They watched as the pretty doll with black hair and emerald eyes was buried in the flames. It's dark green dress was burned to a black color.

Angelina knew. She knew this was a threat. She bowed her head and thought for a moment.

Evelina remained where she stood. Her eyes never left Angelina. As if trying to catch her reaction. But... It wasn't what she expected.

"Hehehe..." A cold chuckle was heard.

Angelina raised her head and smiled at the shocked blonde beauty.

"You don't love Chase, do you?" Angelina asked.

"What...?" Evelina stated at her enemy with puzzlement.

"I thought I would be more surprised... But I'm not. The only thing in your heart is power and status." Angelina sneered.

"...."

"I may not have been close to my past adoptive mother, but at least she taught me something. She told me being too greedy will only lead to disaster." Angelina directed her gaze back to the burning doll and smiled mockingly.

Looking back at the blonde beauty in front of her, who had her brows furrowed, Angelina chuckled once more.

"I guess that power hungry father of your's never taught you that..." Angelina sighed.

"Are you satisfied Evelina? Does doing this make you happy?" Angelina asked. "Say.... Truly what do you want?"

"What do I want...?" Evelina muttered. Her head was slightly lowered. Causing Angelina to lose sight of her face.

"What I do want!?" Evelina suddenly raised her voice. She raised her head and faced the silver haired lady.

"Isn't it obvious!?" Evelina paused before shouting, " You may call me cruel and ruthless... But I'm merely playing by the rules! I'm sure you know how the world we live in works! Our life's a game and to win we must gain more power and wealth!"

"Why is this so important to you? And... Why do hate me so much? It's not because of Chase, right?" Angelina asked with a straight face.

"It doesn't really matter. Chase? He's merely another stepping stool for me. Another pawn. But... He's a very important pawn. So I will not let you take him away from me." Evelina glared fiercely glared at Angelina.

"Take him away?" a smile graced Angelina's delicate face. "Who said anything about that? You can have him if you like. But... If he makes a move to go against me... I'll have no choice but to discard him along with you."

"Pfft... Discard me? Do you really think you can? I won't let you." Evelina laughed. "Even if you posses the face of my younger sister, your still the abandoned daughter of the Bailey family in the inside."

"Shut up..." Angelina frowned.

"Your still Lilith Bailey inside. No. Is Lilith the commoner better?" Evelina started to get closer.

"....."

"Or perhaps Lilith the fake aristocrat... Ah!" Before Evelina could finish her sentence, she was slapped in the face.

"You should've took the chance to shut that dirty mouth of your's earlier." Angelina stated as her hand was still in the position when she slapped Evelina. Both her gaze and tone was cold.

"...." Evelina didn't say anything. With a shocked expression, Evelina placed her hand on her red and swollen cheek.

A white, slender hand reached over and turned Evelina's head by the chin. The blue and golden eyes met.

"Let me tell you. I swear on my name that I'll make sure that in the end, the one burning at the stake is you." Angelina stared into the shocked but delicate blue eyes with hatred.

She roughly let go of Evelina's chin and walked towards the door. She casted the still Evelina one more glance before finally leaving.

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

When Angelina arrived back in her room, she saw Eric asleep. His head was leaning against the edge of her bead, and beside him were three books, piled up.

She smiled and walked over to her bed, took a pillow, and went to Eric's side. She gently placed her hand under his head and carried his head down carefully. She put down his head after laying the pillow down.

Angelina sighed and suddenly remembered something.

She walked to her bedside table and pulled out a book from inside the drawer. The pages were originally blank but as soon as Angelina touched it, it's pages changed.

Angelina sat down and was merely playing around, flipping through the pages, then she realized that a new written page was added. If her memory was correct, it was a blank page in the past, but now there were a few words written on it. It seems she was late to read it.

But what was written on it confused Angelina.

[ The true one has returned]

"...?"

Before she could think much further, loud sounds of heavy footsteps interrupted her train of thoughts.

Angelina stood up and rushed to open the door. She poked her head out and widened her eyes from shock. The sight she was met with almost caused her a heart attack.

There, a obviously wounded and injured Marie ran towards her. Beside Marie was Serina, who was supporting her body. Unlike the haggard looking Marie, Serina looked a thousand times better. Aside from a few scratches, Serina seemed completely unharmed.

"M-miss..." Marie cried. Her breathing was unstable. She looked terrible with the blood flowing down her head. Not only that, she was soaked with water from the chest up.

Angelina felt her heart race and she immediately let Marie and Serina inside.

"Marie! What happened!? How did you end up in such a state!?" Angelina asked, her voice trembling.

Serina sat Marie down on the couch and took a bandage to try to stop the bleeding.

"I-I don't know why... B-but.. sniff... sniff..." Marie chocked through her sobs. She no longer looked anything like her lively and cheerful self.

"It's alright elder sister Marie. I'll be explaining to lady Angelina." Serina comforted Marie before turning to the confused Angelina.

"This servant has been informed of what happened by elder sister Marie, and this servant will relay the information for m'lady in elder sister Marie's stead." Serina began explaining what Marie had earlier told her on their way here to Angelina.

--------------

Outside the mansion, in the laundry area, Marie was happily chatting with another maid.

"Awh... I wish I could go back to that time... My miss was so cute when she was young... She-" Marie stopped when she saw her friend yawn.

Marie frowned and said, "what? Bored?"

"No no! That's not it Marie! I just..." The maid yawned once more. "I've been really busy lately. I haven't slept for the last 2 days.."

"What!? You shouldn't push yourself too far! Oh my look at you... You can't hide those eye bags from me you know!" Marie scolded her.

Marie felt bad and offered to finish the laundry left for her friend.

"What? I can't let you do that! I'll surely be punished..." The maid declined the idea.

"It's no worries! I have some free time! Meanwhile go and gest some sleep!" Marie insisted.

"But.." the maid hesitated. But she had no other choice but to agree when Marie pulled her up and smacked her back, while shouting, "now go and rest! I'll take care of what's left!"

After the maid left, Marie took her place and began washing the clothes.

She heard the sounds of crushed grass behind her. Then she saw... Carol, wearing a cloak.

Marie blinked her eyes innocently. "Hah?"

Carol didn't answer her. She stared at her before quietly muttering the words, "I'm sorry Marie. But you can't stay."

"Wut?" Marie was still unaware of her situation. But she did as soon as her neck was tightly grabbed.

"Argh- ah-...w-what...? S-stop...!" Marie struggled to breathe.

Carol picked her up by the neck and walked towards the lake nearby. Her expression was emotionless. As if she didn't care and to her, she was merely getting a job done.

With great strength, Carol pushed Marie to kneel on the ground.

"P-please...sto-" Marie's head was suddenly pushed underwater. As she was choking, she was also struggling fiercely.

Her legs kicked and kicked, and it eventually worked. Carol was annoyed and picked her up, still holding her neck.

Marie coughed nonstop.

Carol went in front of a tree and slammed Marie's had against it. She did it again, and again, and again, and again. Seeming to not intend to stop until she took Marie's last breath.

"Ah! Ah! Ahhh! Ahaaaaa! Sto-p p-please!" Marie screamed. Barely hanging on. She felt herself losing consciousness but she wasn't willing to give in.

But it seems her efforts were not in vain, with a hard strong kick, Carol was pushed far away.

"...?" Marie turned her head slight and saw Serina.

"Miss Marie!" Serina helped Marie up and let Marie lean against her.

They were about to leave, but we're stopped by Carol, who fought with Serina. Serina eventually kicked Carol again and knocked her unconscious.

--------------

"...." Angelina thought for a few seconds before realizing, was Evelina trying to distract her!?

If it weren't for Serina being at the right place at the right time, Marie could be...