SECRET ELOPEMENT

KARIYAH NEW HOME

180 years ago, the Tharia continent witnessed a pivotal moment of unification, birthing the Kingdom. Among the staunch supporters of this monumental endeavor stood the Mason family, whose unwavering allegiance and notable achievements earned them a distinguished place as founding contributors to the kingdom's establishment.

However, the glory of the past seemed a distant memory for the current generation of Masons, their influence waning with their present status as mere counts within the kingdom's hierarchy.

Yet, with a daughter now wedded to Duke Bloodmoon, a figure second in power only to the imperial family itself, the Masons dared to hope for a resurgence of their former prominence. This alliance held the promise of rekindling the luminance of their esteemed lineage, potentially paving the way for the restoration of their family's illustrious legacy.

"That's precisely what I thought."

Count Mason's regret weighed heavily on his mind as he sat at the dinner table, the aroma of the family chef's signature beef steak tantalizingly filling the air. Despite its magnificence, the meal remained untouched before him, his appetite subdued by the somber reality of their circumstances.

Similarly, Jasia found herself engulfed in melancholy, her thoughts drifting back to the noble figure of Duke Bloodmoon. With every blink, his esteemed presence lingered vividly in her mind, just as it had three years prior.

Recollections of the kingdom's unification stirred within her, a time when Tharia stood united under a banner of pride. In the grandeur of the palace, nestled at its heart, lay the illustrious banquet hall. The corridor leading to this opulent chamber boasted a ceiling adorned with intricate carvings, resplendent in its royal embellishments of gold.

It was beneath this majestic ceiling that Jasia had first laid eyes upon the Duke, an encounter etched in her memory with a dreamlike allure. His presence was nothing short of magnificent, his ebony curls cascading in silk-like waves, his gaze of the purest emerald green, possessing an air of aloofness yet captivating in its intensity. Each detail of his countenance exuded a masculine beauty that left an indelible impression upon her consciousness.

"It's unfathomable that he's gone."

Jasia's sorrowful mood manifested as she aimlessly toyed with her steak, her fork poking at it almost mechanically.

Legend had it that any woman who had the fortune of encountering the Duke would inevitably find themselves captivated by his allure. While there were undoubtedly those who had never crossed paths with him, those who had could attest to his irresistible charm.

Among the esteemed swordmasters of the Kingdom, the Duke stood apart. While others bore nicknames like 'the necrosis of Tharia,' he remained indifferent to such titles, unaffected by the praise or fear that often accompanied them.

"I'm very confident, I could have melted his frozen heart."

"Enough talk of the Duke! We ought not to dignify that traitor with his title."

The countess, who had been quietly partaking of her meal, set down her salad fork with a silent but unmistakable warning.

"But Mother... none of this adds up! Not only was he a renowned swordmaster, but to meet his demise at the hands of a barbarian in the southern sea, while purportedly leaking information to the enemy during the final stages of the war? It's preposterous! The war was on the verge of resolution!"

"There were lots of circumstances involved in his death. We have to let him go. Your father was able to circumvent the marriage contract thanks to that illegitimate child."

"Ahem!"

The Count deliberately interrupted the conversation by clearing his throat. The Countess wiped her mouth with her napkin but continued to speak.

"Who could have guessed that such an inconspicuous figure, hardly worthy of the Mason name, could prove so beneficial? She mirrors that coarse maid in every aspect. With her compliance, we need not refund the Duke's dowry to the imperial family."

Kariyah found herself dispatched to the Bloodmoon dukedom for a singular purpose: to serve as a mere stand-in for Jasia, a pawn in the Masons' scheme to retain the Duke's funds.

"That's correct, that despicable woman! Surely she's met her demise in some forsaken ditch by now, hasn't she?"

What remained of the Bloodmoon dukedom was nothing more than a decrepit villa nestled in the remote reaches of the mountains. Sent there with no support, Kariyah was left to her own devices, with nothing but the bleak prospect of a solitary demise awaiting her.

For Jasia, the situation was a cause for celebration. In her eyes, Kariyah represented the sole stain upon an otherwise ostensibly happy Mason family. Despite her disdain for her father's indiscretions in nurturing an illegitimate child, Jasia's animosity towards Kariyah ran even deeper.

It irked and repulsed Jasia that Kariyah failed to embody the typical traits associated with the Mason lineage. Instead of the customary red hair, chestnut eyes, and freckled complexion, Kariyah bore an uncanny resemblance to the household maid's pale skin, silver hair, and eyes reminiscent of precious gems, capable of ensnaring the hearts of men. These were attributes that any noble person would covet, yet they only served to fuel Jasia's resentment.

Kariyah's eyes, akin to Duke Bloodmoon's own striking gaze, exuded a coldness that seemed to look down upon others with disdain. This aloof expression served as one of the primary motivations behind Jasia's recent escalation in tormenting her stepsister.

"I can't wait to see her corpse."

Around the dining table, an uneasy silence followed Jasia's ominous words. No one reprimanded her for the callousness of her statement, a stark illustration of how Kariyah had long been treated within the family.

Surprisingly, amidst the tension, Kariyah experienced an unexpected sense of relief for the first time in her life. Free from the suffocating weight of expectations and mistreatment, she savored the prospect of finally being able to relax.

Recognizing the immediate need to combat the chill of the impending night, Kariyah resolved to procure firewood for her new abode. With what little money remained from her association with the Masons, she wasted no time in acquiring the necessary supplies before departing for her solitary dwelling.

"Look at her, the epitome of foolishness. Quite laughable, isn't it? Hahaha."

As Kariyah made her departure, Jasia couldn't resist a parting shot, mocking her with a dismissive laugh. Unbeknownst to Jasia, her assumptions about Kariyah's need for firewood were entirely misplaced.

In truth, Jasia remained utterly clueless about the realities of the outside world. In the kingdom, frequent drizzles rendered even the most seemingly dry branches too damp to ignite with a flint. If Kariyah were to rely on picking up branches from the ground, she would inevitably find herself battling the biting cold on her very first night in the mountains.

Kariyah had long been acquainted with the harshness of the world, a lesson learned at the tender age of six while living among the maids of the Mason family. To earn meager wages, she had braved the mountains in search of herbs, often finding herself gathering worthless weeds. Yet, the alternative of remaining at home under her mother's neglectful gaze was far less appealing.

On one fateful occasion, Kariyah had become lost in the mountains. As a mere child, she had desperately clung to damp branches in a futile attempt to start a fire. Only when faced with imminent peril did she finally succeed in igniting them, narrowly escaping the grasp of death.

"Phewww"

Lost in the labyrinth of her memories, Kariyah gradually took herself back to the present, taking stock of her surroundings within the dusty confines of the villa. The air held a palpable sense of foreboding, as if the aged furniture and shadowy corners harbored secrets of their own, lending credence to the notion of haunting spirits.

As she settled into a weathered rocking chair, basking in the warm embrace of sunlight filtering through the windows, Kariyah found herself overcome by a sense of tranquility. For a fleeting moment, this secluded haven felt like her own personal sanctuary, a respite from the turmoil that had plagued her existence.

With the disappearance of her mother and the dissolution of the Mason family, Kariyah had always felt like an unwelcome guest, silently enduring her mistreatment without protest.

"I should tidy up before preparing dinner."

She murmured to herself, rousing from her reverie and resolving to tackle the task at hand. Yet, she knew better than to venture into the neglected kitchen of the villa, which seemed untouched by human hands for decades.

Instead, Kariyah turned to the provisions she had brought with her, a gift from Count Mason. Among them were lumps that, upon closer inspection, revealed themselves to be potatoes of exceptional quality, fit for even the most discerning aristocratic palate.

Though she longed to explore a plethora of gourmet recipes, Kariyah's meager means dictated a simpler fare. She settled for roasted potatoes, a humble dish reminiscent of the meals farmers often relied upon. With a sprinkling of salt and a dash of pepper, she placed the potatoes by the fireplace to roast, their changing hues mirroring the flickering flames.

As she watched the potatoes cook, Kariyah's gaze drifted into the dancing embers, her mind engulfed in a profound emptiness. Before long, she stirred from her contemplation, steeling herself for the challenges that lay ahead.

"Very well,"


 Kariyah muttered to herself, acknowledging the task ahead as the potatoes continued to cook. Sensing a need to keep busy, she surveyed her surroundings, realizing the abundance of work awaiting her attention.

While washing was feasible with a nearby stream, Kariyah was acutely aware of the finite nature of her potato supply. With only a limited quantity at her disposal, she couldn't afford to be careless. Despite the grim prospects that both she and the Masons had resigned themselves to, Kariyah refused to succumb to such a fate.

Surveying the dilapidated villa, she noted the little treasures concealed beneath layers of thick dust, obscuring their original splendor. Passing by a threadbare rug on the verge of disintegration, she approached a cabinet shrouded in spiderwebs.

Once a repository for precious dishes, the cabinet now holds nothing but a dusty residue of its former glory. Yet, nestled within the neglect, Kariyah discerned a treasure of her own, a storage cabinet with an intricate design that likely belonged to the Duke.

"Remarkable craft skills," she murmured, running her fingers along the woodwork. Contemplating its potential worth, she imagined the sum it could fetch if sold as a means to sustain herself for a month, perhaps.

Lost in her thoughts, Kariyah explored the living room further, identifying other pieces of furniture with value. Mentally appraising each item, she calculated their potential earnings, allowing a glimmer of hope to ignite within her.

"Enough to sustain me for a while,"

She concluded, recognizing the temporary reprieve these newfound resources afforded her. Determined to seize control of her destiny, Kariyah resolved to make the most of her circumstances until she could secure a more stable means of livelihood.