I sat at the corner of the small place that brought immense prosperity whenever I visit here. This small garden waters several blossoming flowers, filled with affluent and sweet aromas of the last remainings of my mother, whom she loved more than anything. My eyes twinkled with bliss as flowers danced with touches of breeze.

"Hazel!"

I sighed. Why does this precious moment have to be ruined?

I gently caressed the tulips with the soft touch of my fingers as I felt the velvety texture of their petals caressing my skin.

"Hazel! There you are. I've been looking-hey! Is that dirt? What're you doing in the mud?"

"For God's sake-"

"Anyways, I don't have time to quarrel with you. Mother is calling you, she'll get more frustrated, the longer you'll make her wait..."

I looked behind me to find her standing a few feet away from me, on the stone-made path with her hands over her waist as she looked down at me with a deep frown. Her caramel skin gleamed with sun rays as her dark long hairs flow down her waist in rich waves of darkness. The light pink ankle-length dress she wore made her green eyes prominent against her heart-shaped face.

Liana.

"I don't even think that is possible. She's always frustrated." I said rolling my eyes with a wide smirk. Liana always hate when I didn't listen to her. After my mother died, she was the only person left who understand me like no other. Be it out of a sisterly bond or the four-year age difference, she always provide me with love and affection I was void of since childhood.

I turned over and pushed myself up on my feet. My eyes shined as the bright sun attacked me with its warmness and rays.

"Change your clothes before going inside." Liana reminded me.

"Yes, mother dearest," I said sarcastically. I tugged and pulled down my white ankle-length dress with small blue flowers, reminding me of my mother, until it nearly gathered around my feet.

"I wonder what's it this time," I muttered as I quickly headed out of the garden. I quickened my pace though I was indisposed to get to my undesirable destination. I looked up at the large castle I called home, well not exactly home if it meant only as a shelter for me.

But not to forget how busy it was today with hundreds of men and women running around preparing for the evening's highly apprehended occasion.

The Almighty Sovereign of Nithilorc were coming.

And I heard from Liana that they were going to ally with Hora, this kingdom. And most excitement was shown by none other than Liana herself. I may or may not have heard that she had a thing for the eldest son of Nithilorc.

I grabbed the side of my dress and walked up the long window steps towards my Father's palace. Liana followed behind as she yelled at me to go slow.

"Slow down, Hazel!" I giggled before running upstairs as she heaved a heavy sigh.

"Always in hurry."

I gasped as my feet stumbled backwards but before I could fall, Dominic clasped his hand around my wrist.

"Dominic!" I grinned. "You switched your duties with chefs now," I said as I balanced myself when I noticed the tray of freshly cut fruits in his other hand.

"They're for Isabella."

Oh!

"Now you're her waiter too?" I teased as I crossed my arms over my chest as he looked down at me, his assessing the length of my body as he scrunched his face.

"Your father told me to be her guard for the day. Anyways, what's with all this mid?" He said shrugging his shoulders.

"There's a difference between bodyguard and waiter, Dominic. And," I faked a smile and tilted my head. "This is not mud." Dominic rolled his eyes.

"And who's going to guard me?"

I asked curiously. No matter how much disgrace I was to this family, my father never left me unguarded, hadn't any idea why so, but other than my father's wife and her daughters, I had my fair share of respect in the kingdom.

"Don't tell me Eric is going to be my babysitter for today. I can not stand his pervertedness."

Eric wasn't that pervert actually but I always find his eyes on my chest whenever he got the chance which makes me uncomfortable.

Dominic frowned.

"Is he getting out of control?"

I shook my head.

"No, just occasional stares."

Dominic mumbled something under his breath.

"Tell me if he does something funny."

"Why? It's not like you have any time for me other than to protect Isabelle?"

I was sulking I knew. But I couldn't watch my close friend leaving me to guard Isabelle, a seductive wench.

"You'll always be my priority. You know that?"

"Wish you a memorable evening, Dominic." I teased as I leaned up against him. I winked at him and rushed as I heard the annoying voice of my so-called mother.

"See ya' later! Love ya!" I waved as I ran upstairs grabbing the hem of my dress as the screaming of my name become louder and louder the closer she got.

"Hazel-"

"I'm here," I said quickly appearing in the large dressing room where she was shuffling through clothes and a few expensive-looking fabrics were scattered all around the floor. My other five sisters, Isabella, Tiana, Ruby, Irene and Soni were all gathered in the massive room. Two maids were helping two of my sisters helping with their dresses. Soni was tightening her corset and Isabella was rubbing a tinted scent all over her face.

A tall, pale skinned, with sharp blue eyes, and long braided blonde hair turned around and looked at me with her usual expression, of disgust. But then she was always like this.

"Where the hell were you?" She scowled.

I held back the urge to roll my eyes.

I looked up at her as she approached me with a disgusted look on her priceless face.

"You don't have to cover yourself with soil to look more disgraceful." She scoffed.

"Leave it, mother! It practically suits her."

Isabella snickered as others laughed with her. I rolled my eyes unamused.

No one made me miss my birth mother more than Reina. She was truly a cruel woman who seemed to have some kind of grudges against me. Well, nothing less is expected from her anyways, but there was always something about her that made me feel like her hatred for me was more than anything. I pathetically missed the days when my mother used to braid my hair and tuck me in bed before whispering lullabies in my ear, making sure no monsters under my bed could hurt me. I had lived with my mother for the majority of my childhood, only because my father was a busy man, but he still was true. And like my childhood, he barely spends any time with me. He was my father but only in name.

But after her death, I was left alone in this cruel world filled with double-faced personalities.

When my father married Reina, I thought she would treat me like her own but life's never about you, she treated me worse and worse, with each passing day and my annoyance and hatred for her had only grown with time. It was not like my father didn't love me but he never had time to ask me if I was alright. And I never questioned his silence.

He was a good man who took care of me after my mother passed. Despite how much I loved my father, I drew the line of tolerating his so-called wife, and her many, many daughters.

Isabella, Irene and Tiana were Reina's daughters from her first marriage and after her first husband died, she married my father and Ruby and Some were from my father's. And call it a blood bond, but Ruby and Soni were the only ones who showed me some love and kindness. Reina was unaccepting of my and Ruby's relationship but guess what! No one cared!

My father was the ruler of Hora, with hundreds of acres of land and villages all over the world, each in a different country, filled with expensive nothings. The money and fame he had could be easily seen. This luxurious castle was an example itself which was elegantly filled with expensive types of furniture and decorations. Isabella and Tiana weren't my father's blood-related daughters but he was closer to them. Their beauty and elegance were considered to be the most beautiful in my father's world. They had their mother's light green eyes and pale skin, with tall and lean physiques, unlike mine.

I was always a left-out one. My father preferred them over me. And as time flew I accepted the fact that love couldn't be snatched. And I found ways to keep myself happy in the little garden outside the mansion.

"She's such a disgrace to our family." Isabella scoffed.

My nostrils flared as I prepared myself to give her a reply to her comment but then my subconsciousness stopped me.

"Margaret!" Gaia said snapping her fingers.

"Help her wear something better than what she's wearing now. She'll disgrace her father if she dressed like this in the evening."

"Why is she even invited? She's not the one who's going to marry any of them." Tiana said, puckering her lips in the mirror before applying rose tint to her lips.

I rolled my eyes. It wasn't like I was going to marry any of them.

"Mind your tongue, Tiana. Don't create any nuisance till the event is over."

Reina sighed in disappointment as she helped Isabella fix her dress. I eyed the red fabric Isabelle wore, the sequins glimmered with light and the tight, body-hugging dress looked amazing at her, which suddenly made me conscious of myself.

I averted my eyes in frustration as Margaret grabbed my hand and led me a few feet away from them. I was not the eldest child but I was still elder than Tiana and Ruby, but no man ever asked for my hand in marriage. It was not like I was ever introduced to one. I was always kept hidden behind four walls of my room, only Isabella, Ruby and Tiana were considered true daughters of my father. And even though Liana was my real sister, she was also welcomed on occasions such as balls, proposals, and events.

But I was never.

Irene and Soni were still underaged.

I stared at myself in the mirror as Margaret tugged down my soil-covered dress.

"Pathetic."

I heard Tiana loud and clear as others snickered after her but I turned them off.

I was not like any of them but still, I loved myself. I was not tall but I was happy with whatever I had. But my mother dearest was against that. She would always make sure to make me feel low and unhappy.

"Get her ready, Margaret. Make sure she looks decent enough to not ruin her father's reputation." By the time Margaret fetch the dress for me, Isabelle was already ready, Tiana was fixing her tiara and Irene and Some were standing beside each other fixing their faces.

"How about this one?" Margaret asked me as she held up one of the pink-coloured dresses. It was indeed beautiful with long sheer sleeves and a deep low neck.

"Come on, girls, I need to prepare you before the evening ball," Irene said as Isabella rolled her eyes and followed Tiana and Irene.

Ruby stopped as she walked toward me and I smiled softly.

"I am sorry-"

"Stop it, Ruby! For how long will you keep apologising for her actions. It is not your fault." I said.

Ruby frowned. "I just wish...she would stop doing this."

I rolled my eyes. Ruby chuckled as she hugged me and whispered sweet nothings into my ear before following after her sisters.

Just as Irene left with her daughters, Liana peeked inside the room and believe me I was never this happy.

"Lia!" I exclaimed as I hugged her.

"Come on, sweet pea. Get ready before Mother-"

"How many times do I have to remind you, she's not our mother."

I rolled my eyes at her. Liana was such a girl who sees good in everyone and, I saw real in everyone. Despite the bad Irene does, Liana always seems to forgive her but I, I can never forgive her. She had done nothing to earn my forgiveness. I was not forgiving like my sister.

"As I said earlier, I wish not to quarrel with you over something irrelevant. What're you going to wear?"

She asked as I rummage through the whole damn closet. This was not just a closet, it was something that only royals had to assess. It contains ball gowns, sparkling dresses, beautiful pieces of jewellery, everything a girl needed. My eyes sparkled as I found what I was looking for.

"Something unexpected."

I said as Liana frowned.

"What do you mean-oh! Well, you'll look beautiful in this."

I smiled as a nostalgic feeling engulfed me. Of course, I would.

****

My eyes landed on the very familiar face of my father as Isabella and Tiana were clinging to his either arms. They were a few feet away from me and I was able to hear everything.

"Look at my beautiful daughters." He said with pride dancing in his black eyes. "I am so proud of you girls."

"Honey," Irene smiled brightly as she embraced his torso before placing a kiss on his cheek. She pointed toward her daughters, "Aren't they beautiful? See how beautifully they've grown."

"They are your daughters, nothing less is expected from them either," he smiled as he kissed her lips. "Where are my daughters?" He asked and I nearly rolled my eyes.

Now he remembers.

"All of them are here," Irene said.

"Hazel, Liana, Irene. Where are Hazel and Liana?" He clarified.

Irene rolled her eyes. "They must be somewhere acting like a brat-"

But before she could complete it, I decided to grace them with my presence. Liana tried to grab my arm but I beat her to it and instead grab hers before she could retaliate. I side-stepped from my hidden spot and walked toward them. Isabella's eyes widened as Irene looked angrily at me. The golden dress was flowing behind me elegantly as I smiled brightly at him.

"There are my girls!" Father said excitedly as he quickly approached me.