Chapter III

As promised, Michaela did not let the incident bother her too much. It was a rather easy thing to accomplish given that she never cared for her mother at all. Her life carried on as usual, though the same could not be said for her father. No matter how skilfully crafted his mask was, she would hear him crying or throwing things in his room after a long day at work. Sometimes she would visit his room to offer him a few words of encouragement or an occasional snack bar just because. Her father would always accept whatever gift she gave him and pat her head affectionately.

At that period of time, he was at his weakest, and Michaela planned to exploit it as much as possible before she started the new semester.

So when she went riding with Josephine in the middle of the night, he didn't stop her. He also didn't question the bag she was carrying with her.

In the middle of the forested areas of her family's private land, Michaela got off her horse and took out a pair of rubber gloves to put on. She couldn't let anyone see her pretty hands scarred with burns or rashes.

She knew this was bad, but seeing the orange flames lick away the old newspapers left tingling sensations of pure satisfaction in her body.

Pyromania is an impulse control disorder in which individuals repeatedly fail to resist impulses to deliberately start fires, to relieve tension or for instant gratification.

When the newspapers had been reduced to nothing but ash, she took out her old homework and flicked a lighted match into the stack.

Another cause may be that the patient is subconsciously seeking revenge for something that has occurred in the past.

When she ran out of paper to burn, she gathered leaves to add to the pile.

It is important to know that pyromania is in fact not a mental disorder, though more of an impulsive act of stress relief.

The fire isn't big enough, Michaela thought as she began to light up more matches.

Pyromaniacs have also been associated with abnormal cravings of power and social prestige.

By the time she was done, a large pile of ash and an empty matchbox were all that remained. Inhaling the smell of residue smoke emitting from the debris, she let out a breathy giggle. Josephine tilted its head up ever so slightly to look at her, before returning to minding its own business.

This was her own little activity, and nobody needed to know.

…

"I won! Yay!" Nero raised both his arms and did a victory dance.

Michaela said nothing as she went to retrieve her bey. It was summer break and she returned back to her hometown upon her father's request. He lamented about how she never returned home during the holidays and how unhealthy it was to be a workaholic. In the end, she complied with his request because he so politely asked, and she didn't want to sour their relationship.

Before she could so much as catch a rest after the flight, Nero dragged her out to beybattle, not giving her chance to accept or reject his offer.

"Phew, I'm beat! Say, you wanna go grab some snacks? I discovered this small café that has really tasty cupcakes."

"Why not?"

The café was a quaint little store that was strategically located near a lush park that provided quite a scene. It was the perfect place to wind down from the stresses of everyday life and have a cup of coffee.

Their table was filled with cupcakes, and Nero was happily savouring them while smiling like a child, while Michaela kept a straight face as he watched him.

It was quite the blizzard scene. The adult acting like a child, while the child was acting like an adult.

"Eh, why so serious?" Nero asked, reaching out for his cup of tea.

"I didn't know that my neutral face is considered serious."

"It's just that I don't see you smile a lot. It doesn't hurt to smile once in a while, y'know."

"I just can't smile on command. Especially not after…"

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean any ill will! I was just—"

"No, it's fine."

That got Nero to shut up for the rest of tea break. He didn't even have the appetite to finish the cupcakes that he ordered, so she took one and plopped it in her mouth.

It was way too sweet for her liking, but she swallowed up her discomfort and said it was delicious.

…

It was a fact that she would receive stares from students whenever she walked down the hallways of the university to her next class. After all, she was a tiny thirteen-year-old girl, and thirteen-year-old girls should be in high school, not about to graduate university .

Someone roughly slammed their hands on her shoulders, which caused her to squeak in surprise. The culprit let out a familiar sounding snicker.

"Elliot, aren't you too old to be playing these kinds of games?"

Elliot let out a groan, and she could feel his eyes rolling up his sockets. "Oh, come on. You should loosen up every once in a while. You're the most serious kid that I've met."

"Isn't that a good thing? Don't people complain about how spoiled children are nowadays?"

"There's a difference between being spoiled and being too uptight."

"Sure, whatever you say."

"Then again, you're some sort of abnormal child genius. I'm eighteen and I'm just starting my first year here, while you're thirteen and you're graduating next year."

Michaela raised an eyebrow. "Your point is…?"

"My point is that geniuses differ greatly from normal people. Your intellect causes you to mature faster and act like a miniature adult."

Oh, really?

"I suppose so."

Just then, someone slapped Elliot's backpack, making him jump in surprise.

"You're going to be late for your next class if you don't hurry up!" Liliane reprimanded like a middle school teacher would to a difficult student.

Michaela resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

"Is that so? Then I'll be going. See you!" Elliot said before being dragged by the ear by his sister, all the while yelling at her to mind her own business.

Michaela hated to see him go, despite not wanting to admit it.

…

At the age of fourteen, Michaela had successfully graduated from university as one of the top students in the entire school. Her graduation also coincidently fell on her father's birthday, so it was decided that a double party—more specifically, a ball—was to be held.

"No thanks."

"Ehh? But this looks great on you, mistress!"

"I said, no thanks."

"But Master insists…"

"No. Please don't make me repeat myself."

The young tailor sighed and hung the dress back on the rack. "How am I going to answer to him…"

"I'll answer to him. Please go on ahead."

The troubled girl simply nodded.

Dresses were a hindrance. For years, she had to put up with being dressed up in frilly dresses and skirts. Today, however, she felt rebellious and had the desire to take charge of what she wore.

The dress code for females were long, elegant gowns and fine tuxedos for males. It had been that way for centuries. Being one of the main stars at the ball, everyone expected her to adorn herself with the most lavish gown in the country that would outshine the other women present. Instead, she was going to give them a surprise.

"Miss Rina, would you mind letting me wear this?"

Rina's face morphed into horror, almost resembling the face of Edvard Munch's famed painting, The Scream. "NO! You're a lady! You aren't supposed to be wearing…!"

"It'll be fine. Now would you please prepare this for me?"

Rina looked like she was about to say something, but she kept her mouth shut after Michaela threatened to get her fired for incompetence.

…

Evening fell, spreading the dark blue night sky with a splash of orange. Limousines came and went, with women in fine clothing being escorted by respectable men in equally fine clothing into the mansion. Rows of butlers would bow and welcome them with a smile. The hallways and rooms were pristine and cleaned by busy maids who were scurrying to their respective stations to accommodate the guests at the ball, for hundreds of aristocrats have gathered at the Konzern mansion today.

The grand ballroom where the party was held was filled to the brim with people mingling and socialising over expensive snacks and wine. If one observed closely, they could tell that there were different accents being spoken by the many people present. It wasn't surprising as these aristocrats came from all over Europe.

Watching the people, Michaela crossed her arms and let out a sigh for the tenth time that evening.

"Stop sighing, it'll ruin your pretty little face," Elliot remarked as he reached over to lightly tap on her cheeks to emphasise his point.

Michaela slapped his hand away. "Stop that."

"Awh, don't frown. It's your party, lighten up pretty boy."

"Don't call me that."

"But it's a fact~"

Turning to face her reflection at the wall length glass window, she saw herself wearing a sophisticated tuxedo made with the most expensive and silky black fabric, along with a striking red bow tie. Her long, blonde hair was tucked to the side with a hair net securing it in place.

It was no denying that she looked like a flawless 'pretty boy'. Some women were giving her second glances, and she couldn't help but revel in the attention.

"On second thought, maybe I am."

A maid was passing by with a tray filled with drinks in small cups. Elliot gladly took two servings and handed one to her.

"Are you sure this isn't alcohol?"

"I'm very sure. Drink up."

Michaela threw her head and drank it all in one gulp, before wiping the bit that trailed down her chin. Elliot made no attempt to chide her for her unrefined behaviour.

"Heh, when you become of age I'll introduce you to drinking. Doesn't that sound fun?" He then gulped down his drink.

"I'm expected to drink when I grow up."

Twirling the empty cup in his hands, he shook his head at her. "Always expected to do this, always expected to do that. Doesn't it get old?"

"I am the heir to the Konzern family fortune, the wealthiest family in Europe. Of course, I have expectations."

"Fair enough."

There was a tap on her shoulders, and she turned around to see her father with a smile on his face. At first glance, his smile looked genuine, but looking closer there was a hint of pain on those curved lips.

He was surprised for a moment.

"Eh, why are you wearing this? I thought…"

"I don't want to wear it, father."

"But you've been fine with wearing dresses for the past fourteen years."

"I just want a change of clothes. Is it too much to ask?"

He immediately shook his head. "Ah, certainly not. But it's a little awkward if you were asked to dance with a man in this outfit…"

"I don't feel like dancing."

Shaking his head, he placed his hands on her dainty shoulders and looked at her straight in the eye. "Sweetheart, I thought we've talked about this. You—"

All of a sudden, the music turned into a relaxing ballad, and everyone was hurriedly wrapping up their conversations to pick partners to take to the dancefloor.

"Ah well, the dance is starting. Seriously though, just dance. You're the main star of this ball and all eyes will be on you. Don't give me a bad image."

Michaela nodded half-heartedly as her father was dragged away by some random woman yearning for his undivided attention.

"Shit. I don't know the man's part of the dance. And wouldn't it be awkward for a fourteen-year-old girl to dance with a woman? I'm out of here."

Before she could leave, Elliot gripped her arm firmly. Giving him a steely glare did nothing to loosen his grip.

He flashed her a cheeky smile. "So why not dance with me? I won't judge."

Michaela shot him a glare, wondering if he was sane or not. "You can't be serious."

"But what if I am?"

Just as she was about to let out a retort, she was yanked by the arm towards the dancefloor. Knowing that there was no way that she could run away at this point, she let herself be pulled along to the dance.

It was already a minute into the dance and they were receiving unwanted glances. She sent Elliot nasty glares for the entirety of the dance, but he just chuckled and looked at her with amusement.

As the music gradually grew intense, naturally the dance became more intense. Michaela was occasionally stumbling as a result of trying to keep up with her partner. Having never paid her dance lessons any heed as opposed to her science lessons, she had forgotten a few moves and footing, which resulted in her being a clumsy mess on the dance floor.

Elliot let out a yelp when she accidentally stepped on his foot. At first, she was nonchalant about it until she saw him grinning and said that sentence which made her blood boil.

"Damn, you're really stupid."

"I thought you said you wouldn't—!"

Before she could finish her sentence, she was abruptly picked up by the waist and spun around three times, earning many looks of admiration from the crowd. His grin grew wider as he looked at her stunned expression. Elliot, a young boy who was cold at first, but opened up his childish and playful side to her as they grew closer. Despite being annoyed with him from time to time, he still proved to be a very compatible person to spend time with, unlike many others.

The music came to a stop. Both of them bowed to the crowd.

Yes, he was definitely considered a friend in her book.

…

The clock was about to strike midnight that would signal the ball's end. Michaela and Elliot sneaked out to the gardens to catch a breather. They settled themselves at a nearby bench along with a few bits of snacks that they took along with them. After dancing with Michaela, several other young women had come to request a dance with him. Being at the receiving end of such affectionate gazes was never his intention, and frankly, he was rather tired of it. Other than talking to Michaela and his group of friends, he never interacted with anyone outside his circle. So he was bewildered when he was suddenly bombarded by random strangers demanding his attention.

"You know that I was joking earlier?" Elliot said, patting her head.

She swatted his hand away. "I don't think it's funny."

"Alright, I'm sorry."

There was a pregnant pause.

"Have you heard about the scandal?" Michaela asked, breaking the silence between them.

He knew clearly what she was talking about and nodded his head slowly. "People are still going on about it. Something like this just doesn't die out after two measly years."

"That's true."

He held both of her hands and met her gaze. "Just don't listen to them."

"I never did in the first place." She removed her hands from his grip and placed them on her lap.

"Have you heard anything interesting? Please don't hesitate to tell me everything you know."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." Her face showed no hints of discomfort or embarrassment. Instead, she looked almost eager.

Elliot rubbed the back of his neck. "Well… I did hear that she ran off with this Edward guy. Apparently, he owns this really famous wine brand called Bearing or Beringer or…something. Also, I heard that they were together for about four to five years? That's crazy!"

She nodded her head and said, "very interesting."

There wasn't a need for him to continue any further. In fact, there was no need for her to have this conversation with him in the first place.

It was not like there wasn't anything she didn't know about the scandal.

…

After bidding goodnight to her father, she snuck to the forest with Josephine.

This time, she brought a single piece of paper with her instead of her usual stack of newspapers and used paper.

That piece of paper was a photograph of herself when she was only five. The photographer refused to take her photo unless she smiled, so she did. Back then she was constantly praised for how cute she was. Looking at the innocent eyes and charming smile of her younger self, she was now able to comprehend why.

The flames greedily swallowed the photograph like a ravenous lion, and soon it was reduced to ash. The bits of ash were picked up by the wind and sent fluttering to the night sky.

This signalled a new beginning. Soon she would leave the comfort of her home to build her own company and achieve her unfulfilled dreams.

Nobody was going to stop her.

I actually had this chapter completed ages ago but there was a problem with the site that didn't send email notifications for updated chapters. I proofread this late in the night and was about to update when the error page was thrown in my face. I am NOT waiting any longer for the damn problem to be fixed. So until then, I guess you'll have to check for updates manually? Since I only have 1-2 followers I assume the rest already do so.

(Usually) my update schedule for this story is every week, so you can check for updates weekly since this is currently my top priority story, but other stories will have to wait since I'm too lazy to PM my followers. Sorry for the inconvenience, but the site has been a b*tch recently.