Episode 2

“The measure of our torment is the measure of our youth”

“Duke Allen Graham the head of the Graham family was found dead”

Fifteen years old Laila couldn’t believe, it was just a normal business trip he usually goes and now he’s died?

“Sister..” Aria let out a whimper. She wasn’t supposed to be here. “Is that true” Aria asked, Aria is now 10 years.

“Aria go back to your room” Laila said harshly to her younger sister who sheepishly walked away.

“Tell me more about what happened”

“On xxth day and x month the duke was found dead in his carriage, investigations are still carried out and it’s mostly an accident caused by bandits”

“Thank you” as she dismisses the messenger after hearing the news her father was dead she didn’t know what to feel but one thing she knew was It wasn’t an accident

The whole family was seen in black again the funeral room was quite. No one cried no one said anything it was just Quiet

“Laila you have grown more beautiful” a distant uncle said.

“Who’s this” she thought as she glared at him with her pale eyes

Laila could see through his smile that showed his decaying teeth, he’s not here to give condolences he’s here for the vacant position

Laila didn’t respond with anything but “thank you”

“You and your sister need someone to look after you” he said with a nasty smile

“Distant uncle you seemed to have forgot that I have an elder brother” she said and she looked at him with annoyance

“If you don’t stop what your doing you would be kicked out of the house immediately” she said sternly.

The uncle was taken a back and left hissing underneath his breath saying “who does this ***** think she is”

That wasn’t the only one, she had to deal with family members she had never met or heard came to meet her for similar reasons.

“You should get married to my son, before it’s too late”

“When will you find a husband”

“Now your dad is gone who will guide and protect you”

“You at that age now”

“What exactly will happen to your sister, think about it”

Those are the comments Laila received as the oldest present. Aria was sent back to her room immediately the ceremony was over and Tyler was in school when the news of her father arrived.

So she had to see the relatives off as curtsy.

For some people fifteen year later was when they got married but Laila who isn’t even engaged was a target of the society.

Now her father was gone no one could protect her from such rumors anymore, as complaint piled up against her, instead of mourning it turned into a marriage meeting where the relatives and some other influential people came with proposals for their sons.

They say it as good opportunity to get the first daughter of the Graham family who’s known for her beauty and brain.

Suddenly someone bursted in and everyone’s attention was focused there, it was Tyler the first born.

“Am so sorry” he said as he panted and the. He ran to hug Laila who stood in shock

“Am so sorry for letting you go through this” he said as he hugged her tightly, there Laila who haven’t cried since her mother died broke down and started weeping.

The people around felt a little guilt but they couldn’t care less about how she felt, what they wanted was an answer

“I will be taking care of the Graham family as the rightful heir” Tyler announced after a while.

“My sisters will be under me and if they don’t want to get married they can even die in this house”

The whole place was in shock, usually when something like the son takes over the family he would sell his sister for more influence and wealth.

Laila stood her ground and escorted them all out of the hall.

“I thought you wanted to escape this family” Laila said breaking the silence.

Originally Tyler had planned to run away without his father knowing.

“That was before he died” “I couldn’t leave you two just to save myself”

“You didn’t have to, I had it all under control”

“YOU THINK I DONT KNOW!” Tyler screamed as he held Laila strongly with his grip

“Know what”

“That you plan on shouldering all the responsibilities, there was no way you would have survived them!”

“You don’t know! I had a plan everything was going smoothly before you came in”

“Smoothly? You dare say smoothly! When you were on the verge of breaking down before I came” “that’s how you have always been I know you still feel guilt from years ago but it’s all gone it’s the past”

“Is it? IS IT TYLER! I could have said something but I stood there watching you get beaten” “I was the cause!”

Tyler hugged Laila tightly as they both fell on the ground in silence.

“Have you checked the left drawer”

After the funeral they all decided to pack their fathers office together instead of the maid.

“It seems like this one is locked” Aria pointed as she tried to force it open.

Tyler went to Aria and seemed to monitor the patterns in the safe

“That’s the same pattern mom draws when she’s alone”

“It’s the Kalis family symbol” Tyler said

“You mean the traitors family that was slaughtered years back?” Laila asked as she went towards the drawer with caution

“Why does dad have their symbol with him, if this is found it could be a crime even for us”

“This is connected to mom too” Laila said as she tried to remember something

“Before mom got too sick to stand she would always stare at a drawing with this symbol in it”

“Brother! Sister! I found this key!”

They both looked at the same time and opened the box.

Inside was filled with letters, old letters that the papers couldn’t be found just anywhere.

“This is from the Kalis family, the papers they produce this type of paper but it got stopped since it went out of business”

“Allen Cristen Graham” “Isn’t that dad’s full name?

“Mary Blon Kalis”

“That’s.. mom?” “Mom was part of the Kalis family?”

“What exactly is happening! Dad married from the Kalis family? More so ever it seems like they were quite close”

“Dad was the one that charged in the killing of the Kalis family” Tyler said lowly “why would he do that”

“He was ordered to” Laila said “the King ordered him to do it”

“Still..”

“Sister, brother look at this” Aria said as she brought out an old painting of..

“That’s mom, that’s dad who’s the other two men”

“Look at the symbols in their cloths!, it seems like this was done before dad got married cause mom was still wearing the Kalis symbol”

“They look so young.. This other man.. It’s the imperial symbol!” Laila exclaimed “they were a friend group and the king was part!”

“What exactly happened between them”

“At least we all know why mom got sick all of a sudden”

“She found out her husband killed her family and there was nothing she could do about it, so she fell ill from the shock”

“She refused to see dad all the time..” “Mum...”

“So dad married his best friend’s sister?”

“Yea..”

After a minute of silent to take in what they just discovered

“Am not changing study rooms am going to use this one” Tyler announced

This brought attention of the two siblings attention

“That’s great brother now I can finally leave this dusty *** office” “don’t worry I’ll call the maids on my way out” Laila said as she excitedly walked out

“I kinda heard her swearing when we were dusting the desk” Aria said “anyways my friends will be over soon, I don’t want them to see me in this state”

Tyler left alone in the room shocked at his siblings petty betrayal “hahahaha” he laughed as he sunk into the huge arm chair, but then he saw something in between a book.

“I did it to escape, everyone was watching me I had to protect my FAMILY! It wasn’t my fault I tried to warn them but they didn’t listen, Nowadays I feel guilt for the death of my wife because I know it’s all because of what I did. I remember when we were still young and would go around the empire together but what changed.. He’s coming to get me, I can feel it I won’t live for long so am writing this. I don’t know who will find this but find the last descendant of the Kalis family”

It was dad’s handwriting Tyler thought “but what does he mean by last survivor, that’s means he let one go!”

“Have you tried this new cake shop opened in street xx”

“Aren’t those for peasants you can have them made in your house when you want”

It was another social gathering for Laila this is a daily normal thing

“Linda it’s different becomes it’s made by someone else”

“Chela you can just hire the person”

“Then that takes away the fun of actually buying”

“It’s the same thing!”

“Not it’s not!”

“Yes it is!”

“No it-“

“It’s enough” Laila said sternly

Because of how strict and ladylike she was they nicknamed her “Teacher” because she would stop petty argument and neutralize the atmosphere.

“Young miss Laila” said a high rank noble named Carlie, she seemed to be the only one that can speak on the same ground with Laila

“It seemed like your the odd one out in our group” she mentioned smiling cheekily

Laila looked around at the ladies gathered and couldn’t find anything different

“What do you mean Miss Carlie”

“Oh no, I don’t mean cloths miss Laila I meant we all are engaged if not married already” “but you mm I don’t see it”

Laila look at Carlie for a while before she spoke “I feel like we have had this conversation before” “and I thought I meant it clear about my thoughts on marriage”

“But you see your about the reach your age of coming ceremony after that it will be hard to find a husband”

“ENOUGH! I made it clear that I shall not speak about this anymore, if this is why I was invited then I will see myself out”

After Laila leaves

“What does she think she is, no matter how beautiful she is if she’s not even able to get a man” Aisha pointed out

“I like her eyes” Carlie said smiling coldly “I always thought she was blind because of how grey her eyes were now it’s just too beautiful”

The other ladies bad mouthing Laila stopped and felt ashamed.

“You know what I’ll leave too have a nice day ladies” Carlie said as she walked away

As the first daughter of the Graham family not only that the most beautiful maiden in the empire, she receives thousands of proposals within and outside the empire.

But in the end her brother uses them as fire wood. “Brother what are you doing!”

Laila exclaimed as she saw her brother throwing the letters into the fire place

“Am spending less on firewood” he said as casually as possible,

“Even if we were not planning to accepting them they are still nobles that sent the letters” she said as she calmly sat down.

“Mm they spend so much on a piece of paper am sure they knew it could be used as firewood anyways” Tyler said as he watched it burn.

“Whatever do as you wish”

“Have you started planning for your age of coming ceremony”

“Brother it’s still in a year time I don’t think it’s a need to rush”

“Where did you come from Laila, other noble ladies would start planning ten years prior”

“The same for you, aren’t you supposed to be married? As the head of the Graham family you need an heir you know” Laila said cheekily

“When I have two sister why would I worry about an heir, i will just pick a child from Aria or you”

“If your waiting on me then good luck” Laila said as she bid goodnight to her brother.

Silver hair and grey eyes, skin pale and white like snow. It was almost like she was made out of porcelain.

“But why isn’t she married”

“Does she want to live off her brother for ever”

“Once her brother gets married her and her sister is over”

“I obviously won’t want to live with my husband’s younger sister”

As the years pass by comment like these increased and each time more brutal than ever.

Although the two sisters don’t look alike in the slightest ways with Aria’s dull red hair and brown eyes that resembles her late mother brings in an innocent country side beauty.

Unlike her sister who’s features was taken from her late father was more like icy rich untouchable beauty.

But even though their beauty were contracting when they walked together people would experience summer and winter at the same time.

Not forgetting Tyler the oldest and only son who also took after his father’s feature but his eyes was more silver than grey and has the same vibe as Laila.

When Tyler and Laila walked together they were the perfect representation of the Graham family Beautiful but powerful

“Congratulations!”

It was already the 18th birthday of Laila in a huge ball room filled with crystal decorations, chandeliers that seemed to reflect thousands of lights.

Even the flowers were made of pure transparent glass, the table cloths were designed with the family crest on it.

It was a party that represents how wealthy the family was

“Laila Graham is entering the ballroom!” Announced the announcer

Everyone turned to look at the goddess like human that just walked in.

Her dress that was adorn with crystals and a white gloves with jewelry that can’t be found anywhere.

She wore a crystal hair set on her long silver hair that seemed to move with every move she made.

Her transparent glass heels as she walked light makeup in her face that was there just for protocols

“I hope you all enjoy the party, Thank you for coming”

Thank you guys for checking out my story!!!!! Im so exciteddddddd that you guys enjoy my work…. I made this chapter a little longer ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

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