Chapter 3: Accused

For Seraphina, living as quietly as she could be would be the only way to survive. So as she grew, she made sure to not leave the annex unless necessary and to stay away from her family’s sight. She told herself that she didn’t need to be loved or to be doted on. She was contented as long as she had food on her plate and a roof on her head. She didn’t need any more attention from the family than what she already received.

And after almost eight years, Seraphina grew into a fine lady but no one knew about her existence. Only those who work at the annex knew about her and even the new maids that were hired after her arrival weren’t informed about the lady of the house Fiore.

“My lady, you’re coming of age ceremony is coming near,” Mary, her personal maid, said with excitement as she brushed her hair. “Are you looking forward to it?”

“Was there something to look forward to?” She smiled at the mirror where she watched Mary do her hair. “Do you think the duke would prepare a ball for me?”

“Why not?” Mary asked. “You are his one and only daughter, my lady. Even if he didn’t prepare any ball for your other birthdays, your ladyship’s coming of age should be celebrated.”

Sera laughed softly. “I don’t think so. I’d rather believe that he’d marry me off immediately instead of celebrating my birthday with me.”

“My lady…” Mary frowned while looking at Sera’s reflection.

Though the lady always showed her smile, Mary knew how lonely she was. For the past seven years that the lady stayed in the annex, the only visitor she had was her brothers who visited her the day she arrived at the duke’s manor. After that, none of her family members came to visit or check on her.

Mary was the witness to how the lady tried her best to be recognized through her studies in etiquette and history. She knew how hard she worked to be praised but she never received any. She knew that even if the lady acted like everything was fine, deep inside she was hurt for being neglected by her family.

Sera held Mary’s hand to stop her from what she’s doing. She looked at the door when she heard voices as if the people outside were having an argument. She stood up when one maid shouted and a loud crashing sound was heard.

Seraphina walked towards the door and opened it. “What’s happening here?”

Though she was confined in that old and small annex, she was still a lady from a ducal house. Though only a few people knew about her existence, her name was still written in the Fiore Family registry, hence she still had a bit of authority.

“My lady, excuse my rudeness but I need you to come with me,” a knight in gray uniform said.

Seraphina glared at him but she still nodded. She shouldn’t be angry at someone who only did his job.

She followed him silently and she couldn’t stop herself from being anxious when they entered the manor. Her heart started beating fast when the knight guided her towards the receiving room and she was frozen in her position when the knight opened the door for her.

All eyes were on her but she felt uncomfortable with the way they looked at her. She noticed that her brothers’ eyes were all red and she could feel the contempt aimed at her. Did she do something wrong?

“You ungrateful bastard!” Alexandric shouted the moment their eyes met. “How could you do this to the family that took you in?”

She was surprised at the sudden outburst of her brother. She didn’t even know what happened and yet her so-called family was already putting the blame on her.

Xander and Andrei held their youngest from both sides as he flailed and tried to free himself from them to attack her. His piercing glare and his flaring eyes showed how enraged he was at the moment but she couldn’t understand why. She spent all her days inside the annex, how could she do something that would offend them?

“Stop acting like you are confused!” Alexandric shouted as tears started to pool in his eyes again. “You think you could deceive us after you finished your plans since you could just say that you never left the annex?”

“Andric!” Xander said as he tried to calm his brother. “Let’s talk first.”

“Talk first?” Alexandric exclaimed. “That bastard killed our mother, Xander!”

Sera’s eyes widen when she heard what her brother said. Did she kill the duchess? How could she dare? The glares of the men in the Fiore house felt more dangerous when she realized the reason for their contempt. She couldn’t hide her trembling hands anymore since her body started to shook out of fear. If she considered the situation, she was called there not to talk but to be punished. It seemed like everyone was convinced that she was the one who killed the duchess.

What should she do? Should she drop to her knees and beg for mercy?

“Can you see her shaking in fear?” Andric laughed hysterically. “That girl is guilty!”

Her knees wobbled when she heard how confident Alexandric was. She dropped to the ground, knee-first, as she covered her mouth. She would be executed, what should she do?

“Bring her to the prison,” Andrei ordered the knights.

The knights pulled her up, but when they were just about to drag her away, Xander butted in.

“No,” Xander glared at her. He unsheathed his sword and pointed it at her neck. There was no pain or guilt that would be seen in his eyes, there was only contempt and the urge to avenge his mother.

She knew that Xander would not hesitate to end her life. Ever since they met, she knew that her family would never love her. She had no choice, she needed to do something!

"Brother, please spare my life!" she cried out. She kneeled and bowed down to show sincerity but her brother's eyes did not show any hint of consideration.

"There is no mercy for traitors, Sera. We were all taught that way, remember?" Xander's voice was stern and filled with contempt.

"I didn't do it! I don't even know what the Duchess looked like!" She was desperate but none of her family members even tried to listen to her.

"We shouldn't have accepted you. It was true that your existence was a bad omen!" Her father's voice was filled with rage.

All her life, all she asked was to be acknowledged. All she wanted was to feel the warmth of a family. Was it too much to ask for?

She even compromised and felt contented in living quietly as if she didn’t exist. Although it wasn’t fine, she endured the loneliness of being neglected in order to survive.

"I wish I was never born," she mumbled.

Fate was too cruel. She lost the only person who truly loved her at a young age and the family that she wanted never wanted her. Was she born to be just a nuisance to this family? Was she meant to experience pain and sorrow all her life?

Her life was too short to end at the age of eighteen, but she thought that it was better. At least, she would no longer suffer.

"Prepare to die, Seraphina. This is the punishment for taking my mother's life." Xander lifted his sword and drops of blood splattered when the blade cut through Sera's head.