Chapter 2

Drying the last bit of tears, Leslie made a fist with both hands. To leave and live, she decided.

She never imagined leaving home before. No matter what happened, they were still her family, and she was desperate for their love. But what happened last night was the end of the line for Leslie. Now there’s no love or any other expectations for the people she once called ‘family.’ And with what she lost, she found something new.

Black magic. There was no mistaking it.

In the Recardius Empire, each high noble house possessed unique divine powers or magic. Amongst them, the House of Sperado kept their affinity and ability to manipulate the darkness a secret. Then, for some mysterious reasons, black magic yielders began to decline, and soon, no Sperado children bore the ability. Naturally, the House of Sperado gradually became lesser.

‘I read that it’s been over a hundred years since a child was born with magic...’

Leslie wondered why the magic manifested in her, but it was clear that was the reason she survived the night.

‘Could it be connected to the voices I heard?’

Tiny hands that pushed her away from the fire, telling her to survive. And there were so many hands.

‘There could be some answers hidden in the library.’

But there were more pressing issues at hand. The marquis could come back any minute to re-attempt the sacrifice ritual. So it was time to move and leave the Sperado mansion as soon as possible. Though, one thing was clear. The ritual had something to do with her sister Eli. The marquis shouted something about her when he speared Leslie into the fire.

With a bitter smile, Leslie looked down at her arms where the flames had licked her. The wound was still fresh, red and blistered. It was wrapped clumsily, not doing much to bandage the burn. It was probably done by one of the many servants or maids.

‘I need power.’

‘I needed power to protect myself,’ Leslie told herself decisively. No matter how much magic she had, she was still only a twelve-year-old child.

So, she needed a guardian to protect her from her father, the marquis.

The Recardius Empire’s laws on child welfare and guardianship had a strict conservatorship clause. In other words, all children needed protection from a parent or guardian. Even if Leslie successfully ran away from the Sperado House, she was still bound by the law to inevitably be returned to the estate.

Therefore, she needed another adult other than her former family to be protected and be independent from the clutches of the Sperado House. Otherwise, her life would be wasted away for her sister’s sake. Even in death, she wouldn’t be at peace knowing all this now.

She needed another six years to be legally declared an adult. Even for her to be able to pass as one, she would need another four to five years. But Leslie didn’t have the time. She couldn’t stand being under the influence of the marquis for so long. There also was no guarantee that he would keep her alive until then.

‘I need to find a way.’

Leslie stared at the burns once more before wearing her old, torn slippers. As she prepared to leave the attic, the shadows moved out from under her bed to follow her.

“It’s alright.”

She smiled reassuringly, and the shadows returned under the bed.

Creak―

Leslie climbed down the stairs. Her attic was shabby and old. It was hard to believe that it was a room where the marquis’ daughter lived. A few steps down the stairs, the scene transformed. Like magic, her surroundings immediately became warm, luxurious, bright and enticingly rich.

The clean hallway was decorated with expensive pristine glass windows where the dazzling sunlight poured in. The floor was covered with a soft carpet that made her slippers look out of place.

The closer she neared the end of the hallway, the more luxurious and expensive the mansion became. Delicate vases and fragrant flowers were everywhere. Sculptures and paintings were on every wall. Hence, she knew that she was nearing Eli’s room.

Naive Leslie would have never set foot in this hallway. She would have been too intimidated and most definitely would have feared Eli’s wrath upon seeing Leslie there. Eli was quick to anger whenever Leslie was near her room.

She said that Leslie would dirty the house and that she didn’t fit in because Leslie was creepy and depressing to look at.

‘I guess this power fits me well.’

Leslie was the moss. She grew up in the dark as a shadow of Eli, and Eli was the flower that grew under the glorious sun. People whispered so, too, especially her own mother. She told Leslie as if to brainwash her.

“Leslie, look in the mirror. Look at yourself in the mirror! Now, tell me. What are you?”

“A useless child....”

“That’s right. Now tell me, what makes you useful then?”

“Living for my sister.”

Leslie’s answers made her mother very happy, and she smiled at Leslie. And Leslie was happy to see her mother smile so beautifully at her. So she told her mother what she wanted to hear. She stood before the mirror and helped her destroy her confidence and self-esteem.

But Leslie now knew that it was pointless and that she helped her oppressor control her.

‘From now on, I won’t listen or speak to them.’

Leslie nodded a little and hurried her steps. Then she heard voices.

“Half a year?”

If a breeze had a voice, it would sound like this. It was a clear and melodious voice, the voice of Eli.

“How can I wait half a year?!”

“Sweetheart, My lovely Eli.”

After Eli’s frustrated whines came the marquis’s voice.

“In half a year’s time, the perfect moment will come. Please be patient, honey.”

“Geez, this is so annoying! How did that idiot even come out of it alive? Only if she got burned by the fire, this wouldn’t have happened!”

Eli complained.

“It’s all her fault that my powers aren't awakened. If we had successfully sacrificed her, then I would be able to properly use my powers! What will people think of me if I can’t use my powers? You don’t really think I can improve our status with these measly powers, do you?”

‘What?’

Leslie took a peek into the room through the door left slightly ajar. Listening to her outbursts informed Leslie that Eli also had powers to do black magic. But Eli’s powers weren’t like hers, not as powerful.

“Do you love her, father? Is that why you kept her alive?!”

It would have been, of course, hard to believe even if the marquis answered positively to Eli’s tantrum. The marquis did not hesitate to spear Leslie in order to make her burn. He had no remorse and definitely didn’t have an ounce of love for Leslie. Leslie thought nothing could surprise her anymore. But she realized that she was sorely wrong when she heard the marquis coo to Eli.

“Sweetie, don’t be ridiculous. That child was born for you. If your powers don’t come, she will be your servant, a lady-in-waiting, to serve you at the palace when you become the queen. If your powers do come, then she will be sacrificed to amplify all your magic. It’s all part of the plan.”

Leslie could not believe her ears. She could not comprehend what the marquis was telling Eli.

“What if she awakens her powers, too?”

“There is no way that is ever possible. See now, she doesn’t have any of your beautiful golden hair and lush green eyes. A true Sperado is born with these characteristics. But that child has neither. Her hair is white like a hag. All useful sacrifices are born with her colors. Otherwise, she has no use!”

“...But then why did you make me meet Prince Arlendo with her?”

The marquis’s words must have satisfied her. Eli’s voice was much calmer.

“Like I said, if you become the queen and no powers come, she is to be your maid. So it’s obvious that she needs to be seen by the Prince. Thankfully, she spilled tea on the Prince, so we have the perfect excuse to keep her from debuting in high society.”

“Wait, so if it wasn’t the tea, you would have debuted her?”

“No! Of course not! She is made for you. Anyway, my love, talking about the society, isn’t it time to get a new dress for the season?”

The father and daughter’s continued conversation trailed behind Leslie as she ran back to her attic. She couldn’t stand to listen to another word. They sounded like monstrous beasts munching on bones. It was all too disgusting.

‘My birth, life, and even death... It was all for her?’

‘I was a part of their sick plan! Everything from the beginning! Nothing was mine… I was to die as Eli’s maid or sacrificial offering. It didn’t matter what I did or felt. It was already done for me. I never had a choice!’

“They were going to kill me no matter what...”

Leslie already knew about the cruel, painful truth. But hearing her father tell it made them all too real. She felt her tears flowing again as she screamed inside. The marquis and his family had shown her nothing but how low they could be. The same anger and despair she felt falling from the cliff rushed over Leslie once again.

***

“Where are you going so early in the morning?”

Leslie stared at the marquis with placid eyes. The marquis was a man of noble blood with sleek hair, waxed cleanly, and clothed in expensive silk. But no matter how well-kept and stylishly dressed he was, the marquis was nothing but a monster in Leslie’s eyes.

“So, now you are not responding anymore? You are such an ungrateful and useless child.”

Though he was a man who didn't budge as he threw his own daughter into a pit of fire, the marquis clicked his tongue as if not answering him promptly was such an offense. Leslie watched him and slowly parted her lips.

“I'm useless?”

The marquis’s eyes frowned. He certainly expected a response, but not the kind he just heard. His youngest daughter was supposed to be apologizing for her insolence. She was supposed to be cowering and begging. But she didn't.

“I don't think so. Think about it, Marquis Sperado.”

Leslie smiled. The marquis instinctively took a step backward. He suddenly felt chills running down his back.

“You're the one who's most in trouble without me... aren't you?”

“What?”

Leslie was behaving oddly, the marquis thought. She was different, but he couldn't explain the change. Perhaps, it was an effect of a near-death experience?

“Surviving the fire made you impertinent. Do I need to beat some sense back into you?”

The marquis threatened Leslie in a low voice through his gritted teeth.

“This is all for your sister. For this family.”

“Then jump in yourself.”

“What?”

Leslie nodded her head and said once more.

“Go jump in the fire yourself. I won’t go in anymore.”

She turned around to leave, for she had no more to say.

“How dare you? Stop right th...!”

The marquis stopped mid-sentence and moaned. Everything became black and he could not see a thing.

“Gasp.”

As the marquis stumbled in the darkness, blinded by fear, Leslie slipped out of the main doors of the mansion. The darkness followed with each step she took, freeing the marquis from the ocean of shadows. Leslie didn’t look back and continued until she reached a new, white carriage. Then she climbed into the carriage with no hesitation.

“Miss Leslie, this carriage is for Miss Eli, your sister.”

The waiting servant and carriage man loudly reprimanded Leslie.

Leslie has never ridden alone in a carriage from the marquis before. She was forbidden from leaving the mansion, and when she was allowed to leave, she always had to walk like a commoner. The only time she ever rode in a carriage was when she went to the temples for prayers and offerings. Even then, she had to ride with the servants in a dingy old wagon that was always dirty and cramped.

Leslie had overheard the maids whispering about this white carriage. Apparently, there were only two of these in the capital city, and Eli owned this one. It was her most prized possession. Naturally, Leslie was not allowed to even look at it.

But today, Leslie was in the carriage waiting to be transported.

“I know. Take me to the temple.”

Leslie ignored their insubordination and ordered again. Then she busied herself brushing her hair behind the ears, trying to make it tame enough to look decent for the temple.

“Are you crazy? Miss Eli is going to come out soon. Get off her car...”

The waiting servant reached out to grab Leslie's arm impatiently. Leslie noticed that the servant was one of those who worshipped Eli and followed her around religiously. His hands were big and his grip on her arm was violent.

Leslie looked down at the hands that were holding her and raised her own hands.