Chapter 1: Start of Miseries

As far as I can remember, my past life before being locked in the tower was full of miseries as well.

Ever since I was a kid, being the golden child of Trovis family was something I was proud of.

Even though my family was of arranged marriage by my well-known wealthy grandparents, they were happy as much as I remember in my memories.

I used to be happy with just spending time with my gentle and kind mom, my dad who always spoils and love us unconditionally, and my older brother who will always take my side no matter what.

I have everything every children would envy. The name, wealth, brains, the looks, and even the complete happy family.

"The Trovis are really of outstanding family, no? To think they were among the wealthiest family this year as well."

"They're blessed with perfect children as well!"

"Zaria is really the charm of our family, right, mom?" My brother, Killian, used to say that all the time whenever I would come back each end of term with medals around my neck.

People always say how my intelligence doesn't match my age and how my maturity was so advance they're worried about how I was raised.

That makes sense. I'm good at everything I set my eyes upon after all. Be it academics, arts, music, or even sports.

"You're amazing, are you a sponge? You're just absorbing everything laid out in front of you."

I would always smile shyly at Lucas— my childhood friend, each time he would see me excelling at something again.

The more I'm being noticed, the more it's starting to kick in on my mind how my understanding of things were much different compared to children my age.

Still, I take pride on my own capabilities because of the people around me. And since my family is well off, I expected my future to be full of flowery path.

Although.. expectations always hurts someone who doesn't grasp reality.

One day, everything came crashing down when one morning, my mom disappeared without a trace on my 10th birthday.

"Brother.. where's mom?"

My fifteen year old brother only hugged me at my question. I remembered how his green eyes full of sadness and pain was buried under those lids.

Only then it dawn to me, that maybe.. we were abandoned by her.

Though I don't why, but the rumors circulating after my mom's disappearance was so hard to accept.

"I heard Mrs. Trovis eloped with her lover?"

"It's a rumor! Apparently, it's a man she's in love with before marriage."

"Ah.. that's why.."

I just let the rumors enter my ear and then out with the other. There's no way it'll be true. Although they were of forced marriage, she was happy right?

My brother who was always besides me would only smile kindly and reassure me that one day, she would come back.

Our situation became even harder since the longer mom was gone, my dad became even more madden. He would always lock himself up in his office and sometimes wouldn't eat.

On the other hand, he would be spending a little time with us as quality time. But even those things decreased when he drowned himself with work.

It hurts sometimes when he wouldn't come home for a week, until that week becomes a month, it even takes up to a few months.

My dad's handsome face was full of distressed on my mom's absence.

But it hurts even more when he would do come home and then look at me with pure longing and sadness. I knew why he stares like that.

Because I look like my mother.

My long wavy crimson red hair, the soft and angelic features, green eyes that twinkled like emeralds— Its like I'm my mother's twin. He probably reminisces his time with mom whenever he would see me.

One day, three years after my mom left, my father came home staggering. He was calling for us even though he had just entered the main door.

"Killian.. Zaria.."

"Daddy is home, brother! Let's—brother?"

When I was about to welcome my dad with hugs, my brother's huge hand stopped me. I searched where my brother's straight gaze was looking at.

And then I noticed. My dad's usual turquoise eyes full of light was so different now. It was blank, unfocused and hazy.

His eyes that always lit up whenever he sees us regardless the day, was now empty.

"Dad?"

My brother called out to him. That day.. our dad stared at our faces for a long time before smiling for the last time, genuinely.

After that, he wasn't the father we knew.

Few months later, we were surprised to know he would remarry Felisha, our stepmom. Everything became even more harder the moment she entered our life out of the blue.

Felisha was a widow, though she already have a twin children, her looks matched that of my father. It was a timeless beauty with her long ebony straight hair and obsidian eyes.

I thought then that she looks like a goddess of night.

But damn. It's a scam. That woman was far from being a goddess!

My brother and I tried to get along with them, for our dad who maybe finally got to find happiness despite three long years of misery from our mother's absence.

However, reality was much harsher than I thought. The world wasn't accepting of family that doesn't have any blood ties.

Felisha's twin children, Iarkial and Ilzien, even though we're almost of same age doesn't particularly regards us as siblings.

"Don't try to get along with them, Zaria. Especially that boy, don't get too close with him."

Brother Killian would often scold me for it, especially weeks before his birthday. I still remembers the serious face my brother had the moment he warned me about the twins.

At that time, I didn't understand. No matter how much I crack my head open, I can't comprehend his wariness to children that's almost the same age of me.

But now… I regret that I didn't listen to him.

A few weeks later, on the day of my brother's birthday, I found my self alone.

On my brother's 18th birthday, he disappeared without a trace just like our mother.

Slap!

"You're accusing me of disowning him?!"

"What? No.. I'm just asking where is he.."

"Ha! I don't know, maybe he abandoned you just like how your pathetic mother did?"

Felisha's sharp words hurt me more than the slap she just gave me. My cheek tingling from pain at that time was so vivid as Ilzien snickered at me.

During that time, my dad wasn't even home and only the four of us remained. Still, I held on for a month just to wait for that father of mine so I could have the answers I want.

"Dad.. brother's gone."

"…What do you want me to do about it?"

"M-Maybe you k-know where he—!"

"I don't know. Don't even try to know. If he left, then he's not my son anymore. Don't you ever bring this up again."

His voice that doesn't even have the warmth on it like before when he used to call us affectionately, shattered the thirteenth year old me.

Dad became uninterested with me. Felisha on the other hand, burned my mom and brother's pictures and any traces of their existence in our house.

She wield complete authority to the house my mother dreamed about.

Sooner, Felisha also hold authority to my affairs, that includes my studies. It is where my complete misery… started.

"I won't accept one or two mistakes, if your test paper even contain them then leave."

I'm fine with having no mistakes. It's okay, everything's easy for me after all. I accepted Felisha's condition for me and yet..

"You're allowed to learn anything as of today but.. if I ever see you holding piano, you wouldn't want to see the consequences."

I knew Felisha's personality, if she said so then it will be. The hopelessness as I watched the other classmates of mine continue their piano lessons while I can only hear and see them play was heart wrenching.

The only thing I wanted was taken away from me like a piece of sweet candy.

That's when I learned how to disobey them. With Lucas, my only friend, I found ways how to build foundation to my small dream.

I uphold my title of being the golden child of Trovis while also sidelining and slowly making my way towards the dream I love the most.

Even when everyone left, I continued. Just like a damn martyr, I persevered.

All of that amounted for nothing.

The humiliation, anger, and betrayal piled up while I watched my rival play the piece I composed my self! My dreams and ambitions dissipated like smoke as I wonder how it came across her hand.

But now, it's clear who stole my piece and gave it to her.

"Zaria.. if I could keep you here by my side, I'll shatter your dreams happily."

My biggest mistake was trusting that bastard like my brother. I realized why my brother and Lucas… kept me away from him.

He became the biggest nightmare of my life.