𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐒. SAN

31 : are monsters made or born?

" ARE MONSTERS MADE OR BORN? "

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The piercing stare of Jiyoung accompanied by a cocky smile, though won't admit, intimidated Jiseol even in the slightest. "Hello, older sister."

The lass who stood in front of Jiseol looked like a spitting image of her. Most of their facial features were similar, especially the gray eyes with a cold resting expression except the younger's were covered with brown contact lenses. Even their body proportion were alike, it's just that Jiseol was a tad bit thinner and Jiyoung was slightly taller. They both had the same intimidating aura and cold gaze. The only striking differences were their hair color, outfits, personality, and last name.

"Jiyoung, oh my God. Is this where you've been the past 5 years? How have you been? Are you eating well? Are you getting good sleep?" Jiseol's face wore worry as she gripped the bars. It was the farthest she can reach since the cell was preventing her from embracing her sister. Her emotions were really testing her right now.

"Yuri. Kang Yuri. Don't call me Jiyoung anymore. But yes, thank you for your concern. I am doing well, Jiseol. Can't say the same about you...." Yuri whispered the last part.

"That's good to hear. Though I'd like to know, how did you end up here? And your name, how did you become....Kang Yuri? Yeosang's your brother?!"

Yuri scoffed, "Prince Yeosang, you're not close to him."

"Ah right,"

"Put some respect on mine too, I'm Princess Kang Yuri. Not Nam Jiyoung who has always been her sister, Nam Jiseol's shadow."

Jiseol's brows furrowed. "I-I don't understand. You've always shone in your own way, mother and father made sure not to leave any of us out."

"That's the problem, Jiseol! That's what you think! Of course you wouldn't understand because you're not me, you're Nam Jiseol. It's so tiring having people recognize me as Eris' sister and not as myself."

"Where were you on the day our parents were killed? How did you end up here?"

"YOUR parents, Jiseol. Stop reminding me of my past, I'm a Kang now."

Has Jiyoung always been like this? Or did something change in her when she disappeared 5 years ago? Jiseol felt sick now knowing that her beloved younger sister has felt like that for who knows how long. She's always thought they were treated equally because they were both given attention on different things they both excelled at. Would have anything changed if she was more aware of what Jiyoung felt? Would Yuri still be Nam Jiyoung if she was a better sister?

They say monsters are created by the various negative aspects of their lives. It was the same for Jiyoung. Every story has a different side to it, so though Jiseol and her parents thought the Nam sisters were being treated equally, Jiyoung thought otherwise. Disagreement and lack of communication always have the worst out come, don't they?

That day, Jiyoung went along with their parents as she was bored and had nothing else to do. Just like any other time, it was a nice and peaceful day looking for herbs and vegetables to eat. Not until Mr. Nam, their father, accidentally stepped beyond the border of both kingdoms. As if they can't get even more unfortunate, a team of assassins were roaming around Aurora Kingdom's grounds and witnessed the exact moment his foot crossed the border.

Jiyoung was immediately separated and taken away. She yelled and yelled for her parents, knowing they were going to be killed. Though, she was fortunate enough not to be bestowed years of trauma as she didn't watch her parents' death. Jiseol on the other hand, arrived when her sister was long gone, witnessing the exact moment of her parents' death and having to bare years of vicious nightmares visiting her almost every night, replaying the horrifying scene in her dream over and over again. She had tried countless medication yet none of them had fully given her a dreamless slumber, resulting to her under eye circles darken every night.

Jiyoung was scared at first. No more parents and no more older sister to look after her. But when she found out her reason of being there, she had realized she had no time to worry for others and didn't need anyone else but herself. She was almost too happy she had been taken away. It was finally her time. Finally time to step out of her sister's shadow and show herself to everyone, even if that meant living as someone else rather than as Nam Jiyoung.

Aurora Kingdom's Kangs wanted a princess but the queen could not bare another child. Jiyoung was sent to Queen Youngae's, Aurora's queen, kingdom to be trained for a year to become Kang Yuri. When she turned seventeen, she was sent back to Aurora and found out she had a brother. A lovely crown prince brother, Kang Yeosang. At first Jiyoung, or well, Yuri was enraged to find out she wasn't there to be the heiress of the throne, she thought she had to live in someone else's shadow again, but that was until she realized she could just steal the spot from him.

You've heard many princess fairytales, although I'm quite sure they have never been as evil and selfish as Princess Yuri's, am I right?

When Yuri finished her story and made sure she spoke quieter in case someone was listening in into their conversation, Jiseol's fragile heart once again shattered. How could people be so incredibly inconsiderate and selfish? She has been worried sick for Jiyoung for over 5 years only to find out the Kangs took her and on top of that, brought out a diabolical side of her who would do anything for the crown.

Now Jiseol understood what Yeosang meant by he's not like the rest of his family. If Jiyoung was stolen then that meant the king and queen both know. But what about Yeosang? Does he know?

"Um did you see the face the man who killed our- my parents?"

"Of course, I saw him clearly. If I'm not mistaken, his name is Choi Seho or something similar. An ex assassin and the father of one of our assassins. He retired a year later after your parents' death."

Oh? So she's been counting?

"Ah alright,"

"Well I'm not going to waste any more time talking with you. I hope to never see you again, you remind me of my past. Goodbye, Eris." Yuri then left.

Jiseol was left confused on why she didn't even question why Yuri visited her in the first place. How did she know? Only Yuri would know that when she found out her sister was locked up, she not-so-subtly begged Yeosang to reveal why Jiseol was there yet no information was released. This only made Yuri's hatred for Yeosang grow.

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