Chapter 98 - Story (1/2)

Tia looked at her mistress with worry. Anne had been reading some pages from a report for a while with great interest, no even taking a piece of the delicious-looking cake in front of her. However, Tia didn't remember when those strange papers appeared in her hands one moment.

”Princess Anne?” Tia asked.​​

”Mm?” Anne also had noticed the strange gaze of Tia when giving her the report, it was not ordinary. ”What is it, Tia?”

”Sigh… nothing,” Tia said, and let it be, she must have spaced out for a while.

However, Anne was gripping the papers with more strength than ever.

[Beth Smith,

Beth was taken to a beautiful mansion with amazing gardens full of trees and flowers. She was so happy to see how can a place be so beautiful, so amazing.

The only view she had seen for the last few years was the horrible house of the Morrison's that didn't have anything but trash and waste. Then the streets with the cars, the roads, the homeless, and pain, so much pain.

Beth didn't know why only the fortunate ones were granted the view of such beauty, and then looked at the boy that had been engrossed in playing with his tablet.

He was also an amazing and fascinating view, the delicate pale face, the bright black hair, and those impressive bright emerald eyes. She was bewitched by those eyes.

However, she knew that they won't ever be hers, not the boy, not the eyes, not his attention or his care. He was only a good citizen that helped her in a moment of need and nothing else, or so he told her.

They will give her food and clothes and a shelter, and they will ask a couple of servants to take her in as her adoptive parents. Then as a gratitude payment, she will have to work for them.

Again, that gratitude thing as payment. Why is everyone expecting to receive her life for a piece of bread and shelter? Why don't they shove her to the authorities instead of taking her in?

Beth was tired.

She decided to follow the instructions of the little boy and live with the old couple. The Smith couple, the old Mrs. Smith didn't have any children, and she was so happy to receive her as one.

So Beth was happy, those few years she grew up with the old couple were filled with so much happiness. She could follow the old woman to clean the Mansion and at the same time to read the books in the library, so many books. Then she would go to the kitchen to help Mr. Smith, mostly to taste the delicious food he will make every day for the young master.

However, she would never go near the little boy with emerald eyes. Beth would always keep her distance and stay away from his path.

She would even go to school, an ordinary school for ordinary people. She was happy to have friends, the kind of friends that even if they bullied her, she could fight back, and then they will laugh together.

She became a beautiful young girl at the age of thirteen, however, the school sent many times messages to her parents, not bad news, but good ones, or so they thought. Beth didn't like them, not at all.

A prestigious school had taken notice of her bright mind. A genius they called her.

They tested in different areas, and she got the most impressive scores, even surpassing those of the most amazing schools. The Smiths were happy for her, but they didn't have the money to let her join those schools, and Beth… she didn't want to go.

However, as they noticed her impressive potential, they offered her more privileges, a scholarship, full scholarship that covered everything from middle school to college. Though nothing comes for free again, she had to stay in the college to produce the most impressive research for them and teach their students for a few more years, they didn't specify how many.

What an amazing offer, most of them would think. It was obvious that if they were offering a lifetime opportunity, something in return should be expected.

However, for a little girl that enjoyed living her life with her friends and her parents. To be subjected to such chains from the beginning, she didn't like it.

She cried.

She shouted that she won't go to that school and if they made her, then she would run away from there and never come back.]

Anne continued reading but had to stop for a few seconds to breathe. However, before she could turn the page again, something happened.

Gandalf came back from his little excursion of a few minutes a day. Anne didn't know where he had been going and wanted to follow him, but he would always notice her. Her scent was so special.

”Where have you been?” Anne asked as she patted his big fluffy face. ”Why are you being so mysterious?”

Anne narrowed her eyes and looked at the cute companion of her whole life with confusion. He was never like that. If she was curious about something, he would be the first one to follow her in the quest for knowledge, but now… he was the one she was curious about.

Gandalf knew it, but he decided to let it be for a few days at least. He was told, he was made to promise with his little white leg to never give a hint of the secret. At least, until she was prepared.

”Princess Anne, would you like more tea?”