3. The Return of the First Miss

"My lady, we've arrived."

I opened my eyes after hearing Zayn's voice waking me up once the carriage stops. Blinking my drowsy eyes and yawning to stretch out my arms and stiff neck. 

I didn't realize I slept until a blanket was over me. Knowing the only person who's inside the carriage with me. I smile.

Zayn steps out first as the sun is bright outside making my eyes blind. He extend his hand as I took it with his help in getting out. 

Took one step as my heels stepped on the ground. The first thing that caught my attention was the golden gate and the Rozen family sigil. 

"Miss Alice?"

I blink my eyes and look at Zayn. "Let's go."

I approached the gold gates as two guards stand in front. Once they spot me walking toward them, they were on high alert. 

"Excuse me, Miss, state your business?" The guard on the left asked with a little hostile tone.

It's been five years and most of the servants here have never seen my face so I don't blame the guard to express that way to a stranger he has never seen before.

I smirk and pulled out my invitation. 

"Cornelius Von Rozen had invited me for his birthday tomorrow," I extend my arm to hand the guard to show proof of invitation.

Both guards glance down at the piece of cardstock paper and then look up at me. "Miss Evangeline, Duke Rozen isn't allowing any of the guests to enter the estate as they are renovating the eastern wing of the estate." He hands me back the invitation. 

"You!"

I stop Zane from attacking the guards, their faces went pale seeing a beastman right in front of them. They don't seem like elite soldiers of Duke Rozen, and fighting against a beastman is their last resort.

Eastern Wing?

That is where my grandmother stays.

"Relax, Zayn," claimed the beast. Zayn took a step back but continue to growl. "This is a special invitation. Even if Duke Rozen isn't allowing any guest to enter the estate but as you know I'm not a normal guest."

The two gate guards shared a look. 

"Even if you received a special invite, we can not disobey Duke Rozen's demands," says the right guard. 

I wonder why Victor isn't allowing anyone to enter?

Does he know of my arrival?

No, Grandpa had stated in his letter that he kept my existence a secret and plant the invitation under a different name using my grandmother's name in the hope these guards will let me in. But in their eyes, they found me suspicious the moment I took a step in front of them. 

So, it's impossible for Victor to be on high alert.

I sigh and groaned but pause to feel a presence approaching just beyond the gates. I pull on a small smile. 

"Zayn let's find the nearest hotel to stay in."

"But Miss Ali-"

I touch his shoulder and shake my head. "It's fine. Seems these two are not convinced that I'm allowed tendency inside Duke Rozen's estate. Thank you, gentlemen, I'll be on my way."

I turn and walk to the carriage.

"Wait!"

I paused and turn my head to find an elderly man with grey hair getting off the horse. head butler, Francis approaches the gates. "Please wait, Miss Evangeline." Francis lowers his head. "My apologies for these two. They are new and haven't gotten the news of your arrival as our extinguish guest."

"It's alright, no need," I say in a calm and elegant manner. 

"You are so kind, my lady," Francis smiles then turned to the guards. "Open the gates. Grand Duke Rozen is expecting Lady Evangeline."

"But Head Butler-"

"Are you going against the request of the Grand Duke?" Francis threatens as he confronts the guards. "You do know that Grand Duke is still in power and if you want to go against him I suggest you take up this problem with him. Open the gates."

The two guards swallowed hard and obeyed the head butler. They opened the gate and allowed Zayn and me to enter. 

"Thank you," I smile at Francis then glance at the two guards who shiver in fear from my intense stare. These two were probably servants working for someone who didn't want me to step inside the estate.

Victor? Rebecca? or even Lavender? 

Either one of the three no one can keep me from going inside. 

As the gates closed Francis gestured for me to ride the horse. Zayn helped me up as we shared a smile and walk towards the estate. 

"Miss Alice, I apologize for those two," Francis sighs. "They are new and are following Duke Rozen's orders of not allowing anyone inside before the grand birthday party."

"I completely understand." I scan the front yard and see nothing has changed except for its garden of flowers and a large fountain in the middle. 

"You have grown, Miss Alice."

I snap my head at Francis's directions, confused. "What do you mean?"

"When the Grand Duke told me you are still alive brought relief to our heart," he says. "Grand Duke and I deeply cared about you and since you disappeared we did everything we could to find you."

This man had served the Rozen Family since my grandfather took over as head of the house in his prime years. Other than my grandfather, Francis was nice to me. 

"Francis, let me ask you something?"

"Anything, my lady."

I stop the horse from moving and glance at Francis. "Why are you and grandfather the only ones nice to me? Everyone else hates me. I don't understand why the two of you are different?"

I was expecting an answer but before he did, Francis pulls on a bright smile. "My lady, you are the spitting image of your grandmother."

I furrow my brows.

Evangeline? 

"Francis, if I recall Evangeline has blonde hair which Rebecca inherit whereas mine is red. And I know what Evangeline look like in her youth. How can I possibly be similar to that woman?"

Although she passed away a long time ago, she wasn't the nicest like Alice's grandfather. She's the one who loathes me more than the others.

Francis only smile not revealing any answers I wanted to hear. "It's not my place to answer your question. Once we are inside, the Grand Duke will give you the answers you needed. Please, let's continue."

He starts to walk ahead as I glare at the back of his head all in confusion. 

"Miss Alice, what is going on?" Zayn asked. Of course, he is clueless about the conversation I had with Francis but I'm starting to seek the truth about my origin.

All the members of the Rozen family have either brown or blonde hair. I was born with red hair the color of a ruby gem. But I have Rozen's signature ocean blue eyes. 

"I don't know, but once I meet grandfather he will finally explain my origin," I've been thinking about how someone like me is treated like dirt and hated in society because of my birth and the way I looked. 

Red hair is uncommon here. There is a story of people born with red hair as a sign of a witch. 

A witch was born from a demon in the shape of human beings with magic powers. Having red hair signifies chaos among humans and those who can control monsters. 

I guess that is why the monsters in the Dark Forest never came close to me and why Zane is too attached is because of my magic energy. 

I've done my research about red hair but the only clue I have is that I was born as a witch. A red witch, a powerful being in the world. In the books, it had informed me that witches had become extinct for hundreds of years and that a red witch is just a myth. 

There are still unanswered questions and it's giving me a headache. I should find clues inside the estate since it has a large library. I'm sure I can find other answers in there.