Chapter 3 - Deal

It's been 5 years I am 11 years old now Niña left when she was 13 so I know my sister is 18 years old by now, she has never sent any letters just like what she had said,

"Pia go grab me another drink",

My mother is the same as usual, however, she goes to a gambling place late at night too, as a lot of people have said

"You become what you hate",

she used to hate our father for becoming an addict to gambling eating all of our money just for a single bronze coin in return, in the end, he still left.

The money that we received from the duke ran out, because of all the loans we had to pay, the more I think about how can mother still be alive after all the unhealthy food she kept on consuming, She should have died,

While I was walking in the alley I heard people speaking so loud that it was hard not to listen to them,

"Remember the daughter of the prostitute?",

"There are a lot of brothels in this town, and many prostitutes have children why would I know?",

"The prostitute that was abolished because of a huge scar",

"Oh yeah, that woman",

I know that the person they were talking about was my mother, however, it didn't make me angry as I don't care about her, as I continued to walk the other lady continued with her conversation,

"Yeah, do you remember her beautiful daughter sold from the duke 5 years ago?"

"Oh yeah Niña, what a gorgeous child I do remember her!"

When they had mentioned my sister their conversation immediately caught my attention and I stopped by a wall where I can just hear them but won't be seen,

"A maid of mine works from the duke that bought her, and I heard a news that was only going around that manor about Niña",

"What so niña is alive what a relief"

I said in my thoughts delighted by the news that the lady would tell,

"I heard that Niña Committed suicide...",

I was left shocked I couldn't process anything, I was just so confused if I'm hearing it right. If it's

just nonsense, if I'm just…dreaming,

I continued walking toward home saying,

"She's alive, My sister is alive"

Over and over again, maybe if I say this repeatedly, God would bring her back,

"Hahaha"

Is there really a god in this world that would bring someone back alive?

I was laughing all the way home, laughing and crying how can my sister end her life like this? was it so painful that she wanted to escape, did she forget her promise was she not happy? Did

she died feeling… lonely?

Standing in front of my home I was feeling so angry I wanted to blame someone for her death,

"Oh right mother sold her, this is her fault, she sold her!"

I came inside the house to see my mother lying unconscious on the couch, she was peacefully

breathing as if there wasn't anything in the world she needs to worry about,

I slowly approached her having this bloodlust, wanting to kill her, I need to no she deserves to

be killed, how can she sell someone else's life just for her alcohol?!,

As I was approaching her all the thoughts in my head were just saying,

"Kill",

I didn't think much I didn't think of what will happen after I kill her, I didn't think of her kindness

before, I didn't think much of her as my mother who once gave me life and who once loved me,

As I was about to wrap my hands around her neck, A sudden knocking on the front door was heard,

I headed towards the door and saw a man, the man was so familiar however I cannot remember him,

"Hello miss, I am here on behalf of His Highness Duke Montage,"

My eyebrow raised as I heard the name "Duke Montage", as I was about to blow off my mother Penelope suddenly appeared beside me,

"Oh my hello, you're the aide of Duke Montage right?"

Penelope said,

"Yes ma'am, I am Count Wilson and I am here as per his highness's orders"

The count replied,

So this guy was also the guy who took Niña away, that's why he's so familiar,

"Please come in"

Penelope invited the guest in with greedy intent, staring at me like she was saying to not make any mistakes in front of the guest,

"No ma'am I am only here to make another deal that the duke requested for you",

The Count declined Penelope's invitation and proceed to do her work,

"The duke wants you to sell your other daughter, which is pia"

The atmosphere became tense as their stares were putting pressure on me, my mother didn't hesitate,

"And how much will he pay this time?"

She answered the count as if she was selling a kind of slave,

"The pay would be 100 gold coins"

The count immediately replied as if he didn't care about Penelope not being hesitant,

"The duke really pays well"

Penelope whispered as I heard her, I started to clench my fist wanting to puke at how her actions are so disgusting,

"Would you mind raising it a little, this is my last daughter and I thought of her to be more valuable, so I cannot just sell her away"

Look at this disgusting creature, who would have thought that God still let her roam around this life,

"The highest pay we can give you is 150 gold coins, consider it as a tip as per your first package wasn't enough to satisfy his highness",

The count directly responded to Penelope putting an end of their money talks,

"Haha fine"

Penelope backs out and agreed to the deal, the count hands a bag of gold coins,

"When will you take her away?"

Penelope asked as she wanted to rush the process already, it looks as if she had to go somewhere,

"We will be escorting her to the duke now, enjoy the money, Lady Penelope",

The count smiled and bowed, as he called the knight with his hands signaling to come and take me away, the knights immediately carried me,

"What the- I hate you, Penelope, how can you sell me like this!! I'll come back here and I'm going to kill you!!"

Shouting these words towards Penelope, full of hatred and killing intent,

Penelope was only looking at the bag full of coins not interested in every word I said,

The knights took me in the carriage with the count inside,

"Here as of today, you must act like a lady",

The count said while giving me a box, as I opened it saw a shoe a dress and a ribbon,

"These are exactly like my sister's dress when she left"

I thought.