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One: Her Last Meal on Silver Plates

If there was one thing that made Y/N clench her jaw more than a conman getting caught for successfully selling his customer a fake million-pound purse, it was sitting in this blasted dining room, which, for all its grandeur, held a past too dark for the crystal-and-diamond chandeliers to illuminate.

Sitting opposite her was her parents, Theodore and Alicia L/N. Yes, she's been pushed to the point that she doesn't have any respect for them left. But then again, after what they've done to her, how could she?

She was seven years old, and they were introducing her to a man thrice her age. From what she could remember, they were conversing about an arranged marriage for her and the man. She was twelve years old, and she covered head to toe in white satin and silk. On her head glimmered a crown. No, it wasn't for her birthday (which her parents gladly forgot about), instead it was for her supposed wedding. Hadn't it been for a mysterious duo, she would've had three sons by now.

Y/N shuddered, her knife and fork clattering across the plate. Harriet – the Head Maid – shot her a worried glance. Y/N shook her head, signaling that she's alright. Harriet nodded and went back to staring at the window, her prematurely lined face bathed in five o' clock sunlight.

Why, you may ask, is Y/N reliving such terrible memories?

To put it simply, she was going to run away. She was going to run away from this cursed place, to where her real family was. She had already thought it all out, and frankly she couldn't help but smile to herself every single time she went over the steps.

"Y/N, honey, why are you not eating?" asked Alicia. Reluctantly, Y/N met her eyes. "Eat up, dear, you have a meeting with Earl William tomorrow."

Of course, how could she forget? Earl William was a rich businessman, capable of buying the whole of the L/N assets. She had personally met the man, and needless to say, she didn't like him. He was egotistic, and mostly bragged about his twelve wives, the youngest of which being eighteen. According to Alicia, she and him will talk about partnering up, business-wise, much to Y/N's relief. After the last arranged marriage, her parents had thankfully dropped the idea. Now, however, she was being forced to climb up to the top of the business-chain.

Inwardly cringing, Y/N plastered the sweetest smile she could muster onto her face. "Yes, mother, I will."

Alicia nodded in satisfaction and continued on rambling to Theodore, who seemed to merely stare at Alicia like she was merely an object. Ah yes, how typical of him. Sometimes Y/N wondered how their "family's" foundation hasn't collapsed yet.

Y/N sighed. She picked up her fork and stabbed at her food. Somehow she managed to finish her plate, thinking only of her escape.