The Real Heiress Of Milford Manor

All that glitters is not gold. That was a lesson that Claudine Milford, 15, learned the hard way. Her father was the famous Count of Milford, a rich and powerful man - and although he was her father, Claudine couldn't remember the last time they had talked warmly to each other. He was so mysterious, so aloof. It drove her crazy. Was she not important enough to check in with? Did she not matter to him? She was his daughter. His only daughter in this world, and yet he would always ignore her like you would ignore a particularly annoying bug. She felt so small and insignificant. Whenever she approached her father in childhood, the servants would tug her away. "He's busy, Claudine." Would one servant say. "Can't you bother someone else? The Duke is working," said another. And she would watch him leave in confusion and despair. And as everyone else left her alone, the hall emptying too fast for her comfort, one sentence would repeat painfully inside of her mind. 'Does Dad hate me? Why does he hate me?'. As she grew older, Claudine learned to shut her mouth. She would only speak when spoken to and do her best to ignore her father's anger. She didn't want to provoke him. She lay awake at night, stressing about how to act and where to be seen. In order to not disappoint her father, she did many humiliating things. And it pained her deeply to see how happy the servants of Milford Manor liked it. One time, on the way to her room after dinner, she overheard two maids whispering. "This mansion is doomed," said one maid, Illuria, while smirking. "The duke is about to bite the dust, and his daughter is uglier than the inside of a chamberpot!" The other maid, Valerie, giggled noisily. She wouldn't admit it, but she loved talking about people more miserable than herself. That way, she could feel better. Her disgusting tongue moved quickly as she said: "Tell me about it! I'm only working here to gain some experience, but everyone in my hometown acts like I'm lucky or something. They don't know how depressing and tacky this place is. They're the lucky ones!" The two girls exploded in laughter. Loud, vicious laughter as they thought of how unfortunate the owner's daughter was. Claudine, hidden behind a large mahogany door, felt angry. How could they? She was their employer, their master! She was, in name only, the princess of Milford Manor. So how could they, the workers, be so cruel to her? She hadn't ever said one mean one to their faces, never punished them even though she was allowed to by Royal Law. So why did they do this? She wanted to tell them off, but how could she? Even though she was 15, she was shy and bad with words. She could just imagine how the angry words would die on her tongue. How horrifying was that? So, she stayed put. The girls, not knowing that Claudine, their employer's daughter was listening, continued. "It's almost impressive to be as ugly and dim as that girl is. Claudia, or something? I saw her the other day while I was waiting the tables. Talk about mousy!" Oh no, thought Claudine. The conversation had shifted to her. "I know!" said Valerie, and with a swift finger she flicked a gorgeous lock of golden-brown hair aside, as she looked at Illuria. "I know we're not supposed to say this, but what a failure as a woman! Her hair has more splits than my horse's! Talk about unkempt..." Claudine felt her fingers reach her hair subconsciously. 'It's not my fault', thought Claudine. 'Madam Sonia won't let the hairdresser through the courtyard, and Father doesn't know about her actions. Or worse, she thought miserably. Maybe he knows but doesn't care...' The vain girls continued their worthless conversation. "You know, maybe it's a good thing her mother is gone," said Illuria. That was when Claudine's patience snapped. She rose from the ground, ready to scream at the girls - to stop their vicious words when another person's voice rang out. "You two must not have much going on, huh," the voice said, soft and airy. "You know she's the boss' daughter, right?" The two girls turned towards the new voice. It was Daniel, the butler's assistant. He was gone for most of the year, but Claudine hadn't forgotten him. She could never. The two girls, Valerie and Illuria, looked at him funny. "What's it to you, teacher's pet? You don't even like her!" and Valerie joined in, "Yeah! You're horrible to her as well! What are doing, trying to have all the fun for yourself?" Claudine could only see Daniel's back. Even though she was curious as to what kind of expression he was showing now, she knew it didn't matter. She didn't care. Just as the silence had thickened between the three staff personnel, and confusion could turn into doubt, a crash was heard. It was Claudine, bumping her shoulder into Valerie. The girl let out a confused yelp as she crashed into her best friend Illuria. Then, she turned to Claudine in anger. "Hey, what's the big idea-" she started, but once she noticed who it was, she stopped talking. Claudine wasn't good at confrontation. She hated it. But these girls had crossed a line once they mentioned her mother's death - a death that had only just occurred. Claudine's hand turned, her backhand shaking. She wanted to hurt them for what they'd said, for what they were going to say. They were bullies, and they didn't care about anybody but themselves. Feeling the rage mount in her tiny body, her hand almost swung - but someone beat her to it. It was Daniel. "Aaah!" screamed Valerie. Her cheek sunk in, blood pooling as she clutched the cheek fiercely. "Aaaah! He hit me!" she cried, her sobs growing louder and louder. "Daniel! Are you crazy?! What did you do!" yelled Illuria. She couldn't understand. Why did Daniel Lemiere hurt Valerie? No explanation could explain what had just happened. This was their friend - someone they had parties with, gossiped with, and hung out with. He had even met Valerie's uncle one time. They were close! One moment he was joking, the next he was dishing out punches left and right. Had he snapped? It didn't make any sense. "I was just taking out the trash." He crept nearer to the ground. Her breath hitched. Illuria's distraught friend sagged in pain, flinching as he said: "I told you I hate trash talk." With his dark eyes, he lowered his gaze and let them rest on the two girls, making them feel weak and disgusting in return. "You say you are my friend? Please," he laughed meanly. "Like I'd associate with the likes of you guys. You're the lowest of the low." That just made Valerie sob even harder. With that, the crimson-haired male stood up and turned on his heel. On his way out, an angry Illuria clenched her teeth as she said: "Hey, Lemiere! Do you think we'll let this go? We'll remember this!" She glared harshly at him. He took one look at her, scoffed, and left without a word. And if his cruel eyes happened to glance at Claudine, who was as still as a statue, he didn't say anything else.