The Orphan Crown

The Call in the Prayer Room

Not just dislike.

Rebecca hated her. Franziska took years to understand that. Not because Rebecca had ever said it outright, but because every glance, every command, and every time she was summoned to the Prayer Room silently pieced together the same truth. Their first meeting was when they were both five years old. Rebecca looked at Franziska with her bright, yet cold, golden eyes. A child's eyes should have held curiosity for a new friend, or at least a touch of pity for an orphan. But Rebecca had nothing.

"Who is this girl?"

"She's your new little sister."

"I don't need a little sister."

That statement haunted Franziska for years to come.

Yet, the Crozier estate never let her lack anything. Whatever Rebecca had, Franziska had it too. From the spacious, sun-drenched room, the silver-embroidered curtains, the pristine white bedsheets, to the magnificent dresses she had only dared to dream of before.

That kindness made Franziska believe she had been blessed by the gods. She believed the Crozier family genuinely wanted to raise her, and that Rebecca was merely outwardly cold but inwardly a good person.

If only she were a little more obedient, a little more diligent, never disobeyed Rebecca, and always did her best in everything she was assigned, perhaps this life would last forever. That belief shattered one summer day when Franziska was seven years old.

That day, Lady Catrina hosted a small tea party in the garden for Rebecca and a few close friends. The tea was brewed with freshly bloomed rose petals, and rose-filled sponge cakes topped with honey were placed on gold-rimmed porcelain plates. Sunlight filtered through the trees, sparkling on the pristine white tablecloth.

Rebecca remained the center of attention.

She wore a multi-layered black dress, soft as night clouds. A red velvet ribbon adorned with jewels adorned her hair; a vibrant red rose carved from ruby pinned to her chest. Her mysterious and elegant beauty naturally drew all eyes to her. Franziska walked beside Rebecca as always, just a step away. Franziska's dress was the same style, and her makeup was chosen according to Rebecca's wishes, only the color was different to better suit her. Under Rebecca's direction, the maids transformed Franziska into an exquisite doll. The young ladies at the party constantly surrounded Rebecca, asking her about the color coordination, the origin of the jewelry, and the secret to making the two sisters look both alike and different. Franziska was very happy at that moment.

She thought she was standing beside Rebecca because Rebecca loved her.

The party didn't end until the sun was about to set behind the clouds. Franziska followed Rebecca back to the mansion. As she walked past a corner of the garden, she saw a cluster of translucent white flowers growing in the shadow of a wall.

The petals were so thin they were almost imperceptible.

Their fragrance was gentle, yet it penetrated deep into her memory, causing Franziska to involuntarily slow down.

"Don't touch them!" Rebecca exclaimed.

But she spoke too late. The moment Franziska's fingertips touched a petal, a white light instantly flared before her eyes. Her entire body felt as if it were being burned from the inside out. The pain didn't stop at her flesh and blood, but pierced straight into her soul, crushing any resistance.