ANNABELLE'S CHILDHOOD

"Do we have an ancient map like Lord Falkner said?" Annabelle asked Griselda.

"It seems we don't have the map, usually only nobles close to the kingdom have it," answered Griselda.

"Do you think Lord Albert Louis has the map?"

"Given his proximity to parliament and the kingdom, I think he must have had the map."

"Alright, I'll find out, what's really under this estate. Why did Lord Albert Louis and Lord Falkner fight over the Golden Land and Taylor's estate? It will be both interesting and sad for me."

"What do you mean, Miss Annabelle?"

"Hearing Lord Falkner's words, I'm sure it's not me that Lord Albert Louis wants, but what I have."

"You have been swayed by Lord Falkner's words, Miss Annabelle. Don't let that make you cancel your wedding. Do you also believe that only Lord Falkner truly loves you."

Annabelle laughed loudly despite her politeness, hearing Griselda's words.

"Both men are both cunning Griselda, I don't trust either of them. They were fighting for this land and the Golden Land. Just by chance, I was in between their fight," Annabelle replied.

"Then what should we do? If your marriage is only Lord Albert Louis' reason for ruling this land, will you be happy with the marriage?"

"I can't cancel this wedding. Lord Albert Louis had made the entire castle believe that I had slept with the Duke. My name will be tarnished even more if I don't marry him. I need my peerage and my honor back. Just let the two men fight each other, I will take advantage of their fight."

"Don't get yourself hurt because of them, Miss Annabelle."

"I won't, Griselda. They thought I was a stupid woman they could easily take advantage of. They don't know if I'm as sneaky as they are. I assure you, we will not lose this land. You and the servants here, will be my responsibility. I will not let them drive you out and take this land."

Griselda looked at Annabelle with great admiration. There had never been a woman he had ever met in his life who had the courage of Annabelle.

"I will meet my mother first. Who knows after I leave him for too long, she will miss me."

"All right, Miss Annabelle."

Griselda's eyes misted up as she watched Annabelle leave. Everyone does not know the life that Annabelle led since childhood. There are many wounds in his heart. At first, Griselda was very happy when Lord Albert Louis proposed to Annabelle. She thought, it was time for Annabelle to find happiness in her marriage to the Duke.

Griselda didn't think that Lord Albert Louis only wanted the land. Even though this land has been redeemed from Lord Falkner, that means Lord Albert Louis has indirectly been entitled to this land. It was like being released from the tiger's mouth, back into the crocodile's mouth.

Since childhood Annabelle struggled to be recognized as royalty by her own family, considering that Lady Taylor did not seem to regard Annabelle as her daughter, even Lady Taylor did not allow Annabelle to call her Mother. It's obvious that Lady Taylor doesn't like Annabelle.

Annabelle's sanctuary was her Dad, Lord Thomas Taylor. She was the one who made Annabelle a brave woman. Lord Taylor often took Annabelle to the forest, taught her to ride like a man, taught her to shoot, swim and even jump from a height.

While all the noble women were playing with dolls and dressed beautifully, Annabelle came home with dirty clothes covered in mud and her body also covered with wounds. Griselda, who at that time helped bathe and change her clothes, sometimes couldn't bear to see all the bruises and scratches on the beautiful girl's beautiful body, but Annabelle never complained. Instead, she was happy with everything Lord Taylor had taught him.

One day Griselda mustered up the courage to meet Lord Taylor and talk about Annabelle.

"My Lord, may I speak to you?" said Griselda with a bow.

"What is it Griselda?" asked Lord Taylor in his authoritative voice.

"Do you think your treatment of Miss Annabelle was not too harsh? Apart from your activities in the forest with him, you never even brought Miss Annabelle to the kingdom. I feel sorry for Miss Anabelle when she knows nothing, when her friends proudly talk about their trip to the kingdom."

"She doesn't need to go to the kingdom, Griselda. She didn't need to marry a prince, why did she come to the kingdom? In the forest she can learn many things, and he needs courage to face his future later," said Lord Taylor whose words were not understood by Griselda.

The other nobles would be very happy if their daughter could marry a prince. They would even teach strict manners to their daughters, hoping that when they grew up, a prince would glance at his daughter. If the kingdom was opened to the public, all the nobles would flock to bring their daughters to the kingdom to introduce them early on, about the buildings and ordinances of the kingdom. But not with Lord Taylor, he chose instead to take Annabelle into the forest.

Realizing that Griselda did not have the right to teach her Master in raising her daughter, she said, "I believe you will give the best for Miss Annabelle, My Lord. I know you love him very much."

"I won't be with Annabelle forever, Griselda. Therefore, I want her to be a strong woman. I know you love him too much, as much as I love him. Take care of Annabelle for me, Griselda. Be a mother to him, because I know my wife never treated Annabelle well."

Those words were always ringing in Griselda's memory, that's why Griselda was always by Annabelle's side. Until finally Lord Taylor died and Annabelle grew into a woman different from other noble women.

It wasn't just Annabelle's suffering. One day she must help his cousin's honor by admitting that he was defiled. It was a heavy burden that Annabelle had to bear. As beautiful as Annabelle was, a noble man would not marry Annabelle. They did want it, but they would think twice about making Annabelle a wife. All the noble men who liked Annabelle only offered Annabelle as his mistress, of course Annabelle refused.

Lord Albert Louis was the only noble man willing to marry Annabelle. Knowing this, Griselda thought, Annabelle's suffering would end. It turned out that today, she had to swallow the harsh reality, that the man she hoped to make Annabelle happy was just a cunning man who wanted Taylor's land. He wasn't much different from Lord Falkner.

There was only one thing that Griselda would be grateful for, if Lord Albert Louis had not made Annabelle his mistress. It was far more chivalrous compared to Lord Falkner.

***

Now Annabelle was standing in front of Lady Taylor's room. She took a deep breath and exhaled quickly, before opening the door.

Annabelle rarely visited this room, because every time she met her mother, she only got pain, but she couldn't help but care about her. Even now his health had begun to deteriorate.

By steeling her heart and ears to listen to Lady Taylor's scathing words, Annabelle finally opened the door to the room. A creak of a wooden door rang in his ears.

After that Annabelle's breath immediately caught, staring at the pair of eyes that were piercing her sharply.

***