With care, Morana's fingertips gently traced the polished swirling carvings of the handle. Her fingers embraced the cool touch of the wood while her wistful amethyst eyes gazed at her long bow that lay flat on her bed.

Her fingers craved to feel the feathers of the arrow ripple through her grasp, and she would listen to the whistle of the wind as the arrow rips through the air to thrust it's sharp end on its target.

Morana was deep in her thoughts while she continued to gaze at the beautiful carved bow on her bed.

She had always wanted to be the first woman to become an archer in the imperial army. The first to command the imperial archers from the back lines but it was only just a wishful thinking.

Morana, the lady of the household of Courtenay, Count Cyprian's only daughter as the commander of the Aureum imperial archers would only bring mockery to the family royals from other neighbouring countries and not only make her family a laughingstock for raising such a wild daughter who dreams of taking a man's job but will ruin everyone in the Courtenay families' place on the hierarchy in the society of the aristocrats world.

Wherever they would go, noble men and women would whisper curses and ridicule them as they pass by.

Morana could never do that to her family.

The family who loves her very much and raised her to be the lady she is today. However, the ache of leaving her dreams behind for the sake of her family had teared every reason to fight back to achieve it.

And marrying a man would definitely mean she would have to leave the dream and her archery days behind her because a married woman would need to care for her husband's needs, take care of the household while he is away and look after and raise their children, then to die and be forgotten by the same people you cared for.

Morana had always despised being a woman because of it.

Why couldn't she be born as a boy like her older brother, Leo?

She would have all the freedom to do what she wanted, become an archer, and then advance to the higher ranks. She will have the free will of marrying whenever she felt like it and to whomever Morana chooses to marry out of love, not political marriage.

But the Gods chose otherwise, and she is stuck being a woman to then be discharged to a man, forever without a single bit of freedom as she stays quiet and looks pretty.

The daughter of the Count was suddenly startled by a gentle knock at the door.

"Sister, may I enter?" the charming sound of her older brother asking consent to enter her chambers instantly rose a slight chill down her spine and she quickly wrapped the bow in the big material as fast as she could.

She couldn't let her brother know of her secret. What would be come of her if he did?

"Morana, are you in your room?" He questioned softly before waiting for an answer while Morana had quickly hid her bow under her bed. Sliding it in the far back so it wouldn't be seen by maids or anyone if they were to duck down.

With a cool head and calm manner, Morana answered her brother.

"Leo, you can welcome yourself in."

With a faint creak of her doors, it opened, and the tall, lean figure of her older brother stepped in.

Leo's ebony hair seemed as if he brushed it with his fingers because the violent wind ruined it. His bangs had slid to the side and hanged down to cover his left amethyst eye that gazed at his little sister sympathetically.

Morana plopped herself on her bed and shifted her eyes somewhere else other than Leonidas, placing the palms of her hands on the silky material of her blanket.

She could sense her brother standing in front of her with his hands beside of him as he stared at her with the same cold but sympathetic gaze, silently trying to figure what he wanted to say without being harsh or mean.

"Is there something you want to discuss with me, Leo or have you come to stare at my pitiful state?" she questioned, her tone sounding cold and sad.

"...." There was no response from Leo who just stood silently and shamefully looking away.

Morana scrunched the material under her palm, slightly and to catch a glimpse of Leo whose purple eyes began to glitter from the coated water in his eyes.

It was a sudden shock to see Leo hold back his tears furthermore to suddenly prevent himself to cry in front of her in such sorrow state.

First time that her cold and emotionless brother had such sad emotions.

"Tch," a click of his tongue had resulted him to turn his head to the side to avoid any emotions to be seen by Morana. He placed a hand over his mouth and stared angrily at the wall. "Pack your belongings" his cold demand made Morana's eyes widened in confusion.

She looked at him all puzzled. Leo didn't make any sense.

"P-pardon?"

"Quickly pack your belongings and bring a trusted maid to come with you" Leo repeated himself and added a bit more detail to his sentence.

Morana stared at him with dismay, concern was building up as she continued to stare at her older brother, all baffled. "W-what's going on? Is there some sort of rebellion?" she quickly questioned.

"No. Just do as I say and wait for me tonight" Leo said coldly and to turn around as he began to walk away.

"Leo whatever for? Tell me what's going on!" Morana demanded, chocking back her tears. She was suddenly so terrified with her brother's sudden behaviour.

Leo halted his steps, inches away from the door that lead him out of Morana's room and slowly turned his head to the side, his cold amethyst eyes gazing downwards "I'm sending you to Grandpa's estate in Orioch without father's knowledge and you will stay there in secret until I figure out what to do with the engagement"

Morana was paralysed in silence, her throat run dry, and she couldn't speak a single reply. 'Orioch? All the way to Terra'

"But why?" Morana mumbled softly, feeling herself became lightheaded.

"Because I had never had the chance to do something for you to make you happy. I want to at least be able to do something for you at least once" the sadness in his voice was audible, the empathy in his tone as he spoke to Morana made her want to snatch his hand and pull him to a hug.

Hug him tight and never let go.

Morana has always and will always love her older brother no matter the circumstances.

But what he was doing was risky and could start something dangerous. She was afraid for her brother.

"But Leo, what will you do? You can't just walk into the palace and declare father had made a mistake by sending a declaration for marriage" Morana stated, clenching tightly at her long-laced skirt. "It would be nothing but an insult to the royal family and you would be punished severely and father..." she could feel her nails penetrate the material as it dug deep to her skin.

"Father might-"

Leo cut her sister off with a question that startled the little sister, "Morana do you not want to be married off to Damon?" he turned around to face Morana who stared at him all shocked.

"Of course, I don't want to" Morana replied.

Leo analysed her body language. Stiff yet confident with her answer which brought a sense of ease to his mind. "Good" he spoke with a slight nod of approval. "I don't want you marrying that good for nothing, cheating son of a bitch either." His tone was venomous and bared hatred towards the crown prince of their country. "Only the gods would know if he would cheat on you if you were to marry him" he mumble the last few sentences.

"Especially with that half-blood bitch, Ariana" there it was, in a glitter of disgust and hatred that shimmered past Leo's purple eyes.

Morana has never understood why her family had deep hatred towards the Glacies household yet never asked why. The last time she questioned her father and her brother, they sent only glared at her, with piercing and threatening eyes that warned off her to never speak of that name in the household again or she will deeply be punished.

Not like they would but it was just a mere warning not to ask them about matter such as that.

"I'll be waiting by your door tonight when everyone had left for shut eye. Be ready to sneak out then." Was the last thing Leo told his sister before he coldly left out the door, leaving the stunned little sister in her own thoughts.

Her brothers words had swirling her mind like wildfire.

Fleeing in the night to Terra where her grandparents, The Grand Duke and Duchess of Terra lived is going to be a dangerous trip especially when she was traveling with just a few people.

She needed to be prepared.

Morana quickly snapped out of her daze. Stepping on her heels and stepped to a walk, she approached her bed side table where a bell rested on its lips.

Picking up the golden bell by the neck where a grape like vines made entirely out of platinum metal swirled the wooden neck like a snake attached to its prey, she began to ring with a calm shake so no one would assume that there was something wrong.

Within seconds the right side of the double doors swung open and in stepped Morana's personal maid.

Izel.

The hems of Izel's black maiden dress dragged itself when she walked. The aura of professional maid surrounded Izel as she stopped in front of the door that was shut by a guard.

Izel was an average height maiden no bigger than 5'5 feet with a slender body under the black maid dress she wore and her features sharp but gentle. Her dark green hair was tied tightly in a bun as a maiden head accessory was tied upon her head. She was a woman from Terra who chose to follow lady Morana and was one of the two who knew of Morana's secret.

The maid she trusted the most out of the rest.

Izel didn't glance at her lady but bowed instantly when coming face to face with Morana. Her brown eyes glanced down to show respect towards her young lady.

"My Lady you had called for me"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cold amethyst eyes watched silently out the giant arched window behind his desk. Even if the eyes watched how the butterflies flapped their colourful wings that looked like it glittered under the rays of the sun, as it gracefully flew past the different shades of flowers planted perfectly into neat rows, the count's mind was far deep into his own thoughts to pay attention to what was going outside his mansion.

The count stood firmly with his hands clasped together behind his back as he was wrapped around his own decisions that he had made and continued to pondered over and over again.

Even the ones that he made decades ago, continuing to ask himself if it was the right decision or whether he could have done something different to prevent so many things that is far too late to stop now or change.

It had an unsettling feeling inside his chest that weighed over his shoulders.

"Dear, why don't you come and sit down and have your cup of tea" Morgana said, placing her light pink and plump lips against the edges of her white teacup. "It will get cold if you keep on insisting to stand there"

"I'll come in a minute" Cyprian answered bluntly, his eyes still fixated outside his window.

Morgana's long lashes blinked shut and when it opened, her pale green eyes were glancing over at her husband who stood in the exact same position. Back turned against her with his hands clasped together behind him and his mind in deep thought for as long as she has been in the room.

"You have said the same line for over half an hour and yet your still standing there like a statue, not moving a single muscle" she snapped calmly at him.

"Hmm" was all he responded, sounding as if he wasn't even paying attention to a word his wife was saying.

Which he was in fact.

Morgana placed her cup gracefully on the saucer she held up under her cup and with an annoyed smile and a visible red throb appearing on her temple. Morgana spoke as she kept her cool, "You weasel of a husband, don't force me to stand up in this overbearing and tight dress just to drag you by the ear and force you to sit down while I pour the cold liquid down your throat"

"Hmm, that's nice dear" he answered subconsciously, not again turning his gaze away from the window or paying attention to whatever his wife was saying.

Morgana arched an eyebrow up as her calm manner changed to form a scary persona that seemed she was going to kill someone in cold bold yet still held that calm facial expression.

"Pardon me, but did you just call me a weasel?" Cyprian suddenly turned his head around ever so slowly, his baffled expression across his face as he stared at his annoyed wife who still held her cool.

"I have called you many things during our marriage, but this is the first time you have noticed..." Morgana's pale green eyes scanned him up and down before she looked away and pulled the cup back to her lips to take as she continued on her sentence, "when you were far too deep into your own world to pay attention to whatever I had to say" she said with a bit of sass that shook the poor husband to a state of confusion.

"Well, that is... very concerning" Cyprian rubbed the side of his neck.

Morgana zipped her head to the side quickly, light green hair falling down her back as she did. Her cheeks flushed a light red as her eyebrows came down to a knot "Is it so bad to have a cup of tea with your dear wife of 25 years, after days of work?" she questioned.

"As much as I would love to sit down and have a nice cup of tea with you. I have far more concerns to deal with that has left me sleepless" he exhaled a defeated sigh as sat down on the sofa, facing his wife in complete utter exhaustion. His back leaned forward as his head gazed down away from Morgana to see his distorted face. His hands slid through his black ebony hair and messed it's slicked back style.

Seeing her husband feel hopeless sitting on the sofa like that made Morgana feel a tinge of guilt for getting a little selfish with him.

They stayed silent for a second when Cyprian spoke softly under his muffled tone "Am I a such a bad father?"

Morgana eyes widened in shock, and she tilted her head to the side, confused with such nonsense coming from her husband. "Whatever do you mean dear?"

Cyprian clasped his hands together in front of him and stared wistfully at his own cup of tea that had gotten cold. Not a single steamed arose from the dark red liquid.

Seeing his daughter leave the dinner table like that had made his heart sink. He felt like a bad father who let his beloved daughter down.

"Morana... I haven't seen her smile in 12 years." The words hurt him like a stab in the heart when said them out loud. It pained his middle-aged heart whenever he saw Morana like a lifeless doll who had no purpose in the world but to listen and take whatever that is given to her.

Her beautiful face that held no emotions and only stared blankly at her feet, her head down as it obeyed whatever that was said to her.

Cyprian didn't understand where he had gone wrong that resulted her to be the way she was.

The count missed her sweet and energetic smiles, the father and daughter moments they had together and the nights she would walk into his office and sit on the couch with her doll wrapped around her hands while her little feet would dangle down the sofa that was far too big even for the tips and sole of feet to touch.

Morana his dear child would patiently wait for him to finish whatever he was doing so he could read her a bedtime story.

But everything was gone in a flash with just a blink of an eye.

And Leo.

Leo had become so distant from him that Cyprian wonders if he was too harsh on him with his teachings.

He wanted to cry but no tears came.

Morgana smiled gently at her loving husband "You have been a doting father to the both of them but because of your work you haven't spent time with them in while..." she paused for slight moment looking into his glitter purple eyes "years" Morgana corrected herself as she watched the glitter disappear instantly and his face drop.

"So, I have been such a bad father." The count slumped back, rubbing his face with his hands in despair.

Placing her empty teacup down and grabbing the handle of the tea pot, Cyprian's wife continued on "You have misunderstood my words dear. You have cared for them dearly, but you haven't been in their lives in so long that they had gotten used to having you a little distance from where they are" Morgana poured more tea into her cup, gracefully and carefully so she wouldn't spill any on the coffee table. "Maybe if you put your work aside and spend some time to bond with them again you might come to understand what they want. Especially Morana"

The guilt of being a doting father from the side lines made the count became more useless then he already felt. He has been busy with everything that he hadn't realised that he hadn't sat down and spoke to Morana or Leonidas about anything. He only expected them of what the world expected them to be.

Cyprian came to realise maybe he was rash with the engagement and only did what he felt was right for Morana to be happy, but he never sat down to discuss this with her or anyone.

He felt like shit.

"Thanks Morgana" he mumbled softly knowing his wife heard him. "I will talk to them. Maybe even get some bonding time, yet I hope it's not too late though". His lips twisted to form a soft smile as he remembered good years when his kids were just babies. Small little infants in his arms as he cooed them to sleep.

Morgana watched Cyprian's loving and gentle face turn upside down in instant, the cold bitter eyes that reflected back as it stared half heartedly at his hands.

Immediately something painful stirred in the counts mind from before and clenched his jaw shut.

The count's wife had already knew what was going through her husbands moment right now especially from before, when he stood watching outside the window so quietly without a word to be spoken as he was deep in his own memory that still haunts him to this day.

"Our children is not the only child you have on your mind, that you worry about so much?"

Cyprian didn't utter a word and only with guilt he looked down at his hands, away from his wife's pale green eyes who bore the same feeling as him.

His heartbeat was quick skipping every beat, and his mind went hazy as his leg began to shake uneasily and his hands trembled. Cyprian still hadn't gotten over what had happened decades ago, the betrayal from his best friend and the death of the person that made him feel like he could done something to prevent it from happening, but he had nothing.

"If only I had more power, then." He bit his lower lip tightly and his heart sunk so deep as the memory came rushing back like the speed of light. The memory he dreads every night, replaying itself as if it was trying to mock him for being so weak and hopeless.

"I could have taken her child as my own"

"MARCUS YOU BASTARD! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!" the growling shout of a man echoed the hallways. It was the angry cry that would have scared every living being from a radius away. The fury of the man who was being held back by two knights, tried to wrestle his way out of the hands of the knights who had trouble to hold the outraged count, to try and make his way to the one that started all this.

Marcus had his back against Cyprian, cold enchanting amber eyes gazed blankly at his once best friend. Cyprian could not see his best friend at all in those sudden unfamiliar eyes that stared at him so bitterly.

It was as if he had forgotten everything he had promised, loved so dearly and it had never existed before. Marcus looked nothing like himself anymore, he was different. He looked like a tyrant who would kill in cold blood, even his own flesh in blood.

"WHY IS MARIANA DEAD!" Cyprian wailed angrily at him, stretching his hand at Marcus as if he was an inch away from him to snatch. No answer came. "MARCUS ANSWER ME!" he yelled, his blood shot eyes was wide open reflecting his anger and the feeling of betrayal. Veins could be seen popping from his neck and down his temple, his teeth baring angrily at the duke.

Marcus said no word and only placed a hand on his sword that was attached to his waist. He cocked his head slightly to the side, devil like eyes stared coldly at Cyprian as if he would kill him. "Don't speak of that slut's name in my presents"

Cyprian eyes widened in horror, his dark pupils shaking widely, and his mouth went agape as he tired to process what he had heard. His body only betrayed him and became weak and easy lighted for the knights to hold him. Cyprian fell on his knees, bewildered, and lost unable to utter anything while he gazed at Marcus, his purple eyes begging for answers.

No.

No.

Marcus would never call Mariana a slut. He loved her to the end.

So why is he suddenly so hateful towards her? What has gotten in his mind?

The only slut here is that bitch of a prostitute who ruined everything.

Alice.

Her name that appeared in his mind made him scowl bitterly. The person he despised the most and the woman he will kill ruthlessly when he gets his chance. He promised himself he will torture that slut until her crippling age. Alice was the reason to why Mariana, his dear friend, and the person he called sister, is dead.

A salty tear broke free from it's cage and rushed down his cheek, Cyprian didn't even try to hold them back let them trickle warmly down his skin as he suppressed a cry. He squeezed his eyes shut so he wouldn't see that bastards face that caused all this.

He didn't understand why all this was happening. Why his best friend who tried so hard to win Mariana over would suddenly toss her away like this.

What was the love he showed her for?

How many times did he have to help Marcus to show his love to Mariana?

The sacrifices he went through to prevent the Isvandies from touching Mariana?

How many of his brave men were killed to keep Mariana safe?

The happy memories of them, what were all those?

Was it all for nothing?

His hands clenched to a tight fist and his gaze slowly rose up to glare daggers at Marcus. Cyprian held nothing to this man now and he will never forgive Marcus for what he has done.

Mariana is dead all because of this man and his mistress and Cyprian couldn't do anything even if he tried before.

But now, now his going to keep the promise he made to Mariana before her death.

Cyprian tugged aggressively at the two knights who held his arms back. "The child. Mariana's daughter, Diana? Where is she?" he hissed.

"Oh" Marcus' voice echoed mockery "You mean the disgusting brat I threw in the cold mansion in the far east of my resident? What about her?"

Cyprian held back his tongue to prevent himself from cursing so he wouldn't make Marcus angry "Let me adopt Diana." The count said calmly, his blood shot eyes still locked with the devil cold eyes of Marcus, not once shifting away. "Me and my wife will take care of her like our own child. I'll replace you as her father and if I have to, I'll erase her memory of you and Mariana. I'll disguise features as one of mine or Morgana's, so she wouldn't bother you or question her heritage."

His words trembled when he spoke, the lump in his throat was heavy and it made him chock back his words.

Cyprian promised Mariana he will look after Diana if anything were to happen to her and she trusted him. The count wasn't going to let that trust fall not like this one neither was he going to let a little girl like Diana to spend her life in this mansion filled with nothing but death, and a betrayal of a husband. He despised the idea of Diana being with that bitch her little mole rat, Ariana.

Not like they were going to treat her as part of the family especially with Alice around.

No.

He wasn't going to let them have her and treat her nothing like but a nuisance.

"Diana would became a member of the Courtenay, and she will never step foot in the Glacies household ever again and you wouldn't have to see her at all" Cyprian said his tone filled with nothing but honest and empathy for the child.

Cyprian lowered his gaze down and stared at the floor, bowing his head in courtesy. It was his first time to lower his head to Marcus, even when they were once best friend none would bow their head to one another but now, now Cyprian pleaded with his head low "I will do anything for her even give up my title as count. So please, give Diana to me. Let me raise her as one of my children"

Marcus mouth twisted into a scowl, and he frowned bitterly. Disgusted by the man's suggested "You are so eager to give away everything for a mere rat?" his voice was nothing but venomous.

"SHE IS NOT A RAT BUT YOUR DAUGHTER. YOUR AND MARIANA'S LOVE CHILD!" Cyprian lashed out so suddenly angry at Marcus for calling such a sweet child a rat.

Marcus huffed a chuckle and sadistic smirk twisted in the corner of his lips "You seem to love her so much. Could this child be not even be mine but yours?"

Cyprian narrowed his eyes at Marcus, angrily. He could feel his power soaring through his veins like lightning "do not lower my standards to your level, you cheating scum." He hissed out, clenching his fist tighter "I don't go behind my wife's back and fuck around with other women."

"Mariana has always been a sister to me and my former best friend's wife. Don't accuse me of the same scandals you have put yourself in" Cyprian was insulted deeply, not was Marcus but a cheating, traitor of a bastard but he held no trust towards his friend who was already married happily with a beautiful wife and two wonderful children.

Feeling insulted, Marcus instantly unsheathed his sword and whipped the sharpened point of the blade, aiming it an inch away from Cyprian's throat.

Amber eyes narrowed furiously at the count.

"Hear my warning count, if you ever dare to step foot in my resident or try any means to take Diana away, I will kill Diana with my bare hands and make you watch every second of it"

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Hello my dear readers,

Hope you love this chapter because I kinda held back my tears when I wrote the last parts but hey I sucked it up because it's my decision to write a story line like this with these kind of events.

Anyway here is a few references on what the Courtenay family looks like.

Morgana Courtenay - The first daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Terra

Age - 39

Height - 167cm

Magic - Earth, (Nature is included)



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Cyprian Courtenay - The Count of Aureum

Age - 41

Height - 178cm

Magic - Dark magic (Isn't as powerful as the Royals. He has it because his grandpa was a prince of Aureum)



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Leonidas Courtenay - the eldest child of the Count and Countess, the next heir.

Age - 23

Height - 177cm

Magic - Earth, (nature is also included), has Dark magic but isn't as powerful and he rarely uses it



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Morana Courtenay - The only daughter of the Count and Countess

Age - 18

Height - 167cm

Magic - Earth (Nature is also included) Dark, but can't compare to the royal family



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Narkissa Courtenay - Before Marriage was Lieven. A daughter of a wealthy noble family from Terra.

Age - 20

Height - 166cm

Magic - Flowers



I hope you love my new characters because I do.

Anyway here is my meme drawing thingy.