“Sunny, dear, did you hear your father and me?” Her mother questioned. Glancing impatiently, tapping silver nails on the table, she way. Sipping her red wine, swirling it around, placing it back down.

“No, mother, my mind was in a bit of a blunder.” Lowering her head, staring at her fingers. Muttering under his breath, eying her mother. Her lips curled up, hazel eyes lit up her way.

“Umm, Well I and your father were thinking. As a young lady, get out and make friends.” Glancing over at Father, who’s beside her eating his dinner. Puts his fork down, eying both mothers' and her tells her to continue. “With other noble ladies and gens, of course, Right hun?” Eying her father than her.

Uncomfortably shifting in her seat beckoning the young boy over to get a glass of water. Less than a minute later, he gives her water, taking his leaves as she silently thanks him. Gulping down her water, ignoring her mother’s disgusted look and disapproval. Sitting the glass down, nervously glancing her father’s way.

Her father nodded, elegantly cutting his meat, taking light sips from his golden carved wine cup. His eyes met hers, squinting, before going back to his meal delicately eating dapping crumbs off his youthful face. With his silk napkin, handing it to the servant, waving him off.

“Of course, your mother’s right. Our emperor didn’t send us here to dilly dally but grant him a peace treaty and prevent future wars.” Seriously eying her, awaiting her answer. Biting her inner lip in frustration, holding in her griefless.

“Father, I only befriend those of importance to me. Status doesn’t concern me.” She inputs her opinion of this matter, feeling her temper rise. Silently begging her father, only to be shot down again. As he

“Listen to father, it’s our duty to homeland lessening our king’s worries and such. So, I and your mother have discussed inviting a guest of importance, that's to be treated with the utmost importance.”

Tightly smiling her mother and father’s way, shaking her head quietly at the older woman, trying to serve her. Denying any extra food, as her appetite depletes at her father's words coming to mind.

What’s coming off her and Minny’s future? But today she truly doubted her parents. Wishing she was of noble birth, then she’d be herself. Maybe she’s overthinking everything?

At a loss for words, she nods, poking at her saucy steak in a daze of what’s coming. Her parents' voices blending within the background, curious who’s the important guest mentioned.

Meanwhile, at Mina’s and her family's place at the same time.

A sly servant enters Lady Mina’s quarters, carrying a bucket of water, releasing a distasteful scent. Tip-toeing behind her sleeping figure as her upper lip curled up, Mina's nose sniffed at the unpleasant smell, cautiously blinking her eyes. Turning her head, to see the servant girl dress more nobly than her, as she was not here.

“Why are you in this miss ro- '' When the girl threw the dirty water on her, drenching her clothes, unable to avoid it? Her curls soaked in the icky water, brushing it out of her face, glaring at the young girl that holds an innocent yet evil appearance.

“What miss? My lady’s son is the only legitimate child of this house. Not some low-born girl from a seductress of mother, that caused our lady’s misfortune. Thank emperor, your disgraceful mother fell asleep never to awake again.” Taunting her, disgust flashing through her eyes. Isn’t she of low birth, too?

“My mother's time has passed, what's the use of it to taint her name even more. Wouldn’t that dirty your innocent facade?”

“Do-n’t act as if you're of noble birth, you're beneath me, you hear!” Glaring her way, angrily pointing her finger. Paused in front of the door before turning around, gritting her teeth. “The minister and the first lady await your presence.” Pinching her nose, eying her. “Cleanse yourself of this filthiness or you’ll never wed, haha.”

Slamming the door, hardly causing her desk to fall apart into pieces, as she tugged on her filthy hair. “Aren’t I’m allowed to have peace for a day or two? It’s torture living under such pretentious nobles.” Sighing to herself, as she strode outside her shed to an icy pond a few miles from her home. Carrying a bucket in her water, with a bag for firewood, dashing in front of the chilly pond.

Shivering as the wintry winds cover her body, she sneezes from the intense coldness. As her mother wasn’t from such a cold kingdom, Lady Song betrothed to the prime minister. From what her mother wrote in letters, she found hidden in her quarters, detailing her regrets and sorrows.

Wondering why her mother would follow such an evil lady, but she’ll never know as the rest of the letter’s written in an encrypted message she doesn’t understand.

Maybe it’s because her reading isn’t too good, as she only secretly learned from a humble old man that she met while she was running from an angry shop owner. As she stole a piece of meat and bread, he hid behind her. Her bottom lip curled at the only sweet moment of her life.

Excluding her bunny from the mix as that's in another part of her heart, rubbing her hands together, snapping out of her daydreaming. Spotting the beautiful sky blue water, she filled up her bucket, straining till her arm placed it down. Gathering up some broken pearl white tree branches, stuffing them into her weaved bag, swinging over her shoulder, and carrying her water bucket.

Striding back to her shed, biting her lips, fighting the pain in her feet and legs, preserving on. Arriving in front of her place dashing through the door, placing the items down letting out a breath of relief.

Collapsing onto the floor, forcing herself up onto her feet, grabbing a pair of rags like clothing, throwing on the bed, and lighting up the wood. Heating the nearly frozen water, sticking her finger in it, testing the temperature.

Feeling the heat intensify yanks her hand back, filling up the wooden tub from the servant’s quarters. Sliding off her soiled clothes, throwing in some fragrant flowers into the bath, stepping into the water.

Dipping her head underneath the water scrubbing all the grub off her body, glancing at blue turned greenish water. She gets out, quickly drying herself off, slipping on her clothes, muscles softening up, and tying her up.

Striding to the main quarters, passing through doors to see her father and Lady Song chatting amongst one another. Laughter dying down as they spotted her standing in the fancy room. They replaced smiles with serious ones.

Father waves her over, gesturing for her to sit down across from them at the nice table, beckoning the servant to grab some drink for Lady Song and him, briefly glancing her way.

"Mina, your royal cousin sent an invitation for you and Lady Sunny to tour our beautiful kingdom and was too busy before." Scrunching up her face in confusion at her cousin's request. Why’s he wanting to show her bunny around?

Father’s eyes her adding, "As to why we don’t know." Lady Song covered her mouth as she blurted out her thoughts by accident.

“Father, Lady Sunny’s a lady of noble birth. What’s Kel thinking?” Her father's lip curved in displeasure, her stepmother's voice out. Mocking her words. Rubbing her father’s hands, trying to soothe his rising temper. Jumping up out of her seat.

“How’s that of your concern? Prince Kel’s next line for the throne. Any lady would turn a blind eye to such. Even if he ruins that girl's reputation, her parents have already agreed, her father’s only that emperor’s advisor.” Her body falls back into her seat, raising her head in her father’s way.

“But-” “Nothing didn’t your mother teach you better, wait karma got to her. Listen as a lady or lowborn as of that, should know to obey those above you.” Placing a hand on her lap, clenching her clothes.

“Honey, don’t dirty your mouth with such distasteful words. She knows what to do, Right?” Arching her eyebrow, quaking up her upper lip. As their eyes met each other, fakery smiling at one another.

“Yes, Lady Song's father pleases.” She sarcastically spoke, bowing down to both. Earning her father’s furious eyes as his hand went across her face. So quickly she couldn’t dodge it. They heard a smack scaring the servants away.

Her stepmother curled her lower lip, gasping and grabbing her father’s hand. Wiping his hand off, ridding it of dirtiness, glancing over at her.

“Darling, we mustn't stoop to such low levels. Let’s let the servant deal with her, per family rules.” He nods his head gesturing the servant girl over, who threw water on her earlier and sweetly smiled her way. Shivers ran through her body, causing her hair to stand up.

“Grant her thirty pedals to the backside, no exceptions.” As her mouth opened in protest, the evil girl dragged her away, to the back, flashing a grin to her.

“As you wish, my lady.” Tugging her closer to her, guiding her to the punishment room. Her heartbeat paced faster and faster. Clenching the side of her skirt, sighing in defeat.

Whispering into her ear, “Miss Mina, excuse my mistakes if my hands slip up. I'm heavy-handed. Bear with this young girl.” Harshly shoving her body to the pickle wooden bench, the stick met her backside. Groaning, gritting her teeth, sweat dripped down her face.

“The miss seems fine, The lady said not to baby her or she'll never learn.” The lady servants hummed in agreement, beating her harsher.

Til she cried out, unable to hold in any longer as time slowly passed after the twenty-ninth hit clashed. Her vision fading in and out from the access pain upon her sore body. Collapsing against the wooden bench, thinking of her bunny and her pouty angry face staring down at her.

As she weakly reached out to her only for her to disappear in a blink of her eyes, vision darkened consuming her hold. Hearing panicking of voices in the background and shaking her, which she felt numb.

Her eyelid shutting, only seeing her lovely bunny crying. For what she doesn’t know?