Year 1853
Thea chose to spend the rest of the afternoon sitting by the pond. Throughout collecting the second piece of trash, she avoided the other kids as much as possible, let alone the bunch of knee-length jeans boy and his genk.
Thea had no intention of getting along well if they themselves didn't want to befriend with her.
She sighed.
Thea had nothing else to do, other than what Miss Yerez had told her. Her hands had been moving to throw small pebbles into the pond after her task completed. Without aware of the surrounding where she was not alone.
Xander smiled. He found the girl on the same spot like yesterday. Fortunately he didn't go fishing so the pebbles she threw wouldn't make a trouble for him. Xander approched her.
Thea stared at the far away scenery. Her parents used to take her on picnics in the summer. Typical hardworking father. During the workday, he would really concentrate and ignore Thea and her mother. Even so, when the holidays arrived, his father would immediately invite her to go on trips together to beautiful places.
"I see you can smile too."
Xander's words brought her to her senses.
What am I doing here?
Thea hurried to her feet.
"Where are you going? Am I offending you in any way?"
"No," she muttered. Thea left from there without looking back.
If no, why she avoiding me?Xander called out to her but was ignored.
In her heart, Thea was confused. Why isn't that boy like the other kids? Who hates or ignores her? Thea thought hard. There must be a reason why Xander behaved like that. She walked through the corners of the orphanage to the room, away from the view of the other children.
Thea passed several place with the glass window and stopped there. Her hair had to be cut short because it was charred. The pieces were messy. There was no trace of honor before her. There was no beautiful dress attached to her body. The image she reflected and saw was a nine year old girl with a shabby, dirty and disgusting appearance.
"See who's here?"
Thea turned around. Two teenage girls stopped beside her. A teenager at the same age like her who brought a bucket of water and another one older than Thea.
"It turns out that this child is here," cried the woman carrying the bucket.
"You're right, Rose. Luckily we came this way. " The older child drew closer to Thea. "Why are you here, huh?"
Thea gazed at the two of them. Confused.
"Have you been here all day?" she asked, again.
"Yes. No, I mean– "
"Ohh ... so, you've been here a long time?" She cut it as she pleased. "Apparently, this kid is deliberately avoiding her job, Rose," the girl drew a careless conclusion.
"No. Not like that. I've finished my assignment." Thea defended herself.
Even though she didn't burn the garbage before, at least she had brought it to the fireplace.
"Very good! After your task is done, you relax, while your other siblings are still struggling with their duties. You should immediately help them," the girl's voice sounded annoying.
"Nobody told me that if I'm done with my job, then I have to help the others," Thea gripped the hem of her skirt tightly. She didn't want to be blamed. Since when did all of them at this orphanage become Thea's siblings?
Ever since she stepped on this orphanage, none of them wanted to get near her.
"How arrogant you are!"
"Adel! Don't!" Rose put down her bucket and pulled Adel's hand that was gripping Thea's chin.
Thea saw Adel's gaze shudder as she stared at her neck.
"Let me go!" Thea shouted. She pushed Adel's body away. "Do not touch me!"
"You're not a noble anymore. Why can't I touch you?" Adel pushed her. She was fed up with all those etiquette that required her to keep the distance even from this cripple. Where she as a person born with a lower status must submit to a person of a higher one. Even touching them carelessly could be fatal.
"I do not know you. Why are you doing this to me? " Thea stepped back.
"Oh yeah… but everyone here knows you. You're the daughter of a greedy princess who burnt your own parents."
"I didn't do it!" Thea's body trembled. She didn't burn them!
"You think I believe what you said?" Adel pushed her shoulder again.
"Who do you think you are? How dare you call me that!" Thea brushed off the hand that touched her. She never care if anyone mocked her, but she couldn't accept it when it came to her dead parents. To be honest, she didn't hate her just because she was a slave or an orphan, but she just got back at what she did.
"I'm still a noble's daughter, even though my parents have died."
"Yes. and you killed them. Akhh!"
Thea pushed her down. Her body didn't stop shaking from earlier. "I didn't do it! I'm not a murderer!" She screamed.
"You murderer! Shit. You will pay for it! "
"I'm not a murderer!"
"Adel! Stop it! "
Adel got up and took the bucket not far from her reach. Thea looked at her in horror. Her body turned stiff. Before she had time to run, the contents of the bucket poured over her.
The water was brown and smells scattered down the corridor. Rose didn't have time to stop Adel anymore.
"A murderer is a murderer." Adel's angry voice echoed down the corridor. Her crazy laugh rang out, mixed with Thea's screams. The attitude she always got on the streets paid off when she saw Thea was scared.
Rose caught her breath seeing Thea fall to the floor and screamed uncontrollably.
Year 1863She almost screamed.Thea gripped the perfume bottle tightly behind her. Her body stiffened.Did Kay knew what she's been doing? She never said about her dirty work at all.Never.Was she caught?Thea felt her knees weaken. Blake always said she shouldn't be caught by anyone and Thea agreed. Even though the world was collapsed, she didn't want to look any different in front of them. The one who should not know what her did is Kay, and it turned out that this man ..."Why is your face so pale?" Kay approached her."Ka, you said ... I ... am a murderer?" Thea's tongue suddenly froze when she stared at Kay, who nodding firmly."Of course. You kill me in every game we play. Horse racing. Archery. Shoot. Play chess. Fencing… Oh! I forgot. A few days ago I was—"Thea's body almost slumped to the floor if Kay didn't catch her. She, who suddenly short of breath for a moment, rushed to take
Year 1853Thea's neck was sting and sore when the dirty water touched her wound.Adel's eyes widened. After pushed and splashed her with water, she immediately threw the bucket in her hand. She seemed to have just realized what she had done."My hand slip accidentally! I didn't do it on purpose," she said, panicked. "You know too, don't you, Rose?" she was trying to justify herself when she saw a truly terrifying sight. Then Adel ran away from the place."Adeeellll !!! Where are you going?" Rose cursed. She turned to Thea "A- are you okay?""AAAAAAkkhhh! Help me! Aaaaaa, it hurts! Help me! " Thea was crying. She opened and clenched her fists, not daring to touch her neck. "Call someone. Anyone! Help me! "Rose still stood dazed. She ran looking for someone, when she saw Miss Yerez not far from where she was standing, she shouted."Miss Yereeezzz !!!""Why are you running, Rose? A woman can't–!""You must i
Year 1863 The commotion around her suddenly disappeared when Kay left her. Oh come on! Thea didn't want to be left alone with this strange looking man. "So you are Kyle's cousin?" Thea furrowed her brows. Didn't Kay tell you that earlier? "Yes," Thea still replied politely. After all, she was here on behalf of Thea Wilkess, the distant relative of the Earl. At least, Thea had to behave without embarrassing Blake or Kyle. Rupert led her aside. Thea followed him reluctantly. Her body straightened. Thea's neck even stiffened. The summer afternoon wind could not ease her restlessness. Several people began to look curiously as soon as they arrived at a table full of pastries. With her keen hearing, Thea could hear the people whispered about her. "For you, my lady," Rupert raised a glass of white wine and handed it to Thea. "Thank you." Thea immediately took a sip of her drin
Year 1853Thea's thin body jerked.In the quiet night, something happened.Suddenly, something or someone pulled the blanket violently. She couldn't see well as she turned off the light before going to sleep. Her body was dragged off the bed. Thea tried to rebel. But she couldn't fight many people. She was dragged and paraded out of the room."What is this? Let me go!" Thea struggled."SHUT UP!" They didn't expect Thea to fight.She managed to escape from their grip.Thea turned her head in a panic and crawled to save herself. She had no idea what happened. Her instincts told her to run, so she did. But there were five or six people blocking the way and grabbed her back. They kept dragging her like a trash to the backyard."Let me go! What do you want? "They threw Thea on the ground. She tried to stand up. The bigger boy pushed her shoulders down."You witch! Killer!""Shut up!""Don't pret
Year 1863 "Are you all right, Miss?" A man looked at her worriedly. Thea shook her head. "No. I am fine. Thank you." Thea welcomed the man's helping hand politely. "Do you want me to take you somewhere? Somehow you look lost." Thea was silent. Her brain still trying to digest what she heard earlier. Is it possible the talk earlier...all about her? "You are very beautiful, Miss." Thea was stunned. "Erm, I'm sorry if I'm being rude. You seem unwell, but I really want to say it, " the man bowed slightly, feeling guilty. Thea smiled awkwardly. "Thank you." Aware of the discomfort of the woman in front of him, he let go of her grip, bowed and bid farewell. Thea tried to shake her thought. She walked without paying attention to her front when a man appeared around the corner, making herself startled. "Oh! I'm sorry, young lady..." Thea suddenly got her
Year 1853Thea's breathing echoed in the silent room.The two of them fell silent when Xander, who returned from taking the first aid kit, stared at the bloodstained stone that Thea had thrown."I didn't do it! I swear!" she said with wide eyes. She really didn't do that. Who would have thought that her foot touched something liked evidence of Jane's attack.Xander looked at the stone on the floor. He sighed and then told Thea to come closer."Sit here. I will treat your wound first."Thea obediently sat beside Xander, who immediately did his job."Is the wound really worse? I mean, Jane?" she asked, hesitantly.Xander muttered. He was sure Thea didn't do the evil deed even though he didn't know how to explain it. It happened so fast. Someone sneaked into the orphanage and Jane happens to run into the culprit. Thea, who was in her room couldn't possibly know what had happened.The other kids only took their ange
Year 1863Thea peeked out from under her blanket."Kay?""What?"Thea turned around, her head slightly raised. She observed the man who so-called cousin who sit beside her."Let's talk until I fall asleep," she pleaded. She choose to keep talking to distract herself from unnecessary things."Do you want me to sing a lullabies?" Kay asked.They used to tell stories before bed or chat about everything. He also sang her lullabies. Sadly, that had not happened since he was busy at the hospital. They didn't know how much they have lost their life stories about each other.Thea muttered. "No. How about you tell me about your long list date?"Kay stared at her in surprise."Why do you suddenly ask me that?""I'm just curious. Your friend –that white shirt man– said you are quite popular among women."Thea had never been to a party and heard about it in person, but as soon as the party w
Year 1853Some kid tried to cheat her when doing their chores. They always make Thea finished anything for them.Now when she sleeps, Thea locked her bedroom door tightly. Either she had privileges or the other children kept her away, she occupied the room alone.Jane asked the Sister to move her to another room. Even though her condition improved, Thea couldn't get any worse. The kids who bullied her always came back when Xander wasn't around.But Xander couldn't stop them all the time, like now."Oh, Witch! Do you have anything to burn today?" Ben came in while Thea was on duty in the kitchen.The other children stood guard at the door, monitoring the situation if Sisters or Miss Yerez came."Just go!" Thea returned to mopping without giving him any attention.Ben kicked the bucket and spilled its contents, startled her."Get lost, Ben!""Ha! How dare you say my name. So what? Are you going to curse me