The Important Guest

Aside from having a name for itself, Richter House is also an overly cautious family. The most important thing for them is the power they hold in the high society, this trait had been passed down from generation to generation. Leon Richter, the current head of the family knew this more than anyone else, and yet his love for his deceased wife has rather taken more effect than the generational trait he had acquired.

“My, my! Lady Kiha, where did you hear such impetuous claim?” screamed Lorraine who had been biting her lower lips for a few seconds.

“I heard it from Father, it seems I have not misheard him,” replied Kiha in a sorrowful voice, head facing the ground.

The atmosphere in the garden is warm and picturesque contrary to the revengeful storm inside Kiha’s little head. The young girl wryly smile at Lorraine, gulping down all the childish emotions she had tasted.

Kiha released a hearty laugh before adding, “You should have seen the face you made when I utter the word ‘father’, Lorraine. It is truly a sight to behold!”

The two of them share a heart-warming bond as the sun continue pouring down multiple lights that warm their soul. It is past noon when Kiha finished reading the history of her family, ready to open another book when she caught sight of her younger sister, playing with Kalyna’s maid.

Her siblings inherited Kalyna’s powerful hair. It was strawberry blonde that could be seen only by a few people. Kanna’s past-hip-length hair suits her small and delicate figure, making her look like an angel sent to wash all the sins the people committed.

“Sister!” shrieked the small girl. Kiha’s eyebrows knitted as fast as they disappear. Kanna’s flushed cheek and unruly hair could be seen a mile from her.

"Oh–? Where did it go?” whimpered Kanna, who is obviously disappointed.

Kiha looked at her younger sister, bewildered. It is basic information that Count Richter's youngest child is sick that she could not leave the house nor her room for a long time and yet here she is, showing her disappointed face to her older sister after running a mile faster than a horse carriage.

Kiha looked once again at Kanna, but this time, she focused her eyes on the bald flowers on her younger sister’s petite hand. Hard breathing could be heard as time passes, allowing Kiha to grow annoyed at her sister.

“How about retiring for today, Kanna?” hissed Kiha, eyes narrowing.

“What... ?” mumbled Kanna, water forming on either side of her eyes. Three seconds later, Kanna wailed loud enough to catch the attention of the gardeners working peacefully in the corner.

They eyed Kiha with negative thoughts swirling inside their head instead of thinking logically. It is always like that.

"Kanna. . . you are sweating a lot. Go to your room and rest, hmm?” trembled Kiha as she slowly reach for Kanna, afraid to hurt her.

The servants’ influence on Kanna must have activated that she took a step back. Lorraine look at Kalyna’s maid, talking to her when a loud splash came out of nowhere.

Shocked, the two of them hastily turned their head to the source of the sound only to find Kiha’s hand raised in the air, and Kanna crying in the fountain, completely drenched with water. The gardener caught the two by saying, “Young Lady Kiha pushed Young Lady Kanna, I saw it. I saw all of it!”

"What are you standing there? Help the young lady, I’ll go and report this to the Count!” Maria, Kalyna’s maid shouted.

"No... I-, I did nothing wrong! Please, Lorraine. Believe me.” Horror filled Kiha’s face as she faced her maid. Lorraine runs to Kiha as fast as she can but it’s already late, knights have gathered around her, stopping her from going anywhere.

Lorraine’s throat dried up even further when she saw young Kiha covers her ear, preventing Kanna’s cry to plug her ears. The young girl shrinks down as a large shadow towered the only light she’s seeing.

Help me, please! I did nothing wrong, I did not do it, Father. Please, believe me, Mother. I just wanted to help.

"It’s not my fault, Father.” The word came out as a whisper even though she wanted to scream because she knew one thing; no one will believe her.

Even her father.

Hands on her ears, she lifted her head to meet Count Richter’s shuddering gaze. Kiha felt every strand of hair on her body stand as her father looks at her with coldness. Though she expected as much, she couldn’t still believe that the Count would either believe the servant’s word more than his daughter’s.

“Escort the child to the basement and lock her up there. Tell the maids to bring her nothing but water until she repents,” commanded the Count before turning his back to Kiha, his scathing tone still lingering in the young girl’s mind.

"Father, please! I did not do it, the servant is lying!”

Two uniformed-knight escorted Kiha to the basement as the Count commanded. None of them spare a glance at the terrified young girl. Deafening rustling resonated as the knights closed the old rusty door.

The room is smaller than the maids’ quarter and it is evident that no one had been down there for a decade. Clasping her hand together, Kiha saunters toward the wooden bed, sitting on top of it. Lorraine will be tied with her once again, making it hard to acquire food. Starving herself in the proximity of two days to one week is not that bad as long as she can have water. Water is the number one source of life after all.

"Ha! What am I even doing trying to help that child?” asked Kiha to herself, sarcasm filling every word she utter.

Kiha spent her time locked up in the basement. The only thing that keeps her from being insane these days is the lively sound coming from the ballroom. It’s been four days since the last water came and five days since the last maid came.

The last water she gulped was from the guest, and if she heard her right, her name is Czarina and she is the child her father brought in.

The moon’s blinding light was the only source of light she had. Kiha is lying on the wooden bed, narrowing her eyes to appreciate the bewitching constellation in the sky. “I wonder what is father doing right now?” Kiha lifelessly mumbled.

"He’s currently chatting with Grand Duke Grimaldi, I’m afraid there are more important things in his mind than you right now, Kiha.” The voice enunciated, almost as if she was speaking the most obvious thing.

“I beg your pardon?” asked Kiha, frowning.

She had never seen nor met someone who was so upright to calling her by her name, and without her title that is.

The sound of the lock being opened plucks a piece of hope from Kiha’s heart. The voice was familiar and yet so unfamiliar, weird isn’t it? It is familiar that she must have heard it somewhere before and so unfamiliar that she might have imagined things.

The person on the other side of the door made a figure of a woman… or a girl. The door burst open, revealing the guest she’s been wanting to choke.

"Czarina.” The girl trudges toward her, holding a tray of meals. What a pleasant surprise! The girl she’s been cursing day in and day out is right in front of her, offering her a meal she’s craving.

"No one is allowed to come here, even Kalen hasn’t been here because of that policy,” declared Kiha as she push herself up, not wanting Czarina to see her weakness.

“Lord Rivera has told me the rules and regulations of this house and there is no such thing as one you have told me.” The corner of Czarina’s lips rose in amusement before shrugging her shoulder.

“What…?” inquired Kiha, confused as to what Czarina’s saying.

"I meant what you just heard, Kiha.” answered the other girl in a matter-of-fact tone. “Maybe Young Master Kalen just does not want to spare any second to see you,” she added, making Kiha tremble in shock.

There is no open window in the basement and the only source of wind is the hole in the corner of the wall, probably because of the age of the building. Kiha closed her eyes, taking a deep breath to calm herself down.

"Brother Kalen is a fine man, he is father’s heir apparent, with that said, he must withhold the dignity of a proud and respected heir. He does not need to come into this old disgusting place to check on his sister.” Kiha tried every possible way to reason out but the more she talks the more hopeless she gets.

"Kalen is busy with his studies that he might have forgotten me…” Kiha’s voice faded into thin air as the realization hits her.

"Fret not, Kiha. I’m here, I will take care of you,” shushed Czarina as she sits beside Kiha, wrapping her cold body into her warm embrace.

"All you have to do is stay by my side, and I’ll do the rest, my dear Kiha.