Under the Sojoa Manor, inside a dark room with only a dim light hanging from above, screams could be heard.

Rather, screams were heard outside the door, beyond that nothing else could be noticed.

Nevertheless, Albert Sojoa had an enthusiastic look on his face. He spun a key with his index finger, humming a joyous tone as he waited outside the door.

Then, he waited for a few minutes..

And a few more..

And a couple more..

Until..

The screams inside the room quieted down, replaced by an eerie silence.

"Oh! That’s my cue!"

He turned around and swung the door open..

Inside, he saw an auburn-haired little girl sitting in the middle of the room. She had a blindfold covering her eyes and her arms as well as her legs were tied with white sheets.

He slowly untied the little girl and looked straight at her eyes.

"Did you learn your lesson?"

The girl went silent for a little while.

Then, she nodded.

"Good. That’s it for today then. You did well, little Elishia.."

He headed towards the door, stopping for a second to turn around once more.

"Oh, and another thing.. Clean yourself up and head towards your mother’s room, she has a mission for you.."

Elishia remained blank, her eyes staring emptily at the dark ground.

This round of mental torture was the hardest yet.

Her father’s Zeal—the manipulation of mentality—is something that could not be laughed at.

For long periods of time, he could make his targets live their greatest fears, facing upon it for hours in their perspective.

When in reality, only mere minutes have passed.

Although it may seem like it, as a kid she only wanted the approval of her father. She feared being alone in life and having no purpose.

She wanted to become a tool to serve her family and yet.. In her most recent mission, she failed.

It wasn’t her fault but her Father made it out to be.

Therefore, she was placed in the Mental Chamber where she lived days in an isolated cabin with no purpose.

She was alone, scared and cold. All she did as she lived through that vision was to cradle herself to sleep, often hugging her legs as she trembled uncontrollably at the thought of being tossed away..

Like the many brothers and sisters that came before her..

In the current generation, Elishia was considered a talent!

She had the looks, charms, and the potential to be a successor of Mental Zeal.

She was deemed to be the next head of the Sojoa’s.

However, she was only a child..

Her head leaned in the chair, her lifeless eyes drooping down along with her body.

"I’m a failure.." She muttered under her breath.

She formed her hand into a fist.

"I’m a failure!"

She slammed the handrest of the chair.

"I’m a failure! A failure! A failure! A failure!"

Feeling an uncontrollable amount of rage, Elishia could only let herself explode.

She screamed and screamed, this time not in pain but rather.. frustration.

She then grabbed her auburn hair and started ripping them, strand by strand.

Soon, tears trickled down on her cheeks, falling down on the cold ground.

She continued to scream, no one hearing anything nor even bothering to come and check.

"A failure.."

Elishia stood up.

Her mind dejected and filled with rage, yet her face was completely blank.

She began to walk, each step carrying the immense weight of her failure.

She headed out of the door and went towards the baths.

After cleaning herself up, Elishia wore white tattered rags—deserving of herself, as she thought.

She then treaded on the hallway and headed towards her mother’s chambers in the 3rd floor of the manor.

She took the long way ahead to compose herself and act like usual. She straightened her hair and fixed the blemishes that she had under her eyes.

After a couple of minutes, she arrived at her mother’s chambers.

She reached her hand forward, knocking three times.

"Mother, I am here. Father advised me to come.."

From behind the door, an old lady’s voice struggled to speak, "Enter.."

Upon opening the door, Elishia’s face turned surprised as she saw a familiar face.

"Grandmother?"

The old lady inside had several wrinkles that ran down from her face to her legs. She wore a vintage orange dress, carrying a sense of elegance yet faded grandeur.

Her hair was bright orange, as if it had not aged like her wizened body. It was long, beautiful, and shiny..

She had a few ornaments stuck to her neck and earrings but what stuck the most to Elishia was her golden ring.

Taking a step inside, Elishia asked, "Where is my mother?"

Ignoring the question, the old lady looked at Elishia’s tattered clothing, "My, oh my.. What are you wearing?"

She carefully walked towards Elishia, her two shriveled fingers holding up her shabby clothing.

"Unfitting of a Sojoa, go and get changed little one!"

Before she could contest any further, Elishia was immediately kicked out of the room. The door behind her slammed with great force, making her startled at the loud bang.

Her eyes grew darker.

Without a destination in mind, she stood absolutely still outside her mother’s chambers.

Soon, the clock struck noon and the maids began to clear out the halls.

After a while, a woman donning an amber dress that radiates warmth came into view. The silk fabric caught the light from the window, exuding a refined appearance that charmed the eyes of many.

Her face looked like Elishia’s, only more mature and a little sharper. Additionally, her hair bears the striking hue of orange—similar to the sun’s light in the afternoon. It was styled in the manner akin to a courtesan in a red district—succinct yet holding a sense of luxury within.

She walked with straight confidence, holding a sharp royal fan crafted from gold and high-quality wood.

Behind her, three maids that are ready to serve at a word’s notice follow.

Upon noticing a little child wearing tattered clothing, her eyes began to squint in annoyance.

"Little Elishia, what are you doing outside my chambers?"

Hearing her voice, Elishia seemed to become activated again. Her eyes gained function as she tilted them towards the woman’s beautiful gaze.

"Mother.. I have been told to come."

"Oh? Is that so?"

She walked ahead, entering the door in a sophisticated manner.

"Elishia, come.. Maids, stay here."

As the elegant woman and the little girl entered the room, the old lady inside noticed them and started to judge Elishia’s clothing once more.

"I said that you have to change!" 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

She stood up, raising her hand to slap Elishia.

"Mother.. Control yourself! This is unfitting for a lady like you!"

"The one that should control herself is your child, Meryllia! Look at her! A Sojoa.." The old lady pointed at Elishia, "Resembling a peasant on the streets, what would the other houses think of us?"

Meryllia closed her eyes and covered her face with her palm.

Then, she extended her arm and snapped her fingers. In a split second, Elishia’s clothing changed into that befitting a noble.

Her tattered drabs were replaced by a refurbished, finely tailored dress that reflects the name of the Sojoa family.

Naturally, it was the same hue of Elishia’s Grandmother and Mother.

Although, even with the sudden change, Elishia didn’t change her expression—remaining blank and cold.

Still, her grandmother remained listless.

"You’d better teach your child to have class!"

She walked out of the door with rage, one could almost imagine steam coming out of her nostrils.

"I swear that mother of mine.." Meryllia’s eyes trailed behind the old lady as she spoke.

"Well then, little Elishia.." She spread her arms and offered Elishia a seat, "Sit down for a second, let’s have a talk.."

Meryllia asked about what happened and what led to Elishia wearing tattered clothing and a pale face. She listened attentively, not interrupting her a single time as Elishia spoke with an indifferent expression.

Meanwhile, Elishia told her most of what happened—from the mission with the Princess to her eventual failure.

She left out her punishment from her Father as she didn’t want to become vulnerable in front of them.

She needed to stay strong in order to inherit the Sojoa business.

Nevertheless, when she finished talking, Meryllia let out a deep breath as her face turned to disappointment.

Elishia already knew what she was going to hear..

"After all that training to remain composed, you still fail when the times require it!" Meryllia yelled at the helpless little girl.

"The gem of Sojoa, they said! Do you know how much I invested in you—how much pain you’ve given me at birth?"

She clicked her tongue.

"You’re not fit to become an intelligence courier.."

Elishia’s eyes widened.

She could accept her mother’s anger, or her father’s punishment. She could even accept anyone’s berating words and disappointment.

But this!

It was as if she was told that she couldn’t be a Sojoa anymore!

Her entire reality shattered.

"I know.." Meryllia’s contempt-filled eyes dashed through Elishia’s petite figure, "You don’t look too bad at all.. You were just like me when I was younger, only several times inferior.."

She laughed as if she had found something ironic.

"You should just be a wife.. Perhaps betrothed to a high-ranking noble in Nero, Verdigian, or one of the other continents.. That way, you would actually be of help to our family.. Well, connections are still important after all.."

She snapped her fingers as a great insight came upon her.

"I know! We should teach you to become a lady with manners. With your knowledge and talent, you should catch on quickly, right darling?"

Meryllia’s lips curled upward, yet her eyes remained astute.

"I said, right.. darling?"

Elishia wanted to contest her words, opening her mouth but then closing it again.

She wanted to say that she can try again and would do her best next time but with the pressure given to her, she could not bear to speak at all.

Her eyes looked crestfallen, as if her only purpose in life was washed away due to a singular mistake.

That’s just the real world is what her father always said..

They can’t bear to make mistakes..

She was the best of the best is what they always say.

They always lifted her up and compared to her siblings, stating that she was so talented.

It must’ve hurt seeing those envious eyes coming from their blood kin.

It must’ve hurt losing all those friends because she was so much ’better’..

It must’ve hurt truly seeing the entire world she was led to believe in, crumbling at the very hands of her own mistake.

A mistake that she didn’t even cause.

The world was unfair.

So was her family..

In a few years or so, she’ll be replaced by someone ’better’..

She knew that yet she didn’t want to face it.

As Elishia drowned in her thoughts, a tear flowed down from her eye, slowly falling down to her cheek.

She had an indifferent expression and yet.. her body said otherwise.

Forcing herself to open her mouth, she let her voice out and said in a monotonous tone, "...yes mother. I’ll do as you wish."

Meryllia clapped her hands twice.

"Great! You shall be taking lessons starting tomorrow.. And oh,"

Meryllia leaned closer to Elishia.

"No child of mine ever weeps. Do me a favor and cease yourself from calling me mother.. You are no longer my child."

She spread her fan open and covered her mouth.

"Now scram, little one."

Elishia’s heart shattered into a million tiny pieces.

She nodded her head and turned around, leaving the room almost immediately.