[60.3] Priscilla POV: Euphorbia Milii

[Disclaimer: This chapter contains material about child abuse that some readers may find uncomfortable. Please read at your own risk.]

I sat in the darkness, holding my knees as I trembled in fear. Tiny hands hugged me as a child's voice whispered in my ear, "I will protect you 'Scilla. Don't be scared."

I trembled as I whispered, "D-Daddy is mad at me… I messed up at Lady Sun's party. I-I-"

Felix pulled me tighter, "It's okay… If he can't find us, he can't punish us."

"B-But I'm scared…"

"I'm here 'Scilla. I'm-"

Blinding light suddenly poured into the small space, and arms reached in, pulling us out.

My brother and I were thrown to the ground as my father screamed, "YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD HIDE FROM ME?! YOU TWO ARE SUCH DISAPPOINTMENTS!"

He slammed his foot down on my brother's hand and an awful noise came from my brother as he cried out in pain.

My father continued to shout, "YOU D*MN BASTARD! I told you NOT to take any food!! You're making it seem like I starve you! DO YOU WANT TO MAKE ME MAD?!"

My brother sobbed, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

"Sorry?! Sorry is what I am for sleeping with the ***** that produced you!"

I couldn't stand listening to my brother cry any longer and tried to pull my father's shoe off of my brother's hand. However, my tiny hands couldn't even get it to budge.

I suddenly felt a hard blow to my chin and flew back, crying out in pain.

My father turned to me with his nostrils flaring, "And YOU! You are a PRINCESS! Are you trying to embarrass me with that sorry excuse for etiquette?!"

I sobbed while rubbing my swollen chin, "I-I'm sorry… I will work harder next time…"

My mother was suddenly there by my side and stared down at my father, "Darling. I told you. You can't hit her face. You have to hide the beatings or else people will talk."

She brought me away from my father, but I didn't feel any relief. I watched my brother with extreme worry as he groveled on the floor. I whimpered, "Brother Felix…"

My mother gave Felix a stern look as she spoke to my father, "As for the bastard, do whatever you need to do. No one in nobility cares for him anyway. We can just tell him that he went to live with my aunt. It's not like they'll check."

She turned to leave, leaving my brother behind to face my father's rage all on his own. However, his tiny and malnourished body was in no condition to handle another beating.

I desperately tried to squirm out of my mother's grasp, but she held me close to her so nothing I did made any difference.

The last I saw of my brother was him being pulled up by the hair as my father taunted him, "I should sell you to the Mana traffickers. Then your worthless self will actually benefit me-"

___…___

I sat up with a gasp, drenched in sweat. I quickly went to the bathroom and checked out my chin, but didn't find any bruises. I splashed water on my face and sighed, "Ugh… Why is that dream still haunting me? It's not like it ever happened…"

I rubbed the towel on my face and left the bathroom, sitting down on my bed.

Every night since the tunnel I've been dreaming strange dreams.

A father I recognized, but didn't act like my father would threaten and hurt my brother and me.

My mother, who looked just like my mother, acted completely indifferent and cold.

My brother would take all the beatings and I would always think he wouldn't live…

I would be locked up in this room and it was only until I found the secret door behind my bookcase-

I paused to look at the bookcase, "Wait… If those were all dreams then why do I… Why do I have a secret exit? Has it always been there? I don't even remember having it put in…"

I went over to it and carefully moved it to the side.

I'm…

I'm so confused…

And scared…

So scared…

I collapsed onto the ground and started sobbing.

I wish I had someone to ask...

I wish I had someone to comfort me…

Then maybe I wouldn't be this scared.

As I cried, the flower on my bedside slowly dried up.