>>Corvina
"What?" Father and Hubert both looked at me with stern expressions, "Do you have anything against it?" Hubert, who already looked at me with indifference, his gaze turned colder.
I felt my head sting. It was a weird sensation, as if my brain was moving around looking for something I had missed. And it didn't take me any longer than two seconds to find out what is was.
Ah!
Right,
It did happen. A few weeks after I turned sixteen I got engaged to the third prince. Prince Lyal. An unknown prince of the empire, that was neither the crown prince, nor a public figure. He held no influence either, well not till the time he was with me.
I only met him a few times, during our meeting arranged by the elders.
"No," I shook my head, "I have no objections." I kept my gaze low,
"Good," Father nodded, "This is the least you can do for the family, you useless child."
…
"Prince Lyal will come meet you in a few days, be sure to doll yourself up, he'll take you to the holy temple where you'll both get engaged."
Doll myself up…
I haven't done that in this lifetime yet. The first time I had a makeover was on my engagement day. Now I'm already pretty, as a noble I did receive the basic care so I look attractive but since that's all I ever received, I never went beyond that.
"I understand," I kept staring at the empty table. I can't believe I thought I would get food here. I gulped. And I was so hungry as well. I had skipped breakfast and lunch because I wasn't feeling well, maybe the hunger messed with my brain…
"I'm warning you," Hubert said, "Don't mess anything up,"
"Yes," I replied.
My engagement with Prince Lyal didn't last. I was so obsessed with Hael, he was all I ever talked about when I met Lyal. I did notice his expressions of discomfort but I always ignored them. I wanted the engagement to end. I didn't want anyone else but Hael. I was such a desperate fool in love that I had deluded myself into thinking that I'd get my happy ending with Hael.
The day I turned seventeen was when Lyal officially broke the engagement. He fell in love with another woman.
A so-called 'saint'
Father and Hubert were furious. They locked in the cellar for a week, I was only given water and ended up becoming malnourished. I lost a lot of weight. Before they got me out of the cellar, I had already fainted.
"You can leave," Father said and I stood up from the chair
"Yes," As I turned to walk away, the servants came into the dining room, holding hot steamy dishes for dinner. The scene immediately made its way to my nose, causing my stomach to rumble
!!!!
It got me embarrassed but the good thing was, it happened without a sound. I fastened my speed and walked out of the room, not sparing even a glance to look back at the mouth watering dishes being presented on the dining table.
After all, it was a table I was not allowed to dine at… I was not worthy enough.
Once I was out of the dining area, I ran.
I ran all the way to my room, closed the door behind myself and jumped on the bed, feeling humiliated and embarrassed.
My stomach rumbled again and this time there was a prominent sound. It made me feel pathetic. I should have eaten something at lunch! I punched my stomach in anger. But I also knew I wasn't mad at myself, I was just disappointed and angry at my situation.
…
I buried my face in the pillow as I crouched my body into a ball.
"This family is shit," I whispered to myself as the memories of my second life flooded my mind. I wouldn't say that life was perfect. But nothing is perfect, and in that sense, my life with my modern world family was indeed perfect.
It had its ups and downs but during all the bad times I had my family with me. All the good times are supposed to be joyous but the bad ones were warm too.
"I miss them,"
I miss our time together.
All those little surprises.
All those fights and bickering.
All that sneaking out
All that bantering and joking
And…
All those warm meals… I always had a meal waiting for me at home.
Even when I was late and came back home at almost midnight, homemade food was there for me on the dining table, under the hot blanket.
If anyone in my family had heard me entering, they would come to check on me.
Whether it was my mom, dad or my little brother.
They would come out yawning and rubbing their eyes saying something like, 'You're finally back,' Mom and Dad would pause and look at the clock, then gasp.
I would immediately start eating while they came and slapped my back for staying out so late saying things like, 'You rascal! Can't you see what time it is!? Huh!?' Their slaps never hurt, rather it served as a good massage but I presented that they were hurting me, so that they wouldn't stop.
I sniffled as a slight sad chuckle escaped my lips
My little brother though, he was like a partner in crime. He was usually up past midnight too and sometimes he was hungry at that time as well. And he would eat another dinner with me.
My eyes stung as the loneliness crept in. My chest felt constricted.
We used to fight so much over the food. It was mine but he always forced some onto his plate, especially the nights we had fried chicken. We both were suckers for fried chicken.
I sniffled
But my family here sucks. I can't even call them 'family'
I want to go back
I want to leave
This place is so cold and cruel! Why did God do this to me! Why!?!?
…
I'm all alone here… Absolutely alone,
There was a knock on the door
!!!
It made me jump and sit up.
"My Lady, I'm coming in," It was Hael's voice and it sent me in a panic. I quickly wiped my cheeks and got up from the bed as he opened the door. I turned the other way and began to walk towards the table and chairs by the window.
"Why are you here?" My voice came out a little weird so I cleared my throat and set my dress.
"I brought you some soup." His words made me pause right when I was about to sit down and I looked back at him.
Time seemed to slow down as I watched him come closer with the tray of food in his hands. His action wasn't anything out of the ordinary yet for me, Corvina, it was extraordinary.
I watched him sparkle as he brought the food over and placed it on the table.
"You should eat," He said and my heartbeat began to accelerate, "You haven't eaten anything the whole day,"
My chest squeezed to the point where it almost felt painful but the feeling of utter loneliness seemed to have subsided. On the contrary, it was replaced by an ignition of desire.
"Sit," He gestured with his hand, "If you don't eat you'll get sick." I couldn't take my eyes off of him. The whole mansion is busy with Hubert, they don't pay attention to me normally, so of course today I wouldn't exist for anyone.
All except him.
"Aren't you going to eat?" He stared back at me, "Why do you keep looking at me?"
This is why I grew so obsessed with him. He hated me, yet at the same time he was always there at the right time. I turned my head and looked at the thick soup in front of me.
Only him
My one and only sweet obsession.