Chapter 4

In recent records, premature deaths were more sporadic and infrequent. Thinking back, the last black magic yielder’s birth dated back to over a hundred years ago. So she flipped the pages to older records. And there, she found many children who died at around her age.

Empire Year 231, April 3. Lea Sperado, 12 years old, fell and died. The funeral was held for two days.

Empire Year 263, January 23. Litten Sperado the second-born son, 15 years old, died from an illness. The funeral was held for two days.

Empire Year 301, December 7. Pedael Sperado the second-born daughter, 11 years old, drowned while boating. The funeral was held for two days.

Death by falling, drowning, while boating, burglary, an unknown incurable disease... There were various reasons, but one thing was clear. All these children died young before they reached adulthood.

‘And only two days for a funeral.’

A noble’s funeral usually took a week-long procession. The higher and more influential the family, the more ravish and longer the days were. The House of Sperado and the likes sometimes had funerals lasting up to fifteen days, inviting people from far and wide to say their last goodbyes. But these children were only given two days. Some were even buried on the day of death without a funeral.

Leslie slammed the book shut. It was revolting and most insulting. While alive, they were all probably abused like herself, and even in death, they were forgotten and neglected. They were all sacrificed for the House, but the House gave them a funeral that lasted only one or two days. Even the commoners had a three-day long funeral!

So many children were probably tossed to the fire pit like herself. They probably begged for their lives, but no one came to save them. Their deaths were just like hers, raised to die for their siblings who were probably much like Eli.

‘Was it the other children who died before?’

Leslie remembered the voices in the fire and the tiny hands on her back.

“Child, you must survive.”

And the many hands that pushed against her back. Amongst them, there seemed to be a smaller voice that said, “Survive.”

‘Now I know why this power has awakened in me.’

Revenge. A thousand years of grudge and resentment. Children who were sacrificed by their own parents were the reason why she was given such power.

“I will avenge you.”

Tears fell, soaking her pale face. She kept wiping, but her sleeves became too wet too soon. Through her gritted teeth, she spoke.

“I promise you to destroy the House of Sperado and avenge you all.”

Her resolve to meet the duchess grew stronger than ever. Moreover, she didn’t want to look at the books anymore. If this book was when the House was in decline, it was clear that the older records would be filled with children who were sacrificed.

After returning the book, Leslie left, walking fast. Her tears continued to drip. She felt gazes upon her, but she did not pay them any attention.

‘Let’s go to the duchess’ mansion.’

She was ready to beg at the gate for days and nights. Nothing mattered but seeing the duchess. But then-

‘Ah!’

Leslie swayed, falling fast. Blinded by tears and half running, she stepped on a handkerchief and slipped. The slippery marble floor below didn’t provide enough friction to stop the fall.

“Are you okay?”

Just before her body contacted the cold stone floor, she was pulled into an embrace and became steadied on her feet. Surprised, Leslie looked up and met the eyes of the one who caught her. Such warm color, she thought. Bits of dark grey hair soaked in the sunlight and bristled softly in the wind. The sun-like eyes stared at Leslie.

“Thank goodness, you’re not hurt.”

A boy, a few years older than Leslie, held her upright until she felt strong enough to stand on her own. Then, he knelt down to brush dust from her skirt and stood up to offer a handkerchief with a smile.

“Thank you for your kindness.”

Leslie squeaked after a moment of silence. The boy smiled, finding her shyness cute.

“No need to thank me, Miss.”

He extended his hand, gesturing to Leslie to take the handkerchief to wipe her tears. Leslie reached out and grabbed it almost by instinct. ‘What do I do?’ Leslie wondered. She had never been offered such kindness, and this unfamiliar experience made her struggle to process the situation.

“The floor is slippery. Please be careful.”

The boy, still smiling, took a step back, noticing her discomfort. Then with a curt nod, he continued forward, passing Leslie. Leslie watched the boy disappear into the crowd. It wasn’t until he could no longer be seen that she finally turned to move.

***

“Leslie!”

As soon as Leslie stepped out of the carriage, she was suddenly enveloped in a tight hug.

“Leslie, my dear sister!”

Huh? Leslie expected to see Eli but didn’t expect to be greeted with a hug. There never was enough love between the two of them for such a gesture. She tried to free herself from the embrace, but Eli tightened her hold. A beautiful smile was plastered on her face. Leslie wanted to question Eli, but her answer was soon found.

Behind Eli was a trail of servants and maids and a young man. Seeing the young man, Leslie immediately knew why Eli was disgustingly friendly to her.

The raven-haired man whose icy blue eyes were fixed on the two of them was Prince Arlendo Perre Recardius, the first prince of the empire and the future husband of Leslie’s sister.

“You have no idea how worried I was when you took the carriage and left without a word! Oh, my lovely Leslie, are you feeling better now?”

How hypocritical and disgusting Eli was, Leslie thought while pushing her away. Eli’s face scrunched up in embarrassment as she staggered.

“Leslie...”

Eli quickly glanced back at Prince Arlendo and began crying. With a shrill voice, she yelled.

“Leslie, how could you?! I was so worried about you!”

Eli shook and flopped onto the ground. Her dress looked like a slowly deflating hot air balloon. Then, she lifted her head a little to make eye contact with Leslie.

Eli was undeniably beautiful. Her eyes were the clearest emerald green, gleaming brilliantly in the sun. Her eyelashes were long and voluminous, her cheeks peachy red and her voice was like honey. Each tear she shed was like a crystal and her cries made her look even more fragile like a precious glass statue.

The maids and servants surrounding both girls sighed with compassion and sympathy for Eli, but their eyes changed to spit daggers as their gazes shifted to Leslie. As if she was the most disgusting pest in the whole world, they clicked their tongues and growled at the little girl.

Hearing and seeing the hostility towards her sister, Eli quickly covered her face to hide a creeping smile. She felt a burning desire to put her sister in her rightful place and felt the most gratifying satisfaction as affection poured from all directions.

Her father would drag the girl into the house and hit her. Her mother would give her death glares and starve her for the night. The maids would then take her to the attic and beat her. And all night, her door and wall would be knocked so that she would be forced to stay awake.

And Eli would be watching all that while surrounded with love and praises. She would be smiling in the end as always.

Plus, Prince Arlendo was here today. With this, Leslie’s punishment would be harsher, and Eli would have the prince’s unfaltering attention.

Of course, everyone there knew that Leslie was innocent and that she had done nothing wrong. But in order to avoid Eli’s tantrum, they scapegoated Leslie. At least that was the excuse in the beginning. Now, it was just how life was. Leslie was the punching bag, and they felt gratified whenever she was beaten, degraded and bullied.

So, now all servants and maids took the initiative to hurt Leslie even when Eli wasn’t around.

One of the carriage men who hit Leslie is a prime example of such corruption and evil. Even without the marquis’s orders and Eli’s taunts, the servants and maids tormented Leslie. And they always told Leslie that she brought it all upon herself.

“It’s an order. There’s nothing we can do. After all, it’s all your fault, isn’t it?”

They were all smiling as if her suffering was something so amusing.

‘...Everyone’s the same.’

‘All of you, Eli, the marquis, and everyone who works under them! All of them are acting to torture me. But I won’t stand down anymore. I won’t be a victim.’ Leslie held her head high making eye contact with everyone.

“Did you really worry about me, Eli?”

Leslie bent down to be at eye level with her sister, who was still sitting on the ground. Eli’s emerald green eyes flashed with uneasiness at the question. Normally, Leslie would be crying and asking for Eli’s forgiveness by now. She would admit to all the accusations and be sputtering apologies.

“Of course, silly. Why wouldn’t I? I’m your big sister.”

Eli smiled even brighter and more tearfully. Just one question wouldn’t break her mask. She displayed her forced concern by reaching out to hug Leslie. Her embrace seemed all-accepting and all-forgiving. But when her hand reached Leslie’s small back, her long sharp nails dug into Leslie’s flesh.

“Oh, you poor thing. You must be feeling unwell.”

Leslie felt her skin tear and smiled a little at the sting. She whispered in Eli’s ear.

“You worry for me? So you cherish me so much that you let our father throw me into the fire?”

“Shut up. The prince is here. So shut your mouth.”

Eli spat right back at Leslie. Her nails dug deeper, but no one saw. To the others, it merely looked like a loving reunion of two sisters. But Leslie knew who Eli truly was. She knew how ugly she really was.

“Stop whining about such a trivial thing....”

“You are the same. You and the marquis are like mirror images of one another.”

Leslie cut off Eli mid-sentence with a cold smile. Eli’s eyes widened and her rosy cheeks turned pale. She couldn’t move as she stared into Leslie’s dark, abyss-like eyes.

“You! How could you...?”

Eli’s powers were a fraction of Leslie’s, but she could see and feel the immense power exuding from Leslie’s small body. And for the first time, Leslie saw Eli’s despair up close. A smile adorned Leslie’s face most satisfyingly.

“Shhh, I’m only telling you. So, keep it a secret, won’t you?”

Then she bent down again and whispered in Eli’s ear.

“I mean... what if the marquis realized that I’m the useful one and took everything that you have away and threw you into the fire?”

Leslie stood up and Eli’s arms dropped. Her nails were no longer clinging to Leslie’s small back and hung loose on her dress. Full of shock, Eli looked up at her sister. Leslie lifted her finger and put it in front of her lips and quietly warned Eli.

“I don’t want their attention or affection either way, but you... it’s a different story for you, isn’t it?”

Eli’s eyes looked vaguely empty as if she was struggling to focus. This made Leslie snort as she moved past her sister.

“You! Wait...!”

Recovering from the shock, Eli fervently grabbed at Leslie’s sleeves.

Rip.

Leslie’s old dress gave away to Eli's nails and violent pulls. Her sleeves were completely torn away from the dress, revealing a hideous burn in Prince Arlendo’s plain slight. It was blistered and still fresh, oozing and swollen.

Leslie looked at the prince who was staring at her burn and her arm, and smiled.

“Look, it’s a mark of a gift from my dear sister. Isn’t it pretty?”

And no one stopped her from climbing the steps to enter the mansion.