Ch.4

*

*

*

I opened my eyes and I was at home. In my bed. What happened?! I thought I was at the shop. I got out of bed and walked toward my desk. There was a note on my desk. I read the note.

{ Lady Viviana,

I apologize for scaring you, I sent you home because I heard the maid will come and knock on your door. The dress and shoes are ready for you. Once it's the day of the debut ball, you must take this blue gemstone into the moonlight, and then the transformation will happen to you. If you need help with anything ring the bell and I will come. Do not lose the bell. }

The maid knocked on the door and came in. I quickly hide the note. It was Emily, she never liked me.

"Get up! You should at least show up… Here is a dress Lady Celina gave to you! Be grateful she even let you wear a nice dress!"

Emily throws the dress on the bed and then walks towards the door trying her best to not laugh. She slammed the door and I looked at the dress. My eyes widened. It was a mother's dress shoe worn on her deathbed. Are you kidding me?! She is basically saying I should die like how my mother did, all alone and feeling hopeless.

"Do they have no shame??! Celine is really testing me!"

What should I do??? Maybe... I should wear it… Father will be there, maybe if I remind him of Mother he will treat me better. It's worth a try. I called for some maids and came to help me. Putting on a corset and then slipping into the emerald gown, an Off-shoulder dress with a green lace choker. They tied my hair in a bun and helped me put on emerald jewelry.

I looked at myself in the mirror, this was the last time I saw my mother. Mother was wearing this outfit, waiting for Father to come but instead got news of horror.

*Flashback to when Vivana was 7 years old*

"Mommy!!!"

I ran towards Mommy. Mommy was outside waiting for Father to come from his work at the castle.

Mom turned to me and hugged me. She smiled and then stroked my head.

"Vivana, are you excited to be an older sister?"

I didn't understand what Mommy meant until Mommy showed her big tummy! I tried hugging my mommy's tummy but it was too hard.

"You're going to have a little brother to play with!"

Mommy smiled at me and I smiled widely! I am going to have a friend to play with!!!

"Hello, brother! Come out to play with me sooner!!"

Mommy laughed a bit and then patted my head. She always calls me a silly girl. Daddy's carriage came home and he stepped out. Mommy looking out from the balance. Father looked up at Mommy. Then Mommy saw someone and told me to go back inside. The maid took me away to my room as I passed Daddy and this young lady who looked pretty but not as pretty as Mommy. That lady has a little girl holding her hand. She looked around my age.

Once I got to my room, I heard a scream from where Daddy and Mommy were. I quickly ran towards Mommy and Daddy walked past me. I look down from the balcony to see Mommy on the ground with Mommy coughing up blood. I ran downstairs to Mommy.

"Mommy! Are you alright??"

Mommy cupped my cheeks and smiled. She died on the spot in front of me. I started to cry out loud and nobody did anything. The doctor came and they said mommy died from a shock. What happened??

*End of flashback*

Did Mother really die due to sickness or was it something else? Why didn't my father help her or speak about it to me? Mother would look better in this gown than me. Her blonde hair and emerald eyes match the gown more than my Ash Blonde hair but my emerald eyes look so beautiful with this dress.

All the maids left my room, they just did their job and then left me. They never really like doing anything for me. I went to my desk and picked up the bell. There is no way he will come here from me ringing the bell. I started to ring the bell, no sound. I don't hear anything. I rang harder and still, there was no sound.

"My ears are hurting so much! Maybe it was a bad idea to give you a bell huh?"

He came out of nowhere!!!! He came up to me and held out his hand. I held out my hand and he kissed it.

"We meet again Lady Vivana~ What do you need help on?"

"Um... I aplo- sir but I was testing it out…"

He was a bit surprised that I said I was testing it out. Nonetheless, he soon smiled a bit.

"I See~"

He then eyed me up and down. He soon bit his lips. I felt a little weird about what he was doing. He leaned in closer to my face.

"Love the dress~"

"Thank you, it was from my mother… she wore this on the day she passed away…"

"I'm sorry to hear that…"

"It's alright…"

I started to tear up. It was too painful to remember what happened to my mother. If only fathers would look into this more but no father doesn't want to. He wants to drop the case.

"Hey… if it's too painful you could erase your memory by drinking this.."

He handed me this glass bottle that looked like it was just milk.

"However, you must pay some money for it first!"

He took back the glass bottle. I wiped my tears.

"No, thank you, sir… I need those memories… I want to find out what really happened to my mother!"

He chuckled and then smiled at me. His eyes are very beautiful~ Ruby eyes they say... I have never seen someone with ruby eyes in this kingdom. I almost forgot to ask his name!!!

"Sir, may I ask what is your nam-"

*knock knock knock*

"I must go, my lady~ If we meet again I will let you know my name~"

He kissed my hand and then teleported as the stepmother Kalina came in. Kalina was wearing a green slim one with a black bow in the back. Her dress is similar to the mother's gown I was wearing. She was holding a black lace fan. She then smirked a bit at me.

"Viviana ~ You look so beautiful~ Just lik-"

"Thank you, Kalina… We should get going…"

Out into the hallway, I could hear people chatting and praising Celina for her beauty. I came downstairs and went towards the door. The moment the door opened people stopped talking and their eyes were fixed on me. Celina was there in her white puff sleeves gown with a red ribbon at her waistline. A bow at the back of her dress. Her hair was of course tied in a bun to show off her pink pearl necklace and earring.

"Sister! You made it! I was so sad and worried!"

Celina was fake crying but I know if I didn't react people would spread rumors. However, if I do react people will say I am faking it. In their eyes, I am the villainess who bullied and hurt Celina. When in fact I did nothing to her but fight back. What should I do?

"Y-your highness!!!"

I turned around to see the crown prince of the sun kingdom! We all greeted him. Prince Cynfal Aiden Afanasiy would never come to visit a noble family unless for some reason. Prince Cynfal is also my cousin… not closest related but still a cousin. You may be wondering how is he the crown prince and your cousin. Shouldn't he be your uncle? No, he is my cousin.

Mother Was the eldest daughter of the family, Born to the king and queen of the kingdom. The pure blood of the royal. Until Grandpa married a second wife and had my auntie. Grandpa had an affair with one of the ladies in waiting and she got pregnant with my uncle. Grandpa was overjoyed that he had an heir to the throne. He ended up divorcing Grandma and married his mistress. The mistress became the new queen of the sun kingdom. Grandpa was unfair and gave all his love to my uncle and not Mother. Later Mother saw my father and fell in love, she loved how he protected her and was always there.

Grandpa at first didn't want to let Mother marry the father since he was a duke. To this day, I don't know why? However, he ended up letting Mother marry Father. My uncle, whom I have never met before. I believe his name was Crown Prince Marcellus. I heard he looked like Mother, with blonde hair and green eyes. His wife's name is Crown Princess Serena. I heard she was blind and had grey hair. They say she is very beautiful and smart. I'll have to take a look at their portrait to see if true or not.

My auntie has brown hair and green eyes. Her name was Princess Jora Aster Afanasiy, because she has plain brown hair people didn't respect or don't claim her as a member of the royal family. Grandpa always keeps her locked up in the palace. I should visit my auntie and maybe find Grandma. Prince Cynfal's father and mother were crown princesses and crown princes but they died from an unknown cause. As Prince Cynfal is the only heir to the family, Grandpa tries so hard to keep Prince Cynfal safe, while making sure he becomes the best Crown prince.

"Greeting the crown prince of the sun kingdom! May the light always follow you!"

Everyone said and he told everyone to raise up.