"Aderi!" Her father yelled as he slammed the door open.

"Father?" Aderi asked, she was standing at the closed glass door of her balcony, looking at the stars, and suddenly she got slapped by her father. She fell to the ground due to the impact.

"YOU DARE TO TALK BACK TO YOUR STEPMOTHER!?" Her father yelled.

"B-but father! I just didn't wanna do what she was telling me, she told me that once I debut in high society I must target the prettiest girl and-" Aderi said fastly trying to explain everything.

"SHUSH! You dare to tell me lies now!?" Her father asked as he grabbed Aderi's wrist making her forcefully stand up.

"F-father it hurts!" Aderi said as tears fell from her eyes. Suddenly she got slapped again.

"Don't you dare cry!" Her father said glaring.

Aderi stood up and hurriedly ran out of her room.

"YOU! COME BACK HERE!" Her father said going after Aderi.

"STOP HER!" Her father yelled at the people who were around the hall, everyone tried catching Aderi but she was so little that she dodge people grabbing her.

The 7-year-old little girl was so scared and in pain. Her only plan right now was to run away.

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After she managed to get away she still ran and ran, and she found a garden and ran there. The garden was quiet at night, only the wind and leaves brushing against each other are the only sound.

Aderi fell after tripping on a rock, she started crying loudly. The little girl was in so much pain, this is the first time her father hit her. All Callista have great strength without even training, but her father as one of the commanders of the kingdom knights and trains regularly that strength has improved much more. So imagine how hard Aderi got hit.

"Why are you crying?" A soft voice asked, Aderi turned her head and looked up at that person. She was met with a little boy that is about the same age as her, that boy has black hair and blue eyes, the boy was wearing a black cloak.

"It hurts!" Aderi cried as she tried wiping her tears, the boy has a worried look on his face.

"It hurts!" Aderi cried out once more as she gripped her chest, the boy panicked and pulled Aderi in a hug after remembering that his mother told him that hugs can make others feel better.

"It hurts..my heart hurts..." Aderi said crying in the boy's arms after returning the hug.

"Why does it hurt? Why do you have a bruise on your cheeks?" The boy asked as he caressed her hair.

"What is a fairy doing here, crying?" The boy thought to himself as she hugged the girl even tighter.

"It hurts...why does father hate me so much? Why do I have to have my mother's appearance? Why does the world hate me?" Aderi cried out.

"Today...he slapped me, it hurts," Aderi said crying more.

"There, there, I'm here aren't I?" The boy asked.

"I don't wanna go back," Aderi said as she hugged the boy tighter.

"I don't wanna go back" Aderi repeated.

"ADERI!" They heard a shout nearby. Aderi quickly pushed the boy and stood up as she looked around in a panic.

"Is your name Aderi?" The boy asked as he also stood up.

"T-they are looking for me!" Aderi said with fear in her voice.

"Come with me," the boy said as they ran.

"Let's hide here," The boy said as he saw a huge rock behind the trees. The boy pulled Aderi down by dragging her hand.

Aderi didn't seem to hear him so he pulled Aderi down by her hand.

"Come," the boy said as he pulled Aderi in another hug, this time also hiding her in his cloak. He did this when he saw Aderi was shivering. He was unsure if she was cold or scared.

"W-what are you doing?" Aderi asked her voice still shaking in fear as she still hears the people shouting her name

"Stay still...so we won't get caught, I'm helping you," the boy said giving Aderi a reassuring smile.

"I know that, but why are you helping me?" Aderi asked.

"Cause I want to...you don't wanna go back, right?" The boy asked. Aderi nodded.

"Why don't we run for the exit?" Aderi whispered. The boy shook his head.

"A lot of people are looking after you...So I know people will be guarding the exit" The boy explained.

"Do you perhaps know how to climb a tree? We can hide in the trees as well and maybe even sneak past them since we are above them" The boy asked Aderi. Aderi shook her head.

"No I do not know how to climb a tree" Aderi responded.

All of a sudden, they then saw light from behind them, not far away from them.

"If they find out that you helped me...they might hurt you too," Aderi said looking at the boy.

"So stay still and stay quiet" the boy replied with a smile.

Aderi shook her head

"Please flee from here and I will lead them away...I don't want them to hurt you too" Aderi said as she removed the boy's arms around her.

"But...you don't wanna go back right?" The boy asked, Aderi nodded.

"Yes, indeed...although I will go back to save you, so please flee from here" Aderi said.

"Will you be alright?" The boy asked, Aderi nodded.

"I will...don't worry about me, thank you for helping me," Aderi said as a tear dropped from her eyes.

"Wait-" the boy whispered and yelled but Aderi started running and making noises.

"She's there! Get her" the people that were looking for her started chasing Aderi, the boy was left there alone behind the rock.

"Miss little fairy...you are so beautiful but why are you in so much pain?" The boy muttered as he looked at the people from afar trying to catch Aderi.

"I...wanna know your name...Aderi, isn't that it?" The boy muttered again.

A yell from Aderi can be heard from afar. The boy covered his ears knowing he can't help the little lady.

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°

"We've brought her back, your grace" the guards announced as they threw Aderi to the ground.

"You dare try and run from me?" Her father asked glaring at the pitiful Aderi who was on the ground.

"F-father...please forgive me!" Aderi said crying as she kneeled pleading to her father

"You insolent brat," Her father said as he slapped Aderi again.

"Now, now dear...why don't you leave her to me...we have a lot to talk about," Leni said as she stepped in on the conversation.

"Can you all give us two a moment?" Leni asked, the others nodded and left the hall.

"Are you sure you want to take care of her?" Aderi's father asked Leni. Leni smiled at him and nodded.

"yes dear, no run along now," Leni said, Aderi's father nodded and also left the hall.

"Did you feel the pain?" Leni asked in a sinister voice as she kneeled to reach Aderi's height.

"P-please tell father to forgive me...please duchess!" Aderi said pleading Leni. Leni started to laugh.

"why would I do that? you deserve it" Leni said.

"If you don't want to feel that pain again, listen to me," Leni said as she held Aderi's cheeks.

"Do everything that I tell you, and I promise...you won't get hurt...do you understand?!" Leni said whispering, but her voice was sinister.

"y-yes duchess" Aderi responded. Leni pushed Aderi's face to the side as she stood up from kneeling.

"Stop crying if you don't want another punishment," Leni said as she left Aderi on the floor.

Aderi held her cheeks that were burning in pain as she tried holding back her tears.