Chapter 6: Scorn and Shadows
1105 Words
"Damn it, damn it, damn it!"
Diana shouted into the pillow she pressed against her face. All the anger she felt was poured into that pillow. The event where Eddie had kissed her had truly ignited every organ in Diana's body. Her first kiss had been stolen by a stranger named Eddie. Ah, she hated that Hitler wannabe!
Diana, like other women, had dreamed of her first kiss being with the man she loved for a lifetime, not with a useless man like Eddie.
"Arghhh!" Diana ruffled her hair as the memory of the kiss replayed vividly in her mind. "Damn you, you royal blooded bastard. Damn it. Just because you're a prince, you think you can do whatever you want?!"
What hurt Diana the most was that after Eddie had taken her lips, he had immediately walked away. Before she could retaliate with a 'missile' of her own, Eddie had already avoided her.
"Ah, my lips have been assaulted by a fake prince!"
Diana stomped her feet to release her frustration. The mix of anger and dissatisfaction made her heart feel like it was burning with rage. Exhausted from ruffling her hair and hitting the pillow, Diana lay down on the thin mattress in the room. While thinking about her lips, Diana also reflected on how her life was about to change 360 degrees starting today. She, who had always been proud of her noble lineage, was now demoted to the lowest, most despised rank in the Grandbell kingdom—slave. Diana looked at the room she would be living in for the rest of her life. It was very small, far smaller than the bedroom in her grand estate. The room was furnished with only a thin queen-sized mattress, a pillow, and a blanket. In the corner of the room was a small wardrobe for her clothes.
"This is all for Mother. I promise I'll get her out of this damned palace one day," Diana spoke to herself.
"Knock. Knock. Knock." The wooden door to Diana's room was knocked lightly. Diana quickly got up from the bed to open the door. As she opened it, she was greeted with something being thrown at her face.
"Put on that dress. Then follow me," Lin's cold voice commanded. Lin walked away after tossing the dress at Diana's face.
"Impertinent," Diana muttered angrily. She shot a sharp glare at Lin's retreating back.
She picked up the dress from the floor and intentionally closed the door loudly, making sure Lin could hear it. It was proof that she wasn't afraid of Lin's 'hatred' towards her.
"She thinks she's so great, tossing clothes at my face? If I get the chance, I'll make her pay," Diana fumed. Everyone in this palace seemed determined to make her life miserable. From her 'Prince Hitler' to Lin, who had been giving her disdainful looks. The wound on Diana's leg, treated by Lin, seemed to be getting worse.
"Sigh."
Diana sighed heavily. She hoped she could endure the miserable days in this palace. She stared at the 'slave uniform' Lin had given her, unimpressed.
"This dress is ugly. Even crazy people wouldn't wear it," Diana complained. She threw the dress on the floor but then picked it up again. With a heavy heart, Diana undressed and replaced her clothes with the uniform. Diana walked to the mirror to see herself in the dress. To her, it looked like something Cinderella would wear. She couldn't believe she was the one playing Cinderella.
"No!"
"I won't be like Cinderella. The weakest woman!" Diana spoke to herself in front of the mirror.
"Hey, girl! Do you think you're a princess to be taking so long to get ready?!" Lin's voice yelled, banging on Diana's door.
Diana glared sharply at the door, as if Lin were standing there.
"That short woman. I'll really show her. It's been a while since I've pulled someone's hair," Diana grumbled, stomping towards the door.
She hated living like this!
"Okay everyone, this is Diana," Lin introduced Diana to all the servants in the kitchen.
However, Diana's arrival was met with cold reception from everyone there. She even caught sight of deadly glares and heard whispers laced with insults directed at her. Well, who in this kingdom would like a stepsister Cinderella like her?
"I hope you won't go torturing them too, okay?" Lin taunted.
"Pardon?" Diana asked.
Was she really so cruel that she would torture innocent people? She was only cruel because there were reasons behind it, okay?
"Hey shorty, don't make me throw acid in your face. Let's see if you stay mute till death," Lin retorted.
Diana was furious.
"Hello, girl. Isn't torturing people your hobby? I'm just giving you a warning so you don't cause trouble," Lin added.
"Help me out here. If I were to torture someone, you'd be the first on my list. Your mouth stinks like a drain. If you don't know anything, it's better to stay quiet. And not only are you short, but you also have a face like a horse's rear end," Diana insulted, feeling satisfied.
Lin had been deliberately trying to upset her.
"Your mouth is the one that's like a drain!" Lin's temper flared as Diana hit her with sharp words.
Lin pushed Diana away to vent her anger. The other servants watched as mere spectators. The introduction had turned into a verbal battle to see who had the sharpest tongue between Diana and Lin.
"What's all this commotion?" a voice interrupted, silencing both Diana and Lin.
Diana raised an eyebrow upon seeing Aubriella in the kitchen. Her anger grew hotter at the sight of Aubriella.
"Isn't it embarrassing to have people watch? Before I even arrived here, I heard both of you shouting. What's the problem between you two? The way you're speaking is as if you've never been taught manners. Where is your decorum as a woman?" Aubriella scolded Diana and Lin.
Lin remained silent and bowed. Diana's eyes tiredly rolled as Aubriella delivered her lecture. What a show-off. Of course, she was
perfect as a woman.
"If you come from a bad lineage, you'll always be bad," Aubriella said slowly, glaring at Diana with a sneer.
"Damn it…"
"Okay everyone, I want dinner ready before 7 PM. All food must be served on the table. If there are any problems, call me," Aubriella instructed before Diana could strike at her.
Aubriella shot a final glare at Diana before walking away.
"You're the one from a bad lineage. A family of murderers," Diana muttered under her breath, watching Aubriella leave with a deep sense of hatred.
- Writer
