The Golden Ones

Their Virtues

Illia woke to the slam of her door. Her hold on the knife under the pillow was strong and she was about to whip it out as soon as she felt a hand on her blanket but thankfully, she never thought she would think that, the voice or rather the screech sounded before she could do anything drastic.

"Where were you last night?" The fuming face greeted her. It was a phenomenon she had only read in books but it seemed that Diana was about to blow smoke from her ears.

"In hell," she rubbed her sleepy eyes and stretched. Even though the night had been fairly unproductive from her side, the pain she felt all over her body was immense. Perhaps she had caught a fever.

"You mongrel!" She screamed and raised her hand. Contrary to what Diana might have thought she would react, Illia leaned back with ease.

The slap could never reach her though.

"Are you out of your mind, Diana?" Gritted Sasha, Diana's biological mother, and the current Duchess. It was like seeing a drama novel in real life.

"What am I doing wrong now!?" She asked as if genuinely thinking slapping someone for no absolute reason was nothing wrong, but in this situation, and for them, it really wasn't.

"She is summoned to the castle today. Do you want to bruise the face that will be looked upon all day?" Her voice was low as of taking her into account but not low enough. Sasha was... An i***t.

Diana snatched her hand away and scoffed. "Looked upon? Even a sewer rat is more alluring than her face." She said and stormed out. Sasha took some courtesy of not matching her eyes and left behind her daughter as well.

Sewer rat? That was a new one.

She wanted to say something as well and was off her bed in an instant to retort but she thought about what she was doing. Illia was about to make fun of herself.

Diana was pretty. It felt strange but it was the truth. Everyone loved a noblewoman that had blonde hair, flowing like silk in the midday sun, and emerald eyes with speaks of hazel for added measure. She always had known what a beauty Diana was and up to this day still, she compared herself.

She gazed at the mirror. Her hair was dark ebony and mostly seen as a bad omen. Her small black and slightly silver eyes stared back at her. She had spent years mocking her own appearance so the only thing she could think on this fine morning was how hideous her sleeping gown was.

"The nerve of some people isn't that right, my lady," Lidia, Illia's personal maid, said with such disinterest she found it hard to hear.

"Just... get some breakfast, Lidia," she said going back under the covers. Her heart was heavy all of a sudden. So heavy that it felt she couldn't stand up if she tried.

"Can not do, my lady. The duke has ordered you to join him at the dining table."

She perked up at that. This could be a splendid chance to make her point across. To get away far from the royals, the nobility, and the ever growing comparison between a pure blood divine mage like Diana, to a plebian commoner such as her. Where she should have been from the start.

In summary, Illia really didn't want to go to the castle.

The duke had not expected a secret hidden talent from her when he took her in, she assumed that at least. The duke, no her uncle, was a just man. His intentions for taking her in is unclear to her since he is not exactly an open book, but what he had done for her is not re payable.

She wanted to get out of there, though. No matter the uneasiness in her heart.

This place was cramped, shallow and for some reason a tiny bit eerie to her. In a way that it did not felt like she could live there another second but she had, she had lived there for eighteen years and couldn't do it anymore.

Her point was made more clear as she heard what happens at breakfast.

"Diana has successfully passed the entrance exam for the academy of Langard. Aren't you proud, duke?" Though Sasha's words were for her uncle sitting at the head of the table, her eyes looked for Illia's reaction too fondly.

"Yes, splendid indeed," his voice was grayer than usual today.

"Is the king giving you trouble again?" She asked between a bite when the daughter and mother pair seemed too interested amongst themselves.

He sighed and put a fork down, "the demon lands are more riled up nowadays than most and their king..." he spat out the word, "...is as ignorant as ever."

"I see." she nodded. She no retort to that. The situation was something the high advisors of the royal castle can't even solve.

Sure war was an answer but choosing that option would be incompetence. Even if it was the only option.

"I know this much to ask on such a day but I am really glad you are accompanying me today, Illia" His eyes screamed distress. She could only be heartless to not say yes, but there was hesitation on her tongue nonetheless. The face of the prince lingered in her mind.

Before he could open his mouth to thank her, she spoke, "but I do have a request. Give me your word, uncle, that you will do everything in your power to fulfill this one request of mine."

He smiled, "consider it a birthday present."

"My wife, aren't you cheap, duke?" She chuckled and was about to take another bite until an audible gasp sounded.

"How could you say that to my father, Illia?" It was Diana with a pitiful voice and eyes wet with crocodile tears.

There was a sigh from beside Illia and she knew even her uncle found this tedious as well.

"Diana, please sit down," the duke said. He was not a gentle man. Not only his build but his skills as well rivaled the captain of the knights, the most esteemed and skilled swordsman in the land. The permanent scorn on his face that seldom was replaced was frightening. In short words, the duke was terrifying.

"But father, a mere commoner can not..." She had done it now.

Illia did not mind being called a foul creature or what the high society like to call, a commoner, but her uncle did.

"She is a member of my family, Diana," his voice was calm. Too calm for the anger he showed. "I am done with the meal," he got up and turned to me, "I will wait by the carriage."

The atmosphere was suffocating, and with no reason to stay, she excused herself as well.

Lidia dressed her in a sufficiently formal dress and literally pushed her out of the mansion. The air was cold but calm. For the winters, this was the perfect weather for a picnic or a stroll.

Not a foot of hers was in the carriage when a call came out.

"Wait, I will be coming too!" Her luck was utmostly ruined to the core.

Alas, she had to sit in a carriage alone with a gleeful Diana.