MASS RELEASE TODAY! ENJOY!

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In a dark room.

A middle aged man was sitting on a sofa, deep in thought. A young man was pacing to and fro through the room, occasionally throwing a random punch in the air.

Both of them had the same jet black eyes. The middle aged man’s eyes just had a few more layers of depth.

“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” The youth suddenly stopped and kicked an extravagant vase, shattering it.

But the middle aged man stayed silent.

The youth turned to the man. “Why, father, WHY?!” He bellowed. “Why did you let that son of that bitch go? He assaulted me. I am the heir of this house, not him.”

The man scowled. “Lower your voice.”

The young man gulped. “I am sorry.”

“Did you think I let him go because I wanted to?” He snorted. “I want to teach that unfilial son a lesson more than anything. But don’t forget that his status is now higher than of my own. Moreover, Emilia is still out there.”

“That lucky bastard!” The ‘heir’ punched the air again. “He seduced a princess with his looks and won the lottery. That shameless bastard knows nothing more than hiding under the skirt of women. First, his mother and then, the Queen of Nemphis.” He turned to his father. “Can’t you do something to that bitch? She killed mother and elder brother.” Both of his fists clenched.

“How many times have I told you?” He shook his head. “The Empire doesn’t call her ‘The Witch’ for her talent or prowess. It is something else altogether.”

Fear overtook his eyes. “Some that only a few of us know. Something that pierces through the minds of the bravest of men.”

******

Decades ago, the then King of Darkshore, Aristion Storm welcomed his third child and his first daughter. But there were no celebrations; the Kingdom never celebrated having a new princess. They were deemed worthless after all. Strong states need strong men at the forefront, as their leaders.

Nevertheless, the child’s Grandfather could feel that she was the one who make him the proudest. So, he named her Emilia- someone who would rival the greatest, excellent everyone. Hence, she was named Emilia Storm.

Her earlier years went fine; she lived a privileged life- one that befitted a princess. The more she grew, the more her beauty bloomed. At the age of twelve, she was already being hailed as the next Ervilian Rose- a title that was only bestowed upon the greatest of beauties in the Continent.

But since she turned twelve, everything changed- the world turned upside down for her. Many of the maids that she played with began to move away. The male servants gave her looks that sent chills down her spine.

But those were nothing, maids and servants were not everything to her. Even her eldest brother, who had just turned sixteen- gave her the same look- that gaze that seemed to seep in through her clothes- unpleasant and uncomfortable look.

She hid away. The princess that used to run around the whole house locked herself in the room, isolating herself from the world.

She did not need anyone. The only thing she needed was peace. Thankfully, there were a couple of maids who took care of her, fed her and played with her. And more importantly, she still had her cute little sister. That was enough.

When she went to have a talk with her mother, the one she loved the most- she was rejected. Her mother did not even want to see her, let alone have a conversation. For the first time, a crack formed in her heart.

She ran all the way back to her room, her teardrops staining the hallways and corridors. She shut herself away from the world. Even the two maids and her own sister was barred from entering the room.

They thought she would open up once she get tired of it or get hungry. But little did they know that the pain in her heart covered the pain from hunger.

Once a day passed, the maids finally sent words to the higher ups. But nor the King, neither the Queen stepped forward. The who approached was none other than the one who named her- her grandfather, the previous king.

He, who was hailed as one of greatest wind circlers in the entire Confederation, got into her room through the window- only to find her squatting at one corner of the room- with unblinking red eyes. He consoled her, caressed her, fed her and finally conversed with her to find about the reason of her apparent heartbreak.

“Your mother is busy. She is the Queen after all.” He consoled her and managed to somewhat cheer her up.

She opened to the world again. The two maids and her little sister were her world. The one called ‘grandpa’ disappeared.

A couple of year passed. She turned fourteen, her sister Emma turned twelve. And most importantly her eldest brother, who was eighteen, returned from the Military College for vacation. That year, her entire world, which was already turned upside down, was destroyed- forever, never to be repaired again.

One day, both of her maids came in with smiles on their pretty faces.

“Your highness.” One of them spoke. She was eighteen years old at most. “We will play a new type of game today. Follow us.” She beckoned.

The other one nodded.

“Shouldn’t we take Emma with us?” Princess Emilia, who was even more beautiful than before asked.

“She is already there.” The maid answered.

“Let’s go then.” The princess smiled.

Soon, the two maids led her to a room in one corner of the palace.

“Enter first, your highness.” The maid gestured as she gave her way. “Her highness Emma is waiting inside.”

The innocent princess impatiently ran inside, only for the door behind to close. She shrugged it off. Maybe this was part of the game. She looked around and instantly knew that it was a store room.

A smile appeared on her face. So, it was hide and seek? She began to look for her little sister.

And soon, she found her sibling at one empty corner of the room. But the one she found was not the one she was looking for.

“How have you been, little sister?”