章 7: Lucy Andras (2)
It was the worst birthday I have ever experienced. My 9th birthday was just ten days after the incident.
"Happy birthday~" A butler placed a cake on the empty table in the mansion dining room. His happy smile couldn't be any more forced.
I was surrounded by servants, but there was no family in sight. They began to give me congratulatory words as if I were their child.
But none of that mattered to me, they weren't my family.
I wanted to cry...
But today is my birthday.
Maybe I should try to talk to Dorian one more time.
I wanted to apologize to Dorian just once. I was too hurt to realize that I had said some hurtful words to him because I was upset at the time.
I ate the strawberry cake as the servants started to leave to do their other duties in the household.
It didn't taste as sweet as last year.
I tried to focus my mind on the taste of the cake, but my mind couldn't help but wander off into the abyss.
I was alone again.
I kept looking around the table to see if one of them would appear as a surprise. As a gift for me turning nine...
But as time continued to pass, I gave up on that thought. It was too much to ask for after what had just happened.
Father had not talked nor come to visit me after seeing me cry in the garden, he looked disappointed...
Mother kicked me out of her room after I entered and saw her crying for some reason, she didn't want to speak to me for now.
Brother ignored my apologies and reconsolidations.
Butler Ryan was now gone because he had been executed the day after.
I kept silently eating the cake.
One thing kept staying on my mind. Why was brother smiling? Everything was too hazy for me to remember what happened afterward. But I could see Brother smiling after Ryan was taken away;
No one would smile out of pure happiness...
It must have been something else.
The cake only filled my stomach. I continued to devour the cake bite after bite until it disappeared.
.
.
.
"B-brother..." I had walked down the long hallway to arrive in front of Dorian's room. He requested to move into the abandoned storage place after he saw his mother die.
"Why..." I confronted the door in front of me. The door was rotting, and the brown color of it was foreign to the white surrounding walls.
No response came.
Dorian just listened from the other side. The door started to become more denser. My voice became less audible.
"I'm... I'm sorry brother."
Again I was hit with silence.
What was I apologizing for again?
All I wanted to do was just talk with him again.
The silence gave me an answer, so I left the door alone.
The long hallway was seen behind me. The glass dome above showed the countless stars. It had shown the clear night sky.
The carpet I stepped on was bright red, it was distinct from the white walls surrounding me.
.
.
.
The next day I began lessons on soul weapon formation on top of my etiquette classes since I reached the age of nine.
Nervousness struck me again, I was wobbling as I walked to my room. Waiting on my bed I waited for someone to knock on my door to tell me to get ready for the upcoming lesson.
Father showed me and Dorian his soul weapon when Dorian kept failing to form his. He brought me along to request Father to materialize a Soul Weapon.
As Father began to forge his soul weapon, an intense concentration of energy could be sensed, gathering at a single focal point.
It stood huge, it matched his bulky stature. A large black-iron greatsword appeared out of thin air, followed by a dense blue aura. The aura started to coat around the sword.
It was bewitching my eyes.
"Listen hear Dorian," Father spoke to Brother while raising his greatsword, "Don't try too hard to form your sword weapon by thinking about it."
"Let your heart desire the weapon that you so desperately have a connection with." The expression on his face suggested a deep bond with his sword.
Dorian's eyes widen at the sight of such an incredible weapon. I too became bewitched by the blue flame that surrounded from the handle to the tip of the black-iron weapon.
.
.
.
Knock, knock
Someone was at my door, I was waiting in anticipation. I could finally start to form a soul weapon like Father.
"Yes?" I questioned the person behind the door, already knowing the answer.
It was an elder maid who entered.
"Young lady, your teacher has arrived please get ready." The maid replied in a mellow way.
It was finally time. This time I can hope to see Father present a pleased expression towards my weapon.
"Okay." I signaled for the maid to leave and got ready.
.
.
.
"Lucy don't try to imagine your soul weapon." His teachings sounded familiar. "Let your heart desire the weapon you need."
The weapon I need. What do I need to do to create a soul weapon? His instructions were so unclear that I found myself silently shouting at him.
"Your soul weapon is formed through your body's physical and mental state. Don't rush and try to think of a cool weapon, it will just come forth to you the more you relax."
Why do you need to create this soul weapon?
I need this soul weapon to see Father happy again. Will he express pride in me if I manifest one before my brother does?
I remembered Father's dark expression that day, he quickly left after glancing at me.
Why?
I want to play with Father and Brother again. I close my eyes and imagine the fun we could have. My heart quickened its pace once more, and warmth began to spread through my body.
I want the return of those joy-filled days when everyone was happy.
Please, don't ignore me, Brother.
Please, don't show that look, Father.
Please, don't say you don't want to see me, Mother.
I felt a smooth handle forming in the grip of my hands, light and soft.
A weapon that can help me impress Father.
When I opened my eyes, I found a thin white rapier being held in my right hand. It was truly fascinating, like Father's weapon. The handle was black, and the rapier was golden white.
It had a platinum aura enveloping it, a different color from Father's.
"I did it!" I exclaimed with uncontainable excitement.
I could finally see Father, he would surely be happy to hear I manifested a soul weapon on my first try!
"Great job Lucy!" My teacher was completely shocked to see a nine-year-old girl forming a soul weapon on her first attempt.
"I can't believe it!"
And just like that, my lessons came to an end.
.
.
.
I was in front of Father's office, where he spends most of his time. I opened his door and peeked in. He wasn't there.
"Father?" I was confused as to where else he could be in the afternoon, as he was always holed up in his office. But then I suddenly made eye contact with the head butler, Joseph.
"What brings you here my lady?" Joseph furrowed his brows. Above his eyebrows was a completely bald head, no hair was found above.
"Mister Joseph..." I felt wretched as I stepped into Father's office, "Do you know where my father could be?"
"I'm sorry for your coincidences but the Duke has gone on an expedition, and will not be returning for months up to a year." He fixed a solemn look on his face.
I couldn't believe it. Father had left without telling me! I felt saddened at his sudden disappearance because I wouldn't be able to show him my soul weapon.
"I was put in charge to watch the estate while he is gone."
"O-okay..." I tried to hide my disappointed voice. My heart felt pang again.
I trekked out of Father's office, holding back the words burning inside me.
.
.
.
I woke up in my purple bed again, it was already the next day. My body was still a little tired after yesterday's interaction with Father.
I struggled to get up and changed into my white robe and platinum attire. Mother gave me the robe as an apology for her past actions.
I felt myself warm up at the thought that Mother had changed for the better. We can go back like we used to be...
I continued to try to convince myself with this thought.
Today I had etiquette lessons with my teacher and I left the room feeling a bit disheveled. Lessons started becoming repetitive to me since I had been doing this ever since I was 5. As I strode down the hallway, the red carpet beneath my feet added a touch of elegance to my otherwise mundane day.
I saw my brother sweating profusely as he quickly left Father's office. From my distance, I noticed him take out an item from his back pocket, my eyes widened at the sight.
I saw Brother take out a necklace, it was a silver chain encased in the middle was a blue gem that shined brightly.
A blue gem was encased in a silver bracket...
It was the Soul Necklace!
He had it the entire time.
How did Brother not get caught by the Memory Gem's data? Brother lied straight to my face, he told me such a despicable lie.
What should I do?
Should I tell Father that Dorian has the Soul Necklace?
I knew what the right answer was, but I couldn't face it.
Because in fact, I did the same thing as Dorian.
I became a liar like him.
If I go back to tell Father he had it, Father would surely be disappointed in me for not catching him earlier...
I...
I lied to Father.
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