Fated to the Beast

Chapter 12: Happy Birthday

Upon reaching my room, I was taken aback by the sight of three additional large boxes blocking my door. It momentarily halted me and led my mind to wander. One of the boxes appeared familiar, as it often does during this time of year.

Why did I forget that today was my birthday once again?

With no one else in the hallway, I had no choice but to haul the boxes into my room on my own. Exhausted, I settled on the couch without bothering to lift the heavy boxes onto the table, leaving them on the floor.

Why do I keep receiving more gifts every year now?

Although I suspect they come from certain individuals, I can't comprehend why they would go through the trouble of giving me something when they never did before. It feels reminiscent of when I first attained my position. For the first time in my life, I was treated as one of them, receiving numerous presents. I no longer needed the dresses I once had, but I couldn't bring myself to dispose of them or burn them to ashes. Even my shoes had to be replaced as my feet had grown and the old ones no longer fit.

Still, among all the gifts, I hold dear the shoe given to me by Alexandra, even though it is now hidden away. These offerings are easily disposable since I know they harbor malicious intent toward me. I can never trust them. Glancing at the boxes, including the one in my hand, I decided to open them, prepared to discard anything unsatisfactory.

Who knows what they might have included besides poison?

Harmful objects, dangerous plants, or something that could potentially end my life. The poison itself doesn't seem capable of killing me, as I've been self-administering it every day to build immunity. Indeed, I have been poisoning myself to prevent succumbing to accidental injuries inflicted by a weapon.

When I was young, I acquired such a weapon thanks to a vial of poison and a note advising me to apply it to my dagger, sparing me from arduous battles for survival. As desperate as I was, I am grateful to the anonymous benefactor. Perhaps it came from someone who is secretly helping me live, but I can't be certain. If I ever discover their identity in the future, I will express my heartfelt gratitude, as I might have perished without that poison.

After ascending to my seat, my father requested a gift as a reward. I desired a garden filled with poisonous plants, and my father readily granted my wish. He constructed a guarded garden house accessible only to me. From that point on, I began extracting poison from those plants, even though I often feared it might be my demise.

Poison has caused me to slumber for months, and at times, my heart has ceased to beat. Yet, each time, I miraculously awoke. I am thankful every time it happens because I believed I would die in my sleep, vulnerable to my brothers' potential malevolence. Surprisingly, they refrained from harming me, as my father always stationed guards whenever I fell unconscious due to my own foolish actions. That is when my father began using me to carry out his nefarious requests. In return, he aids me in my self-experiments. It is one of the reasons I accepted his demands, in addition to securing a position next to the throne. Despite constantly teetering on the brink of death, I am still alive.

However, I continue to subject myself to these trials because I haven't yet developed immunity to all forms of poison. I want to ensure I make no mistakes and possess an arsenal of lethal substances to employ against others without endangering myself.

Sighing heavily, I rested my head against the back of the sofa. I am tired, but there is no room for complaints. I must endure this game, and fatigue is the last thing I desire now.

I sat up straight and cautiously opened the box gifted to me by my mischievous younger brother. However, before I could fully explore its contents, a knock on the door diverted my attention. I had not expected visitors at such a late hour.

Who could it be?

I rose from my chair, placing the box aside, and approached the door. Upon opening it, I discovered a familiar figure standing before me—red hair and golden eyes, an adult version of the little lion from before.

"What do you want?" I inquired, troubled, only partially opening the door for him. He smirked and handed me another box.

"Have a blast today, sister," he uttered before departing.

It was Fredrick, the only sibling, who gave me a sense of unease. He has looked at me with a repugnant gaze ever since I began sitting beside them. Thankfully, he had never noticed me before, and I'm relieved he didn't. That man... He is a deranged individual who torments his victims before ending their lives.

I decided to return to my room with his gift in hand. Once again, I settled on the couch and proceeded to open the box bestowed upon me by Heath. It contained a cute bracelet that I would not typically wear. Nonetheless, I set it aside, thinking it might complement a specific outfit on some future occasion. Next, I opened the recently arrived box, gifted by Fredrick. Inside, I found a ring, which furrowed my brow. A note lay within the box as well.

"A ring will show everyone that you are mine," the note stated, evoking disgust. As I suspected, he possesses deluded thoughts. He had never given me something like this before. I couldn't bring myself to finish reading the note, for I had suddenly come to a realization. I stood up from my seat and went to the closet to see the gifts that he had given me over the past few years.

To my surprise, all the items turned out to be rings, yet I hadn't considered the possibility until now, as this was the first box with a note. I decided to discard it along with the other rings he had given me, assuming the small trinkets might complement my dresses.

Subsequently, I resumed my seat and opened the large box beside me. I had no idea who it could be from among the remaining individuals in my mind. Inside, I discovered a dress that left me numb. Its design mirrored the ones Alexandra used to wear, leading me to conclude it came from Lucius. He still can't forget her.

I set it aside and proceeded to open the adjacent box. A cloak bearing my name embroidered on the underside emerged. Although it was small, I quickly noticed the detail after removing it from the box. This item likely originated with Estefan—it perfectly suits his nature. I set the cloak aside as well and finally opened the last box, the one I eagerly anticipate every year. Inside, I found yet another dress, but this design appeared more suitable for an adult. Another note was enclosed.

"Happy Birthday! You are already an adult. So, I present you with this dress, which I believe will suit you. However, you can only wear it when I am present. I won't allow anyone else to lay a finger on you unless they meet my approval. Nonetheless, as you grow older, I hope you will encounter someone who brings you happiness. That is all. Once again, happy birthday!" Surprisingly, my father had much to say. However, he could have given me this gift in person when I visited him, and he conveyed those sentiments directly. It would have brought me greater joy, but I suppose he was too occupied to deal with it. He didn't even greet me during our encounter.

Yet, I'm glad he started acknowledging me once I sat beside my siblings. Since then, he has consistently celebrated my birthday, and tomorrow may be no exception. Once again, I leaned back on the couch, gazing at the moon peeking through my room's windows with a sad smile on my face.

"Happy birthday, Anastasia," I whispered.

In that moment, instead of celebrating my birthday, I made the decision to embark on my next assignment. I hope to return in the following years and celebrate my birthday once more.

As the moonlight bathed my room, casting eerie shadows across the floor, a sense of determination welled up within me. It was time to set aside the gifts and festivities of my birthday and focus on the task at hand. My mind shifted from introspection to anticipation as I prepared for my next assignment.

I carefully locked away the dresses and accessories in a hidden compartment within my wardrobe. These gifts, while extravagant and thoughtful, held little value to me beyond their potential uses in my games of manipulation. The ring from Fredrick, however, gave me pause. It was a reminder of his possessiveness and his intentions veiled in darkness, which is why I decided to throw them. They were twisted tokens of his desires, a constant reminder of the dangers that lurked in my life.