Lucina POV

  I was always afraid of coming home.

  “You are a curse!”

  Ever since back then, no one would ever welcome me home.

  “We’re suffering because of you! Your existence is cursed!”

  All because my father was proud. Proud that he had a daughter who was gifted. A daughter who showed great potential. All because of love.

  “If you were smarter, none of this would have happened! Because of that thing, all of us is suffering!”

  All it took was one. One noble who heard about it. So, they came here to find that gifted child but they were scared. Scared of the noble so they acted ignorant. Whether it was to protect me or not didn’t matter. As an example, all of the children were taken. Those that did not show any potential were killed and the rest was taken.

  “Run, Lyn.”

  And so, father decided to make me flee. We can hear the noises outside. Since father wanted to have a little privacy, we had time to run away and that is what we did. My father and mother took what they could and ran.

  “Catch them!”

  Of course, we were found. We ran and ran and ran but they did not stop chasing us. Mother was the first to go. She used herself as a decoy to protect us. I never saw what happened to her.

  “Be safe, Lyn.”

  She bought us time but it was not enough. They caught up to us soon after. Father and I ran but we were surrounded.

  “There is nowhere to run. Hand over the girl."

  Father hugged me tight and gave me something. He pushed me and I fell. His final words linger within me as I see him blow himself up with the ones chasing us.

  “I’m sorry.”

  I continued to walk alone until that witch found me.

  “You are their kid?”

  That old hag never smiled the whole time but she did take care of me in her own way. Then, that day happened and she left me near my home. I had a choice. Do I go home or do I leave for somepce else? I was na?ve and thought I would be welcome.

  “Why did you come back!? You harbinger of camity!”

  Instead, I was met with hatred and disdain. Ironically, they could never do anything to me. I am strong. No matter what they did, it didn’t affect me. So, all of them avoid me. Everyone except that old man. But now…

  “Eterna.”

  A st name that I know too well. The st name of the woman I should hate with all of my being.

  “It was the Eterna.”

  I feared this home. This home where my happiness once resided. I feared it would make me weak. I feared it would cage me. So, I wanted to burn it all.

  “Duke Eterna.”

  So, I never entered this room until now. And, so I found it. A diary of sorts. An entry expining what happened that day.

  “It was them.”

  None of the other people here ever told me who it was. None of them wanted to speak that name. Not even that old man. So, I enrolled in that academy to find them. I had to be careful. The moment I tell anyone about it, they may find me. My greatest weapon is their ignorance. So, I tried to have fun. I really did. Doing whatever made me forget my hatred for a moment but now it is here.

  “Kill.”

  I finally know. The nobles responsible for my parent’s death. The ones responsible for everything that has happened. They will pay and they will…

  “BURN!”

  “Stop!”

  A familiar voice.

  “Woah. Stop the fire, Lucina!”

  I feel her doing something.

  “What the heck? Your fire is burning my water! How’s that possible!?”

  A stupid voice that keeps making a noise.

  “Come on. Just stop the fire, okay? You’re going to ruin my hair and clothes!”

  Damn it. Why the fuck is she making all of that noise?

  “Look, why don’t we talk about it? Being broody and burning everything is so boring. Come on, why not have a heart to heart chat with your best friend?”

  She really is so stupid.

  “Shut up. You’re so noisy.”

  Keeping my head cool, I stop the fire.

  “Whew! I thought I was going to be cooked well done!”

  “Like you know how to cook.”

  “I do! I have a 68% chance of burning it!”

  “That’s not something to brag about.”

  “So, you good now?”

  “No.”

  “That’s rough, buddy. So, what’s going on with you?”

  “Read this.”

  Juliet took the diary and read through it.

  “Are you sure you want me to read this? Seems embarrassing.”

  “Just get to the st part.”

  “Oh.”

  “You see?”

  “So, what do you want to do about it?”

  “I don’t know. I’m still angry but you’re so dumb you’re helping me suppress it.”

  “Hey! Was that a compliment or an insult?”

  “Both.”

  “Well, I’ll take it as a compliment!”

  “Whatever.”

  I sit down on my parent’s bed and Juliet sits beside me. For once, she stays silent as I think. What do I want to do? I already know that my enemy is Duke Eterna but she is just his daughter. Does my enemy’s daughter also count as my enemy? I don’t know.

  “Argh. This would be so much easier if I hated her too.”

  “I know, right? Besides, we never did get to know if she knew about it.”

  “No, she definitely knows. What I am not sure of is if she knows who I am.”

  “How are you sure?”

  “That maid of hers is definitely like me. The only difference is that she got caught.”

  “You mean Sylvia?”

  “Yeah. It’s obvious.”

  “I never knew!”

  “Of course you didn’t, dumbass. For now, I’ll try to keep the peace. There will be a time where I can meet him. When that time comes, don’t do anything. Let me die by own actions.”

  “I can’t promise you that.”

  “Yeah. I know. One other thing.”

  “Hmm? What?”

  “Can you keep this a secret?”

  “That, I can promise!”

  “Thanks.”