When Blake gave her confused reply, Sophia blinked and turned her attention to the doll-like annoyance standing before her. Imogen was impatiently tapping her small foot and tightly hold her arms over her chest. "Did you enroll her without permission, Imogen?" she quelled, quirking a thin blond eyebrow with mild irritation.

The brown-haired girl's face went a deep shade of red and her mouth hung open slightly, surprised at Sophia's question. "How did you-"

"You're a fool. The walls are thin and when you're mother finds out, you'll be grounded for ages," Sophia chimed, swirling her finger around on the touch-pad. Right under the 'Facilities' link was the 'Classes' link. She moved her finger on the touch-pad up to the link and not even two seconds later, the offered courses popped up.

Imogen stood there, flustered, her brows furrowed with anger. "Shut up, you big meanie!"

Sophia turned away from the thoughtless brown-haired girl in her chair and looked up at Blake with her cool blue eyes. "I guess you'll be attending Ashford with me. Well, let's go tell your mother. We can look at the classes later." She tapped on the necessary keys to freeze the computer screen so she could come back to it and closed the laptop.

The best thing about her laptop was that it automatically locked. If Imogen wanted to do anything with it, she would be unable to. The lock was much too difficult to break through and there was a back up lock in case she did get through. State of the art technology did wonders.

She set the wonderful piece of technology on her desk and stood up, stretching out her arms. "Shall we, Blake?"

"Attending that place? For real?" Blake's wide blue eyes settled on her younger sister, who was pouting with her doll-perfect lips sticking together. She looked so cute with her cheeks red and puffed out like that. Their mother always fell for it hook, line, and sinker. Blake turned back to Sophia and nodded. "Alright, I'm coming."

Sophia's house was really a testament to luxury. Maids and other servants flitted about everywhere, ready to help if you were lost or needed any sort of refreshment. Rooms upon rooms and floors upon floors. While the inside was quite lavish, though, Blake normally spent her time outside whenever she visited her uncle and cousin - their garden and courtyard were unrivaled in both beauty and size.

Blake walked a few meters in front of Sophia, who glided on softly. The brown haired girl occupied herself with hopping on only certain patterns on the rug that ran the length of the giant hallway. Her eyes were solidly on her feet as she asked, "Immy really wants to get rid of me, doesn't she?"

Although her face was blank with mild alertness, her voice was heavy. What Imogen had done really did hurt.

"Imogen is a useless brat. She has no feelings and all she wants is to be the center of attention. You're better off with me, anyway," Sophia explained gently, taking careful step after careful step down the lavish hallway.

It was really quite sad what Imogen was doing; All because she was so selfish and begged for the attention. Another thing Sophia didn't like about her cousin. That brat was too selfish to see the harm she inflicted on the people closest to her, especially her sister. Blake received little to no attention from her mother, having to settle for Duke Blackfeld and her own father when they could be present just because Imogen was a greedy little insect.

A frown tugged at the corners of Sophia's full lips, her thin brows furrowing. "I'd rather you be with me, Blake," she said quietly, rounding a corner and continuing on.

There were seven doors on each side of the hall, all shut and each painted a different shade of gold. At the end of the hall was an opening which, in turn, lead to the foyer of the Blackfeld estate. Sophia sighed and occupied herself with the unnecessary designs in the carpeting, analyzing the curves and circles, angels and sizes of the gold patterns in the otherwise red carpet. There were blues and greens, oranges and purples interlaced in swirling lines with gold designs, making the gold pop out.

It was then Sophia realized she lived in an unnecessarily lavish estate.

Nearing the mouth of the hallway, she stopped and looked around, her blue eyes settling on the Dutch urn protruding from the pale tiles in the center of the foyer. Around the urn was a circle of snapdragons, favorite flowers, blue ones. Each flower was trimmed and arranged to perfection, leaning towards the Japanese woman's grave. Just outside of the ring of snapdragons was a circle of periwinkle tiles that acted as a frame for the beautiful array of flowers and the tall burial urn.

Deep inside, Sophia wished she could've met her mother. She never quite got the guidance she needed from a woman, having a neglectful step-mother that she had never even met or seen. There wouldn't be much to say about a woman who she'd never had the...privilege of being in her presence. If only Weiss Blackfeld hadn't raped the maid, if only her mother was stron enough to pull through, if only the stupid Britannian duke hadn't married such a pitiful Britannian woman, Sophia would have a mother. A living one.

Maa... She frowned.

Two stairwells lined the edges of the large, circular foyer, leading to the large, exquisite doors that opened up to the driveway outside. An intricate railing followed the stairs as they went; Underneath the spot Sophia had stopped herself in was a hall (Jut imagine the layout of The Haunted Mansion with Eddie Murphey). This hall lead to the ballroom, and in the ballroom there was a flight of stairs that lead up to the Duke's room.

And the Duke's room was where all the noble family would be hidin out in, Sophia's destination.

"C'mon, Blake. Feel free to talk," she said flatly, taking her leave down the stairs.

Blake frowned as Sophia described Imogen, glad that her cousin couldn't see her expression since she was hopping along in front of her. But she does have feelings, Soph'. She'd never say it out loud for fear of an argument with her best friend and favorite cousin, but she'd sure think it. Immy has feelings.

Ever since they were little, it was true that Imogen had stolen all affections of their mother. At two years old, Blake had watched Liesel (her mother) completely fall in love with the newborn she was to call sister. She'd stand in the doorway of Imogen's nursery and simply watch her mother coo and coddle the pretty little thing. From the very first day, Blake had been afraid to touch Imogen. The doll-like creature would shatter against her rough hand.

While Rodger Addison would make time to play in the yard with her, chasing her and pacifying her need for movement, Liesel had stopped trying all together. She was a lady of propriety who felt that even little ladies shouldn't play so roughly. Somehow, without knowing it, Blake had disappointed her mother. So Liesel turned to this fresh, new chance at a prim daughter. And Blake was left in the yard, a kickball her only companion.

It wasn't until she'd been sent to visit her uncle Wiess that she actually made a friend. Sophia. The blond little angel with eyes of powdery sky blue. She was gentle and paid attention to Blake, a gesture the brunette had only gotten from her father. Uncle Wiess had always been good about playing with her, too, for a while, though he still sort of scared her.

Sophia was more of a sister to Blake than Imogen. So why did Blake stick up for the younger girl who would rather get rid of her than love her, even under her breath?

"C'mon, Blake. Feel free to talk," Sophia said, smashing her self-destructive thoughts.

"A-Ah, right," Blake stammered, turning pink a little. She distracted herself from the embarrassment by switching from hopping on the carpet pattern to spinning every few steps. Her eyes were on the ceiling as she did this, slowly, so she wouldn't get dizzy. The patterns on the ceiling were interesting if one spun while gazing at them. "So what do you think Ashford'll be like? You don't think it'll be a total cram-time academy, do you? I don't know if I could take it," she said with a groan.