path was cracked, the door looked like it was ready to fall on it's hinges any moment now and the tiles on the roof were ready to slip and kill someone.

'Very poor.' I had thought with distaste.

As we entered the manor, I realized that it was even hotter inside, clearly; they did not have the money to hire someone to use water enchantment to make the temperature cooler.

How annoying.

As we walked on the tattered carpet and my father entered the study room, the butler guided me to where the young lady was.

He opened the door for me, and I saw a small, pretty girl sitting on the ground, playing with worn dolls. At first, I was shocked into her silence, there was no way a human could possess the beauty she held. From her big, round eyes, her thick, long eyelashes and fair skin, she looked like a fragile porcelain doll that could snap at the slightest touch.

I didn't like her at all.

"Hey." I kicked a doll into the corner of the room, ignoring her cry of protest, "My father's the one that will support your family from now on. You're my slave now."

I leaned to smirk at her, picking up another doll, slowly peeling the eyes off,

"If I'm not happy, all I need to do is tell my father to stop giving your family money." I dodged her efforts to grab the doll back, "So you better listen."

Finally, some fun. Today was so boring, but I had finally found something entertaining.

"But those were my mother's-" Emilia began,

"So how about you start making something impressive with your dolls." I sneered, lazing on a chair, "At least it'll improve your skills."

"But-" Emilia argued,

"Your 5 minutes are disappearing very quickly." I scoffed, waving at the butler to fetch me a drink.

It didn't really matter anyway, because all I learnt very quickly that she was horrible at sewing.

***

This continued on and on, none of the servants nor Emilia's father could stop me as my status was far superior compared to them. Father loved me no matter what I did so he carefully ignored what I was doing.

Until…

***

"You won't mind if I give you a little haircut, will you?" I brandished some scissors calmly, a little close to her face, "It's the newest trend to have short hair now!"

Now, after continuously harassment and teasing, this can affect a young child negatively. Either it could crush her self-worth which would work in my favour or cause her to fight back.

Emilia unconsciously took a step back with an uneasy expression on her face,

"Lady Sardonna…" Her eyes scanned the room for a exit, "I think I'm fine with my hair…"

"Now, now." I smiled, tilting my head to the side, "Don't be stubborn."

I finally managed to snip an azure lock of her head and we both watched it fall to the ground with a soft 'thump'.

I glanced up, smiling with triumph before it quickly faded away as I noticed her strangely serene expression.

"Are you done yet?" She asked, her tone icy cold.