FOR YOU, YOUR HIGHNESS.
'MM'
I opened my eyes, waking up from a peaceful slumber. This morning was quieter and lovelier than any to exist. Trying to snuggle a little, I felt a weight on my body.
Turning hastily, my movement halted…
A MAN WAS SLEEPING IN MY BED….
WTF?????
I rubbed my eyes to verify the situation. But it didn't change anything. An angel was sleeping next to me. Due to morning rays his pale skin was glowing; half naked, he was snuggling in my bed. Soft silver hairs were tangled on the bed, and his lips were juicy beyond anyone's imagination….
Wait...
A sudden realization came to mind.
ME, ERIN ALFREDO, WAS SHARING HER BED WITH A MAN??????
THAT TOO, A HANDSOME ONE?????
NO WAIT, THAT'S NOT A POINT…
WHY THE HECK IS HE SLEEPING BESIDE ME HALF NAKED!!!!!!
THINKING ABOUT IT…
MY CLOTHES ARE ALSO NOT THE SAME…
WHAT THE HECK!!!!
Out of reflex, my hands reached for my sword, clutching its hilt tightly; that blade was pointing towards his neck.
All this happened in almost a second; he opened his eyes comfortably.
"WHO ARE YOU?" I snarled at him. clutching the sword tighter. My inside was freaking out. He had such a divine look; even this blade was shaking. This blood pump was going to rip off my chest.
He raised his brows; being confused, he curled up his lips."Is this also one of your pranks?" He questioned with a warm smile.
GOD, THIS IS A KILLER SMILE. MY INTERNAL ORGANS WILL FAIL!!!!
I took a step back; my emotions were dancing inside me. His words were telling me loudly that he's an acquaintance. But he was nowhere to be found in my memories…
"Rina?" He called out a strange name. "Are you angry at me?"
"I'm not Rina." My grip on the sword tightened. Whenever I tried to speak harshly with him, my body refused it. "I'm asking again, who are you?"
He was taken aback by that statement. Coming out of bed, he smacked his forehead. "If that's what you want…" he continued with an affectionate tone, "I'm Prince Cian, your only friend and lover."
"L-Lover…?"
//////////FOR YOU, YOUR HIGHNESS//////////
A day ago....
"Woah."
It amuses me no matter how many times I see it. My hand, it's flooding with mana. Not only that, every cell in these bodies was filled with mana. Some days ago, my injured body was found near the dukedom's border, and here I am with this strange energy.
I don't remember much about how it happened. How I ended up like that, it seems some memories are lost, but that doesn't matter as long as it benefits me.
This body might have the most mana in the whole continent.So, let's not go into details; the memories I lost must be useless anyway. It's not like there was something pleasant in my life. The only thing that changed was my heart; it's empty. Good for me, since today a big task was awaiting me.
"STEP STEP"
My thoughts were disrupted; I yawned. Maids and servants were rushing in and out of the duchy. The whole dukedom was in chaos; of course, it's not because of some kind of monster attack.The reason was more important than the whole world getting burnt because today was Irena's, the precious daughter of the duke's, last birthday.
All servants are in chaos, running here and there. So, was this Irena, who was showered with affection… Me?
Certainly not. Forget about showering with love; I never even saw a glimpse of my parents. My compartment was in a shady corner of the dukedom where even servants rarely entered. So, am I a maid?
Instead of wasting time in a guessing game, it will be better to learn about my life in brief.
I'm Erin, only daughter of the late duke, current duke's older brother Noah Alfredo.
Like a usual main character from a romance fantasy, I too was a victim of neglectful parents, an abusive household, and a bitchy sister.
My father, Noah Alfredo, was the most obsessive husband one can find. He married my mother at a very young age. But after my birth, things changed.My mother's health wasn't the best from the start, but after childbirth she was constantly ill. Being an obsessed husband, he tried his best to save her.
However, on my first birthday, my mother left the world. Not due to illness, she was assassinated. This left my father devastated, to the point her funeral was postponed for almost 6 months. That corpse was almost rotting due to his obsessiveness.
After that my father went missing, without even giving me the inheritance right. I was neglected right from the day of my birth.Due to his dumbness, my uncle Edward became the duke, granting the succession right to his daughter.
From that day my life was a living hell. My uncle despised me; why, you may ask? Because of his shitty inferiority complex. He feels inferior to me, who was the legit hire of the duchy and hence tortured me for his satisfaction, but unlike others, these only made me crave revenge.
Fast forwarding, my life went on by training swordsmanship; it was the only relief in that hellish life. I don't know what kind of madness had carved on me, but my memory was foggy after that.
The only thing that stuck with me till now was the cold war on the western border. After being heavily injured, I lost my consciousness, and strangely, even that foggy memory disappeared.
Looks like I got carried away in backstory.
I have to get ready for the party now.
"Red or black?"
I looked at two of the only dresses in my possession and thought about what to wear.
"Hmm… Red is good, but I guess black suits me." I muttered to myself. Picking that black dress, well, it was pretty. And it was suited for a lowly orphan like me. Who was abandoned by both her parents, anyway? Black color resembles death... Great, right?
Wearing that dress, I took a look at myself in the mirror. Dark red lipstick, blue eyes, and straight, dark hair. Perfect, isn't it?
My gaze shifted to my sword. It was sharper than any other day, craving blood. Picking it up, I can see my blue eyes reflecting on the blade. My eyes, like a starry sky, were sparkling with white dots. One can see the whole galaxy in it.
Truly beautiful, of course they will be because it was a birthmark of this dukedom.A birthmark, huh?
A fierce impulse to gouge them out coursed throughout my nerves. A color that was so repulsive I might as well burn it. But then again, I can't dirty this pretty face, which was the last memory of my dead father.
"Clank, clank."
My blade was touching the shabby floor of this room.
By this family tree, let's assume I'm a cousin sister of hers.
Not like it matters now. I sighed and went towards the hall.
**
She looked at the glamorous hall, big lamps, and grand feast with several high-cost cakes and wine. Slow music, couples dancing in front of her. Her father was sitting on the couch next to her. Today She, Irena, was in the spotlight.
"Perfect, isn't it?"She asked her father. He looked at her; a warm smile was engraved on his face.
He patted her head."Suitable for my daughter." His voice was filled with affection and love for his daughter.
Irena too flashed her teeth, showing her clumsiness. Scratching her cheeks, she nervously said, "Daddy, thank you for everything."
It was something she wanted to tell him again and again. Born with a silver spoon, Irena was loved by both of her parents. Even after her mother's death, he didn't collapse.
Always doting on her with affection, Irena never felt the absence of her mother.Her father halted, shocked by that sudden confession. Softening his gaze, his lips curled up.
"I should be the one saying that. Thanks for coming into my life, my daughter."
Her eyes were veiled in tears. She might—no, she is the luckiest daughter in this world to have a father like Duke Edward.
Edward poured all his affection through his gaze on Irena. She was the loveliest person in the whole world. Her silver hair reaches her waist. Soft mint eyes filled with love for her father.
He lifted his hand to brush her hair but suddenly fresh blood drops sprinkled on his face.
His eyes were widened, and blood was sprinkled on the floor, reaching his toes. Quickly clutching his sword with one hand and protecting Irena with the other, he took a look at that intruder who dared to disturb his father-daughter moment.
"Happy birthday, dear sister."