The Bismarch Heiress

Kanna irritably threw the old scrub she was using to clean the dirty kitchen floor into the pail of murky water. The impact had caused several drops of cold water to splatter on her face but not even those could cool her temper. She had so many chores to do that morning but she had to stop for a moment because the head palace servant had called out an assembly by the front doors. Apparently the king had returned from his short trip and they had to welcome him back with warm greetings.

She was sick of it all. She hated this monotonous impoverished life. It had not always been this way. She was born into an affluent family of traders from the kingdom of Kouri and had enjoyed a privileged childhood. However, her whole world was shattered when her parents died of an accident at sea and left their business bankrupt with her. She had to sell their mansion, their family's only remaining asset to pay off the loans to her relatives. They refused to assist her financially or even take her in. She was abandoned and was totally on her own. She lost everything at the age of 18.

To save face, she immediately left the kingdom of Kouri. She wanted to be far away from all the hurt and humiliation. She wanted a new life in Kasai but it was not easy to start one. She waited tables in rowdy pubs and cleaned smelly animal barns in exchange for free lodging and meals. She would cry every night out of pity for herself. She was not used to this kind of life. She was never brought up to be someone else's servant. She had never touched a scrub, a rug or a feather duster not even out of curiosity before.

Her depression got the better of her so one morning she went to a cliff. She was pondering on whether to jump or not when a young boy of about ten years emerged from the bushes on a white horse.

Flashback

"Are you trying to attempt suicide or just marveling at the deep ravine below?" The long-haired boy who sat with an air of authority looked down at her with a smirk painted on his face.

"GO away! Little kids should leave adults on their own." Tears started rolling down her cheeks.

"What's taking you so long then? If you wished to end your pathetic life, do not hesitate on jumping," the boy raised an eyebrow. "That's a very painful way to die though. By the time we find your body, you will be nothing but a lump of bloody mess. Too bad your pretty face will become too unrecognizable for people to give you the credit you deserve during your funeral."

"People treat me as trash. No one would attend my funeral anyway." She moved a step closer to the edge of the cliff.

"You're such a wreck. Do what you want. I'm going now." the young boy motioned his horse to turn around. "But before I go, I'm giving you another option. You can choose to jump and die miserable or you can choose to live and follow me. I can make people who have hurt you miserable."

"Huh! What can such a young boy like you do?"

"In case you don't know me, I am the heir to the Kasai throne. You can postpone your death and meet me on this very spot next week. If you're not convinced with what I can do, you can jump off the cliff. I'll even push you to your death if you ask me to. But first, I believe we have not been introduced?"

"I am Kanna… Kanna Bismarch."

"One of the Bismarchs of Kouri kingdom? How interesting. See you after a week then, Kanna."

Kanna walked away from the cliff feeling stupid after the boy left. She couldn't believe why she had listened to a ten-year old. Perhaps she didn't have the courage to take her own life after all. Perhaps the arrogant boy who claimed to be the heir of Kasai gave her a renewed spirit. He reminded her so much of herself when she was a child. She was really a strong woman and her family's tragedy should not make her drop down to her knees in despair.

Six days after the meeting, news of a fire that had ravaged the Bismarch mansion spread across the kingdom. The whole structure and all its new occupants were burned down to ashes. The cause of the fire was unknown but two explosions were said to be heard from each wing of the mansion. The following day Kanna hurried to the cliff and found the boy waiting for her there with his horse.

The next thing she knew she had become the personal maid to the future king of Kasai but her happiness only lasted for a while. The prince had been sent away by his father and the right to the throne was granted to his weakling twin. It's been seven years since he was gone and she missed him so badly. She was miserable again but she would opt to feel miserable inside the palace while she waited for the return of her prince.