Prologue Part 3

The book had no chapters. No specific instructions and written in a metaphysical way. That said if you cut of most of the information in it the book basically says 'exercise first then meditate'. And that is exactly what she did.

She never made any progress.

And so life went on the only differences being a routine of exercising and meditation as well as the monthly trips to the large hall. Sena did try to talk to her peers but they would scatter when she came near so she stopped trying. That day was the first and last time she saw Third Aunt. Four years passed in this way.

Sena now keeps her hair shoulder length it got in the way when she was exercising. Her features are now more defined suggesting the beauty she'll have as an adult. Yet again on a random day a servant entered her room carrying a rather big box with a note attached to the top. She was handed these and the servant retired.

In the box was a viridian summer dress with matching shoes. The note said to be ready by evening. Sena was excited to see what would happen this time.

When it was time a servant came to fetch her bringing her to a dining room with a long table and of course many chairs. Girls a few years older and younger were already seated dressed up in a variety of colors, none repeated and more were pouring in.

When all the girls were seated (in order of first come first serve) a stern faced man in a black suit walked in with a beauty on his arm with another stern faced man in a striped black suit walking with a boy whose nose was in the air, in a grey suit, around Sena's age. The new arrivals went to sit at the head of the table. Servants rushed in serving a platter of food to each person. When all platters were served the meal began.

The only people talking during the meal were the group at the head of the table. At least two thirds of the girls present were straining to hear the conversation. The rest, occupied with the food. Sena is part of the latter as it has been a long time since she ate a meal she didn't cook.

When the meal was over and the platters carried away the man in black stood up, "Stand behind your chairs facing away from it." Everyone was quick to do as told. The boy in grey started walking around the table looking at the girls. Sena looked at him curiously wondering what he was doing.

After walking five laps around the table he finally came to a stop lifted his hand and pointed, "This one, I want this one." The person being pointed at is Sena. She gawked incredulously at the boy even if she lacks any social interaction even she knew how rude the entire gesture was.

The boy wrinkles his nose, "What? There a problem?". Everyone turns to look their way. Sena doesn't like that look the boy is giving her but something in the back of her head flares, "None." "Hmph." He turns around and started walking back to the head of the table. Not hearing footsteps behind him he glances over his shoulder haughtily, "Your not coming?" Following, Sena's mouth twitches and eyes narrow silently deciding she'd rather not talk to anyone then speak with him.

When they reached the head of the table every other girl was dismissed. Leaving five people in the dining room. The man in stripes gave Sena a once-over nodding, "What's your name?" "Sena." Thinking again she added, "Sena Seir."

The beauty came to stand next to her holding her shoulder, "Sena, the boy's name is Benjamin Moore. From now on he is your fiancé."

Shock. She was shook. Seeing the others in the room were looking at her she opened her mouth. Just as she was about to speak enough force was exerted on her shoulder to feel uncomfortable. She ended up nodding absentmindedly. The rest of the evening passed quickly. She didn't even know how she got back to her room.

In her safe haven she thought back to the marriage that was decided without a care for her opinion and frowned. While she doesn't want to marry that boy whose nose is so high in the air the back of his head drags on the floor. She feels like saying no would have been a bad idea.

Remembering that she vaguely heard something about visits. Steeling herself she continued with her days as usual. Except now girls would give her venomous, envious or mocking looks. Sena wasn't able to place a name to them nevertheless she did not like them. Feeling thankful they either don't know where it is or can't go to her room.

Occasionally she would have to entertain a certain snobbish brat otherwise her routine stayed the same as before she was engaged so she was able to make peace with it. Three more years passed in this fashion. And before she knew it she was in a white dress being walked down the aisle by the man in black still wearing black.

Coming back to her senses Sena finds herself alone in the basement still on the floor. With a rueful smile on her face she thinks black was a very appropriate color for that ceremony.

She feels cold the blood still seeping from the back of her head. She finds the situation rather ironic. She didn't feel the need to run when she had a chance and by the time she realized she had to, there wasn't a snowball's chance in hell at succeeding. Even ending with her in this situation.

What exactly kept her by his side for so long? Maybe she'd grown attached to that snob? Maybe it was because he made an effort to interact with her, albeit unpleasantly? Whatever the case may be fourteen years was rewarded with nothing but countless bruises. Now don't misunderstand, there was a time where he simply left her in a house by herself. She didn't complain, she felt he was rather considerate.

When did that change? What made him start behaving this way? Not only did he move me here he made it a point to fill this place with women. None of them have married him, though there are a few engaged. They'll never marry him, they keep pushing back the wedding date.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH". Even those gold diggers know better than to marry that man. Sena starts to feel warm in her heart at the fact that one of those hussies will have to bite the bullet. She can almost see them scrambling to be the first one out of the door. Oh! Benjamin will hate that. At least she will end up with plenty of beautiful funerary.

Sena's body starts to feel numb and her eyes lose focus staring at the empty air. Sena ends her life the same way she lived it, alone.

Ding!