"Lord Terrel, I'm glad to see that you were able to attend," Ophelia states politely right before looking upwards. As usual, he was wearing his typical brown attire while carrying his cynical smile. Behind him stood Mace and Ralph with fearful expressions on their faces.

"I'm so happy to know my fiancée recognizes me by my voice, I am, indeed, one lucky man," he kisses the back of Ophelia's hand while glaring at her.

'Endure it... Endure it Ophelia...' her mind kept on jumping around, she despised this man and wanted him to be rotting underground but, even then, she needed to maintain her composure, ‘I can’t let it go to waste...’ she couldn’t let Terrel control her resolve.

"Brother we should go," Mace interrupts as he noticed Ophelia's dark stare.

"What did you say little shrimp? Who are you to order me around?" Terrel yells as his attention shifted to his little brother. Mace's body started to trembled slightly while Ralph hid behind a tree close by, watching everything from afar.

The Earl remained quiet while watching this scenario unfold.

'He's a complete beast...' Ophelia couldn't stop but think that Terrel would look better with his head cut off.

"Are you going to abandon your fiancée? I'm afraid I'll be lonely..." she steps in and glances at Mace, letting him know this act had not been made by pure kindness. She manages to catch Terrel's attention easily.

"Of course not my dear, I would never do such a thing... Then, shall we go?" Terrel stretches his hand, showing his desire to escort her. A shiver ran down her spine, however, she managed to gather the courage to place his hand around his arm. Devlin was completely ignored as they all start heading towards the inner garden.

As they arrive the nobles focus their attention on them, like hawks on their prey, right before being hit by the harsh reality: The Black Rose is the Wharton’s fiancée. All those eyes compelled by desire were nothing but dreams that once existed, just to be shattered with the sight of a simple man.

"Well Lord Terrel, I'm afraid I have to excuse myself, my other guests are waiting," Ophelia states but, Terrel’s hand grabs her wrist and pulls her towards him, making her bump onto his chest. Without being able to suppress her hidden emotions, Ophelia glares at him and he grins.

‘Ophelia...’ he couldn’t help but to wish to subdue her will, he wanted her pitiful resolve to crumble into pieces. He already knew that she was fighting him and that is what made it all so amusing. Those light blue eyes that showered him with despise just made him want to ruin her more, ‘I was indeed right when I chose you...’

“My dear, you may go but don’t forget...” Terrel then grabs Ophelia’s chin and lifts it. Her disgusted expression only turned him on more and then, suddenly, he kissed her light pink lips. As if that wasn’t enough for his lust, Terrel bit them harshly, opening them up before stating coldly, “You belong to me.”

Soft words were heard in the wind as the guests talked about what they were witnessing with their own two eyes. Some of them were frustrated since they wished to be in Terrel's place, others find this an irresponsible display of affection between a couple and, the last ones, laughed at the poor girl's misery. Bradley watched it unfold, however, the only thing he could do is clench his fists in frustration as his veins became larger due to the accumulation of anger.

‘Fear me more...’ Terrel didn’t know why Ophelia’s eyes were filled with horror whenever she saw him but he didn’t care, ‘She’ll be easier this way.’

‘I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him,’ were the thoughts that filled Ophelia’s dark mind as she tasted the blood from her ripped bottom lip.

“Of course, I am well aware of my place Lord Terrel...” Ophelia smiles politely after being able to regain her composure. She needed to control her emotions better, otherwise, she would be nothing other than a frail sheep, waiting for the big bad wolf to strike.

Terrel looks at her, his mind filled with disappointment. He liked when she looked at him with fearful eyes, on the other hand, he hated these, the ones filled with determination, the ones who appeared untouchable. Even then, he observed her. Her unique raven hair and her pearly white breasts, already quite developed for her age made him just wish her more.

‘She’s mine... How dare you taint what’s mine...’ Bradley's eyes were focused on the two of them. His murderer instinct only grew once he saw Ophelia clean the blood coming from her lip, 'That bastard... I swear I will...!'

"Master, I advise you to calm down, this is not the time or the place... There are too many witnesses," Aiden intervenes as he notices Bradley's emotions taint his reason.

He was trying his best to restrain his emotions but the thought of having Terrel's dirty hands touch that frail girl, his girl, made him want to break his fingers, one by one.

“Do you like chess my lord?” Ophelia places her fingers on his cheek, caressing it softly while a lustful grin is portraited on her lips. Her eyes were pure greed and Terrel felt the insane need to take her way.

'Anywhere is fine...!' he thought. This intense feeling of wanting to hide her was overwhelming. He didn't want anyone else to look at her. He wanted to be the only one to appreciate such beauty, even if that meant incarcerate somewhere far away. His soul was so fixated on Ophelia that he desired to get rid of every sinner in this garden so that they could finally be alone.

“Of course,” he didn’t understand the meaning behind her ideas since his reason was more focused on her overwhelming beauty and so, in the middle of the confusion in his mind, his grip lost its strength. At that moment, Ophelia was able to create some distance between them.

“Then I’m sure you are aware that the most important piece is the Queen... She is the one who protects the King after all...” Ophelia grins and Terrel comprehends he had been controlled by her, “I’m sure you don’t want to lose your Queen so soon... right?”

“Do you take me for a fool!?” understanding the situation, Terrel clenches his fists. His voice echoed loudly as he yelled angry words. The nobles began to gossip and soon the air was filled with whispers, louder enough for everyone to hear.

"Look at that... What a disgrace...!" a feminine voice was heard.

"Poor girl, being married to that monster...!" a man's voice echoes in the wind.

"Serves her right!" another woman commented.

Even then, Terrel's attention was not in the words of the world but in the ones Ophelia was saying. It was as if nothing else in the world mattered, except the rebellious young girl in front of him.

“Of course not. How could I consider such a profane thing?” a sarcastic reply flows from Ophelia’s lips.

“Who do you think you are Ophelia!?” he knew she was mocking him and that only made his emotions accumulate. His voice grew louder.

“Lord Terrel, we are yet to be wed so please don’t forget your place,” she smiles coldly.

‘And now she's giving me orders!? Who does this slut think she is!?’ Terrel couldn’t help but feel enraged. Her eyes looked down on him as if he were a mere lump on the road, something that could easily be taken care of, something useless and unworthy of her care.

“You little...!” he swings his arm with all his strength.

“My lord, it would be wise to restrain yourself, remember where we are... It wouldn’t be good to stain the Wharton’s image, would it?” as his open hand was about to hit Ophelia's face it stops. Terrel finally understands the place he was and clenches his fists in frustration. He knew he couldn’t taint his family’s honor since it would be his eventually so, even filled with annoyance, he walked away followed by his younger brothers.

✽ ✼ ✽ ✼ ✽ ✼ ✽

As I see Terrel walk away I feel my body strength starting to leave. Sweat drops were coming out of my pores and my arms started to tremble.

‘I need to leave,’ I knew that if I remained in the garden, everything I worked so hard for would be in vain.

“My dear guests, I hope you are enjoying the party so far, I will be with you shortly,” I declare right before heading towards the Hillgarden’s mansion.

As I look around I noticed that the majority of the house was empty since all the maids and butlers were all serving the guest in the garden. I reach one of the rooms and launch my body on the comfortable red couch with all my leftover strength.

‘I want to throw up,’ I kept on remembering Terrel’s lips pressed on mine. His grip on my wrist. His voice. His glare. His grin.

“Slut. Whore. Disgraceful. Useless,” my mind repeated every single thing Terrel told me during my past lives, all of the names he called me, all of the things he made me feel and do. I place my right arm on top of my eyes, covering them and hiding my runaway tears. My arms trembled and my mind felt like it had begun shattering, piece by piece.

‘Maybe the darkness will make it go away...’ I thought but I was wrong. It didn’t. I clench my fists in frustration. I could still remember it all, feel it all.

I wanted to scream.

I wanted to remove my skin just to stop feeling his touch.

I wanted him to disappear from this world and from my memory.

I wanted so many things, however, I knew that none of them was true.

“Master, are you alright?” Jade appears and I instinctively sit up straight right before cleaning up my tears.

“Yes I am fine,” I bluntly lie since that is the only thing I know how to.

“In my land, mothers usually tell their children, “Men can’t move mountains, however, Gods can do anything”. At first, I thought it was stupid, there’s no way Gods exist right? But it is true, as years go by mountains move, they change and they adapt.” Jade sit beside me and smiled kindly.

“Mountains moving by the will of Gods? That’s irrealistic,” I let out a sigh.

“Haven’t you noticed master? The terrains will change over time and I’m sure that will happen with your pain too,” in his own way, I understood that he was trying to comfort me.

‘My pain healing with time? That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard,’ a chuckle filled with pain escapes my body.

“I already know how my fate will play out Jade. Nothing will change, no matter how many lives I live, I won't be healed,” I glare at him, creating a frustrated look on his face, "Men can't control time, only Gods can, and I am nothing but their puppet."

“The pain you feel, I can’t begin to understand it but I’m sure it can be healed, master! Please, have some faith!” even then, he hangs himself on the small strand that people call ‘hope’ as he said these wicked words.

“Jade, you can't bring someone back from the dead, just like you can't bring my untainted youth back” I get up and head towards the entrance.

“But Master...!” he stands and walks towards me right before grabbing my arm.

“Stop meddling and do what I bought you to do,” his painful expression makes a slight pain affect my heart but, even then, I couldn’t lean on him.

I’m alone. I’m well aware of that fact. For all these years, I’ve been alone. That’s a truth that even Gods can’t change and neither can a mere slave.

Swiftly I shove his arm away and walk out of the room.

“I’m sorry milady!” a maid bumps into me as I was opening the front door towards the garden. Even with her head low, I recognized her: Millicia, a maid at Duke Criswell’s mansion.

‘Well, well... What do we have here?’ I grin as I puzzle the pieces together. I was already aware that Duke Criswell would attempt something at this party, he wouldn’t attend it otherwise but, even then, I didn’t know he would be so bold as to entrust a mere maid to do his dirty work.

‘Gilbert’s silence won’t help his anxiety,’ I knew that hurting Gilbert would cause a situation that I couldn’t foresee but, at this point, I’ve made so many changes to this godforsaken story that nothing is a certainty anymore.

As the maid heads towards the kitchen in a rush, I feel a sense of ecstasy run through my skin.

‘Little rabbit, let’s play hide and seek, shall we?’ I chuckle right before walking to Amanda's table.

✽ ✼ ✽ ✼ ✽ ✼ ✽

“Dear sister, I'm happy to see you in such high spirits!” Ophelia smiles politely while Amanda glares at her coldly.

“Of course, it was nothing much, even a fool can take on a mere cold” she smiles while Duke Criswell ate a piece of pumpkin pie.

“How are you enjoying the party?” Ophelia asks and, of course, without thinking too much on the matter, Amanda spurs out her honest opinion.

“I would’ve done it a lot better, it is sorrowful, to say the least,” Amanda flips her crimson hair back right before sensing the Duke’s hand on her shoulder, “I mean, it is your first time organizing such a party, it is natural that it isn’t perfect but I’m sure the next one will be better.”

Amanda swiftly corrects herself while the Duke’s attention turns to Devlin Hillgarden who was carefully drinking his tea. The Earl had heard it all but ignored the silly remark. At this point in time, they both needed something from each other so causing resentment towards either of the sides wasn’t beneficial.

“You’ve done well, my child,” Duke Criswell tries to caress Ophelia’s right cheek but she swiftly backs away without any restraint.

“I understand... Thank you for your honest thoughts sister. Then I shall be back shortly, my other guests are waiting,” as she turned around she is overwhelmed by the scent of lavender: Bradley Trace.

“Lady Ophelia, you look exceptional,” he bows down and kisses the back of her hand while his eyes glare at her. Ophelia knew everything, she could see the lustful greed in his eyes but even then, one must play the role of a doll properly.

“Thank you, Lord Bradley, that is very kind of you,” she smiles politely, “How are you enjoying the party?”

“It is a wonderful event, however, it would be even better if I could have your presence to myself,” he places his typical charming smile on his lips and, as Amanda hears these words, her expression turns pained. She had finally comprehended what Ophelia had told her before. Amanda could never have Bradley’s heart since it always belonged to her little sister.

‘Come out little rabbit... Let’s play...’ Ophelia was purposely provoking her sister even if she wasn’t aware of it herself. In Amanda’s envious eyes, this was just a display of everything that always happened between them, and that’s how Ophelia wanted it, ‘The master of illusions can only control the minds of the fools.’

“You flatter me, my lord...” Ophelia didn’t deny his approach and Bradley looked dumbfounded. He couldn’t understand this sudden change of behavior, she never talked to him in such a sweet tone or even with such tender words.

‘Ophelia this... Ophelia that... It’s always her!’ Amanda hated her sister. She always took everything from her, she murdered their mother, Lilith, she took the attention from her father, Alvin and she knew all the gossips and rumors that the maids created. It was always so painful, ‘It’s all her fault... If she would just... Disappear... That would be... Perfect...’

Amanda’s thoughts were in an extremely dark place. She wished that her sister would’ve never been born, she wanted her out of the picture. She had taken everything from her life and this time, Amanda wasn’t going to watch it happen. Bradley was hers and that was enough.

“Would you be so kind as to take a stroll with me around the garden?” Bradley smiles and, right before Ophelia was able to reply, Amanda’s sanity is shattered.

A sharp knife was pointed at Ophelia’s neck while her left shoulder was being grabbed tightly. Amanda’s arms were shaking and sweat was dripping out her pores. As this scene unfolds, Bradley's eyes widen in shock, and the Whartons run towards them. The nobles in the garden gasped after their attention was shifted to this new development.

‘You dared...’ Bradley’s expression soon turned into pure hatred. He knew he should’ve gotten rid of the rat before but he still clung to the hope that she would understand his message. As the knife grew closer to Ophelia's neck his hatred turned into fear. He couldn’t bear the thought of losing her like this, and so his soul became tainted with his worries.

“Lady Amanda... Put down the knife...” Terrel and Mace try to meddle, appealing to Amanda’s sense of self but it was useless, she was too deep in the abyss.

“What do you think you are doing!? Have you no shame!?” Duke Criswell intervenes with all his sensitivity but is completely ignored.

“Amanda... Dear... Don’t do that... Let go...” Bradley tries his luck as his eyes were clouded with concern. He didn’t want Ophelia to die in front of his eyes, he wanted to protect her with all his might.

“Shut up!” Amanda’s arms trembled harder and that’s when Ophelia knew she didn’t have it within her, she wouldn’t be able to finish the job.

"Master!" Jade gasps but quickly hides within the threes. Even if he was filled with concern he knew he couldn't show himself without Ophelia's orders.

Bradley looked at Ophelia but, even with a knife pointed at her neck she didn’t flinch, her eyes showed no doubt or fear, instead, they looked delighted. Right now, her crystal eyes had a new unknown glimmer, turning his concern into desire. This psychotic side of Ophelia was something he had never seen, something new and dark. He found it addicting, like a drug that one could only hope to obtain, and so did all the members of the nobility in the garden.

“Why can’t I stop staring?” was the question in everyone’s minds as they saw Ophelia’s lustful expression.

“My dear sister...” her voice was soft and alluring.

“Shut up! I’ll kill you!” Amanda’s voice began to crackle from the agglomeration of nerves. Her resolve was starting to waver.

“Do you know what happens when you kill someone cursed?” Ophelia’s lips portrait an evil grin and Bradley gulps as he could swear that the being in front of him was not human, in fact, it was a demon, a horrid beast that had lost its sanity just to be ruled by bloodlust.

“I said shut up!” Amanda’s grip was starting to grow weaker.

“Do you know... Amanda?” Ophelia’s left-hand grabs hers and forces the knife deeper into her skin, making small blood drops drip out. Amanda’s complexion turns pale as she sees the red fluid leave her sister’s body.

‘How is this a woman we’re supposed to use Patricia!?’ as the scenery unfolded before her eyes, Holly couldn’t help but feel a growing hesitation in her inner self. She had started to realize that maybe they were the ones being used.

“Stop! Ophelia! Let go!” Amanda was trying her best to remove her grip from the knife but it was useless since Ophelia gripped her hand even tighter.

“Wrong answer!” Ophelia turns around and pierces the knife again, this time going a little bit further. A small river of blood was pouring out.

“Stop! I don’t know! Let go!” Amanda was panicking because no matter how much she struggled, her sister was grasping both the knife and her hand very strongly.

'Please...!' she knew how this would play out. Even if Amanda was now regretful of placing a knife against her sister's neck, she couldn't change the fact that everyone saw her atrocious behavior and, since Ophelia kept on grabbing her hand in hers, it only made everything worse.

“Then sister, shall we find out!?” Ophelia chuckles as if she was thrilled to feel the pain in her neck, to feel the blood leave her own fragile body. The psychotic grin on Ophelia’s lips only grew bigger.

“No... No!” Amanda yelled as her vision started to become extremely blurred by the overwhelming tears.

“Who is the real monster here Amanda... The cursed one? Or her murderer!?” Ophelia's voice becomes louder and, at this remark Amanda’s mind breaks. Her body loses its strength and falls onto the floor unconscious.

“How unsightly,” Ophelia mumbles after letting go of her hand. Her eyes looked bored as if she had lost her most precious toy. The knife, tainted with blood, fell on the dirt floor and stained the beautiful green grass.

Everyone was quiet. No one was able to utter a word, since they all thought that everything up until now was nothing more than a mirage, something between the real and imaginary.

“My dear guests, this event was organized for a reason...” Ophelia breaks the silence as a soft smile appears on her lips right before picking up her light blue teacup, “On Lady Catherine’s last ball I was drugged and the culprit is here with us.”

‘Drugged you say?’ Lady Catherine was well aware that Ophelia was lying. She didn't drink anything that night and they both knew it, ‘Indeed, this girl is interesting,' she couldn’t help but feel a growing desire in knowing more about such an intelligent girl, her charm, her seduction but, most importantly, her mind.

“How do you know?” Earl Hillgarden intervenes as his face hid his true intentions. Even if he didn't fully understand her plans he knew she was someone that he wanted by his side. He comprehended that Ophelia would be the key to the future he was striving to obtain.

‘Of course, you have to question me...’ Ophelia was aware that it was natural for the Earl to be suspicious of her claims since this was a serious accusation that could taint his family's name.

“Because my tea is filled with poison,” swiftly, she places the teacup against her lips and drinks its contents in one gulp.