Long live the Villainess

#3- Frederick Mhyrr

Arien? The new King of Svenja is Arien?

'The husband of my sister is my previous fiancé?'

Something rips into my chest. My vision becomes blurry as wet spots appear on the paved road.

Every noise becomes unbearable. I can only seem to perceive the subtle noise of tears hitting the stone.

A strange energy travels in my leg. My throat tightens, and I can't breathe, oppressed by the crowd.

'I need to go away. Far away.'

Before I know it, the wind ruffles into my hair as my little feet rattle the sand. I don't know where I am going; running away won't do anything, but I don't care. For now, this is the only thing I can do.

Forcing my mind to numb the pain of a broken heart, I focus on the dunes surrounding me. But suddenly, my feet are caught up in a hole, and I roll down the slope.

'Why? Why?'

I spit the sand out of my mouth and wipe my lips. I let myself sink into the ground as I put my arms around my legs.

'You love me.'

So why? Why did he marry my sister?

I thought that I would never cry again, but tears flow down like an endless river.

'I lost everyone.'

The only string that held me to my previous life had been cut mercilessly by Loreiley.

Rage twists my stomach as my nails dig into the burning sand.

"Wasn't taking away my brother, my family, my life, and my pride enough? You also had to take my love away?" I sob.

"RAVEN! WHY IN THE WORLD DID YOU..."

The voice of Marianna trails off when she discovers my pitiful state. I don't even care to lift my face from my arms. I want to stay in the darkness forever.

A warm hand grabs my arm. A slow but quite firm grip.

"I need you to talk to me, Raven. I can't help you if you don't let me."

"Why?"

My voice is low and broken. I am tired. I am tired of living when I am broken, and no one can see this. Where I can't talk about this.

"Why would you care about me!? Why would anyone care about me!?"

My voice echoes in the surrounding dunes.

"Why would you ask that? You are my dau..."

"This means NOTHING! Bloodline means NOTHING! You are just going to abandon me like they did."

"Why are you asking that Raven what happened?"

I look at her with burning rage, tears streaming from my eyes.

"Why would you care about me! Just because I am your daughter doesn't mean I am worthy of your love."

Marianna's eyes widen, but she stays silent as she contemplates the cracks in my child mask. For the first time, she hears what I truly think.

"Why? Just why?" I cry.

"Raven," she starts carefully, "I don't know what you are talking about, but I know you are in pain. It tears my heart to see you like this while I am powerless. You don't even know what pain it causes me to not be able to help you. But I love you. Because you are my daughter. Because you are brilliant, beautiful, intelligent, and caring! Because when you smile, it is like a day of sunshine has appeared in the room," tears are rolling down her cheeks as she speaks.