Fᴏʀᴄᴇᴅ Tᴏ Bᴇ Tʜᴇ Vɪʟʟᴀɪɴ

Lonely Trek

Anna POV

Before I moved into the palace, I thought that the next few years of my life would be boring. And it was. Don't get me wrong, it was an honor to be able to gain experience in the royal castle, but I...wasn't too fond of the idea.

I mean, I was just a 10 years old kid about to get a job! I wanted to enjoy my childhood more!

But no matter how much I wish for it, I don't have the luxury, I'm an illegitimate child. If I want to survive, I have to work hard.

My name is Anna Flora. The illegitimate child of the esteemed Duke; William Green of the Zeneayia Kingdom. My mother was a mere maid of the Green Household, but I respect and love her. She was kind and hardworking. She was diligent and graceful-she was one of a kind.

Gorgeous and mature with a gentle but intimidating aura. It was hard to believe she was a maid.

If it weren't for her ragged clothes, she could have been mistaken as a noble. One of pure blood. Understandable from her gold shining hair and enchanting face

It was that beauty that allured my father. The one made him fall in love. The one that made him feel butterflies in his stomach. Yet, he still chose to push her away for the sake of the damn family, for it's reputation and purity. I scorned him.

How could you forsake the one you love? Unless if it wasn't. It was lust. If it was true love, he wouldn't have cared about those matters.

He fooled mother and left both of us in the dust. He wouldn't even acknowledge the fact that I'm his daughter.

Despite not accepting me as an official child, he took me in as one of the Green family's harbored talented individuals. He forced and pressured me to live up to the title.

Even with all that, I lived a normal life. A hard but peaceful life with a loving mother. Until she started to change.

After my 6th birthday...she became mean. Her eyes turned cold and her personality took a 180. She pushed me away and hit me. She avoided me.

She yelled at me and I...started hating her.

I've done everything to make her happy and our life easier. I worked hard. So why did she hit me? Why?!

I did everything for her! So why is she yelling at me? I respected her! So why is she acting the same way as that bastard William!

I got angry, I cursed her. But all that hate turned out to be mere empty words. I wept as I found out she left. I was depressed and tried to convince myself with anger as I recalled all the things she has done to me.

But no matter how much I twist the facts, no matter how much I altered my memories, the loving image of her couldn't leave my mind. I wanted to deny that I was at fault-I ended up clouding my own vision.

Deep down, I just didn't want to be abandoned-I didn't want to feel the helplessness I felt the moment my father humiliated me and my mom. The time she yelled at her for trying to take advantage of him.

Since then, I holed up inside my room. With my performance deteriorating to the point of my title almost getting revoked if it weren't for my 'father'.

Whilst in sorrow, I overheard a conversation outside my room. That's when I found out the bitter truth. The one that made me feel disgusted at myself.

She...

Mom...Made me hate her on purpose.

She...didn't want me to feel sad once she left.

She...made me hate her so that I could forget about her.

I felt horrible.

I wanted to bury my head in a hole from the suffocating guilt. It felt dehumanizing.

"I'll let you live a good life! So just wait for me, Kay?"

A memory resurfaced with my voice resounding vividly. It was followed by my feeble smile.

The words meant to be sincere now seemed nothing more than a broken promise.

My spirit was shattered and crushed because of my assumption.

But a part of me wanted to believe it wasn't too late.

Before I knew it, I was working hard for a goal. I wanted to repay her back.

No matter where she is right now, I'll work hard to give her a luxurious life. I will pull her back to my side.

With a steeled resolve, I entered the royal palace prepared for anything.

The esteemed imperial property was a lot harsher than I thought, but I persevered.

The maids treated me like a beggar despite being personally recommended by the Duke. But at that point, I was already used to it.

I worked whole heartedly striving to improve my craft. I was put down multiple times but I didn't falter-not anymore.

Eventually, I became one of the top 10 youth of the kingdom. I was revered throughout. Even the maids have treated me better. So much so that I felt the hypocrisy to my bone.

I finally reached my first step, one of many. But to reach this point I walked through a lonely and dark path.

I had no happy memory of this place. Until I met him-a random boy I met one night.

He was trembling down on the floor when I saw him. He was in pain.

I didn't have a reason to help him, but I did anyways.

I didn't want to become just like them. The people who look up to the strong and scorn the weak. If they were in their shoes, would they have liked the treatment?

Just by a glance, I knew he was treated worse than me. Not only from the wounds, but from the unseen scars he revealed as he wept.

He wasn't that different from me, in fact, compared to him, I had a better life.

All this time I cried as I thought I had it the worse, but little did I know some could barely eat. Some could barely live. The dark truth I learned as I experienced the outside world. Corruption and poverty.

It was then when I found out what I truly wanted-equality. I wanted peace. I wanted a world where one can have opportunities to reach for their dreams. It seems like a distant ambition for now, but I'll make sure to make the world a better place before I die.

And I'll start one step at a time.

That's why I helped Liam. The boy I met during a fateful night. It was as if our meeting enlightened me.

I taught and fed him. But due to personal reasons he dare not tell, he could only visit me at night. His name rang a bell, but I didn't question him further.

Despite taking some of my free time, I didn't mind which in turn resulted in amazing feats.

In just a few months, he became smarter than not only his peers, but also kids who are a few years older than him. For someone who only started to read, it was truly astonishing.

"I'm here now sister."

"Oh Liam, you're early,"

"But didn't you tell me to last night?"

But in this world, knowledge isn't enough. If he wants to reach something higher, he needs to activate mana. No matter how smart you are, you will not be able to escape prejudice.

"What's that?"

That's why I used some of my money to buy him an elemental crystal.

"It's an item used for feeling mana,"

"Magic?!"

"Yes! Here."

With some help, I could make him at least feel mana if he wasn't talented. I'm sure with that he'll be able to avoid the judging eyes of others.

"You just need to-"

Or so I thought...

"W-What is this?!"

As I placed his hands on the crystal that will define his fate, a blinding light suddenly shot out engulfing the both of us.

"Liam!"