A young girl stood on the training grounds of the Stone Manor doing some warm up stretches. She had her hair tied up into a ponytail while sporting her Hanfu but it looked different, it had pants. She had seen actresses wearing something similar in Chinese movies and she loved them enough to recreate it. She looked very energetic as she kicked the air slowly multiple times as a warm up exercise.
Meanwhile, Gabriel and the manor guards looked at her helplessly, they knew how weak she was but she had refused to take a proper rest ever since they had started with warm up exercises. She was relentless to keep up with the rest, they began to wonder if she was really a little girl and not some middle aged man relentless on keeping his physique. In order not to be out bested, they had to keep up the pace without resting as well. Miserable was an understatement of what they felt.
Martha looked over from the shade and was glad the lady didn't insist when she declined her request to join them for training today. She hummed as she peeled the last of the fruits then set them up on trays. "My Lady, why don't we have a break?"
As soon as she said that this and Abigail nodded in agreement, the guards and Instructor let out a long deserved sigh ran over happily, sitting around Martha their savior.
"Big brother, why don't we take a break ", she said as Gabriel laid motionless on the ground. What was this girl made of?? Why the heck does she have so much stamina? Gabriel and Abigail joined them soon after on a separate space on the grass as they enjoyed their snacks.
After the break , the two stood in front of the instructor as he began with their lesson. He was already informed that Abigail would be joining them so he went over the basics of wielding and cultivating with a sword for Abigail's sake but he didn't know she already knew most of them. After the brief introduction, he began to teach basic sword techniques and movement skills. Although the progress seemed slowed, she still enjoyed the lessons. Abigail and Gabriel then began to spar with each other so she could get used to basic maneuvers.
"Young master", A guard walked up to Gabriel, "The Duke and duchess have asked me to announce their arrival and they request an audience with you in the dining room".
" Oh... I see, inform them that I'll be right there after I change ", Gabriel said before excusing the guard.
Abigail felt somewhat dejected about not being able to practice anymore but she knew she had to stop for now so they called it a day and decided to continue another time and as for her parents? She wasn't interested in seeing them in the slightest and since they didn't invite her, they made it easier for her to avoid them. They never asked her to eat with them whenever they were around and only asked Gabriel and Rose to accompany them since she was an embarrassment to put it nicely. The former Abigail had felt hurt at first but got used to it, she couldn't help but feel sorry for her but then again she wouldn't go out of her way to reconcile with them.
" Where are you going? ", Gabriel saw her walking away and frowned, she stopped and turned back to him.
" I'm going back to my room ", she replied.
" Oh then hurry up and get dressed, let's go and meet Father and mother together ", he said as he urged for her to go quickly.
" W- what? I don't need to go, you and Rose are always invited so you go ahead without me ", she tried to force a refusal but Gabriel just wasn't budging. With his poker on full display he won the argument against a helpless Abigail and before she knew what was happening, she found herself walking behind Gabriel towards the dining room. The Duke and duchess were surprised to see Abigail, not expecting her to be present but didn't bother to ask questions. After the greetings, Gabriel and Abigail sat beside the duchess while Helen and Rose sat opposite them and then the Duke sat at the head of the table.
The dinner began shortly, the Duke and duchess constantly asked Gabriel and Rose about their progress in lessons, training, piano and whatnot. They completely ignored Abigail and she wasn't bothered as it allowed her to eat her meal in peace. She Duke cared highly for his reputation and these two children never seized to disappoint.
Abigail on the other hand was hard to favor, the constant tantrums she threw in public made people laugh at him for having such a child, further causing him to neglect her. The duchess felt the same towards Abigail and was focused on raising the ideal children that could represent her in society. She cared for the two even if Rose was the result of her husband's unfaithfulness, the marriage was a political one anyways.
Gabriel noticed how no one poke to his sister and thought she might be saddened, even though the truth was far from it and she enjoyed the peace. He began a conversation with her, even going as helping her plate any dish she wanted in her plate. The siblings behavior was really a surprise to everyone atthe table as they hadn't known when the two had gotten so close.
Helen clenched her fist and decided it was time, " Abigail, how have your lessons been going? "
" Lessons, I... "
" I'm afraid elder sister has been absent from lessons for a month now and the teacher has told me to advice her several times but she seems to ignore my advice, oh no I shouldn't have said anything I'm sorry ", Rose said acting innocent and had an apologetic look on her face.
" Then why did you? ", Abigail couldn't help but snapped at her. She didn't know stupidity could take on human form.
" I was just concerned for elder sister, please don't be mad ", she replied timidly causing the Duke and duchess to be dissatisfied.
" You did the right thing ", the Duke smiled at Rose before glaring at Abigail, " Is this how you waste the resources I spend on you, you unfilial daughter ", he looked at her with contempt.
" I apologize father, but everyone knows that I was recovering in this later part of the month due to my accident. Though I agree I was overly negligent before that", Abigail words shocked everyone there. On a normal day, she would have talked back instantly, mostly about the incompetence of her teachers or say she didn't want to study which would anger the Duke more. But not only did she not talk back she also acknowledged her mistakes!
The table fell silent once more after the Duke had punished her to write the history of the empire in two common languages. As they ate silently, Rose noticed Abigail's dress and thought it was exceptionally beautiful. The greed and envy in her eyes shone bright as she spoke , " Sister I heard you invited a seamstress to prepare clothes for you, can I know who she is so I can ask her to prepare a few for me as well ".
" No ", Abigail replied eating her meal quietly, Rose was infuriated but had a wronged look on her face.
" I was asking sister cause I liked her dress ", Rose said sounding pitiful. Helen being the shrewd woman she was dissatisfied with Abigail's response, she too wanted to know who this mysterious seamstress.
" Abigail, why don't you just tell your sister since she wants to know? ", those were the first words her mother said to her in a long time and every time she talked to her it was always about Rose, she sneered in her mind and her eyes full of disgust.
Why would she such parents? Her father had jet black hair, just like the siblings but Gabriel took his beautiful blue eyes. Gabriel looked like his father while Abigail had her mother's grey eyes and delicate features. But no matter how much she resembled them, she didn't feel like they were family.
Most of their resentment also came from the fact that she didn't possess any innate abilities. She was born powerless which was the first case in the whole of the Stone family. Her family was proficient in the Ice Affinity and among her generation, Rose and Gabriel had the best talents. Gabriel had a high Affinity with ice while Rose was the first to possess a high Affinity with Flora, the ability to control plants and vegetation, it was highly valued since it contained traces of healing affinity. Compared to the two, Abigail was worthless in their eyes. She clenched her fists and stood up from the table.
" You rarely talk to me and only do when it's about Rose but the truth is I don't care, you can't force me to share information. It's my business, I apologize for this, I'll leave right now ", Abigail bowed then left the dining room.
" How dare she, I'll have to increase her punishments ", the Duke hollered.
" Don't punish her father ", Rose said with a sad look on her face but she was overjoyed in her head.
" You don't need to stand up for her dear, you did nothing wrong ", the duchess said comforting her.
" BANG!! ", Gabriel abruptly stood up from the table with a grim expression, " Excuse me, I'm leaving now ", he then began to walk towards the door.
" But you haven't finished your meal yet.... " , his mother said but he quickly interrupted her with his cold gaze.
" I've lost my appetite ", he then left the room and the atmosphere became silent.
" Why did he leave like that?? ", the duchess asked.
" Maybe he isn't feeling well mother ", Rose said and quickly changed the topic and the group quickly forgot about the two siblings and enjoyed the rest of the meal.