Arista : The Girl With Silver Hair

Chapter 2

2 years later

The city of Hendel became the same city it was 7 years ago when Arista was not born yet. The economy was stable but it wasn't flourishing. A new duke was assigned to the city and the incident with the Yoldi family was covered up with a news like the house was accidentally burned down and that there were no survivors but, of course, on the inside nobody believed it. They knew it was m******e when news about Arista's prophecy reached the capital. Scared that the prophecy will come true and politicians could no longer puppet the king, they breached the Yoldi household and took 341 lives then acted as if the capital had nothing to do with it. A few months later, they assigned a duke who was of old age and did not have any children. Easy to manipulate and could not interfere with their affairs.

"Your grace, I found these boxes containing precious items. They seem to take up much space in the storage so I'd like to ask if whether they are to be thrown out or kept." A maid approached the duke and duchess who were having tea by their balcony.

They both peaked at the items that gave them quite a shock as the old duchess formed tears around her eyes.

"T-Throw them out. I do not wish to see those items anymore." The duke said with a very stiff face but deep down, his heart ached after seeing the items the maid showed.

Days later, the duke and duchess arrived in the city's most well-known restaurant which they go to once a month. As they got down from the carriage, they saw street children ganging up and beating someone.

"Dear.." The old duchess held the arm of his beloved as the duke asked one of their guards to shoo the children away.

"Hey!" The guards called out as the children started to scram. A crying girl sat on the dirty ground with ragged clothes. The duke and duchess walked near the girl as she looked up towards them. Her red eyes filled with tears and her skin so pale.

The first thing that got into their heads was the Yoldi's red eyes but that was impossible since there were no survivors in the household. And.. this girl had dark black hair.

"C-Can you spare some food?" The girl asked.

The duke and duchess' heart melted that the little girl reminded them so much of their late daughter who passed away when she was only 10 years old. The duchess hugged the child while the duke's eyes were teary.

"Child, would you like to come home with us?" The duke asked.

In that night, the duke and duchess did not sit in their reserved table at the finest restaurant in the city but instead, brought home a girl who resembled their daughter so much.

"Maids, please bath our daughter for us. She's been through a lot." The old duke said as he pat the girl's hair.

"Yes, your grace." The maids bowed as they escorted the girl.

"Wait." the duchess stopped them as she moved closer to the girl, crouching down so they could be on the same level.

"What is your name, dear?" she asked, holding both the girl's shoulders.

"Risa.. your grace." she replied.

"Risa... from now on, you are Risa Hugh and our one and only daughter." The duchess said with a smile.

Risa smiled back brightly as if her burdens have been lifted. This touched the duke and duchess so badly for their daughter who passed away smiled as brightly as she did.

"Now, go bath so we can tuck you to sleep later, okay?" The duke said, patting Risa's head.

The maids escorted her to the bathroom as they prepared the water and some clothes.

"Can only one of you do it, please? I'm not really confident showing anyone my body." Risa said as the maids looked at each other with much doubt.

"I'll do it."

"Really, Rose??" The maids said with delightful faces.

"Yeah. you guys can go ahead." Rose smiled at them who thanked her like it meant their life as they exited the bathroom.

Risa took off her clothes and submerged herself in the tub.

"Rose..."

"Yes, my lady?" Rose asked with a smile on her face as a menacing grin marked on Risa's face.

"You did well." Risa's red eyes looked like they were glowing as she said it.

From the start, this wasn't a coincidence. Everything, every single move was planned. I lived with one of our previous house maid's relative who gladly welcomed me. For one year, I gathered so much data for this plan to work and so far, everything is in the palm of my hands.

She thought with her b****y eyes hungry for revenge.

"By the way, how did you find their dead daughter's things?" Arista asked Rose who was scrubbing her body.

"Ah! It wasn't easy, Lady Arista! I had to go on a date with one of the young men who have stayed with the current duke and duchess since he was young, you know!" She said pouting. Arista giggled at the maid's gesture.

"Well, if you didn't remind them of their daughter, they would have thought twice about taking me in. Oh- don't wash my hair too much or the dye will disappear." Arista said.

"Oh, sorry, Lady Arista. It's just.. this whole year you did nothing but study on how to make this work so, I wanted to help you in any way I can." Rose said as she rinsed the soup off Arista's body.

"Thank you, Rose. I wouldn't have made it possible if your family didn't take me in."

"It is an honor to serve the Yoldi family. And... I really want my revenge as well." Rose said with her eyebrows furrowed.

That's right. Rose was Bella's older sister. I thought they would grow hatred towards me who sacrificed their daughter's life but instead..

"Rose.. I will avenge Bella. I swear on my name. I will avenge her and make them dig their own graves to rot." Arista said holding Rose's hands. Rose smiled at her as she helped Arista get out of the tub.