Chapter 1: [Reworked]
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To those who read this story on the very first.
I was still experimenting a bit so it ended up looking rushed.
This is the actual first chapter.

*Tock-Tock-Tock-Tock-Tock*
The sound of a hummingbird hitting a piece of wood can be heard.
*Tock-Tock-Tock-Tock-Tock*
"Ugh...
what's with that loud noise?
Let me sleep..."

But the cruel bird continues to hammer its beak above her.
It was then she opened her eyes, to find herself in the middle of a forest.
Tree's, grasses and dry dirt cold earth were what greeted her.

"Ugh, my body aches...
Where the heck am I?"

She stood in a daze as her head then began to ache but then remembered.

"Ahahaha! If you don't let me go!
You will never see your daughter again!" The mad sorcerer shouted.

As her father trapped the man in his large draconic claws nailing him to a wall.
"..." he was silent, without any kind of hesitation or fear from his word.
he then ruthlessly slew the mad sorcerer in front of him.
Triggering the magic.
That trapped Estel after she courageously shielded her sister with her own body.
It was at that moment.
Estel was then transported to a strange place.

『Father...』
Clutching her chest, she felt the pain of how her own father cared little for her life.
But realizing the situation she was in, it was not a moment to sit idly by and weep.

『I need to find a village or road.
If it gets too dark, things might get too scary. 』

With a calm mind and pained heart, she persevered the cruel situation she was in.

It was morning when she woke, the air was cool and the sun was warm.
The tip of her clothing got muddy, and the beautiful dress of black and white were worn out.
She looked like a runaway princess in a fairy tale.

But as she continued to wander in the forest.
She continued to think of what happened during the incident.
Because on that day.
She recalled her past-life.

『Climbing trees aren't much of a problem.
After all...

That incident made me remember everything.

The reason why I was so obsessed with peace and getting along with my sister.
Was because in my past life I was a thief.
Stealing pieces of jewelry, pick-pocketing, dine and dash along with other shameless things.
To the extent, I accidentally became a murderer who was hunted by the law.

It reached the point, where...
My death was something I would never expect to happen.

Hunted down by the law on a roof-top.
Cornered by men holding guns in their hands.
I ran and leaped to the narrow path of the rooftops in a desperate attempt to escape.
Their weapons were pointed at me, but if one of them shoots me.
Then my life would end and their mission would fail.

But to my error, I made a simple misstep as the slippery roof was the one that claimed my life.

*I do not wish to remember how awful that fall was.*

But it wasn't like I did all that for nothing.
My family was a poor and siblings that I cherished were in desperate need for food,
So desperation took hold of me as life twisted me to who I was.

I could barely remember the faces of my siblings.
But now I know why I loved my sister so...
As I cherished my siblings in my past life.
I was willing to do everything the same to her.

Even if it means falling victim to the mad sorcerer just to save her life.

But my past-life hasn't particularly changed me.
I am still Estel which have lived in this world.』

Eventually, she reached the top of the tree and saw a road nearby.
She noticed smoke coming in a certain direction where the road leads onward to.
『How fortunate...
I should be able to reach a city or village if I followed that trail.
But what should I do after that? 』

She then climbed down the tree to follow the road.
But as she continued her walk.
Her feet were being battered by the cold rocky dirt, as she walked without any footwear.

『Damn... it hurts.
But I need to get to a safer place. 』

Indeed being in a dark forest at night is much more dangerous and catching an illness is what worried her most.
For a young girl like her.
A roof over her head can be a blessing.
If she can somehow reach a village or city.

Estel was confident she can try working as an assistant or a servant in a small shop.
As long as food, shelter, and necessity were provided.
She wouldn't mind having any salary at all.

Was what she first thought.

Until a large number of soldiers were moving right behind her at a fast pace.
In the center of it, protecting a white carriage with the symbol of the royal crown.
But Estel who was from the demon-kingdom didn't know what it meant and simply stood frozen as she idly waits for them to pass by beside a tree on the road.

All she knew was...
These people were holding scary weapons.
She was terrified of the thought of the heavily armed soldiers attacking her.
After all, she is a half-demon, feared by humans because of their magical powers.
With good luck, unlike other demons who heralded wings.
She had none.

『Relax, Estel.
You don't have wings!
They won't know that you're part demon.』

She said in her thoughts to calm herself.
But the large soldiers walking along the road continued to march onwards.
The carriage then stopped right in front of her, as the soldiers with a great discipline made a pathway for the carriage doors as it's well-crafted made a simple *Clack* then slowly opened.

Revealing the beautiful woman with shining blond hair and clothes that were extremely gaudy with children beside her wearing similar but well-crafted clothes.

It was at this moment, Estel knew these were not ordinary people.
Frozen still at what was occurring before her.
Her mind went blank.

The woman reached out her hand to me,
And subconsciously I accepted it.
As she dragged Estel with her left hand.

She then noticed a strand of bandage on her right.

『Did something injured her?』

『No. now is not the time to be worrying others!
I'm being kidnapped by this bright person right now!
Aaaaahhh!? what on earth is happening!』

While screaming these words in her thought,
Moment passed by and she was already in front of them.
She alone was on the other side of the carriage seats.
Three sparkling people were in front of her.

The first she observed was the girl who was at least 12-15 yr old in her looks.
She had blond similar to the woman beside her clinging to her arm,
hence she believed the girl is her mother.

But she was pinching her nose with her free hand.

The stench of mud from her bare feet was causing an unpleasant smell inside the carriage
Estel was feeling uneasy because of this and could only look downward.

Her mother and the girl did not complain but...
The young lad beside her then raised his voice.

"Mother.
Why is this smelly girl in this carriage?"

His word struck like an arrow to Estel wits.
Never in her life, she had someone call her smelly.
Even in her past-life, no one has ever called her that.

After all, she was still a girl who dreamed of having a rich man to care for her.
Along with the knowledge and benefit of leaving fewer traces of one own filth by being clean.
While also giving her confidence in her line of work.

But then the beautiful woman spoke.

"Roland.
Behave yourself."

Her words gave her a spark of comfort in her chest.
Not only beautiful but also merciful.
Then the girl spoke.

"Who is she?" the young girl said.

"Good question."

Her expecting eyes were gazing upon her waiting for an answer.
But nothing would come out, as she trembles and struggled to speak what she wanted.

"What's wrong, did you also lost your tongue?" while he snickered at the poor girl.

His words lit a fury in her heart.
She was thankful and tried to be polite,
But her situation was unexpected and difficult to speak about.
She then finally spoke her mind.

"Shut up!?" She shouted in a cute voice.

[Ah... Now I've done it...]
Suddenly then trembled with both her hands holding her head seemingly in pain.

[Aaaah! I'm talking to a powerful person!
Who has an army waiting just outside this carriage!
Why on earth did I scream at him?
Estel you idiot!?]

[No... I can still do this.
They are still patiently waiting for me to say something.
I need to stay calm and get this done.

Looking at those soldiers, this woman is no doubt.
Royalty.]

As she composed herself making tiny cute cough.

"I'm sorry, my name is Estel.
I apologize for my rudeness your majesty,
but as you can see I am no doubt lost." she politely said while lowering her head.

[Was I right?] as she glances upon the three people in front of her.

As the young lad spoke to her.
"Ha! so you know who your-hmfp" her mother shut his mouth with her hands covering it.

"Can you tell me which family you belong to?"

[Eh? Family... I DIDN'T THINK THAT FAR AHEAD!?]

Estel looks away towards the window,
With worry, fear, and anxiety eating inside her.
She finally admitted as she said.

"I... don't know." was her reply.

Her son was about to say something with an angry expression but his mother held him down.
The girl beside her continued to pin her nose from the smell of dirt.
Then to her surprise, she said.

"You're so cute.
I'm sure after a bath everything will be fine!"
as she held one of her hand while smiling brightly.

Estel could only smile wryly, as she felt another arrow stab her mind.
She wonders why on earth this was happening to her.
But she could only persevere and await the end of this carriage.

Time passed by,
They reached a city and by the window, Estel's eyes widened as she looks to find people with no wings.

Children running around playing happily in the streets. Her heart fluttered wishing to be around such people that she thought of something cruel.

[I should thank that mad sorcerer.
Never would I imagine such a place would give me comfort.]

Her lack of wings caused many demon-folk within the castle to torment her.
Receiving cruel names from demon-folk children who had already begun to sprout her wings.

Wingless one.
Failure of the King.
Half-human Fool.
And many more...

But there was a reason why this had occurred.
Because in the distant past...
Humans who are now in peace.
Once brought the war to the demons.

But only to find that they were no match to their knowledge and power which they possessed.
As the armies they sent were completely obliterated.
A war that should have been a one-sided war was fought.
But the demon-king who were gaining too much territory decided to stop their advance.
Because the land he gained became too much for his people to protect.
He then decided to seek favorable trade in exchange for peace
For what they had done.

This left a bitter memory to the demon race that made them believe.

[Humans are fools.]

As such an event has occurred so did the records speak ill of them.
Because of this Estel was disheartened by it.

As she watched the people gazing at the carriage from the window carriage.
She then remembered a memory her mother once said to her.

Her beautiful mother who held ruby eyes and dark blue hair.
She then asked her this question with a frown on her face.
"Why did you love father despite being called a fool?"

Her mother gave her a gentle smile and giggled.
"Because your father and I loved each other."
With a puzzled look, she looks downward while in her tiny hand's fidgets.
She then asks another question.
"Does father loves me?"

"I'm sure he does." her mother happily said.

But as she reminisces in her memories it slowly turned into a nightmare.

As she then recalled his cruel visage as he cast her aside.
A drop of tear fell in her eyes inside the carriage.
As she clutched her chest.

"Estel... is there something wrong?" her majesty asked her with worry.

*Sniff* *Sniff* "I just remembered, something." she said.
Removing the tears on her eyes as she then smiled brightly to them.

"Please, don't concern yourself.
I'm fine your majesty." As she politely declines her.

But the three who sat in front of her could tell...
Estel was desperately trying to hide the pain in her heart.
Her Majesty then snapped her fingers as his servants from the outside covered the window with a cloth as light mildly enters the carriage.

She then suddenly pulls her with both hands as she embraced her.
"Your majesty, I'm covered in dirt!"

"Are you feeling fine now?"

"I am!" she yelled.
The panicking Estel was puzzled at what was happening.
But her majesty was gazing at her intently.

Roland was looking away with a jealous smug on his face.
While the young girl beside her majesty was smiling happily at her.

"Are you truly fine?" she asks her once more with a worried look.

Estel nod's many times to her.
"Are you sure?
There are times when you need to cry when you need it most." As she said these words.

Estel remained resolute with her words as she happily said.
"I am fine...
There is nothing wrong." she said once more.

Her majesty sighed.
The young girl looked sad.
Roland was then frowning.

[Did I do something wrong?]
Was what Estel wondered as she saw their expression.

As the carriage has finally reached the palace.

Estel was given a vacant room.
Where she was told to stay.
In that room, there was a tub of hot water already prepared by the servants along with extra clothing, it was a bright cute dress that she was familiar with...
She then swiftly removed her clothes with a few clinks and a sound of a zipper as it fell to the floor.
Hanging her clothes in a rack.

As her bare fair skin and worn down feet enter the water.
She rubs herself with a brush that was prepared beside her.
While doing so...
her movement began to slow, her body trembled as she then...
Finally at that moment.
She cried...
Her heart, mind, and body.
As she curled herself in the hot water of the tub.
Alone.

Chapter 1: End.

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