THE BALL {1}

Hey! Isn't that your lovely step-sister? Maxiel one of Crystalline's friends spoke sarcastically.

"Is she? Why does she look more like a swine to me than a Lady"? Another friend spoke. She has always dislikes Heaven because of her outstanding features.

Crystal was having fun watching them insult Heaven.

Heaven stared at them, then looked left and right. The only thing behind her were few ducks in the little lake that extended from where they were sitting, to were she is standing, in the garden.

"Sorry we're you talking to me" ? Heaven asked the last girl that just spoke.

"Ofcourse is there any other person behind you"? The girl hissed and stared at Heaven in disgust.

"Oh.. Is that so? Pardon my manners.... Your eyes are in a weird position."

"It felt like you were staring at Maxiel beside you and the ducks far beside her... Is she perhaps one of them?"

Although Heaven maintained a polite and innocent face, her words were quite vicious. Attacking both girls in one statement.

"Y... You are so hateful. What's so good about you huh? You're nothing but a swi..... "

The girl was about to call swine but remembering her eye position which looked like she was staring at her friend when ever she looks at Heaven, she had no choice but to shut up.

Her eyes have always been her weakness.

"You bitch" ....! Maxiel cursed fiercely.

"Uh-huh ... You should have known long ago that I'm your mummy and you are my puppy.... Now puppy run along and meet your dad 'a dog'. Go stop him from roaming round the street like....." Heaven clicked her tongue and stared at the fuming face before her.

..... "A beggar!"

Ahhhh!

"Don't stop me! I'll kill her today!"

Maxiel rushed to Heaven ready to tear her apart.... But seems like she over estimated herself.

Heaven moved back, closer to the lake as she saw the oncoming puppy.

Just when Maxiel thought that she had gotten Heaven, the next sound that was heard was a splash, coming from the lake behind Heaven. Obviously she had moved when the puppy was close to her.

"How could you do that" ?!!! Crystalline was both shocked and angry.

Even though her friends are a little bit stupid, she invited them here and it's like an indirect slap to her as when such happened to Maxiel.

"I did nothing wrong.... She look so fierce so I thought that may be I'm obstructing her view so I decided to move".

" .... And I'm correct can't you see how happy she is with her fellow duck? I thought she is a dog but I guess I mistook the pronunciation."

"Okay I'm busy now...if you think it's fun you can go join her. Bye bye"!

Heaven waves and walked out. She knew it that she is a lovely person.

When she got to her shabby looking manor well hidden behind three enormous trees, she met her aunt.

"Hey what are you smiling at" ? Aunt Emily asked the stubborn girl before her.

"Oh I just did good stuff" . Heaven smiled showing her 24 set of clean teeth.

"You did...." ? Aunt Emily doubted it cus even a stranger can recognize her as trouble on first encounter. Her good news is always quite..... peculiar.

"Yes I did.. I helped a duck find her family". Heaven skipped happily to her room after speaking.

Hmm. I think life will be much more better with people like me!

★★★

'Master'. Estevan bowed lightly as he acknowledged Lothaire.

How was it? Lothaire asked lazily.

"The King set a semi engagement for you. Erm.. it's were the marriage will be finalized, the date will also be set. Then preparations will be made for you and the lady will spend at least a week together to get to know each other better.

"Well the semi- engagement is set for tomorrow at sunset." Estevan didn't understand why his Master decided obey the King.

'It's fine'. I'm not doing it because of the King. It's my mom's wish for me to get married to the daughter of her friend. Lothaire had a distant look on his face as he stared into space.

His mom had been his all in all while she was alive. After she passed, his ice began.

The 8 years old him was confused about his body temperature and didn't know what to do.

For the first time, he had sought for his father but the man joined others to mock him and called him a monster.

There was a time he was fed up and poured a very hot water on himself...but he didn't have any peculiar reaction because it was just like pouring hot water on ice... It cooled his temperature a little bit but did not scald him.

When words went out, there began rumors that he is scald and ugly. Well he didn't mind and also it became a convenient disguise for him.

'As for why or what made his ice start, he had no idea.'

"Sire... Are you sure it's this Lady that your mom was referring to?" Estevan felt that it was unlikely. After all his master was just 8 when his mom told him so.

"Shut up! And don't disturb me!" Lothaire found his assistant very irritating at times.

"Have the goods come in" ? Lothaire asked lazily.

"Well we are having problems as there is a strong wave at the middle east and the ship got hit by it and developed a kind of problem... But don't worry the engineers are trying to fix it...."

"Cut the chase and tell me when the goods will get to the port?" Lothaire spoke.

"Erm .. in the next three days"? Estevan could sense his Master's agitation but he didn't know the reason because it certainly can't be became of him.

Lothaire relaxed on his chair and sighed softly.

"I'll be going to meet my mom tomorrow. Make up a valuable excuse for me. You can go"! He dismissed the parrot.