Sad Memories

After breakfast, Bonnie and Dixie immediately headed upstairs to prepare for their departure. 

Tyren left with a determined expression on her face. She seemed to have made up her mind about something.

The Duke resumed work in his office with a happy smile on his face.

Dixie placed Moniqua's satchel inside a larger bag, alongside some of the books that had been written in. She needed to know if Hildegarde was one Moniqua's confidants. Would Felicia have been able to trust this woman if she had reached out to her?

Heading downstairs, she was especially careful on the landing staircase. A cold sweat broke out on her forehead. I have now traumatized myself, she thought with a roll of her eyes.

Bonnie was waiting for her outside. Six guards would be accompanying them, excluding the coachman.

How can we have private of a conversation surrounded by so many eyes and ears? We had best make them all wait outside and lock the door.

Bonnie helped her sister inside and sat across from her. As they began their journey out of the Del Montague lands and into the city, they took notice of all the shops. The air was bright with laughter and conversations. The streets were packed with people buying and selling goods.

What a simpler way of living. A life without luxury was undoubtedly harder, but it meant more freedom. Being able to breathe. Less scrutiny was placed on you when you did not live inside a golden cage expected to perform for everyone else's satisfaction.

I honestly don't know if Bonnie and I will be able to fully embrace nobility. 

Some of the locals having spotted the affluent carriage of the Del Montague family, stopped and stared. A few bowed. Bonnie's gaze was caught on a mother carrying her infant daughter on her hip and pointing to the fancy carriage. The little girl babbled. A sharp pang rang in her heart.

I wonder what Daddy is doing right now. Has he heard that we're missing? Has anyone informed him? Does he even care?

Sliding the carriage window shut, Dixie felt a strange sadness engulf her. How she wished they could just hop out and join the crowd; dressed as commoners, just strolling through town, window shopping and laughing it up with nothing to burden them.

The last time the DeMont family had an outing was when they went to Disney Land. It was their final time together as family before their mother was killed.

As for Felicia, Dixie remembered it clearly now. The Del Montague family had gone to a town fair to watch a performance. There had been music and dance.

There was no Helena or Tyren, just a genuine family. Everyone was happy. And the Duke had picked up Moniqua and spun her in a circle.

A week later everything was destroyed and they were at a funeral.

More memories surfaced. Dixie witnessed the soul tearing pain that had consumed the Duke when Moniqua's casket was lowered. He had dropped to his knees and cried without inhibition. The servants had all looked away, unable to witness their master in such a state. Alex had sat down and bawled whilst hugging his knees. Felicia had laid down and felt the dirt mixing in with her tears. After such a heavy loss, they should have clung even more tightly to one another. Instead, the opposite happened.

Felicia had gone to the Duke, tears streaming down her face and tried to seek comfort. She was met with cold eyes. He refused to speak to her. He refused to touch her. Instead, he had cursed at her and called her a demon child.

And when she went to Alex, he had painfully slapped away her hand. To the point that she cried out and sucked on her throbbing fingers.

Then all the servants looked at her with scorn. Everywhere she turned she was met with rejection.

Felicia was left all alone, traumatized by her mother's death and forced to grieve without anyone to help her. She grew to hate herself. Eventually, she came to believe that the death was indeed her fault. The blame was hammered so much into her head, that she forgot the truth she once knew. Even the memory of her mother's murder began to fade from her mind.

She was broken. She was lost. Then came the arrival of Tyren and Helena, who wasted no time in taking advantage of the Duke and Alexander's emotions.

Felicia should have fought back. Why didn't she?

Next thing she knew, she was in the annex. Day by day her beauty faded, her clothes became loose and her mind spiraled into a despair so heavy she could not even lift her head and look people in the eyes.

Even speaking proper sentences became difficult.

She cried out for her mother. She cried out for her father. She cried out for her brother. Nothing happened.

After that, she simply wished to vanish. Battling suicidal thoughts became a norm. Though she prevailed, the demon in her mind kept hounding her to end her life.

Then came the Duke's summon. Once she was informed that she would be marrying the Crown Prince, it gave her dark world a bit of light. Felicia was determined to make the best out of her sudden fortune.

Unfortunately, Helena destroyed that as well. She remained safe and loved inside the Crown Prince's arms as Felicia was devoured by fire.

Withdrawing from the memories, she felt sickened by emotions she felt. Dixie glanced up and saw that Bonnie also looked sullen with tears flowing out of her eyes. Touching her face, Dixie realized that she was crying as well.

Once again, they had seen the same thing. No words were spoken as the sisters looked deeply into each others eyes. They understood the Duke and Alex a bit more, but it was clear that their grief had blinded them.

Those two idiots should have known better. They should have trusted Felicia. She was the sister and daughter! Whatever happened to familial piety? Why would she kill her own mother whom she loved so much? Could they not see that she was hurting right along with them?

Suddenly the carriage door opened. "We have arrived, my lord. My lady."