Fall into a romantic, magical fantasy with Zia Lathyrus, a young heroine with dreadful knowledge of her past life in a new world. From lonely office worker to aristocratic beauty, Zia is swept into keeping the world she once read in a novel safe fro...
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Chapter Nine: A Mothers Curse
Lily wanted to surpass everything her mother abandoned for love. Lily kneaded the dough, her hands tired from a task she rarely did. Shifting the flour into a bowl to mix, Lily looked over at her mother, who hummed a sad lullaby again. A man worth giving up family ties who died too early had all but brought Lilys' mother to the fragile widow she is today. Lily despised her father and mother for life she was forced to endure, thanks to their ill-fitting relations.
"We are out of sugar," Lily mumbled. Her mother looked up; despite her age and melancholic approach to life she was a stunning older woman, one who still turned heads. Wrinkles and gray hair did little to take away from her matured beauty. Often Lily was told that she looked like a younger version of her mother, the only difference being the fierceness of her brows from her mercenary father.
"Out of sugar already? I'll have to see about borrowing some from Sir Henry and his wife." her mother suggested, her voice soft with a touch of grief hidden in her voice.
"Mother, why do you avoid returning home. If we returned to your family, we could end this suffering and vile life in Bliss." Lily began. The tired argument always sprung up during times like this. Her mother's eyes darkened frightfully, the most change in her expression she ever chose to show.
"We will never beg for their wealth. Not after they turned your father and me away. I will never see those foul people again." Her mom cursed and shook her head.
"I curse the day being born to a family so cruel of heart and absent of love." Her mother said, turning away from Lily. Lily sighed and dusted her hands off to console her mother. Her body shook, as she wept.
"I'm sorry mother, truly. I just want us to not live like this." Lily whispered into her hair, as she hugged the wailing woman.
"You are of age Lily, I saved every corolla for you to spend the season in the capital. You'll find someone to love, and marry in no time." Her mom whispered. The teary woman turned to look at her beautiful daughter.
"You need no connections from that family Lily; your beauty and good heart will get you all the way to the stars. I was promised you would change the world from the Mana reader when you were a baby." Her mom smiled, as she thought on her words. Lily felt her heart churn in her chest. The kneading pressure of her mother's ideals and her faith pushed her to seek an arrangement of love to save her.
"Love will conquer all Lily, your father and I had a blessed ten full seasons together. You'll find your love in the capital, I know it." Her mother grasped her hands and smiled at the thought. The glistening trail of tears sparkled like a reminder of her promises.
"Love..." Lily smiled as she left her mother to clean the cottage. Her head began to hurt at the thought of falling victim to the plague that ruined her mother's life.
"Love is for the fortunate and the delusional, I refuse to rely on such things." Lily scoffed as she made her way down the hill, and towards the heart of Bliss.
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Lily walked with chilling anger out of the tavern. Another loss and waste of her time. Bliss appealed little to nobles who were preparing for the spring season. Many visitors were only there briefly for business or to visit family if they had any. The same faces over and over that offered little change. Irritated with the loss of her time Lily continued walking through town until she reached the newsstand.
The local paperboy was often an easy news source, so she never had to spend corolla on the papers. As she approached the window, Agnor looked up and smiled. Lily smiled kindly, greeting the young man with a kiss on the cheek. He blushed fiercely and coughed behind his hands.
"Miss Lily you tease me too much," Agnor whispered. He looked around for his boss and found him sleeping up the stairs against the shelves again. The empty wine bottle a clear indicator of his state.
"He's passed out drunk again, Agnor. Come tell me all about what goes on in the capital. " Lily encouraged. She leaned against the counter, and Agnors eyes followed the movement of her chest and he swallowed with nervousness flushing across his face.
"The new Bells and Thistles issue came this morning."He began; he reached under the counter to pull forth the issue and place it in front of Lily.
"There are rumors that newer nobles wish to tie their bloodlines this season, so it should be the most floral one yet."
"Oh any interesting names?" Lily inquired, her eyes briefly looking at the front page.
"Eh, there will be a few nobles from the north coming down this season?" Agnor flushed red again, "but miss Lily you know I...would love to take you out sometime in the spring" He asked stumbling over a few of his words. Lily smiled, and nodded enthusiastically.
"Come with me to the capital" Lily invited, daring the man to take a step out of Bliss and see the world.
"Ah the sun shines differently in the capital Lilly. I'm only a country boy I have no business wandering among those fancy folk," Agnor sighed as he packed the paper away. Lily stifled her disappointment and only smiled, at her sometimes lover. He would stay in this town, but Lily knew her fate awaited her. Dying in this small town, nestled in the corner of the Skye Empire was the last thing she would ever do.
Walking out of the town later that evening Lily, lost in thought made her way up the hill. The low light of the fire was a beacon to the life she was ready to leave behind. Frustrated with how little she knew about the capital Lily wanted to pack her bags and take the train out. Her gaze wandered over to the Barons land and she thought about Zia. Perhaps Zia would go with her to the capital and she could lead her to places she would never usually have access to. If she asked Zia might be the one to change her fate, that was enough to get her thinking about how she would convince her shut-in friend to traverse the capital with her. As Lily reached her door and pushed the handle down, she stopped and wondered how she would take her destiny in her hands. Her life would surpass the Barons daughter and the life her mother left behind.
To Be Continued...
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Hi Reader,
Lily's first solo chapter~ Getting into the background of the original story protagonist is a nice change of pace and one I feel keeps her on the line of morally gray or perhaps understandable as a character. She has her reasons for why she is the way she is. If you had a chance to read her Character Sheet you'll see more of her background that will slowly unfold throughout the story. I look forward to seeing this ambitious woman thrive in her own way. Is she a villain, is she a hero, or is she simply just a woman in the world? Questions to consider going forward.
P.S.
If you enjoyed the content you read, please feel free to leave a comment, share the chapter, and post about it! Tag me @jadedisland on most social media if you would like. I appreciate character fanart and conversations about art collaborations/commissions and welcome feedback via email: Jade@jadedisland.com // Jadedisland@gmail.com. For publishing inquiries, please get in touch with those emails, and mention which story you're interested in supporting. If you want to see exclusive content or early content, please consider joining my Kofi, as it directly supports me as the author and artist, but any social shares are greatly appreciated and support me as well. Subscribe to get chapter updates!
