Everyone in the room or nearby who heard, were shocked. But Angelina wasn't.

She of course acted like she was, but she wasn't.

She had no intention of becoming Chase's fiancee. After this, she planned to pay a visit to the Casspan mansion and reject this offer.

But right now she must act shocked and flustered.

"Butler...you must have misread....perhaps you mistaken elder sister with me?" Angelina pretended to be hesitant and in disbelief.

"No at all. 'Angelina' has been clearly written" the butler responded calmly.

Everyone else was speechless.

To them it was clear that Evelina will end up as Chase's fiancee. She had debuted, had a good reputation, and a beautiful appearence.

But it seems they were wrong...

Not caring for her image, Evelina got up and left.

She couldn't bare the humiliation!

"Elder sister!" Angelina looked to be in distress on the outside, but she was mocking Evelina in her heart.

**********

Evelina's heavy footsteps could be heart throughout the hall.

She eventually tripped on her gown and fell. As she tried to get back up, she almost fell again.

She felt like the world was crashing on her.

She slowly made her way to her bedroom. And all she could do was stare blankly at the floor.

Then she glanced towards a storybook on her desk. She walked up to it and picked it up.

Tears started to fall on page.

She waited for so long. She tried so hard. But...was it all for nothing? No! She couldn't accept this!

She still remembered the dream she had ever since she was a toddler.

Her parents and brother spoiled her rotten. They would always call her 'little princess'. To the point she actually believed she was one.

She bought and read many storybooks about the female lead who will end up having a happy ending due to marrying a handsome prince.

She had grown obsessed to such storylines.

The kind, cute, and naive protagonist will eventually meet the handsome male lead and live happily ever after.

When she was a child, she would spent hours gazing at the night stars through her bedroom window and dream about when she will meet her prince charming.

She portrayed herself as a cute, kind, naive, beautiful, and shy young girl. But her true personality was very different.

She was selfish, ruthless, impulsively, and violent.

Even at a young age, she would throw extremely violent tantrums.

Even people outside the estate heard about her violent personality. Due to that, many young boys decided to cross her off their possible marriage candidates.

So she immediately changed how she acted. She never showed her true colors to anyone else except for her personal maid and her loyal subordinates.

She imitated the personalities of those female leads she read about.

She wanted to live a good life. A luxurious one, where she didn't need to care about anything in the world.

A life where all her problems would be solved for her by her devoted lover.

In this world where women were merely political marriage tools, she had to learn from a young age how to survive.

She worked diligently to be the same as those fairytale protagonists.

And after she did that, many people started to forget about her old personality. They all started to love her. The new her.

Many suitors came and proposed to her. But she refused them all nicely.

She decided she would go after the 'big fish', the crown prince.

She met him at a gathering hosted by one of the noble ladies.

She was only ten years old when she tried to charm him. Unfortunately for her, the crown prince was cold and showed absolutely no interest towards her.

Instead of falling in love with at first sight like she expected, he instead rejected and humiliated her by saying,

"Lady Evelina, please conduct yourself with dignity! Do not play those dirty tricks on me! This crown prince has no interest in you, and is only interested in studying and advancing my skills to be the empire's future Emperor!"

She will never forget that day.

If she couldn't get the crown prince, then she would go after the next best thing.

She set her eyes upon the young master and heir of the Casspan family, Chase Casspan.

He was the opposite of the crown prince. He was also extremely handsome, but he was much warmer.

Chase had golden blonde hair and Alistair, the crown prince had black hair. However they both possessed enchanting purple eyes, due to their mothers being related.

Chase did not lose to Alistair. Alistair was skilled in swordsmanship, but his greatest skill was politics.

Chase however was extremely talented and skilled with the sword, and his political skills were not lacking.

He soon became the favorites among the young noble ladies.

She worked hard to be just like those loveable characters...but was it all in vain...?

No...no way! She wasn't willing to give up! It was too late to change!

Staring tearfully at the opened book, Evelina sighed and wiped her tears.

She carefulness placed the book down and left her room, heading towards Eric's room.

**************

Eric was still recovering from his past injuries. He couldn't ask for treatment, so he could only try to heal his sounds with some spells.

But since he is now used to having dark and forbidden magic, he's not very skilled in healing magic.

Although it helper, it didn't help much.

He was currently starving. After that day, Evelina didn't even allow him to leave his room.

If it wasn't for the food he got from that 'mysterious person', he probably would've been dead by now.

Then he head the door being unlocked.

Evelina quietly opened the door.

"Master...?"

Evelina looked down on him coldly. She bent down and placed her palm on his cheek.

"You'll help me right, Eric?" She smiled sweetly as she said that.

"......what?"

Evelina sighed and told him her situation.

"....what does master want me to do..?"

"Brainwashing spell"

"W-what...?"

"Do I have to repeat myself?"

"M-master...I don't have that ability..."

"Then..use something else! Just fix it!" Evelina could no longer put up her act.

"I don't care how you do it! Just make sure that b*tch won't get the title of Chase Casspan's fiancee!"

"......"

"F-fine.....I guess if we can't change their minds.....I guess i'll just have to eliminate her..." Evelina's face turned sinister.

"You said your not able to kill her from the inside right!? Then.. let's just directly kill her!"

"M-master..please calm down-"

Evelina suddenly grabbed the collar of his shirt and brought him close to her face.

"What? Are you going to disobey? You know you can't do that..!"

Evelina threw Eric to the grounds and began to kick his stomach multiple times without stopping.

Eric had no choice but to endure.

He was so sick of this....

He wanted to go home....

He wished this never happened...

He just wanted a normal life again...

A peaceful one....

He regretted it. He should've never called out to Evelina as she was walking by him and beg her to buy him.

He didn't know better...

He just thought she was a rich lady and she looked nice....so he thought he would be treated nicely...

He was so stupid...

He was just so tired of being hit and yelled at by the slave seller.

But this is the same thing!

He didn't really escape...he just ran away from a beast and to a monster.

Evelina was currently hitting and kicking him while shouting, cursing for Angelina.

Suddenly everything went quiet and he could no longer hear Evelina's shouting.

Instead he heard a female voice saying, "go....run"

It sounded similar..like...

'mom...?'

But he didn't have time to think anymore. Eventually, Evelina's voice could be heard again. She was still shouting.

He glanced at the door and wondered, will he really be able to run..?

The door was currently unlocked. Since Evelina came in, it was only closed but no locked...

He didn't know where he got the strength but he was able to push Evelina.

His heart was beating fast...

But...he just couldn't take it anymore..

If he was going to get caught and killed...than he'd rather just die...

It was better than suffering everyday and dying slowly.

Evelina was shocked and she fell. She was caught off guard so she froze up for a bit.

Eric didn't bother to look at her. After he pushed her off him, he got up and ran towards the door.

"Eric! Come back here!"

But surprisingly...nothing happened.

He still had control of his body....

He opened the door and got out.

"You..!" Evelin was confused. Why didn't he stop and come back?

The oath he made would make him obey her command...why is he not coming back!?

Eric too couldn't believe it...but he managed to still be in control of his body.

His legs didn't stop and walk back to Evelina!

"Eric!" Evelina was already back on her feet and reached towards his arm.

But before she could, Eric bumped into something...or someone...?

He accidentally fell to the floor with the person.

"You..." The person below him spoke..

"Miss! Hey! How dare you do such a thing to lady Angelina!?" Marie was furious.

Eric finally got his senses back and could finally reconize the person he knocked over.

Silver hair...

Golden eyes...

.....

"Lady Angelina...?"

______________________

A/N: (. ❛ ᴗ ❛.) you like these cliffhangers?