I couldn't believe my own eyes.

Bars laid in front of me while I got thrown into a cellar. I had been sold to the imperial family. I could still see the wicked smiled my father had left me while I was being taken away. He knew what he had done. And he didn't regret it.

My mother was a different story. Her situation was unfortunate, but she managed to buy herself a noble title. Hoping to marry someone rich for the sake of her and her families future. But she got my bum father instead. He never truly loved her. I learned that by the age of three. When she died of illness.

My father never truly loved me either. His actions proved that. He was a greedy no good lord who only yearned for money. He was sure greedy enough to commit adultery while my mother was still alive. From there on, I ignored him. I believed that was what he wanted too. I never sought for a parental fugue in my life because I had been independent from the start. I only spoke to him when I was spoken to. He never wanted to talk to me anyway.

Prior to my capture, I hadn't a care in the world. I was fine on my own. Without the attention of no one. But had hopes and dreams that only belonged in the books my eyes set themselves on.

I was scared. I didn't know where I was. The only information I knew of was that I belonged to the imperial family. No thanks to my father. What would they want with me? I was just a mere lord's only daughter. The supposed heiress to the house of Azon. I didn't crave for the title, but I at least knew I would fit the seat of our house better then my father did.

"Uhg. I hate this." I heard someone approaching my cell only a few minutes after I was thrown in. Yes, I believe I do quite hate it too. My eyes quickly scanned over the hallway in front of my cell. Waiting for the person to show up to at least explain what I was doing here.

He spoke to a few of the guards on the way down. Perhaps it wasn't my cell he was approaching. I held onto the cloth of my poor, ripped dress and I silently prayed that I would have the will to survive if I would be just left down here. I hadn't committed any crimes.

"How does anyone have the gut to sell their own daughter? I hate those kinds of people." He was talking about me. I looked up and noticed him right away. His messy black hair and his soft amber eyes. The first prince of the king. My mouth fell ajar. Why was he in a disguising place such as this?

"Y-Your Highness?!" I questioned. My place on the floor. My expression only widened when it sank in that it was indeed the first prince.

"Rise." He placed his hands on his hips. He was used to this. Of course, he was. He waited for me to stand up and gave a brief glance over to his guard.

I did as I was told and stood. Shaking in my place. Sure, we were the same age but he had much higher authority. I didn't dare speak out of place. My mouth that was slightly open snapped shut once I remembered my manners.

"Do you know why you're here?" he asked looking down at me. He was tall for his age, but I had no qualms with looking up to see him.

"No sir." I looked him in the eyes as a sign of respect. Though, I found no need to bow, seeing as I was in the cell and as far as I knew, he was the one who put me here. Sure,

The prince suddenly began to laugh. "Wow, today just keeps on getting worse for you huh?" He didn't seem to notice my lack of respect so he took no offense. his lighthearted mood took me by surprise. How is he laughing in front of the cellar?

I only nodded shyly.

"Kou, does she look dangerous enough to be put into a cell? Her dress is ripped for heaven's sake. She came with no interruptions right? This is quite rude." The prince crossed his arms and tapped his foot on the ground. Waiting for an explanation from his knight.

Oh, so he noticed. My simple dress that looked no better than a commoners was ripped at the sleeve and the skirt. I dawned in realization that the prince was in fact, not the one who ordered me in here.

"N-no, sir. But it is a law that all new attendants must undergo a specific procedure. We wanted to make sure she had an audience with you personally." The knight scratched the back of his neck and had a slight pink in his cheeks. He knew what he did was rude. He probably would have done it differently if it were up to him.

What kind of rubbish was coming from his mouth? I couldn't believe it. "Attendant?" I questioned. I wanted to round back to what the Knight had said.

The prince smiled and nodded at me. "A very important guest is coming tomorrow and she accepts nothing little of a noble attendant." The prince took the keys from his knight and opened my cell door. With a soft 'click'. "You just so happened to come here at the right time." He took my hand gently on his own and led me out of the dirty cellar.

I gazed at the floor with regret. The one thought in my mind that plagued it. I should have bowed. He's treating me like a regular noble lady, yes I was disgraceful and refused to bow to a person whom I thought put me here.

"I'm sorry..." I said. The prince stopped walking and turned to me in confusion.

"What...?" He was baffled.

"I wouldn't call myself a true noble. My Father never spent money on etiquette lessons. You might have to find someone else to suit your guest." My gaze to the ground then lifted to meet his eyes.

"That's not an issue!" He exclaimed with a grin.

"What?" his sudden outburst of happiness surprised me

"I can provide you lessons. Only because you're a noble though. Had you have been a maid then I couldn't have helped you." his shoulders lifted in a shrug as he sighed.

How did I get myself into this situation? "Your guest is coming tomorrow, are they not? How will I be accurate for attending in less than a day?"

"Your shithead of a father told me you're a fast learner." The price growled.

I covered my mouth with my free hand in surprise. He was talking to me so casually!

He coughed aloud, knowing his mistake of using such a word, and quickly changed the subject. "It seems like your posture shouldn't be a problem. You compose yourself well. And your manners are nice too..." He let go of my hand to open the door at the top of the stairs. "Can you handle yourself well in a passive-aggressive conversation? The noblewomen these days are bulls when it comes to that."

I shook my head no quickly. "I've never had to talk to other noblewomen like that. There was never a competition, and no one thought ill of me."

"No." his expression was grim as he guided me down an extravagant hallway.

"N-no?"

"It's not that no one thought ill of you. It's that you haven't even had a coming of age party so no one knew you existed until you had gotten bought by my family. You are 16 correct? Or maybe you haven't had the opportunity to have a party because you haven't aged that far?"

"I am 16 years of age. I didn't think asking for a party was necessary since I already knew the answer my fath-...That man would give me. " I found no point in calling him my father now. We were only related by blood. No bond further than that. They say blood is thicker than water which is true, but in my particular sense in this matter the bond we share never existed.

Prince Amane stopped in front of a door with a faint frown. I couldn't tell what he was thinking. "This is the room you will be staying in. But as of right now your lessons begin."

I stepped back in awe. "What? Right now? As in- right now?"

"Did I stutter? We had already planned to have whoever became the princess's attendant take these lessons anyway for review. You just need to start from scratch."

"The princess? Princess Nene?" I couldn't stop the questions flowing through my head. This was too fast for me.

"Originally, Tsukasa was supposed to supervise your training... But he skipped, going on a hunting trip with Natsuhiko. That damn butler. He can never get his manners straight. You'll just have to deal with me for an hour or two. Is that alright?"

I was getting dizzy. Why in the world was this happening to me? If no one knew I existed, how did the imperial family find me? My widened eyes settled back into a normal stare. He needed to watch over me to make sure I didn't pull anything with the princess tomorrow.
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Original release date January 16 2021