Nona Void was a person.

She grew up in Marchen and had been there since she could remember.

But that was the end of it. She was a person and nothing more than a faceless in the background, fated to watch another revel in the shine of the spotlight above.

Creative Classes finished an hour ago so most students in this sophisticated private institution were free to do whatever they want until afternoon. Nona was not as rich but her family had sufficient funds to send her to this lavish school that Alessa happened to be attending too.

"Why do you continue to exist, dumb bitch?"

"Yes like are you not tired of being tormented every day?"

"Seeing your face every day is such a nuisance!"

The class Nona was in only have 13 students in total, including her. It was a special section only meant to be selected for paying hefty sum but the subjects taught in this class center on creative writing, literature and everything of relations to it. Part of the perks printed on the school's brochure was the students of this special section would get absolute chance of becoming an author after graduation.

Across the room, Alessa sat on her designated table. She wasn't looking at anyone but not crying either, it was obvious under her uniform sleeves that she had some bandages around her arms. "Because...I was born to live"

Usually Alessa would ask their classmates to just let her be or stay quiet until they leave but today...

Nona curled her hands around the notebook she was holding, the open notebook had many pictures of Alyssa and the autograph she got. A scrapbook filled with nothing but Alyssa.

"HUH? What kind of answer is that?!" One of the mean students asked with a weirded out expression.

Someone hit Alessa at the back of her head. "Hey dummy, you're really a lunatic, aren't you? You shouldn't be allowed to go out at all!"

"My siblings worked hard to keep me safe and enroll me to a good school so I can have another means of polishing my talent" Alessa replied softly, ignoring the pain from the back of her head. "I can't get the same workshop Midori had because they wouldn't allow me"

Nona watched Alessa get pulled up from her chair, that long strawberry blonde hair yanked without remorse.

"Stop talking back to us! Why won't you just die?!"

"Because my life is not only mine, it also belongs to my mother and my siblings. That's what Black always tell me when I'm doubtful..." A small smile spread on Alessa's face.

It increased everyone's annoyance to see her so dazed and smiling, but also cemented in their heads that the other Lacehearts were telling the truth about this rut. She was just as mad bonkers as her mother.

An uncommon scenario it was for Nona to see Alessa get beaten in the corner by their classmates while spouting vile words. None of them knew the absolute truth behind Ramon's wife but because of how influential he was at Marchen, pretty much his family was the country's sun while everyone were rotating planets around him, most people didn't bother digging further.

"Black?! Is that the name of your imaginary friend?!"

"Neither your siblings or those make-believe friends can keep you safe, dummy! Just die already!"

"Do us a favor, will you?!"

While they were busy, Nona went to Alessa's table and picked up the paper she was writing on—a draft for a new story with chapter outlines. Nona's eyes rounded with delight and curiosity, lured to the idea Alessa penned.

Those hands holding the paper folded it slowly whilst sensing a crawl of triumph under her skin, without hesitation, Nona slipped Alessa's story notes in her skirt pocket as she resumed watching their classmates feast on her as a daily routine.

A small smile forming, "Don't you worry, Alessa...in me, your stories will be known." Nona finally acquired her key to leave the background and become someone else who'd matter in Marchen.

--

The morning was bright, windy and perfect for an outdoor solitude or activities, nothing that'd cause prickly heat of discomfort against the skin. The line of planted shady trees in the garden helped huge in maintaining a natural coolness around the manor.

Alyssa sat alone at the back porch, laid on the small table across her was a silver tray of tea and finger pastries. Those soft red and onxy heterochromatic eyes stared at the bushes of black roses planted nearby. So pretty yet solemn.

"There is my most favourite cousin in this pathetic land, the only one worth gazing at" Here came Naldo who showed no sign of animosity after what Alyssa put him through yesterday. The distant sleazy male cousin walked to the table, inviting himself onto the space next to the white-haired young woman. "Did I ever tell you how gorgeous your hair is, Alyssa?" His fingers ran through the smooth strands without permission.

No reaction incited by Alyssa, her face was like a visage of a statue created by Pygmalion. "Yes, you have limited attention and thinking span you can only form nonsensical conversation." Her gloved black hand reached for the dainty decorated teacup, sipping its content.

Naldo visibly incensed at the reply, he snorted and continued leering at Alyssa. "What's the matter, cous? Where is that fire you showed me last night? You know where else I'd love to see your luscious hair, hm? Fanned out in my bed with you underneath me." He had this haughty grin upon noticing a subtle shift on Alyssa's reaction but she was trying hard to suppress it, his salacious gaze roamed down her body—knowing that underneath the expensive red dress she wore, she was voluptuous and would definitely give him the satisfaction he wanted. "You're so amusing...acting like you didn't get punish by Uncle yesterday but then again you probably enjoyed riling him up so you can be punished, right?"

She and her twin was released from the dungeon basement before sunrise, everyone acted like their actions were as natural as breathing. They were always so oblivious to the flare of wrath in Alyssa's dual-colored eyes.

'Is my wish for the three of us too much to be granted? Where are the fairy godmothers existing in fairy tales or wise hermits when you need them?' The fire embers of her anger was just as white as her hair, the hottest color but it spread ache underneath this vehemence because they could do nothing beyond stir trouble. A useless rebellion.

Alyssa felt Naldo continued his unwanted ministration on her from the side, sniffing and whispering malicious intent close to her ear. Those calloused hands feeling her front without regard but Alyssa didn't say anything, she only held the dainty teacup tight and stared at it... From the lavender-pink shade and grounded petals, the tea content shifted before her hard gaze, turning into a coppery red and lone eyeball blossomed in the middle.

It was Naldo's eyeball.

"Let me eat you, cousin. Let me eat you and I'll get you where you want to be" Naldo whispered, still too deep in his uncensored animalistic libido to realize his doom might come sooner than later.