Following the royal banquet, the mother and daughter Clavel stayed at the Monchy manor at Ara's request. As part of the Duchess plan, she intended to get along well with her cousin and win her trust. While Ara accompanied Rachel to her plays, she found the outside activities boring because she preferred to attend the tea banquets with the other noble children to elevate her social standing.

Even though Rachel received numerous invitations to tea banquets, she declined all of them. She urges Ara to attend on her behalf because she wanted to play so much. Given how much her daughter enjoys playing outside their mansion, Marquis Henry built her a greenhouse. They were unaware that Rachel had gained a new playmate.

Sebastian found a new interesting pet after meeting the pink-haired girl in the banquet to keep him entertained. Since the child was a glutton, he decided to feed her with food as his peace offering. It took no time at all to find her residence and leap into their wall. He used a powerful invisible spell to allow him to enter the little child's mansion undetected by their knight's guards. After searching the vicinity, he came across the greenhouse and there she is... playing and laughing by herself.

He slowly approaches her, giving himself enough space to avoid frightening his prey.

"Hello little girl, do you still remember me? I came here to bring you something."

When Rachel turned around, she was startled to see the little Duke. "Your Highness, what are you doing here? This is a private residence. I don't think you are allowed to be here without my father's invitation."

"Oh? But my status is higher than your father. I can always access your mansion after receiving a last-minute invitation from the Marquis."

Rachel thought for a while, but her expression showed doubt about what he had said. "Then let me ask my father first, please excuse this subject."

Sebastian chucked loudly because the little girl in front of him is very clever. He had no idea that this little rabbit was so capable and would not be intimidated by his words and status.

"Wait! I'll let your father know I'm here. But first I brought you something. Here, I'll set it down on the table so you can see the cupcakes. I believe it's one of your favorites, I'm sure you'll like the variety of flavors."

Suddenly, Rachel turns her attention to the beautiful container with a dozen cupcakes. She cannot decide whether to check or see her father. If her parents found out that she had allowed the little Duke to enter their mansion, they would severely reprimand her. But then she heard a noise from her stomach.

"Little girl, I didn't mean any harm." Sebastian further persuades the little rabbit to accept his offer, "I want to give you this as a peace offering after I ate your cupcake last time in the banquet." For the first time in his life, he was thrilled that this little child had refused his offer because he had never before experienced rejection.

Rachel tiptoed to peek inside the box, but she had to pinch her tiny arm back to restrain herself. "Your Highness, if I may take it, is there anything you require in exchange?"

Sebastian can no longer control his laugh. He laughs so good that a tear welled in his eyes.

"Pfft little girl, I don't need anything from you. I just want to compensate you from what I took last time. Is that alright with you?"

"Then give me a pinky swear, Your Highness so I will know you're not lying." Rachel flashed her pinky to confirm his promise.

"Alright little girl, let's pinky swear." Sebastian chuckled naughtily and reached for her finger to seal his promise.

"Pinky swears." Both of them sealed their pinky fingers and smiled at each other.

From then on, Sebastian continued to visit the little girl every day and brought her various sweets. He finds his little pet to be a highly fascinating creature because she never bores him. Oftentimes, he laughed at her gluttony. The little one understands how to compensate for his gifts by feeding him some of the sweets and telling him stories from her collection of fairy tale books. She is also very courageous because she once painted an animal drawing on his face when he nodded off while reading his lesson. His little pet is quite mischievous and knows how to coax him even though he was extremely enraged by what she had done.

When Ara decided not to attend the tea banquet one day, she discovered Rachel's little secret. She kept from them the fact that the little Duke was now her new playmate. Ara informed Duchess Catarina of what she learned since she was so enraged and jealous. Upon learning of his son's fascination to the Monchy child, the Duchess was displeased that she had ordered Ara to carry out their plan earlier.

On a sunny day, Ara lured Rachel to play hide and seek at the back of the mansion. As she made sure that the knights were not present, she used the device provided by the Duchess' apprentice to unleash the fainting smoke and cause Rachel to pass out. Using a portal device, the dark sorcerer apprentice was able to grab Rachel and flee from the Monchy manor. Ara then ran hysterically inside the mansion, screaming that Rachel had vanished and she had no idea where she had gone. Because of Rachel's disappearance, the Monchy Manor was completely turned upside down.

***

The little girl lost count of the number of times she collapsed while being held captive in a tiny crystal box. When Rachel awoke to a familiar voice, she was glad that her cousin had found her. She knocks on the box to gain Ara's attention, but her cousin simply ignored her and smirked. She doesn't understand why her cousin is not doing anything to save her.

"Ara, cousin let me out. Please save me." Rachel pleaded while sobbing and panting hard to avoid passing out once more.

"My dear little cousin. I'm not here to save you. I'm here to steal your light so that everyone will like me and take your fortunate life."

"Why are you doing this to me? Hic'... hic'... I never did you wrong, why?" Anyone who heard Rachel's agonizing cry would feel sorry for the little girl.

"Why? Do you really have to ask me why?! Because I hate you so much! I hated the fact that you were born so lucky with a good family standing. Then you also would like to take the little Duke. How can you have it all? You are so selfish! I'll make sure to make you disappear in this world so he can never find you again. I will take everything whatever you have, and it will all be mine."

The room reverberated with Ara's hysterical laughter. As the door opened, the Duchess along with her apprentice brought an offering to perform the spell. The offering was put within a wrapped cloth as it tries to move.

"Ara, my sweet child. It's time to perform the spell but before we do that, we need an offering to complete the ritual." Duchess Catarina motioned to her apprentice to remove the cloth and bring the offering. When the offering was revealed, Ara's mother was gagged with a cloth in her mouth. She was struggling to speak, but all that came out was a moan.

Ara trembled in horror, unable to accept that her mother is the sacrifice being made in exchange for her desired life.

"Your Majesty, why does it have to be my mother? I can't do this. Let's cancel the ritual and give Rachel back to her family. I don't want to do this anymore." Ara shakes her head and walks over to her mother to remove the gag out of her mouth.

"Child, if you do that you will return to the north and live a miserable life. If your mother had cared about your welfare, why would she have kept you hidden in the north? Imagine living a wretch existence while your cousin indulges in noble splendor. It isn't fair you know."

Duchess Catarina pats her head as she continues to brainwash her feeble mind. "If your mother truly cares about you, she will give up her life for you to lead a good one. Aren't this what mothers always do? To improve the lives of our cherished child, we give up ourselves."

Ara looks at Rachel and her mother. Melissa shakes her head while pleading with her daughter not to listen to the Duchess' evil words. Ara, however, is conflicted as she thinks back to her upbringing in the north and the treatment she endured at the hands of her fellow nobles. The Duchess words has a truth to it because her mother never cared of her wellbeing until she discovers her connection with her uncle Marquis. Yes, her mother should sacrifice her life for her to live a good one.

"Your Majesty, can you please give me a few minutes. I would like to say goodbye to my mother."