Path To Godhood Begins With Marrying Wife And Gaining SSS Rank Skill

Chapter 284: 284:Claira De Rudius 2

A small girl trembled as she looked out of the window. Her tiny hands rested on the cold glass, and her breath left faint marks on it. Outside, the garden was bright and alive. Many children were running around, laughing and chasing each other. Their voices floated freely in the air.

Seeing them, she pouted and lowered her head.

“Why can they play outside while I can’t?” she asked in a small, shaky voice. “Isn’t it unfair, Nanny?”

She turned toward a brittle old woman with white hair tied neatly behind her head. The woman’s face was lined with age, but her eyes were gentle.

“It is unfair,” the nanny said softly, “but it is the Imperial order. Believe me, Princess Claira, it is for your own good.”

“But I want to play,” the girl protested. She puffed her cheeks, trying to hide the sadness in her eyes.

Seeing her duck-shaped pout, the nanny chuckled and gently squeezed her cheek.

“It’s alright. Isn’t Nanny here with you?” she said warmly. “I will play with you until you are tired.”

“Yes,” Claira replied, forcing a small smile.

Even though she nodded, her heart ached. What she wanted was not just to play. She wanted love. She wanted freedom.

One day, when Nanny went out to finish her chores, Claira quietly opened the door of her room. Her heart beat fast as she tiptoed through the long halls.

No one stopped her as no one was there to notice.

She finally reached the garden.

There, princes and princesses were playing together. Some were laughing, some were arguing, and some were chasing butterflies. The scene looked warm and bright.

The moment they noticed her, they stopped.

Silence spread.

Claira hesitated for a second, then bunny-hopped toward them with a hopeful smile.

“Hello,” she said nervously. “I am your little sister, Claira. I want to play too.”

The moment her name left her lips, their faces changed.

“Claira?” someone gasped.

“Ahh!”

“What an ugly face.”

Claira froze.

Until that moment, she had never truly thought about her appearance. She had never seen her own face clearly. Her nanny never let her look into mirrors for some reason.

“I am not ugly,” she said weakly. “Nanny said I am the most beautiful girl.”

One of the princesses sneered.

“So you are that cursed daughter.”

“You don’t deserve to be a princess, you fat ugly duckling.”

The words struck her harder than fists.

Before she could react, someone pushed her. She stumbled and fell onto the grass. Another kick followed. Then another shove. Laughter echoed around her.

“Go away!”

“Monster!”

“Cursed thing!”

She tried to get up, but someone pulled her hair. Another slapped her cheek. Her small body curled instinctively, trying to protect itself.

Claira cried loudly. Her tears soaked the grass beneath her. She begged them to stop, but the bullying only grew worse.

Then a familiar voice cut through the chaos.

“Stop it!”

The nanny rushed forward and pulled Claira into her arms. She glared at the other children, shielding the trembling girl with her frail body.

“How dare you touch her?” the nanny shouted.

One of the princesses scoffed.

“Know your place, old woman.”

“You are just a servant. Take that cursed thing away.”

The nanny bowed her head and swallowed every insult. She said nothing more. She only tightened her arms around Claira and carried her away.

Inside the room, Claira clung to her.

“Nanny,” she sobbed, “why did they say I am ugly?”

She looked up with tear-filled eyes.

“I am beautiful, right?”

The nanny wiped her tears gently, even as her own eyes burned.

“Yes,” she said firmly. “You are the most beautiful person in the world.”

“Don’t listen to them,” she continued softly. “They are just children who know nothing. One day, you will grow up, and the world will know your beauty.”

Claira sniffed. “Really?”

“Yes,” the nanny said, biting her lip. “I swear.”

“One day, the most handsome prince in the world will come and save you.”

Claira smiled through her tears.

“I believe you.”

After that day, Claira never went outside again. Fear wrapped around her heart tightly. The nanny became her entire world.

Until one day.

“Nanny… I am hungry,” Claira called softly. “Please bring me food.”

No answer.

“Nanny?”

Still nothing.

Her voice grew louder. “Nanny!”

Panic crept in. This had never happened before.

Gathering her courage, she stepped out of the room. The hallway felt colder than usual. Her small feet trembled as she walked.

Then she saw it.

Her nanny lay on the floor, unmoving.

Beside her stood a man. His eyes were cold and empty. He looked down with disgust.

“Useless,” he spat. “Pah.”

He stepped over the old woman and walked away, completely ignoring the shaking child.

Claira rushed forward and knelt beside her nanny.

“Nanny, why are you sleeping here?” she cried. “Nanny!”

She shook her gently. There was no response.

Fear gripped her chest so tightly that it hurt.

“Nanny, wake up. I won’t be a bad girl anymore.”

“I won’t cry and I won’t go outside.”

“I promise I will listen to you.”

“Please get up.”

“Nanny! Nanny!”

Her cries echoed through the empty hall.

“NANNY PLEASE WAKE U-Ahhhhh!”

Suddenly, Claira’s eyes flew open making her gasp lightly.Her entire body was drenched in sweat.

She was inside a large, spacious carriage. Moonlight filtered through the curtains. Her body was drenched in sweat, and her chest rose and fell rapidly.

It took her a moment to realize it was a nightmare.

But the pain felt too real.She hugged herself tightly.

Nightmares were common for her, but this was the first time she remembered something buried so deep.

Yes..

She was an abandoned child.One who was hated and loathed.

A tool for others to release their frustration.Anyone who came close to her died.

Bullied. Beaten. Abused.

That was her life.

Many would wonder why she was still alive.

She had tried to end it herself, more than once.Yet every time, she was stopped.As if someone was watching.As if she was not allowed to die.

As if she was just meant to suffer.