Darkness engulfed Lucien then it dissipated. He was back in his childhood bedroom.

It was a moonless night. You would not know where the shadows began and ended.

A small black-haired boy was sleeping peacefully. This was the young Lucien. He was holding a stuffed toy horse in his arms, a gift for his seventh birthday from his mother. It would be the last gift he would receive from her.

The door opened with a creak as if giving off an ominous warning. Run. Run before the monsters find you.

There were no monsters.

It was just his mother who was in a strange sense of distaught. Her long white hair was in a mess. As if a storm had whisked her away and she had just been released from it but her mind had not been left unscathed. Her green eyes which would shine like a cat's brilliant green eyes even in the darkness did not shine.

They seemed . . .foggy.

A thin veil of fog seemed to cover her vibrant green eyes.

Lucien watched tensely as his mother walked towards the young Lucien's bed. Her steps were silent. Her long white night dress swayed with her delicate movements. Her ethereal beauty was lost in the night. She looked more of a wraith who had just stepped over the mortal side.

Her hand was holding something long and snake-like. It slithered on the floor, creating a sound that made Lucien's hairs stand on end. He knew the sound well.

Cathryn's empty gaze fell upon her sleeping son. As if sensing his mother's presence, the young boy's eyes opened.

"Mother?"

She suddenly grabbed the young Lucien by the scruff of his neck and dragged him off the bed.

THUD!

The young Lucien winced in pain. He looked at his mother fearfully from the floor, not understanding why his mother seemed so angry at him.

"M-mother? Did I do something wrong?"

Cathryn did not answer. She brought up the long snake-like thing to his cheek. Her eyes seemed not to see him, the fog on her emerald green eyes thickening.

The young Lucien's eyes widened. She was holding a whip. He whimpered as she rubbed the whip on his face.

"If you get hurt, your father might pay attention to us," Cathryn said in a voice devoid of emotion.

"M-mother, please . . ."

"Will you be a good boy and do this for your mother?" Cathryn asked.

The young Lucien's eyes were filled with tears. He shook his head.

"Shush now. I'll make it quick," Cathryn whispered.

Before the young Lucien could even react, Cathryn brought down the whip on him.

KE-CHRACK!!!

The sound of the whip rang out in the room. It was a terrible sound. Like the wind being cracked by force. The whip split his skin and blood was gushing out of his arm.

The little boy screamed.

Cathryn brought down the whip again on her son.

Again.

And again.

After a while, the young boy was only a bloody lump on the floor. No longer moving and just barely breathing.

Cathryn wordlessly left the room without looking at her son.

"Your Grace, we head a noice from the bedroom! Is everything all right?" The head butler asked.

"Just clean up the mess in the bedroom. Lucien hurt himself," Cathryn said.

"Oh no! I shall get some bandages first, Your Grace," the butler said with great worry.

"Also, tell my husband that his son is hurt and he should come home," Cathryn said.

"Yes, Your Grace," the butler said with a bow then looked like he just remembered something. "Your Grace, may I ask how the young master got hurt?"

"He was helping his mother," Cathryn said and walked away.

"I do not understand why you are showing me this. Are you just here to torture me?" Lucien asked the mysterious voice.

"If that is what you think so, then you shall remain in the darkness, boy. The truth is not as clear as daylight. Sometimes, it is merely being hidden by a . . . fog," the voice said.

Light filled up everything. The scenes of the past vanished in an instant.

Did he finally get out?!

He could see his bedroom in the Ashburn Residence. His body began to move.

He was not out. His body was just awake and it was making its next move.

*

*

*

Rubiella was wearing a white dress with a big white bow and white ruffles. She was wearing white shoes and white stockings. Her long curly red hair was tied in a bun and hidden inside a white ruffled bonnet with the ribbon tied beneath her chin.

She looked ridiculous. Rubiella wanted to tear off the white ribbons and stomp on them to give them color.

"My Lady, you look . . ." Annie trailer off.

Rubiella sighed. Even Annie was having a hard time making up a compliment.

"Where's Father?" Rubiella asked.

"He is in the study, My Lady," Annie said.

Rubiella thanked her and went to her father's study. She inhaled and exhaled slowly.

To war.

Rubiella knocked.

There was no answer.

Rubiella knocked again.

"What is it?! I'm busy!" Lord Edward yelled.

"It is I, your daughter. I wish to speak with you, Father dear," Rubiella said, cringing at her fake sweetness and her forced politeness.

Silence.

Then a grudging answer. "Come in now! No one is going to open that for you!"

Rubiella went in and she could see that her father was surprised with her appearance.

"Father dear, I hope I am not interrupting too much. I would just like to speak to you about my childhood engagement with His Highness, Prince Vincent," Rubiella said.

"Sit, child. I see that you are finally taking interest in your rightful future. You are taking interest, right?" The viscount asked his daughter

"Yes, Father dear. I fear we have become too complacent about it and perhaps it is the reason it has not been formalized for so long already even after our coming-of-age. It is my brazen suggestion that we go to the Imperial Palace and sit down with His Highness to talk about it properly," Rubiella said.

Lord Edward's eyes lit up.

"I see! Wonderful! Wonderful! You are dressed appropriately already. Would you like to go to the Palace now, child?" Her father asked.

Rubiella gulped. Just as planned, right?

"Yes, Father dear. I would truly appreciate it if you accompany me. Your presence would help greatly in convincing His Highness," Rubiella said with fake enthusiasm.

She then faked a worried look. "But I see that you are too busy, Father dear. I do apologize if I have landed this matter on you so abruptly."

The viscount quickly stood up. "No, you are more important than work! I will accompany you to the Imperial Palace! Let me just get my coat to look presentable."

*

*

*

Euphemia's mind was clear as day ever since that frightening night. She was healed. She could feel no trace of poison in her body.

The door opened. It was the prince. He walked towards her bedside with a smug expression, expecting to see her writhing in pain.

She looked at him calmly.

"I am not going to heal you. You should release me now," Euphemia said.

Vincent's eyes widened. "How? You were . . ."

"You must have forgotten that I'm a Saintess. A Saintess has healing magic. You really need to get your brain checked. You have memory gaps already," Euphemia bluffed.

She couldn't heal herself no matter how much she tried. It was the spooky woman who healed her but he didn't need to know that.

PLACK!

Vincent slapped her.

Hard.

Euphemia could taste blood. She must have bitten the inside of her cheek. This darned pri*k of a prince.

"I'll just heal this too. Are you sure this is how you should be treating me? Your face already looked ugly before but now you're just very hideous," Euphemia scoffed at him.

"You impudent wench!" Vincent yelled at her almost shaking in fury.

"Still not healing you," Euphemia said, rolling her eyes.

Vincent looked like he wanted to throttle her but he was stopping himself.

"I can't keep on looking like this. You have to heal me!" He almost sounded like he was whining.

"Maybe if you let me out," Euphemia said with an amused smile.

"No!" Vincent screamed and went of the room, slamming the door behind him.

Euphemia sighed. Her cheek was stinging from his slap. She just hoped the scary ghost would come and heal her again.

*

*

*

The viscount and his daughter, Rubiella Summers, arrived in the Imperial Palace. They were both wearing white as if a wedding was to take place that hot sunny afternoon.

An old butler greeted them. He was actually trying to make them leave but they would not budge and insisted on calling for the prince to talk about the engagement.

The old butler informed the prince about the unexpected guests which interrupted him from inflicting an unjust punishment on another innocent maid.

"Would you like a hood or a hat, Your Highness? Perhaps a veil or a touch of powder?" The old butler suggested to the prince.

The prince looked like he wanted to bite off the butler's head.

"No need. Let them look!" He snarled.

He opened the door receiving room for guests with a loud force, announcing his presence and his terrible mood.

Rubiella and her father looked shocked at his appearance. Instead of looking like he was attacked, he gave off an air about him that he was the attacker and his victim had just slashed at his face in defense.

"Let's talk about breaking off that ridiculous engagement that I haven't agreed to, shall we?"