On a stormy night, a carriage suddenly drove into the slums. A beautiful noblewoman stepped down from it. She was Anata, the Marchioness of the Bell family.
She raised her hand, signalling the man to lead the way.
"I went to a lot of trouble to find her, but what do you want with that child?"
No sooner had he spoken than a gleaming sword was pressed against his throat.
"If you want to live, then lead the way obediently."
The man was so frightened that he did not even dare to breathe loudly, and could only walk honestly in front.
Before long, they reached their destination.
"She is right there."
They saw a little girl kneeling on the ground, playing with mud. With just one glance, that beautiful golden hair was enough to make Anata certain that this was exactly the person she had been looking for.
The man cautiously hinted about his reward. A money pouch was thrown directly in front of him. It was a huge sum of money, more than he had ever seen in his life.
"What happened today must remain secret."
"Naturally. I wish you a pleasant time."
Anata instructed her subordinate to make sure the man kept his mouth shut.
"As you command."
The beautiful Kallia, living in that den of vice, was a dazzling gem born from the mud.
Anata slowly walked up to her.
"Why are you not going inside in such heavy rain?"
Kallia slowly raised her head. "Mother is working. Who are you?"
Hearing the word working, the corner of Anata's mouth twitched slightly.
"Your name is Kallia, right?"
"You know me?"
"Of course."
Once, there was a very beautiful woman who, dragging along her heavily pregnant body, hid herself in the notorious slum known as the Ruber district. That woman had no one to rely on and could only beg along the streets and wander from place to place. She even slept beside vagrants, living in daily fear, as if she were hiding from someone.
Until one day, that woman gave birth to a child on the street. That child seemed completely out of place in the foul-smelling Ruber district. That little angel had a pair of emerald-like eyes.
After the season of abundance passed, it was followed by a bitter winter, and the child fell ill from the severe cold. The woman did not have a single coin, and to save her child, she could only offer herself to the village doctor.
Today, twelve years later, Anata had finally found this place.
"I came here specially because I heard your mother is very seriously ill."
Kallia anxiously grabbed the woman's skirt and pressed for an answer. "Is my mother very seriously ill? What should I do? Mother—"
She turned around, about to go and find her mother, when suddenly a hand reached out from behind and knocked her unconscious on the spot. A guard steadily caught the collapsing girl. A twelve-year-old child, and yet she weighed so little.
Anata's gaze instantly turned cold. She did not want to cause a disturbance, so she arranged for people to deal with the aftermath.
"Then what about this child's mother?"
Hearing that, the woman immediately flared up. "In such a broken-down slum, is it not common for fires to break out?"
The guard immediately felt a chill run down his spine.
"Just kidding. I merely hope that she will not come through safely. Let us go. That is enough."
And just like that, young Kallia was forced to leave her mother.
The slum girl Kallia was brought into the Marquis's residence. Half asleep and half awake, she only felt softness and fragrance all around her. Could this be heaven?
A single call of "child" jolted her awake from her dream. What happened?
When she turned her head, she saw a pretty older sister looking at her with a face full of concern.
"Are you all right?"
Everything before her felt unfamiliar. Unlike the crude slums, this place was spacious and bright, exuding splendour and luxury everywhere.
"Excuse me, is this heaven?"
Betty was amused by her innocent words. "You must be hungry. Eat something first. Here, it is a little hot. Eat slowly."
Looking at the plentiful food before her, Kallia's stomach growled loudly with hunger. That instantly made her think of her mother.
A very beautiful auntie had said her mother was sick.
"Why are you not eating? Are you not hungry?"
"Auntie, what place is this? Where is my mother? Where is the beautiful auntie I saw earlier?"
Betty comforted her. "Once you finish your porridge and take a bath, she will come and see you."
"A bath? Why?"
Kallia had not noticed at all how dirty she looked. Betty stammered, unable to say a complete sentence for a long while.
Just then, a burst of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the door. The room door was violently pushed open with a loud bang.
"Betty, did I not tell you to inform me immediately once Kallia woke up?"
Kallia stared blankly at the boy before her. He was like an angel.
"Hello, Kallia. I am Jaelan Bell. Kallia, you are twelve years old, right?"
Kallia timidly nodded.
"I am fifteen. Three years older than you. So I am the older brother, right?"
Looking at the enthusiastic boy before her, Kallia instead curled herself into a small ball. "Please send me back to my mother. I did not even say a single word to her before I came, and she must be very worried."
So Kallia was missing her mother.
"Betty, where is Kallia's mother?"
Kallia also looked tearfully towards Betty, while Betty's face was full of embarrassment.
"Madam will tell you. Madam only instructed me to take care of the young lady's meals and bath."
"I almost forgot. I need to take a bath."
She lowered her head and looked at her dirty self, forming a stark contrast with her shining older brother. Kallia's face turned red all at once.
"May I take a bath?"
"We will go right now. First the bath, then the meal."
"But I do not know how to bathe."
"Don't worry, I will help you."
Betty excitedly pulled Kallia along, about to take her to bathe. But just then, a violent coughing fit suddenly came from behind them.
That sound came from Jaelan. Betty immediately let go of Kallia and hurried towards the young master. Jaelan coughed more and more violently, vomiting mouthful after mouthful of blood. Kallia was so frightened that she clutched the corner of her clothes tightly.
Betty's cries quickly drew a large number of servants.
"Quick, report to Lord Angle!"
"Towels. Bring towels quickly!"
Before being taken away, Jaelan gave Kallia a deep look. It was as if he were telling her not to be afraid. Before long, he was carried away by the servants.
Looking at Betty's anxious figure, Kallia slowly spoke. "Will that older brother die?"
Hearing those words, Betty's whole body shook. When she turned around, she found Kallia clutching her skirt tightly and sobbing softly, clearly truly frightened.
Betty comforted her softly. "No, he will not. Really. Let us go and take a bath first. If we wait any longer, it will be too late for bed."
"Okay, Auntie."
Kallia tightly held Betty's large hand, as if only by doing so could she gain a little strength. That splash of crimson scattered across the bedsheets was especially glaring.
"Older brother — he'll be all right, right?"