THE TALE OF ANNABELLE

Years ago, when Annabelle was twelve years old, she excitedly ran down the castle hall to meet her newborn sibling. However, upon reaching the door, she unexpectedly overheard her father's furious outburst directed at her mother.

"Another dead child! As if the first one isn't useless enough, give me an heir!" King Edward's enraged voice reverberated through the hallway. The words pierced Annabelle's heart, filling her with disbelief and a deep sense of sorrow. She couldn't understand how her own father could speak of her existence with such disdain.

Overwhelmed by her father's harsh words, Annabelle couldn't hold back her tears. She sprinted to her room, seeking solace in the seclusion it provided. In the isolation of her tears, she mourned the loss of a loving relationship with her father that had now become distant and strained. He began treating both Annabelle and her mother, Amalia, as disappointments whenever they interacted.

One day, Annabelle summoned the courage to confront her father. However, her boldness was met with aggression. He roughly grabbed her by the hair, dragging her to her distraught mother, Amalia. In the midst of his violence, he sneered, "So this is what you teach your failure of a daughter?" as he struck Amalia with force, causing Annabelle to watch helplessly

From that day forward, Annabelle's behavior took a negative turn. She witnessed her father wearing and training Liam, and a sense of envy overcame her. In response, she began spreading malicious rumors among the noble families children about liam

When Annabelle turned 16, she began venturing out of the castle on her own. and it was there that she first encountered a boy named Collins while he wa picking pockets. Over time, they developed a deep friendship and found comfort in sharing their dreams, fears, and aspirations with each other. Their late-night conversations beneath the twinkling stars fostered an unbreakable bond of trust and understanding.

One summer evening, as they sat together on their favorite hill, mesmerized by the setting sun, Colin decided to express his long-held feelings. With a nervous heart, he turned to Annabelle and quietly confessed, "Annabelle, I believe I am in love with you."

Annabelle's face lit up with a soft smile as she met his gaze. "Colin, I have loved you since the day we met," she admitted, her voice filled with sincerity, "You have always held a special place in my heart." However, both of them were aware that Annabelle's father disapproved of their relationship. Despite this, Colin bravely declared, "We do not need his permission. Let's run away together."

Little did they know, a guard had been observing their interactions. When Colin went to the castle to take Annabelle away, the guards captured him and falsely accused him of theft under King Edward's orders. Colin suffered a merciless beating at the hands of the guards, while Annabelle pleaded for her father's mercy. Ignoring her pleas, he remained stubborn until she finally said, "I will do anything you ask." In an act of twisted manipulation, her father spared Colin's life but imprisoned him in the castle dungeon, using him to control and blackmail Annabelle from that day onwards.