章 5: Chapter 4: Dream

<p>In a huge manor, finally the woman's faint screams stopped, replaced by a baby's cries. But unlike other households, there weren't any happy words of joy or congratulatory words to the new mother and child pair. All quiet and silence after the baby stopped crying.<br/>There were three mid-wives in the room and a young girl of average of six with a crimson red hair accompanying the new mother and child.<br/>It took the new mother a few minutes to get back her lost strength, and only then did she raise her hand while lying on the bed and extended it, "My Child. Give my child. I want to see my child."<br/>Her voice was weak but firm.<br/>The mid-wife who was carrying the child wrapped in a cloth in her hands, placed the child beside the the lying mother, "Congratulations, Madam. It's a healthy baby girl."<br/>As soon as the mother saw her child, she stared at the baby with love and admiration, "Oh my, She's so beautiful."<br/>The mid-wife smiled and agreed with the mother, "Sure she's, my lady."<br/>Then as if suddenly realizing something, the new mother looked at the women and asked, "Well, is the duke here? Or the Children?"<br/>The mid-wives were stunned at first and then looked at each other in dilemma.<br/>The new mother instantly understood the situation and exclaimed sadly, "Yeah, I know. You don't have to tell me. Even after so many days, I'm still so naive."<br/>Then her eyes caught the little girl standing near the bed, who was trying to peep at the baby in her arms.<br/>The woman smiled and called out, "Little girl, do you want to see my baby?"<br/>The little girl who was abruptly pointed out and caught while peeping was scared and asked, "I? Me?"<br/>The woman on the bed smiled and nodded.<br/>The little girl looked at her mother, and only after getting an encouraged smile from her mother and her two aunts, did she nod hesitantly, "Yes, my lady. Can I?"<br/>The woman smiled and said, "Yes, of course. Come here."<br/>The little girl came forwards and looked at the baby in the woman's arms after she extended her hands. As soon as she saw the baby, she couldn't help but exclaim in shock, "Ohhhh! She's so cute, My Lady. I'm sure after some days when her baby wrinkles go away, she will become more cute and lovely."<br/>The woman on the bed nodded in the innocent girl's cuteness, and said after a small chuckle, "Yeah, isn't she?"<br/>"Then, then, what will be her name?" The girl asked, not realizing she touched the woman's sore point.<br/>It was a normal and an understanding ritual like between the parents to give a name to their newborn. But her husband... Hahh!<br/>Her poor baby won't have that beautiful fate where both of her parents would name her.<br/>The woman smiled a little to hide her pain, "She... Her name will be Evelyn."<br/>"Evelyn? Why Evelyn?" The little girl asked. Confusion written all over her face.<br/>"Don't be so rude to the Lady. How can you question about The Lady's decision of naming?"<br/>"It's okay. She's just a child. And all children are curious of many things. As their elders we should help them to understand things," the woman smiled as she explained, "I named her Evelyn because it means life and strength," Then she looked at the baby and said, "And she's my life and strength."<br/>____/____/____/____<br/>.<br/> Three Years Later<br/>.<br/>A small girl with caramel brown hair and eyes with a fair skin, was found running after a group of two boys and a girl, screaming with the top of her voice, "Edesht Baadar, Shecen Baadar, wait for me. Shishtar, wait for me. Wettt! Wett!"<br/>But the group didn't wait. They kept on running and playing catch-catch among themselves.<br/>The little girl who looked like a small dumpling, fell heavily on the ground after stumbling on the ground while running. A huge cut could be seen on her knees, as her dress near her knee region was torn.<br/>The little girl who couldn't control her tears due to the severe pain, wailed.<br/>The group of trio at the distance felt the change but only the young girl with light blue hair of average 5 said, "Eldest Brother, Second Brother, I think our little sister-"<br/>"Amelia, how many times should I tell you, you're our only sister? Don't always forget that," a boy of age seven with the same hair colour scoffed.<br/>"But second brother, she-"<br/>"Your second brother is right, little sis. Don't pay attention to-" Said the other boy with blonde hair. But before he could say anything, he was interrupted with a loud shocked scream.<br/>"Oh my God, my lady, you're bleeding so much!"<br/>Kesi, a young girl of age nine with red hair screamed. And only then did the trio turned and paid attention to the three-year old.<br/>They got scared for a while and then came running to the place where the yoing girl was hugged by the nine-year old.<br/>They weren't scared for the little girl's pain except Amelia, but of their father's wrath. They still remembered how the huge manor was almost overturned by their father who found out Amelia was hurt.<br/>"Little sis, are you-"<br/>Amelia was concerned of her little sister. But before she could finish her words, she was dragged away by her brothers to escape the scene.<br/>Later, even though the duke found out about it, he didn't say anything. He just simply asked a doctor to check the little girl. He didn't pay any visit to the little girl for even once.<br/>And this calmed the shaking heart of the two boys. And their guilty feeling soon vanished.<br/>It was only Amelia who felt awful to see such ignorance to her little sister among the quartet.<br/>The Duchess was really disappointed and angry with this partial treatment of the Duke between the two young girls. Clearly, both of them were his children, but...<br/>That night, she confronted the duke about this matter. She wouldn't have flared up that much but her daughter kept on asking about her father in her unconsciousness. And even after summoning the man for three times, he refused to visit.<br/>Which mother won't flare up for that?<br/>"I just wished nothing more from you. Can't you just treat the child a little better?" She asked.<br/>But the Duke coldly glanced at the Duchess, "Treat the child better? Hah! Did I ever want that child from the start? It was you who wanted to keep her even after I asked you to abort. Now, why do you want me to treat her better now? It's already enough that she's taking up a space in my household?"<br/>"Duke?"The Duchess couldn't believe his words at all as she stared at him in wide eyes.<br/>But the Duke didn't stop there. He continued, "And don't you ever forget how you forced yourself to me and why that unwanted filth was born in the first place, Winter Crawford! And moreover, I think you're forgetting something I guess. We are not really married, so please have some self-respect."<br/>After saying that, he walked out of the room, leaving the woman staring at his retreating back in a daze.<br/>Not realizing that a little figure was holding her mouth to stop her cries, hidden in the darkness, behind the door.</p>