Chapter 2

"I'm scared…"

Yes, it was scary and necessary experience.

This time, Leslie completely broke the feeble hopes of being loved. And she was looking for something to replace the vacancy.

Black magic.

It's unmistakable.

In the Rucardius Empire, each noble house possesses unique divine powers, or magic.

The Sperado family secretly possessed the most powerful magic, the ability to manipulate darkness.

However, the Sperado family gradually stopped giving birth to black magic users, so naturally, the Duke's family started to decline.

'I have heard that it's been over a hundred years since a child was born with these powers…'

The reason why that power appeared was unknown, but Leslie could survive thanks to that.

'Is it connected to the voices from earlier?'

Even the hands of the peers pushing me to escape quickly. It was clearly not just one or two.

'I might find some answers if I secretly search in the library.'

But that's for later.

I don't know when the Marquis will put me in the fire again.

I don't know why they threw me in the fire, but it certainly would have been related to Eli. So I cried.

With a wry smile, Leslie lifted the arm that caught fire and stared it.

Traces of burns. And a bandage on it was wrapped with a dreadful skill.

It seemed as if the maid or servant that had wrapped the wound had a very clumsy skill.

I need strength.

I need the power to protect myself. No matter how strong my magic is, I'm only twelve years old.

And I need someone to stop my father.

In the Rucardius Empire, all children have to be under the protection of their parents. Even if she escaped safely, Marquis Sperado will drag her back to his horrific mansion with the law as an excuse.

So, an adult who will protect her from the law and the Marquis is what she's been most desperate for.

I believe Marquis Sperado will use my life and death for the benefit of sister Eli.

It took me 6 years to get out of that obsession. And it'll take at least four or five more years to pretend to be an adult.

I cannot spend that long time in the Marquis residence.

And there's no guarantee that they'll keep me alive until then.

'I need to find a way.'

When Leslie, who was looking at my arm a moment ago, put her foot in the slipper and moved, something hiding in the shadows followed her.

"…It's okay."

When I smiled a little, the darkness returned to its place.

Creek-

After that, I walked down from a shabby room you wouldn't believe a Marquis' daughter would stay in, and the atmosphere surrounding changed bit by bit.

Fancy, beautiful and cozy..

I'm sorry for stepping in that spotless hallway and expensive glass. There, dazzling sunlight poured down.

The closer you get to Eli's room, the more statues and detailed portraits in the hallway.

My dirty and shabby feet reeked of shouldn't be allowed in there, but I stepped in without hesitation.

If it had been before, I would not have been able to put my foot in this hallway.

Sister Eli would have been angry just because I was walking around the hallway in front of her room.

It'll get dirty? They told me I wasn't suitable for the place since it was disgusting.

'Come to think of it, it's my power to match.'

Sperado family's shady place.

A kid growing like moss in a shady and damp place.

Because it was herself.

Sister was like warm light, while Leslie was its shade. It was a loud word among the people.

And the marchioness brainwashed her every day.

'Leslie, look in the mirror. Look at yourself in the mirror! Now tell me what kind of child you are?'

'A useless child…'

'That's right but, what are you decent at?'

'Living a life for my sister…'

Very rarely, Mrs. Marquis smiled at her.

It is delightful to see that mother smiles at herself and that she is so happy that I look at the mirror every day and is 'useless' as mother wants.

Cutting down her self-esteem, continuously suppressing her chance.

'From now on, I won't listen nor speak to them.'

As I quickened my pace, I heard a voice somewhere.

"Half a year?"

A soft and clear voice that sounds like a soft wind.

It was Eli's voice.

"How can I wait half a year!"

"Sweetie, my lovely Eli."

The Marquis' voice was heard right away after that tantrum.

"We'll know when the right time comes. You be patient, please?"

"Geez, how displeasing. Why did that idiot not get burned by the fire?!"

After that, Ellen grumbled in a sullen voice.

"Because of her, the powers within me weren't awakened! If we had successfully sacrificed her, then I would be able to properly use my powers! What will people think of me if I can't properly use my powers?"

…What?

Leslie looked into the room with a small open gap.

And I realized. Her sister Eli also awoke her dark power.

But it is too weak to be able to use properly.

"Father, the reason you keep that girl alive because she is precious to you, isn't it?"

It was difficult to see anyone. Then she did not put her in the flames until she pressed the small end of her window.

But the words that followed were more shocking than that.

"Sweetie, that child was born for your benefit. If you hadn't awakened your powers, I would've put you as a lady in waiting at the palace, but since you did, we gave birth to her for the sole purpose of transferring her magic to you."

Leslie could hardly believe her ears. She did not understand the situation now.

"저게 힘을 깨달으면 어떻게 해요."

"What if she awakens her powers too?"

"There's no way that'll happen. Your golden hair and green eyes are all characteristics of the Sperado family. While she doesn't even possess these characteristics. Her hair is white like that of an elderly woman."

"…When I met sir Arlendo didn't you make me meet him with her?"

Eli had spoken out in a more relaxed voice that my father liked.

"If that child wasn't a sacrifice, I would've made her your maid. If she didn't spill tea on the prince, then she wouldn't be debuting at the party."

"You were planning on making her attend the party?!"

"No way! Of course not. That's for you. My lovely daughter, Eli. The story came out in the social circle. Isn't about time for you to put on the dress?"

After listening to the father-daughter conversation, Leslie ran up to the attic room.

The conversation was disgusting, like a monster's sound, and I couldn't hear anymore.

'My birth, my life, and my death… Everything was for my sister Eli?'

They gave birth to me as planned. Everything was planned from the beginning.

If Eli didn't awaken her power, she would become a lady in waiting in the Imperial Palace, and if she did awaken them,

"They were planning on throwing me into the fire as a sacrifice…"

Although she already expected it, the shock of hearing it was so strong Leslie shed tears.

Then the Marquis' people showed her the bottom. The anger felt when she fell on the cliff, the despair once again came upon her.

***

"Where are you going so early in the morning."

Leslie looked at the Marquis with calm eyes.

The Marquis is an ordinary middle-aged nobleman with his hair combed back and cleanly dressed, and Leslie's eyes' looked like the ones of a monster.

"And now you don't reply? Useless trash."

Pushing me into the fire was nothing, not answering the question is what's important, it seems that the Marquis has a low tongue.

After staring at him for a while, Leslie slowly opened her mouth.

"I'm useless?"

He thought I would apologize. I returned the question back.

He thought I was going to run away, but he watched Leslie coming one step closer and then frowned.

"I don't think so. Think about it, Marquis Sperado."

Smiling sweetly, with a smile at the corner of one's mouth. Somewhere of that frightening smile made the Marquis take a step back.

"If I'm not here you would be in a difficult situation… Right?"

"Wha- What?"

Unlike usual behavior, after narrowing down the other small talk. Even though I thought I was going crazy.

"You've become very cheeky just because you survived the fire! Do I need to beat some sense back into you?"

The Marquis threatened Leslie in a low voice.

"This is all for your sister, for the family."

"Then jump in yourself."

"What?"

Leslie answered back to the Marquis once again.

"Go jump in the fire yourself. I won't do this anymore."

Leslie said that there was nothing to say now, turned around and went out.

"You, don't…!"

The Marquis didn't say anything after that. His field of view suddenly flickered.

"Ugh."

As the Marquis twisted in a weird voice, Leslie exited the door.

The darkness that covered the Marquis' eyes followed her footsteps.

Then I got on a white carriage that was waiting in front of the door.

Miss Leslie, this carriage is for Miss Eli.

The servant seemed to be scared and wanted her to come down from the carriage immediately.

Leslie had never used a carriage from the Marquis before.

The Marquis always used a carriage worth a lot for her esteemed daughter, while I went on the servant's carriage when I went to pray to the temple.

And this white carriage was Eli's favorite carriage, the only two carriages in the capital, and Eli's pride. No one dared use that carriage beside her.

By the way, Leslie was riding on a carriage for Eli.

"I know. Take me to the temple."

Leslie, who ignored the words of the two men, tucked her hair behind her ear.

"Have you gone crazy? Miss Eli is coming out soon. Get out now…"

One of the servants approached hastily and grabbed her arm as if to pull her down. This servant, who follows Eli with her poisonous attitude, has always been unconcerned with the rough handling of Leslie.

Leslie looked up at the servant for a moment and then raised her hand.