Chapter 5

• As soon as they heard that the Count had arrived back home, the maids and servants got right to work. Alicia waited on the second floor stairwell for the door to open.
• She'd been a busybody in her previous life, crying her heart out and missing her dead mother. She ran out that day, overjoyed to learn that her father had returned. She needed to see his face as soon as possible to fill the void in her heart.
• All she wanted and sought was comfort and consolation, as well as to share her grief over the loss of her mother and his wife. He was the only one who could possibly understand and share her sadness, and she even expected her heartless father to embrace her in his arms...
• But that was far from the case.
• When she ran out the door, she saw a little girl holding her father's large hands. She had a feeling the child was related to him the moment she saw the child's happy, twinkling eyes.
• And she quickly discovered this.
• He didn't think twice about confirming it himself.
• Patricia Kenboe was her half-sister.
• Alicia has lost everything since he abandoned the traumatized child who had recently lost her mother and brought in an illegitimate child without her knowledge.
• After that, she was never the same.
• Alicia suddenly remembered something her father had said at the time.
• "Alicia, this is the child who was forced to grow up alone in the outside world as a result of you and your mother." I hope you take good care of her. Please, Alicia."
• For a brief moment, Alicia tightened her grip on the stairway railings as she reflected on the past. Her fingernails scraped the dark mahogany wood as she stared at the door, which was tightly closed.
• She lived a trouble-free life for the next few years, or so she thought. Alicia had no idea at the time, but Count Kenboe paid close attention to the outside eyes because he was in charge of managing the properties inherited by his daughter as guardian. If anything happened to Alicia, it was obvious that her maternal relatives in Ehrlich and Coulson would demand an explanation.
• So he tried hard not to let rumors about Alicia spread outside, and she was cleverly cut in the middle to prevent her from contacting them personally.
• Years had not been kind to her. The subtle bullying that Patricia engaged in toward Alicia ensured that she was never able to relax. She got away with a lot because she was Father's favorite.
• Fortunately, the harassment and bullying never went too far. Patricia desired her clothes and jewels, and her father would accommodate her wishes.
• That was tolerable, if not entirely acceptable.
• It wasn't until after Alicia was crowned queen that Patricia...
• It wasn't until after Alicia was crowned queen that Patricia...
• Anna considered Alicia when the young king was old enough to marry. She'd be his bride. She lacked nothing and would be the ideal candidate. She was also the Anna's goddaughter, which made it even better.
• Alicia was, in fact, the only queen candidate chosen.
• "She and I share the same father... why is she the only candidate for queen?" "How come I'm not given a chance?"
• Alicia happened to see Patricia clinging to her father in tears one day, shortly after the letter from the Queen arrived. She made a desperate appeal while dressed in expensive clothes and accessories.
• "Patricia, this is out of my hands and something I can't do. Alicia was appointed by the Queen herself, and we can do nothing but follow her orders."
• "Can't you write to the capital?" She can't possibly be Queen! I can't stand it if she becomes Queen! What should I do, Father, when she becomes Queen? Father, don't let her go anywhere!"
• "If we don't get Alicia out of here, the Queen will send someone." That will only make matters worse."
• "I'm your only daughter, but I can't even be your real daughter!"
• The country's laws did not recognize illegitimate children. The same was true for the nobles and royalty. It would have been a different story if Patricia's mother had lived and remarried Count Kenboe after the death of Alicia's mother, but the child would have been stigmatized for life as illegitimate because they had not married legally when she gave birth to Patricia. And if Patricia's mother was aristocratic, she'd have no trouble mixing with other nobility, but that was also difficult. Her mother was a commoner, and she couldn't change that.
• Patricia lived in the house as a foster daughter, not as the Count's biological daughter. She couldn't have anything legally unless she was biologically related. In reality, she had no wealth or social standing, and it was for this reason alone that Count Kenboe used Ted Gowan to steal money early on.
• It was to be given to Patricia because she would be without anything else.
• Everything was done for Patricia.