II

"My lady, we arrived." A girl with a short brown hair, wearing a brown tailored dress, speaks while looking at the window. Her expressionless face made me always realize that I really cameback in the past. But sometimes, thoughts of those memories cross on me that maybe, maybe it was just a silly bad dream. She goes down as the door of the carriage opened by the coachman. It was Tramor, the young man who glued his self to Jinnie, the young girl who is my personal maid.

The dream took a long way out of my life, or if it's not a dream, then I was literally cameback 10 years ago, from when I was only 15, not yet presented into the noble society, nor was seen by the royal family. I was only fifteen, the time when I haven't yet fallen in-love. It was also the time when all the soldiers and the second prince, Prince Lucas Sovereign Arthen, succeded on the war from the two strong kingdom, Vergor and Ruinet.

Nobles, especially the Royal family, wanted it to be successful but at the same time wants the second prince to be killed. He was a bastard to begin with. A mother who does not even have a name. For her mother to be granted a name, he needed to comeback victorious as it is his wish from the current emperor, Emperor Raven Sovereign Arthen, his father.

I still can remember, that two months before the succession of the crown prince, first prince, Prince Lastard Sovereign Arthen, the second prince was sent again to an unending war against Rusack, a very small country with the blessing of the god of water, Hyren. Then the selection for the seat of the empress was held. The past young Katrina, who was so inlove with the first prince, whined to her father and even tried trading her life just so, Duke Arthur Avariche would pressure the royal family on Katrina, becoming the next empress. She got what she wanted, and it leads it to her death and her whole family.

I felt the cold shivers right through my heart. I can still feel pain and the cold blade piercing deep down in my chest. The surrounding became black in an instant, the space inside the carriage starting suffocating me. That's when I was called awake by the emotionless calling of Jinnie.

"...lady....my lady....???"she speaks, as her right foot steps inside the carriage trying to check me, but then, I woke up in that scary imagination. She looked confused at the attitude her master is showing. I can see it all. I blink for a moment, many times, trying to comprehend my situation.

'I will live. She will live. There's still a lot of time to plan my revenge, for my family, for my self, for the people who supports me, and to her that didn't even had a glimpse of this world.'

I waved at Jinnie to step outside, stepping out confidently and with elegeance. I was teached being this way since little. Not so I can be part of the Royalty but because I am an Avariche. The most powerful out of all nobility and aristocracy. My mother was a chosen saint for the fire phoenix. Though I was not chosen as next and there was no chosen again after my mother died, we are still at the highest no one can manipulate. It was at peak that even the Emperor, don't meddle in our dukedoms affairs.

"Tell Solera to vacant the area."

It was a last minute mandate from me. Solera is the biggest and fanciest dress shop in the Arthen Empire. Not many aristocrats and nobles can enter and be entertained even if they ask for a schedule.

"My lady, I am sorry if I rushed here. I was just so excited to meet you, Lady Avariche." A skinny middle age woman run from the Solera store to my carriage where I was standing. "Lead the way to My Lady!" She yelled excitedly to a young woman on his 20's who were also standing next to her. They start walking in my pace while smiling awkwardly.

It's the very first time an Avariche came into their place. An Avariche only calls for them, an Avariche never shows interest to lowly things. It's what people thought of them. So an Avariche visiting in person is a really big deal. Even the royal palace was rejected many times by the Avariche, especially of Tea Parties to the one and only daughter of Avariche.

It is her first appearance, not like in the past, her first appearance was in the debut party of the first princess along the other young aristocrats and nobility.

'Why I was here?' I eyed the corners of the store, looking for something familiar. The black robe that look specifically used, wore by a person with two young man standing behind him.

'He really came.'

"My lady, should we go to the second floor so you can choose a much more suitable dress?" The owner asks after I stopped my movement.

"Just give me a bloody red dress that can see my curves. I heard that it is a masterpiece, that even her royal highness, the queen mother wants." I said with a hint that I will never buy anything than that. I still can remember the bloody dress that was worn by a person I hated so much, the first prince fall hard to her as he thought she express her true feelings who is against the return of the second prince. But now, she can't  wear it nor flaunt it. I will use it to my advantage, flaunt it to my satisfaction.

"....ahmm....ye...yes...We will packed it for you, My Lady." She hesitantly answered as I direct my eyes again to the three man who were waiting for me to go out. But they wouldn't get what they wanted. It's them I am after and not a dress. Well, the dress is a plus in this escapade.

"Prince Lucas Sovereign Arthen, may the blessing of Arthen be with you." I bowed as I eyed the reaction of the young man, now facing me. Shock and alert can be seen through his black eyes along with the two young men behind him. Luckily, all the staffs were at the second floor, packing the dress that I wanted. The two men walked fast reaching me with their sword unsheathed with the prince back stepping.

"What are you?!" The first young man, wearing a white knight attire, looking at me with a deathly glare ask. Jinnie, who blocks the two, pushing me at the back and holding a metal stick from the store, looked ready to fight any moment if ever a single movement from the two would occur.

"Jinnie, it's okay, they won't hurt us, not this bold, in a store where an Avariche stands. Right? Third son of Marquis Isabelle, Pio Astrelle Isabelle, and first son of Duke Orille, Leon Castillo Orille." I said with a calm and cold voice. I still can remember this two young man, 8 yrs from now and they will be back to Arthen from the war of Rosack, cold and heads on a two small boxes. They were a sacrifice for the young princess who is captured. I still can hear the weep of their family that can't do anything by the fatal decisions of Empress Katrina's husband, the ruthless emperor in the future, Emperor Lastard.