The One Unwelcomed

The carriage's seat was extremely comfortable to the point of uncomfortableness. Elle had never sat down in such an expensive chair, making it more unsettling for her as she felt overwhelmed with how things had occurred. She kept a close watch to her surroundings outside the carriage but having gone nowhere except for the slums and the towns nearby, she didn't know where they had gone or which town they have arrived to. All she knew was how she was brought away when the evening just became night and now the once dark land had turned golden upon the appearance of the bright sky. It was perhaps ten hours since her carriage had moved and they still haven't arrived.

By the time she had lifted the curtain, her golden eyes brightened as she met the world's brightest star— the Sun.

Her eyes laid on the scenic green land sprinkling in golden from the sun rays, drawing such a beautiful view. She was about to enjoy the rare scenery, not knowing when she would ever have the chance to see such a gorgeous sunrise, when suddenly the horses began to gallop and shook the entire carriage. It was as if an earthquake had occurred inside the carriage, shaking the four walls and pulling Elle's small body with such force that she felt a hard pull on her left and right. Unable to control herself, her body was thrown backward and her back hit the hard wooden walls. She winced, knowing that bruise will form soon on her poor spine before quickly lifting her curtain to find the source of the sudden quake.

Mikail, the irritating knight had jumped off his horse, whispering something off to the knights who was stationed near her black gate. After some exchange, the knight nodded his head and raised his hands, allowing them to enter with the signal.

Elle noted that this mean they have arrived to their destination— her father's house!

It was said before that house mirror the owner's personality. She didn't have any clue to what kind of person her father might be and decided the best way to find out was by seeing the house herself. Her lips softly went agape as she saw the gorgeous creamy manor covered in vines of soft pink flowers all over the walls and windows.

She had never seen the place ever before in her entire life and yet just by a glance, she felt as if she knew the place and have perhaps heard about it before...

While Elle admired the lovely house which exceeded all her expectations, the young lady of the house, Caroline had stomped her heels in anger. Beside her was her beloved mother, Lady Gladys who had crossed her arms one over the other. The apparent frown was also clear in her face even though she hadn't expressed it as freely as her daughter did.

"Papa is insane! He has gone insane!" Caroline cried, thinking this was the worse betrayal she had ever felt since her birth. "A child of a harlot, a disgusting being that isn't even a human— I won't ever acknowledge her as my sister! I am so disappointed to him, how could he— how could he?!"

For the past few days out of shock and anger, Caroline had stopped eating as a form of protest. By starving herself she thought she could show her father just how angered she was by his choice of letting such an unknown girl to enter their family— replacing her place as the only daughter of the Vernon Family. She didn't believe her father would actually go ballistic and find this girl even after all she had done which was whining and crying.

Lady Gladys weren't the slightest happy with the idea as well but she was no child like her daughter. Although she was fuming with anger, she made sure she had masked her expression well. She showed her disapproval only at first but with her husband's on going determination and firmness, she knew she couldn't use her pitiful expression to make her husband to side with her.

Over the course of three days she had found a better solution— a plan— one that will guarantee the girl to be kicked out of the house.

"Caroline," said Lady Gladys with a tone so cold that Caroline's tears threaten itself from falling.

"Y- Yes mama?" Caroline wiped away her tears but she found her mother's expression looking quite frightening.

Without looking at her daughter, the lady spoke with furrowed brow pinned between her icy cold glare to the window. "Even if you dislike her, do not show it in your actions."

"Mama?" Caroline for a moment looked shocked to her core. "B- But.." Caroline had hoisted a plan of herself, the plan was simple. She will make sure she could bully the girl until she cried and leave their house! It was a dirty plan but Caroline swore to get rid of her step sister by all means possible. She was startled that her mother had stopped her. "Do you also want to accept that girl?!" She accused.

"Hardly," her mother spat. "But I already have a better plan which will result in her running away from this house on her own and for that be on your best behavior," as the lady demanded, they had forgotten about the maid who was still crying after her arms had been slashed by shards of glasses done by the daughter, Caroline Vernon out of rage. The maids who saw the mother and daughter pair's smile could only shake their heads and wished for the safety of this poor young lady the two had targeted.

Elle stepped out from the carriage, finally feeling relieved. She wasn't at all relieved though after seeing Mikail who had stepped down from the horse. She told herself it would be petty to hold a grudge against the man but he had kidnapped her and that was enough reason for her to hold a grudge.

Was it because he is a knight that he was so rude? Then again, knights are supposed to be respectable but this man had no ounce of politeness in his blood, appearing more like a barbarian as she mentioned.

"Walk forward," ordered Mikail seeing that she had stood the bottom of the stone staircase, seemingly treading to step up and made her way inside the manor.

Elle was a stranger and she felt out of place. Sure she was about to meet her father but, she couldn't see herself being excited about it. She only felt like a mouse trapped inside a beautiful golden cage. When Mikail had pushed her she glared at the man and nimbly moved aside. The knight was startled as his hand didn't manage to push Elle forward as she had moved like a cat.

"I have legs," Elle stated to her curtly. "Don't touch me with your dirty hands."

Mikail sighed as he had seen enough of girls claiming to be the daughter the Count searched for only to turn out to be one of those lying bigots. He replied dryly, "I can see that. I have eyes."

"You do have them though it doesn't seem to function properly."

Mikail narrowed his eyes while she looked back at him and held a deeper glare. "One more touch and I will cut your fingers," she warned.

"If only a weak young girl like you can do that," Mikail scoffed and laughed at her, seemingly enjoying her fury against him.

It seemed the man thought she had threatened him merely by words when he wasn't aware that she had cut many fingers before that she would call herself a skillful one in severing those dirty fingers. She huffed, telling herself to not be childish and fight with a man who was much bigger than her by her size. Even Lucas was much more mature than this man, she thought to herself.

She lifted her shoes to the clean staircase, thinking how dirty she was in contrast to the sparkling stones. Paying no attention as she already looked like a mouse dipped in the river, she looked forward and found the maids who squinted their eyes while staring at her appearance. Dirt was everywhere on her dress. There wear tears and rips hastily repaired by being sewn with multiple of fabrics that didn't match the original dress. Her strawberry hair also looked dull along with her skin covered in dust.

She didn't mind how she appeared as people in the slums had no concern about their appearance— they can't. They always need to think about their breakfast, lunch, and dinner, hoping to get at least a slice of bread for each part of the day. But now being inside the manor, she looked even worse than the servants. Would her father even know her?

In the first place, what was she hoping by meeting her father?

The man could be her birth father but not all parents would love their children. Especially a common girl from the slums.

Receiving the gazes, Elle sighed and held her chin high. She was someone who wouldn't pay attention to what dirty words others named her. She acknowledged she wasn't the best looking but she knows her worth wasn't bound only in her appearance. Call it her pride, but Elle would never cower from mere gazes thrown to her…

Seeing the expression on Elle's face, Lady Gladys who had just stepped down from her staircase found the dirty Elle. Her face appeared to have an inner glow despite being an orphan from the slums and just by a glance, Gladys could feel her heart thump. Cold sweat washed over her as she took a better look on Elle's face which was much too familiar to that woman!

It was as if she had seen a ghost— the ghost of Elle's mother!