Cutting off ties

"Anna, send this to the King and Duchess Lilly at midnight. Do it as quietly as possible."

"Yes, my Lady."

A knock interrupted the two, and they immediately erased any trace of the letter.

"Come in."

Sylvia calmly answered as Anna opened the door.

"Father. What do I owe your lovely visit at this time of the night."

"Is what you wrote true?"

Sylvia quietly sipped her tea as Anna refilled her cup. Marquise stood in front of her with a calm expression. But Alice knew, behind those clear eyes were the eyes of disdain and excitement of finally getting rid of a burden.

"It is what is written there."

"Alice—

"Marquise De Evergreen. Now, I signed those papers, so I expected you to remove my name and existence entirely off of the family lineage. I know you wanted to release me, an illegitimate, out of the family for a long time. So, I will save you the energy of trying to persuade me.

"A daughter of a maid will never be a noble and will always be a servant. So, I thank you for everything you have done, and I will gladly give this position back to the rightful owner. In fact, after the engagement announcement, I will disappear like the wind. So, don't worry and live your life to the fullest."

Anna listened quietly and served her mistress wholeheartedly. Marquise couldn't hold his laughter and finally revealed his true nature. The nature that he so desperately tried to hide and masked under the fake persona of his so-called 'loving father of the illegitimate child.'

"What made you change your mind all of a sudden?"

"Let's say I wanted to live for myself. That's all."

"Hmph. Whatever you say. Remember what you said. Rolly!"

"Marquise."

"Remove Alice's name and existence in our family registry. Clear everything that not even a small letter will remain of her proof."

"Yes, Marquise."

"Let's leave this peasant's room. I don't even want to stay here for a minute."

Anna quietly closed the door as they left with disgusts on their face.

"My lady, have a good night."

"Hmm..."

Sylvia finished the tea. Looking at the cookies, she grabbed one and nibbled on them slowly. Looking at the sky, the moon shone so brightly as the light fell on her.

Sylvia stood up and opened the door to her balcony. Walking out, wearing only her nightdress, she stared at the twinkling stars as they blinked beautifully. As if the stars and the moon were immensely comforting her.

A genuine and sincere smile appeared on her face as the wind gently caressed her. Her usually dull red hair twinkled under the moonlight, and her amber eyes sparkled.

Under the big oak tree, a man with black hair and fiery red eyes stared at her. His dark outfit made him thoroughly blend in with the dark, making it impossible to see him. A man's shadow smoothly appeared behind him as he bowed.

"Have you found her identity?"

"Alice De Evergreen. The illegitimate daughter of Marquise De Evergreen. She just recently turned eighteen, precisely three days ago. She was sent to the crown prince as a fiance for the Marquise to secure the spot of the crown princess. The youngest daughter of Marquise De Evergreen, Everyn, was reported to have an illness that binds her to a sickbed.

"A month from now, the engagement ceremony will be the announcement of the crown prince and his fiance. But rumours are going around that Lady Alice stole the necklace of her younger sister because of jealousy, so she was taken to the dungeon to be interrogated. And she just sent a letter to the Marquise that she wished to cut off her connections with them."

"She wants her existence to be removed from their family registry."

"That is correct, your highness."

"These fools do not know that they have released a scarce and precious gem."

"Your highness, what do you plan on doing?"

"We'll sit back and enjoy. We might have to try and bring her back to our kingdom. What do you think, Albert."

"Whatever your highness has decided, I will obey your command."

Albert kneeled on the ground with one hand on his chest. The man with black hair and red eyes smiled and looked back at the balcony, just as Sylvia went back inside her residence.

"I want you to station a couple of shadow guards on her. Make sure not a single strand of her is damaged."

"Yes, your highness."

*-*-*-*-*

"Alice, is this what you wanted?"

"Yes, your Majesties. I do not want to be engaged with the crown prince any longer. The day that he turned around and chose to side with the nobles was when I decided to cut off and let him go.

"Your majesties, you do know that I am not the real fiance of the crown prince. But you choose to stay silent."

The king and the queen look at each other with sadness. The king sighed and raised his hand as a servant came with a stamp. The king hesitated before stamping the paper of annulment.

"What do you plan after this." The queen asked with concern.

Sylvia smiled towards the couple who she saw as parents. She remembered, from Alice's memories, that these two couples were treated her as if she is their own daughter. Even though she won't be the fiance of their son, but they still treat her the same as before.

"Who knows. I will leave this decision to the gods above."

"Well, if you need help or money, concerning that Marquise De Evergreen has erased your birth from his registry, you can come to us, and we will help you to the best of our ability."

"Your majesties... thank you."

Sylvia smiled as a tear slid down her cheeks. Her heart broke as she felt the love of these two couples. The king and queen hugged her as she returned the gesture. Out of all the torture, rumours against her, and bad experiences within the kingdom, the small act of kindness given by the people close to Alice was enough to keep her sane all these years.

I guess the gods still haven't abandoned me yet...