A young girl ran frantically, trying to keep up with her big sister. Her foot caught, and she went down hard on the path. The big sister came back, stood over her, and looked down.
"My goodness, you're such a klutz."
Karolina Sanchez woke gasping from the dream.
The Sanchez family was the only ducal house in the kingdom of Celestia, and their house name had decorated the kingdom's history — at one point producing the strongest knight, and at another the prime minister who upheld the nation. No matter the era, the Duke of House Sanchez had been the beacon of hope to the country. And to this glorious house, two girls were born.
Unlike her brilliant sister, Flora, Karolina was ordinary and possessed no special talents. She was considered a disgrace to the Sanchez name. Despite all the nights she sacrificed, Karolina could never reach Flora's abilities. As the Duke's second daughter, she had long wished for one thing: a single talent she could be proud of.
The ballroom was lively and full of guests. The people couldn't help but comment on Flora, looking as beautiful as ever today.
Karolina stood alone with a somber look, feeling inadequate as always. Then she spotted a blonde woman who had been injured, her partner saying she seemed to have tripped while dancing. Her mother was concerned about her bruised face. Another man called for a doctor.
However, Flora said that would not be necessary. She had healed the bruise. Flora told them not to fret, and a single prayer made light emanate from her, making the wound vanish.
The mother and daughter were joyous and relieved, and with everyone witnessing Flora's holy magic, all bets were on her winning the next saintly trials with ease. Saint was a title specific to the kingdom of Celestia, bestowed upon she who possessed exceptional holy magic. As everyone said, Karolina also felt the next saint would surely be Flora.
A girl complimented Flora while also downplaying Karolina. But Flora politely asked them to refrain from teasing her little sister so much. She told them Karolina was very sensitive. The girls began to feel bad, but it was all right. Flora told them they would all apologize to her together.
The two of them bowed, apologizing, saying they were sorry for their rudeness, and Flora apologized as well. She just wanted Karolina to forgive them.
With a saddened face, Karolina did just that. And Flora was pleased everyone had made up.
But then Flora leaned in and whispered right into Karolina's ear.
"It must hurt to hear the truth, doesn't it?"
She went on about how Karolina was House Sanchez's only disgrace, then laughed in front of everyone while thanking Karolina for taking on the supporting role. Once again, Flora's popularity had increased because of it.
On the carriage ride out, Flora scolded Karolina, asking about the look on her face.
Karolina meekly replied, "Nothing in particular."
Flora nagged on, saying that if their father didn't have important business, she wouldn't even be sharing a carriage with her. But since this was the only one at their disposal, she had no choice but to let Karolina ride along with her. She told Karolina a disgrace like her should be grateful to even be allowed to share the same space as the saint-to-be.
With the silence, Flora was complaining again and telling Karolina to say something, asking her if disgraces knew nothing of manners around their betters. She went on to say Karolina wasn't like the rest of them.
Her hair wasn't like Flora's, or their father's. Not even like their mother's proud raven locks. It was gray, as if covered in dust. Flora blew on her hair to emphasize the dust.
Flora pointed out Karolina's blood-red eyes, saying they were nothing like their mother's pale pink. Nor did they bear any resemblance to their father's green eyes. She almost wondered if Karolina was really her little sister.
Some said Karolina was the spitting image of the late Duchess. But Flora was sure they were just being sarcastic. There was no way a disgrace like her could be anything like their beautiful mother.
Everything Flora said was like a knife to Karolina's chest. In her heart, she pleaded for Flora to stop, to not say another word. She told Flora that if she had done her wrong in any way, she would apologize.
But Flora just snapped her fan open and began to speak the words Karolina couldn't bear to hear.
Karolina never got to meet their late mother, Duchess Karen Sanchez, because she had passed away from illness shortly after giving birth to her. The childbirth was undoubtedly the cause of her decline. If she had never been born, their mother might still be alive.
Flora continued, saying their mother was a wonderful person, kind and compassionate, as if she were the holy mother herself. That was why Flora would never forgive Karolina for killing her, and refused to accept her as a spitting image. She rejected Karolina with every fiber of her being.