Episode 3

I was unbothered. Duke Eléftheros lost his composure as he kneeled down to gather the trimmed hair. There were people outside. I don't know who they are. Sean, the doctor, was also looking at me.

A few gasped upon seeing my short hair. I watched the people outside as my father started bombarding me with questions.

“Are you out of your mind?! What’s wrong with you, Malaya? Are you seeking attention, again?!” he said angrily. I sighed as I roamed my eyes at the people outside.

The noble ladies were here. Smirking and clearly having fun in my situation.

I sighed. What? Attention? I don't care about that. Let them have it.

I don't want them to ask and bother me by my sudden disappearance. I want them to be the reason why I leave. I don't want them to be shocked by my sudden departure.

I heaved a sigh. Even though some nobles were here, I don't give a damn. Let them think that Malaya doesn't want to please them anymore.

“I trimmed my hair because it's too long, Duke Eléftheros.” I said nonchalantly. He froze and turned to me angrily. It seemed like my answer had struck a nerve.

“What?!— For that reason why you did that? It’s your mother’s hair, Malaya!” he yelled. I remained serious. Oh. He's asking me if I'm crazy when obviously, he's the one who's out of his mind. Why doesn't he let his wife rest in peace?

Sean calmed him down. The doctor stole a glance from me as he made my father relax. “Please do understand Duke Eléftheros that your daughter is suffering from depression. As we observed, it has been two weeks since she has been like this,” he said.

“It's not an enough reason to do this, Sean! She was always obedient! Now that her fiancé wants to end their engagement, she is acting like this! Do you think I don't know she's just doing this to keep their wedding going?” he exclaimed.

I looked at them all listlessly. Really? He thinks I'm that kind of hurt to do that? Can't I just not like the hair for a reason I want to forget?

Mikael is the reason why I cut Malaya's hair. I don't want to be here, and to stop myself from thinking about him... I should cut the memories that bound me to him.

I cleared my throat.

An old man, invalidating his daughter's feelings to prove his unworthy opinions. A doctor told everyone about my condition so that my name would be tainted. So unprofessional. And then, the noble ladies who wanted to bring me... down.

Malaya. Poor you. Everyone here is against you. Mikael really had made you feel unloved and unworthy. What a nice reason to seek... vengeance.

Let's run away together, while they're suffering from their own intense guilt and karma. No matter how badly written you are for their happy endings, they don't have the right to treat you like this.

Without you, without me rather. They can't live happily ever after.

“Duke Eléftheros,” I said tersely. They all looked at me with a curious expression. This was the second time I hadn't called him "father." “I want to be alone. Please, make your way out.” I pointed to the door.

I heard their sympathetic gasps when they heard me. But still, they all bowed their heads as if my gaze was setting them on fire.

He hissed angrily. “I don't know what to do with you anymore, Malaya! You will be grounded here for a month. I will not listen to your explanations regarding this. You've gone too far,” he said.

I nodded and pointed to the door again. I looked at them without any reaction.

I looked at each of them, and my gaze lingered on Sean. He was eyeing me coldly, but his stares weren't even enough to send shivers down my spine.

I spoke. “Yeah. You can do things as you please. And, regarding what you have told me about the broken engagement... ” I trailed off. I stared intently at the old man.

“I don't care about that. Or the Crown Prince. So please, don't brag about that thing in front of me. It's unpleasant to hear.” I said seriously.

I heard the Duke's fake scoff. He immediately retorted. “Stop pretending. Everyone knows how crazy obsessed you are with the Crown Prince. Your words aren't enough to fool us. It can't deceive everyone.”

I sighed. Ah. This is a big problem.

Malaya used to follow that guy and make cat fights with everyone who made a move on her fiancé. If I say I don't care about that guy, I know it'll be hard to believe.

Ah. I'm already lazy, and I have so much more to do. Can't I just escape here peacefully?

They all left silently one by one. Before I could close the door, Sean's gaze was directly pointed at me. I scoffed at him. He sighed and followed the others out.

I heard him explain why I was acting that way. I don't care. I don't need to clear my name.

I fixed myself and looked down. The ladies were now preparing to leave. I heard that they were here to see how I was doing. Duke Eléftheros thanked them for their concerns.

I adjusted the hood I had taken from the bed. If only he knew that those b-tches were just wanting to break me down, I don't know how he would react.

Even though he doesn't like me as his daughter, he still cares about his reputation. It's also the reason why he let his daughter fall hopelessly for the Prince, because Duke Eléftheros wanted more power.

I escaped from the House of the Eléftheros by jumping out the window. I landed safely even though my room was on the second floor.

I checked the black mark on my right wrist. It was a black tattoo. A symbol of a... bird was etched there.

The creature was all black and looked like a phoenix.

I remembered the man who handed me his umbrella. I was determined to find him. I want to know... him.

Maybe he can help me.

I also have the confidence that... he was the only one who stayed with me until the end. I need to find him. Before the sun rises, I should be able to find him.

To ask for his help, and to ask him about the... mark.

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