Chapter 1: Destiny

The Ophelia Empire was history's most powerful empire. There are only two dukedoms in the empire that are powerful enough to support the royal family of Ophelia.

The Soleil dukedom and the Konrad dukedom. Although there are two dukedoms, the house of Soleil is the most powerful after the royal family, and there are rumors that the house of Soleil may become more powerful than the royal family, but they will always be loyal and support the empire.

"Stop right now, My Lady!" said Nanny Martha, worried.

"Haha, nanny, you are so pretty even when you are angry," said a cute little girl with snow-white skin, beautiful purple hair, and ruby-red pupils. That girl is sitting on the tree again today.

Lady Elle, there will be a guest today. Hurry and get change now. If the grand duchess saw this, I don't know what she would do to you. Please, ma'am.

"Don't be too concerned, Nanny. Elly does not skip lessons, and this is also Elly's rest time; please let Elly be." Elle tried to act cute to gain her nanny's trust.

"But my lady, the grand duchess is..." fidgety nanny Martha admitted.

" Elle! What are you doing up there? Get down this instant! How many times have I told you to behave in a proper manner?" While standing beside Martha, the grand duchess Aria Jane screamed angrily.

Elle is shocked 'Oh no, how long was Mother there?' mumbled Elle while she hurriedly get down from the tree.

Grand Duchess Aria just stared at her daughter and sighed. "After our guest gets home today, meet me in my room. We need to talk about this with your father."

Crystelle pouted her lips.

"Yes, mom, Elly is sorry," said Elle, and she hurriedly got to her room to change.

****

"For generations, the house of Soleil has been a loyal supporter of the royal family; please trust us even more from now on, Duke Konrad." Grand Duke Harrison Declan Ia Soleil, smiles at Duke Acheris se Konrad.

"Haha, same goes for you, grand duke; our house of Konrad will become a loyal subject toward the royalty too," replied Duke Acheris with a smile.

They laugh together.

Elle looks at them; they're always competing with each other.

Elle enters her room and collapses on her bed, bored. It seems Duke Konrad was the guest, so what's the big deal? He's not going to pay attention to Elly even if Elly has to face him; what a waste of time!

Nanny Martha shakes her head.

"Lady Elle, if the duchess hears this, you know, you'll get scolded, so my lady better watch what you've just said; it's for your own good as well." nanny Martha began nagging as she walked out of the room.

"Elly knows Nanny," Elle said as she gazed out the window from her bed.

****

"You must be the next emperor, my baby," said a beautiful woman who looked so familiar while smiling brightly and gently caring for her baby in her belly.

Suddenly the surroundings become dark, and there's only a shadow of that beautiful woman from earlier, and a young man stands before her. They were facing each other in the darkness.

I apologize, mother. This is for your own good too; you're the one who said, "I must become the next emperor," said that young man, as he slowly came closer to that woman.

That woman shook and slowly backed away from that young man.

Stab..!

That woman was trembling as he stabbed her chest with a knife.

The blood covered more of the surrounding area than the darkness did.

"How...could you...?" The woman trembled, stunned.

That boy smirked as he gained her power in his hand.

"Thank you, mother- "

****

"Arrghhh!" Elle awoke from her sleep with a thick layer of sweat covering her entire body.

"My lady! my lady! Are you okay? Nanny gets in Elle's room and hugs her. The entire Soleil family has gathered in Elle's room at this point.

"Are you alright, Elly?" worried the first son of the Soleil family, Cassius Elrick.

" Do you feel sick, Elly? Want to sleep with me?" said the second son, Elle's twin little brother, Crystopher Eirel.

"What's wrong with her, Martha?" ask the grand duke and duchess together.

Elle just smiled and nodded at Martha to let her go.

"Mom, dad..., I got a glimpse of my future."

Grand Duke Harrison and Grand Duchess Aria just stare at each other and then nod as a signal.

"Please excuse us for a moment."

Nanny Martha and their sons just followed the command without question.

"Now, tell us what you see in your dream, my dear. We'll work with you to come to a conclusion, okay, honey?" Aria Jane pats Elle's head while Grand Duke Harrison pulls Elle to sit on his lap.

Elle starts to tell all of her dreams about the beautiful lady and the young man who stabs her to become the emperor.

The grand duke and duchess were stunned while hearing the story silently.

' Um. We'll meet the Emperor this weekend and hear his response to Elle's engagement contract: "It's okay, honey.. we promise to protect you.. you can sleep with Crys tonight, but please always wear your glove, okay?" Aria Jane and Harrison Declan kiss Elle's head and get to their room together.

Elle just nodded and sent her parents out of her room with her stare. "Glove," Elle said, looking down at her hand.

Knock Knock.

' Sister..' Crystopher approaches his sister slowly.

"Can we sleep together?" Crystopher asked with a smile while hugging his pillow.

"What a cute little brother," Elle exclaimed as she considered her brother, then motioned for Cryst to climb the bed.

"Can I join too, Elly?" asks a voice from the door.

Elle looks at him.

Cassius was just staring at them with jealousy all over his face.

Elle laughed much harder than before.

"Come here, brother Cass!"

Cassius smiles and instantly runs toward Elle. He was laying down with them together.

"Good night!"

They sleep together while hugging each other.

Elle stared at Cryst and Cassius who sleeping beside her while she pondered something in her small head.

"A destiny... for me."