Vendetta's Throne
cately detailed, the blade seemed to gl
impressed curiosity. How could an eight-year-old girl conce
carefully and made h
by a group of children, her eyes sparkl
I could take them all," she said, h
lways desire what
g in an instant. His words struck her like
as he held up the drawing. "I want the gir
examining the intricate dagger drawn with such unset
she asked. "Y
tter," Igor r
resistance, adopting a child wasn't a decision made lightly, especially with someone who exuded
vous antics causing more trouble than good. She had a knack for getting ev
oldier ants only to hide them in the reverend sister's gown. The aft
a's only friend. Later that night, Anastasia had quietly gathered every toy that the g
whose darkness seemed to mirror t
said, a faint, almost relieved
. If anyone could handle Anastasia, it was him. And if not, well, the orph
was going to be adopted, a rar
th sadness. It was the first time she had expressed vulnerability in
after an adoption, to ensure the chil
handle that over the phone." Her words were caref
already elsewhere, as if the con
room, carrying Anastasia's file in her hands. It was a thick file, filled with years of do
rner of the reductant shelf, a place reserved for cases of childre
no phone calls, no concern for
e skies, carrying her away from the familiar yet suffocating world of
made their way to the mansion, Anas
anything she had ever seen, even in the vivid stories she'd read or the images she
ity personnel. A line of uniformed maidens
to her, and make sure she's pr
ard and motioned for Anastasia to follow her. She followed,
heart of this majestic home. The walls were adorned with lavish tapestries and ornate pain
ge, double-door room. The m
room," the w
ceiling seemed to stretch on forever, adorned with intricate desig
lk sheets a rich shade of deep crimson. The windows, draped in
had never imagined in her wildest dreams. Everything was extrava
grand. The mansion's beauty was undeniable, but there was
e, and how old are you?" the
I'm eight years
nded with a warm smile. "Call me Nana. Whi
tasia, carefully helping her to freshen
burned away. She took a small bracelet from her items, one of the
ion was a world of abundance, food, clothes, toys, and so on. Yet, the fourth floor, whe
osely but from afar, hoping s
n. Anastasia, lost in her own world of game
as she approached. "Why are
on. The back of his palm struck her cheek with a force that sent her sprawling to th
ated through her face, and she whimpered, her small body trembling from the shock
nishment seemed less about discipline and more about asserting dominan
in, this grand, beautiful prison came with its own set of harsh rules