The very first time Nina ever attended a Grazien tea party was the Paidia Tea Party, where all nobles ages eight to sixteen are required to attend in order to socialize with the other nobles, to strengthen the bonds of the powerful and to protect the country. Fifteen year old Nina was sitting alone in a bench near a fountain while children her age already have small groups. It was a normal occurence to her, although it did felt lonely for Nina.

"Hello" a cute voice of a girl called from her right. She looked like her age and has a bluish light hair. She has wide eyes that nearly looked like circles, and when she smiles, a dimple was seen near her right cheek.

"My name is Angelica Potre. Can you tell me yours?" the girl asked

"I'm Daniana Salu--, Daniana Cortese" she shyly replied

"Why are you sitting alone here?"

"I don't know. Probably because of how strange I look."

Angelica stared at Nina's face. Nina didn't know where to look. Should she stare too, or should she just ignore what the girl was doing.

"Uhmm... what are you--"

"You have very beautiful eyes" Angelica blurted out, then the girl immediately covered her mouth. "I'm sorry. Mama said not to comment on noble ladies' appearances and yet I did. I am very sorry, please do forgive--"

"Thank you. Very much" Nina replied "You can just call me Nina"

The girl's eyes glimmered. Angelica was glad and happy to have made a friend.

"Then you can also call me Angie" she reached out her hand, Nina then shook it with relief in her face. As the two children found people whom they can trust, another child stands alone under a tree not far from the venue of the Paidia Tea Party. The boy gripped his wooden sword as he looked up, staring at a creature that seems to be hanging on one of the branches of the tree. He jumped and jumped, with his left hand holding his wooden sword, thinking he could reach with his right hand the kitten that couldn't seem to go down.

"What are you doing, Tim?"

The boy turned around and saw a girl taller than him, wearing another black dress and her ever the same expression. The only difference he could see was that her hair was tied up rather than being be free.

"Sister" Tim faced her "I was just trying to reach a kitten that is stuck in that tree"

"Come back inside" her voice was commanding and yet gentle.

"I will just save the kitten quickly" the boy returned on facing the tree, this time, thinking of a way to climb the tree. He started hugging the enormous trunk, forced his feet onto the lower parts of the tree to try and step upwards, then he started moving his body upward, only to fail to move even an inch from where he started.

"Father will know" Tim's head quickly returned to where his sister was standing, only to find no person present. Timothy stopped his attempts on saving the kitten. He looked up, staring at the kitten. There was no doubt that there's nothing he could do, because Tim knows too well what happens when he comes back home. Tim let go of his wooden sword and hide it behind the bushes near the tree. He ran back towards the door of the venue, trying his best to calm down from all the running. He brushed his shoulders and trousers, fixed his hair although there was not much to fix because of how short they were, then stood up straight and put on a subtle smile. Once he was ready, he entered the venue and tried to greet all the noble children he could greet, but because of his stout appearance, there was barely anyone who would even want to do anything with him. He was not surprised by these kind of behaviour in the Paidia Society.

Timothy looked around, trying to find his sister. He did saw her, but she didn't. Tilly was too busy talking with her friends. As he went towards the door, he kept his eyes on his sister, just to make sure she doesn't see him when he goes out. He successfully got out. He immediately walked towards the same tree where he hide his sword and where the kitten was stuck, but he couldn't approach the tree so easily. Someone was already there, looking upwards. A girl. Timothy could only see her back. Her hair was dark and long and only the upper part of her hair was tied. She was wearing a pretty lavender dress and black shoes. He dare not try to come closer. Timothy had enough socializing for the day. All he could do was watch.

"Hmmm. I suppose I could help you little one" Timothy could hear the girl's voice. Without a second passing by, the girl quickly climbed the tree. It was so easily done by the girl that it looked like she was riding the winds. The girl was up the branch of the tree together with the cat. She held out her arm, trying to call out to the kitten. However, the cat keeps on refusing the girl's help. The girl kept moving towards the cat, shifting their weight towards the thin part of the branch. At last, the kitten finally offered the girl's help, only to hear a crunch coming from the tree. Timothy ran as fast as he could. The tree branch broke. The girl who was hugging the cat was falling. A loud thud was heard in the area. The knights who were on duty ran towards where the sound was heard only to find two children on the ground. The knights couldn't come closer due to the law which states that they could only approach once the nobles allow it or asked for it.

"Are you alright?" Timothy asked, his voice straining. The girl who immediately realized where she was, stood up.

"I am very sorry. Are you alright?" she replied

"I asked you that first" Tim chuckled, unable to stand up due to the impact he received from catching the girl. The girl gently let go of the kitten and reached out her hand towards the lying boy. Timothy held her hand and let her pull him up, doubting that she could. But she did pull him up. What surprised Tim was how easily she could do it.

"You looked injured. Should I call for a physician?" she asked

"No, I'm fine" Tim unconsciously winced as he touched his right arm.

"You don't look like your fine" the girl said as she helped him dust off his clothes.

"What about you? Are you injured?" Timothy asked, not wanting to look weak after accidentally showing his emotion of pain

"I'm alright thanks to you. Thank you, for catching me" the girl smiled. Tim stared. She has a pair of peculiar yet beautiful dark green eyes and pretty features.

"Miss Daniana? Miss Daniana Cortese!" a loud voice was heard. The girl looked at where the direction of the person calling.

"Oh, that's our butler" the girl said, she was walking away as she added "I better get going. Cedric tends to worry a lot. Thank you so much again, and good bye!" her back was once again, the only thing Timothy could see as she ran towards the venue. He focused his eyes on her as she slowly disappeared from his sight. Realization hit him and he quickly looked for his sword, ran back towards the venue and looked for his sister. His pulse began beating much faster, panicking a little after failing to see where his sister was.

"Who are you looking for?" he looked behind him and found Tilly, her arms crossed as she stared down at him

"N-no one" Tim automatically replied

"Let's go. Father has summoned us back to the house" without even waiting for a reply, Tilly walked back to where their carriage was parked. Tim followed.

"Do you have another mission?" asked Tim

"I do not know"

"Do you need to go to this mission?" Tilly stopped on her tracks, and so did Tim. She turned to his younger brother and held his shoulders

"Tim, you know that I cannot say no." she whispered "Not to father"

"Why can't we just destroy that?" Tim replied, also in whisper

"If that were possible, I would've been free a long time ago" Tilly stared at her brother's eyes "Now stop talking about these things. You know what he'll do once he knows"

Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

~*~

About three years later, news of the death of the Estero family's second daughter has brought great sorrow to all nobles of Grazie. Tilly Estero was known as the peculiar yet lovely person to her friends and to those who don't know her too well. It was said that the cause of her death was because of a heart failure, which she had ever since she was born, but Timothy knows it wasn't like that at all. Because out of all the people in his family, only his elder sister reached out to him, and even paid any attention to him.

Tim had just arrived home after spending time studying in the University, when he heard the news, he promptly went home. He grew tall and slim, fit in any physical activities due to all the training he had gone through in the Universty. Timothy stomped towards his father's office, even though guards were stationed, they could not stop Timothy from entering his father's workplace. The door burst opened. Steven Estero was looking at the mansion's garden through his office window. The head of the family was aware that his youngest son has come.

"What have you done?!" Tim shouted "What did you do to Tilly?"

Count Estero was silent. He didn't even face his son.

"Tell me what have you done, Father. Tell me!" anger has filled Timothy's heart.

"Stop shouting, Tim" the Count stated

"That's what you always do, isn't it? Telling us what to do. I bet this is why Tilly died."

"Son..."

"How did she die?"

Tim's father went silent.

"Can't you at least tell me that?" Tim pleaded. Silence has filled the office.

"She was killed during a mission in--"

"Mission? A mission?! Why would she still do missions when--" Tim stopped talking and stared at his father. "You said it would end once we turn 18. You promised us"

"It would have end if and only if you do the mission successfully"

"What did she do?"

"She... she saved one of the slaves" Steven couldn't look directly at his son

Tim could only look in indifference at his father.

"How could you call yourself our father when you could not even protect us? Hmm?" Tim exclaimed "Why do we have to carry this cursed blood?!"

"Stop talking!" the loud commanding voice of his father had surprised Timothy. Steven stood up from his seat, his hands on the table as he stared at his son

"Get out" Steven's voice was calm yet loud

"If you knew we would end up like this, you shouldn't have married that woman in the--"

"DON'T talk about your mother that way"

"She only gave birth to us. She never cared until the day she died!" Tim stormed out of the office, tugged his neck tie to give himself freedom to breath. He went inside his room, paced back and forth in frustration for a little while, then he lie down unto the carpeted floor. He covered his eyes with his right arm. It was only a month ago when he remembered Tilly sending him letters of her newly found 'freedom' from the cursed blood they have. And now, she's dead. Timothy couldn't stop his tears. He cried and cried, not letting a single sound let out from his mouth.

"Master Timothy" a voice outside his door has said. Tim immediately stood up and sat on his bed, wiped his tears and fixed his clothes

"Enter"

An elderly man entered the room wearing a neat butler's uniform, carrying a tray full of snacks and a mug of cold chocolate drink. The butler gently placed the tray unto the table near the bed and stood in front of Timothy.

"Master Timothy, I suggest that you take a bath first" the elderly man said

"I will do so later, Seb. Leave me alone for now" Tim replied, not meeting the butler's eyes. Seblin moved one step closer in front of Timothy, reached out to his pocket and gave him a letter. Tim received the letter and was about to open it when Seblin grabbed his wrist to stop him.

"Why don't you go visit the Miss' gravestone?" the old man suggested. Timothy looked in confusion at the butler. Then he slowly realized what he meant. Timothy started walking outside his room and as soon as he got out of the mansion, he started running. Riding a carriage would have saved time for him to arrive at the cemetery, but he knows that his father would definitely know. By running, Tim would be able to lost the men following him. He did not run straight ahead, he was moving to the left side of the road then he would run towards the right side. He followed the road going through a forest then he would run back towards he went. By using his agility and skills, he finally arrived at his sister's gravestone. Timothy looked down at the monument. A lot of white lilies were placed in front of the base of the gravestone. He couldn't even bring a single flower on his way. He sat down in front of the stone. He stared at the beautifully written name.

"Tilbeth Marie Estero" Tim softly whispered.

Timothy bit his lip to try to stop his tears. He looked at the envelope he was carrying, then he opened it.

The content of the letter is as follows:

'Tim, you probably heard about the news of my death. When we were children, I overheard father and elder brother that the curse doesn't stop once we turn 18, it continues even though we successfully finish the missions that are given to us. I couldn't share this information with you because I know how you'll react, and I definitely know that you'll make a stupid move. When you went to University, I started researching behind father's back how to be set free from our cursed blood with the help of my friends and Seblin. I discovered a way, but it won't be long when elder brother will notice. So I wrote this letter to let you know. When the time's right, and when you get a lot more stronger, go to the Epert Tavern, find Billy the Epertian and mention my name, my nickname. He will tell you what you need to know. Do not talk to Seblin about all these things, he is under a magic contract where he needs to tell father what he did, and if he lie, the magic that is engraved in his heart will tighten. He risked his life helping me so please let Seblin live a longer life and tell him nothing. I'm sorry for letting you suffer this long.

PS. When I was dying, know that I was already free.

Your sister, Tilly'

Tim held the letter close to his heart. Thunder started rumbling in the sky. The sun was starting to fall asleep. The teardrops of the sky fell unto the ground, and so was the tears of Timothy Estero. Not long, he started wailing in front of his sister's tomb. Now he knows how much his sister had cared for him, no, how much she loved him. She sacrificed her life so that the two of them could be free from the cursed blood. Even though he was always scolded by Tilly, he didn't even realize that she was doing it for his sake. The rain slowly became violent, and Tim is still wailing, hugging the letter as if what he was doing could prevent the paper from getting damaged. The water from his head and from his shirt flowed unto the piece of paper and soon, the paper began to decay. Timothy noticed and he tried so desperately to slowly fold the letter in order to save it, but unfortunately failed. Pieces of the tattered paper dropped into the small pond forming in front of the tombstone.

"I'm sorry, Tilly. I'm sorry" it was all Timothy could say.

~*~

Rain was pouring heavily even in the Estero territory where Jonathan Estero currently is. He held his most prized possession, a 3 foot tall sword, and put it unto his lap. He took a towel and started wiping his sword. When suddenly a loud knock was heard in his room.

"Master Jonathan" Seblin stated

"Come in, Seblin" Jonathan said, without even looking at the door, still cleaning his sword. Seblin entered and noticed how dark the room was.

"What is it?" asked Jonathan

"The Count has asked for you"

"I'll be there in a minute"

"The Count specifically stated for you to come, immediately"

Jonathan's heavy stepped sounded like stomps, but it was mostly because of his big build and enormous body mass. Once he arrived at his father's office, he stood in attention and became more stiff than normal. Count Estero was seated in his office chair, his hands clasped as his chin was resting above his hands. He stared at his eldest son.

"I've arrived father" he stated

"Do you know where your brother is?"

"No, sir"

The Count abruptly stood up.

"Never mind then." he went towards his bookshelves and took a folder, placed it on his desk and motioned to Jonathan to come forward.

"You have another mission."

His eldest son took the folder and read through the information listed. Surprise and confusion has filled Jonathan's face when he saw the target.

"William Gordon? I- Father, I don't understand. Why--"

"No questions, Jonathan. Do the job, so you would be free" his father replied. Jonathan looked at the photo of his dear friend, William. He tried to calm down, but his hands were shaking. Jonathan has been doing these things ever since he turned fifteen, and now that he's 25, he thought he could do this easily. Turns out what he thought was wrong.

"I-I understand, father"

Jonathan took the file and went outside the office. As the door of his father's office closed, he felt the sting in his neck. A mark slowly shone on the right side of his neck, a highlighted green light. As it blinked, it also stung. Jonathan tried to cover the mark in hopes to stop it from blinking, but his heart was too honest in his will to not do the mission. The mark shone even brightly, making it sting more. Because of the pain, Jonathan winced and knelt on the ground, his strength had slowly left his body because of the continuous pain he was feeling.

"Master Jonathan" Seblin's voice was concerned as he ran towards the kneeling heir. The old man tried to help Jonathan stand up but failed because of how heavy the young master was.

"Master Jonathan, breathe. Please breathe" Jonathan followed. He gasped for air.

"Don't think about the mission, think of something else, please" the old man suggested. Jonathan tried, he forced himself to think of something else rather than the fact of killing his friend. He thought of his brother, Timothy, a useless sibling who doesn't even care about the family. He thought about how to please his father. He thought about Tilly. The sting slowly cease to be felt. Tilly. His serious younger sister who died failing to do the mission. The two of them never had time together, they were never close, but Jonathan knew she existed. He knew she was good at what she was doing. He knew that she was beautiful just like their mother. But unlike their mother, Tilly cared, in small ways. The stinging finally stopped, and Jonathan was able to get up.

"Thank you, Seblin" Jonathan said. He pat Seblin's shoulder and walked as if nothing happened. Jonathan remembered his very first memory of his mother.

"You should be thankful I even gave birth to you"

He was six years old, and that was the very first time his mother ever talked to him.

When Jonathan arrived in his room, he touched his neck where the stinging was. There was no light anymore. He looked at the mirror, there was no visible mark of some sort. But Jonathan knew exactly how the mark looked like. It was like a sampaguita, a flower, with a leaf like symbol surrounding the mark. Just like the symbol he saw on his mother's forehead each day. Jonathan was always relieved to remember that his mother is gone. And even though she's gone, she still left something behind.

"Cursed blood" Jonathan whispered as he touched his neck. "Cursed blood" he repeated.