Erin's parents died in the great fire.
She climbed into the carriage sent by her distant relatives and traveled over a long, muddy road, alone, to Felide Manor.
Sixteen-year-old Erin had only two things on her mind: first, to study at Spen State Academy of Sciences; second, to stay away from Bertha, the stuffy daughter of her stuffy uncle by marriage.
Bertha was so annoying.
She looked like an exquisite blonde doll, dressed in heavy, old-fashioned skirts, and spent all day sewing in her bedroom. She looked down her nose at Erin, who couldn't sit still and was always jumping around.
Erin thought she couldn't stand Bertha either!
-
Felide Manor was a local landmark and the pride of the whole county. The Felides were undoubtedly one of the wealthiest families in the area.
Plenty of people gossiped behind Erin's back: She must be trying to cozy up to her Felide relatives so she could marry a good husband!
Bertha believed it wholeheartedly, watching with disgust as Erin tried on one beautiful dress after another in front of her.
Erin asked, "Do you think it looks good?"
Bertha gave a sarcastic smile. "How would I know? You should ask one of those handsome officers or the earl's younger son."
But Erin really was beautiful, and the dress looked lovely on her, too.
She had emerald-green eyes and thick, flowing blonde hair. Dark green suited her well.
Bertha reluctantly gave a little "hmph" and said, "Not bad."
She couldn't resist taking the chance to make fun of her. "You might as well wear that pretty dress to tomorrow night's ball and invite some of those frivolous young men to dance. Maybe they'll be so dazzled by your skirt and your grace that they won't know what hit them."
The next evening, Bertha watched as Erin bypassed the crowd of young men gathered around her and came over to her.
"Miss Felide, if you like my dress, would you care to dance with me?"
-
Bertha had never imagined that a woman as stiff and composed as herself, a mountain, could be shaken by Erin, that little bird.
Reading guide:
1. 1v1, happy ending.
2. Entirely fictional, no research needed. Most of this is made up as I go.
Theme: Cinderella wants her pretty stepsister's inheritance
