"Warmth of a Family"

When she woke up, she was already lying down on her bed at home, with a lit candle on her bedside table. Her stomach growled from hunger and despite feeling weak, she helped herself up and slowly went to the dining area.

"Give her some acorn soup!" her mother Anne ordered her twelve-year-old brother Flynn when she caught sight of Ivory, who quickly did as he told. "Ivory, how are you feeling? Are you hurting somewhere?"

"I still feel weak, but I'm so hungry. I think I could eat all the soup you've made mother!" she chuckled weakly, then smiling faintly at his brother who placed a bowl in front of her.

"By the way, you were brought here by a handsome young man who seems like the son of General Goldwine," Anne gave her a thin slice of loaf bread before sitting across her. "They're living in Megalia City, and you know that I've been delivering acorns and blueberries at their house for many years already."

"Ohh… so that's why the knight guards saluted him and the principal treated him warmly. He's really famous..." she took a bite of the bread before eating the soup cooked by her mother.

"Eat well, so you'll recover soon!" Flynn beamed at his sister.

"Aww, you're always the sweet boy, Flynn," she looked at him with adoration and patted his head.

"Hey, I'm not a kid anymore!" he retorted.

"Big sis, look!" her ten-year-old sister, Gracie, came running to her, bringing a pink and purple flower necklace. "Try it!"

Ivory placed the spoon inside the bowl before lowering her head. Gracie then wore the floral necklace consisting of freshly picked hydrangeas that afternoon.

"This is so pretty, Gracie! I love it so much! Thank you," she pulled her little sister into her arms and gave a soft kiss on her cheek.

Ivory has always been close to her siblings, Gracie and Flynn. But Katie, who's three years younger than her, had become more and more distant as she grew up.

"I'm home," Katie said, stepping in grumpily as she saw her family having a good time without her. She walked towards the table, glaring at her older sister, "You look pale. Are you sick again?"

The mother caught Katie's angry stare at her unwell daughter, "Katie, don't you-"

"Are you going to make mother and father exhausted again from overworking just to buy your expensive medicines? They even travel for three whole days just to get you those! Sheeesh… You're always a burden-"

"Katie!" Anne scolded her daughter. "Watch the tone of your voice! You are speaking to your older sister!"

"Mom, it's okay… I've been a burden to you and fa-"

"See?" Katie turned to her mother. "She even knows she's a BURDEN!"

"She's not a burden! Please... Don't say such hurtful words-

"Why?" the angry child scowled at Ivory. 'Because she's chosen by Goddess Destinia? That's why you have always been extra careful with her and not with us?"

The youngest of four started crying while watching her other sister and mother fight again. Their brother kept glaring at Katie. Ivory felt so sorry and just pulled Gracie and Flynn on her side, embracing them tightly.

Anne got up from her seat, "How many times are we going to tell you that your big sister has always been poor in health since she was a baby? We don't mind traveling as long as your sister lives! "

"You don't have to tell me cause I've been hearing this since we were little! You don't care about me that much because I am healthy!"

"What are you saying? Of course, not. It's just-" she tried explaining to Katie, but her child already left the dining area and slammed the door behind them. "Good thing your father's asleep now, or he will scold her again," Anne sighed, sitting back on the chair. "I wonder why she has become like that…"

Ivory couldn't help but feel dispirited again. Aside from losing her Servant and getting rejected on the same day, she had to put up with a sister who didn't like her even though she knew she hadn't done her wrong. But being with her mom and her two younger siblings that night, she mustered up her courage and thought about recovering quickly. Because of her family, she has become more driven and more motivated to do her best in the academy.

The next day, a white one-horse carriage arrived in front of their house. Upon seeing Ivory's mother, who was sweeping the dried leaves, the coachman stepped down the carriage and introduced himself.

"Good day, I'm Ebleu, one of the Goldwine family's coachmen. I'm here to bring Miss Ivory Sprucemint to Qawiun Academy. I will also bring her back home after her classes," an old man with a big nose, grayish hair, and beard, announced.

Anne glanced over her shoulder and was very surprised with the unexpected coach in front of their small home, "She's just preparing! She'll be here in a short while," she said as she waited for her daughter to come out.

Soon after, Ivory stepped out of the house and was shocked to see the carriage Lucius had sent. She saw the coachman bowing at her and returned the gesture to Ebleu.

"It is by Sir Lucius' order that I am to be your coachman from now on," Ebleu said, "We are very fortunate that Megalia City and Greensteid town are just next to each other, Miss Ivory. "

Lucius had been a big help ever since they met. Sometimes, she often wondered how she could repay him in the future, "Where's Lucius?"

"He left earlier than me, Miss Sprucemint. He said he needed to drop by somewhere… Shall we go?"