Holding the brush lightly, Lucy stares at the canvas .

Beneath the shade of an oak tree, a blonde woman in her thirties lay in a hammock, a teasing look, her brown eyes mischievous as she held out her hand in invitation .

Advertis.e.m.e.ntIf only I could take her hand again . Lucy closes her eyes . Feeling the breeze, she tried to pretend, but the chill in the air defeated her .

"Aunt Thea," Lucy whispers . Would you be proud of me? Would you hate my choices? I gave up so fast once you left me . I could barely breathe in that city full of strangers . What's the point of life, of dreams when one is alone?

Lucy opens her eyes, gaze latching onto where Mom was embroidering a small pair of slippers . Warmth slipped into her chest, Lucy exhales . "Selena, look" Lucy gestures to her painting . Selena frowns, "Why did you draw a slave, little mistress?" Selena asks .

Lucy drops her paintbrush . "She's not a slave!" Lucy says, her eyes chilling . Selena coughs . "Excuse me, little mistress . I mistook her due to the lack of veil, loose, hair and attire" Selena says . "What do you mean?" Lucy asks, carefully restraining herself .

Selena glances at the painting, "According to Imperial law, female slaves are forbidden to wear veils or coil their hair . Well, not law it's common to see slaves in such indecent attire . " Selena explains . Lucy eyes Aunt Thea's shorts, and a tank top . She hadn't thought about it, that's how Aunt Thea always dressed at home . But . Lucy bites her lip . It's different here .

"Take it to dry . Don't let anyone see it, or let it get damaged . " Lucy orders . It would anger her if others made the same mistake, but Lucy longed to keep the painting chained to her side .

After takes it away . Lucy begins another . Her paintbrush . gliding across the canvas . An image familiar as herself though she never saw it with her own eyes .

Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click www . webnovel . com for visiting .

A black sky . Twinkling white framing a blue ball floating in the dark . Splas.h.i.+ng of green on the ball .

In the corner, Lucy adds a silver disk to finish it off .

Watching it absently Lucy sets her brush down . Unaware of Selena swiftly cleaning it . Oblivious as a breeze blew a leave into her hair .

Lucy's lips part . "Earth"