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can be hard. Shining when one has an extremely beautiful elder sister and two equally handsome brothers would be next to impossible.

Izabelle Edwards knew that and unlike most, she didn't care. She would rather have the attention of her trustworthy books than that of the judgmental society.

The winters were harsh and for the Edwards, they were one of the worst. Izabelle's father was a businessman whose ships would sail past many islands up north and sell the goods returning great deal of profit. Mainly goods that required a lot of money to buy or produce and gave equally high returns like Coffee.

Mr. Edwards was a lucky man indeed. He had a beautiful wife, four children and a great mansion back in the day. They lived like royalty even though they were but mere merchants. The Lady of the house, Barbara Edwards required for nothing and needed not to use her hands or feet for things other than walking and eating. The oldest child of the house, Giselle, had the latest fashion to flaunt in front of the court during her various visits to the balls. The second oldest, Gilbert, had the best of the teachers just like the youngest, Ash. Both the boys, blessed with princely looks and wealth, were often the topic of chatter amongst the ladies across the capital of Alera. All of them relished in the knowledge of how brightly they shinned when they walked down the streets of the capital.

The strangest of them all however was Izabelle. Mostly known as Belle, also meaning beauty, she was the diamond who would rather be away from the crowd than be a part of it like her family. No one gave her that much of a thought unless she stood amongst her sibling. She was weird, they said, but also the most alluring of them all. A siren, with her nose stuck in books going to places that the writers create and worlds that don't exist.

Unfortunately, the glamour was lost one eventful year when Robert's cargo was lost in the sea. That year's investment had been the biggest till date involving investments from others and soon because of such a huge loss the family went under great debt. Days after days people would knock at the house of the Edwards hoping to get back the investment money. They had all put in the money knowing not what was to come if the ship was to get lost. They trusted the Edwards and were blinded by the glitz of the family. It was a quite sea anyway, the Edwards feared not of anything ever getting lost in storm for none ever arose on their trading route. If it ever did, there never were casualties. The route was set and altered again and again by none other than the business experts in the Edwards family, father and grandfathers of Robert Edwards himself. They were the ones who brought the family to where it was. A family with a name and wealth enough to make the Nobles jealous.

It was chilled but not a sad atmosphere in the Edwards current house. A small rusty cottage with just one floor and four rooms somewhere near the current border of Aleran Kingdom. After the heavy loss, the family house they were once proud of was sealed off to pay part of the debt. However an even greater part was left and the Edwards had to run to save themselves. After a few years of misery and odd jobs to keep alive, Mr. Edwards had found out that his ship had somehow managed to reach the docks. 'The famous lost ship returns' was the headlines of the newspaper Far and wide. Upon hearing the news Robert Edwards had dashed out of the door and to the dock with promises to return with gifts for all. The family was now eagerly waiting for the arrival of the head of their house. The door was supposed to be knocked any moment now for today was the day of his expected arrival.

"Gisele! Would you mind opening the door please?" Mrs. Edwards called out to her eldest daughter from the small warm kitchen in her ever so shrill voice. The knock on the door was heard by all present in the house and Gisele was already ready to be up and about. By the grace of Selene, Robert and Barbara had two beautiful daughters and two equally handsome sons. Even in the tough times they had none of the children had been snotty or rude about their situation. They were just ever so hopeful that one day they could be back to who they were. Until then they contributed in their own small ways.

The oldest daughter stood up from her seat in front of the fire in her ever so poised manner. 'I may be poor but it does not mean I would lose all my manners' was all she said again and again to herself when she saw the other girls of the small village. The way of the village was much more relaxed than that of the city. Something none of the members of the family were accustomed to.

"Yes mother," The eldest daughter said hurrying towards the door while brushing her hair. It was late at night and by now she would usually have been tiered but the thought of the gifts that their father promised them had kept her excited. It had been so long she had stepped into some beautiful new silk gowns and worn precious jewels. She couldn't be more excited to get out of this worn out cottage once and for all.

The brothers, who were seated in a different room downstairs, hurried to answer the door having heard the knock on the hard wood just when their sister had. Gisele reached first and shooed her younger brothers away who came up behind her. With utter joy and grace Gisele opened the door giving her brothers one final look.

"Father I am so glad," Gisele's words were caught in her mouth. Before her stood not her father but a strange looking man. Perhaps one could not even call him a man. He was well dressed like a gentleman but reeked only one thing, evil. Pale as the dead and with eyes red as blood, the stranger was taller than any of her brothers and her brothers were well past six feet.

"Is this the home of Robert Edwards?" The stranger asked though his voice could also be close to a bellow. Gisele couldn't speak for a moment, stuck in her place. Even the brothers, who stood besides her, had realised from the voice that the person was not their father.

"Who might you be good sir?" asked the second oldest sibling coming up next to his eldest sister. With no other elder male in the house he had been a little less vain and taken up the responsibilities. The years of poverty had done him a little good. He was more rugged and cared less of the attention he got. His once charming prince like features were now more like an accomplished knight's. His ever clean face had a dark stubble all around and muscles bulged from under the tight breachers he had long over grown.

"I am but a servant of one who he owes a debt. I shall ask again before I waste any more of your precious time, is it the house of Robert Edwards?" The intruder said in a menacing voice. By now Gisele had nearly hid behind her brother and the youngest looked over silently.

"Aye, it is. But good sir, our father is to return today, you can discuss the debts in the morning. His ships have returned at the port. Although I do wonder, what was so urgent that you have come at such a late time?" Asked the brother curiously. Their Father was never seen with this man before. He would have known because the debt collectors had often came by to torment the poor soul. Also, this house should not have been known by the debt collectors.

"My business is not with you then boy. Move aside and bring me the one named Belle Edwards." Said the stranger infuriating the young adult. e, he thought, e

"Pardon me Sir. I can do but that. Give me a reason and only then shall I call her out for you." Said the brother trying not to show any of his anger.

"Gilbert," warned the eldest tugging on her brother's garments nervously. If it were up to her, she would yell for the girl and run out of the harsh stare of this repulsive strange man. She wondered again. His strange eyes and the way he carried himself could surely not be fully human.

The mother came out out of the kitchen hearing all the commotion. Who was it if not her husband? The night was not young enough for others to visit. Definitely the society wouldn't overlook it. A stranger coming in absence of her husband? Oh! That would be scandalous.

"Who is it children?" She asked looking at her three children near the door. Did they have no manners to call the stranger in? What had she taught them, she wondered.

The children turned to let their mother have a look at the man and a look she got. His eyes seemed to pierce her soul and his face was sunken in making it hard for her to breathe. Every inch of her was crawling in a fearful manner with just one gaze from him.

"I am a faithful servant of Lord Drake Willington. My lord had sent me to find the family of Robert Edwards, Belle Edwards to be specific. My Lady, I would like to have the young miss in my presence. There is a debt that Mr Edwards owes my master and it is to be discussed with Miss Belle only. " The stranger said lowering his bellowing tone but the voice still came out as raspy. It sounded strange to their ears. The vocal cords seemed to sound like they were burnt.

"Belle? What business do you have with Belle?" The mother said turning a little hostile. The fear rushed out as protective mothering instincts kicked in. No strange man can just walk into her house and demand to see her youngest daughter. Especially not a creepy man as such in front of her. Her Izabelle was her precious younger daughter no matter how trying she got at times.

"I can discuss it only with-" The stranger started agitated by the family in front of him. He was cut by footsteps coming from the staircase in front of him. He looked up and so did the family as a voice made him stop his sentence.

"Mother, what is this noise I hear? Is father home?"