In the outskirts of the Astra Nova, situated are Crown hills, an exclusive residencial area where rich, influencial families live.
Ashbourne Estate is also situated in this place.
This place is 18 hour away from the main capital city.
Far away enough to have leave and quite and near enough to reach there in 25 minutes car ride.
The estate sits on a gentle elevated hills overlooking Astra Nova skyline, giving the family privacy while remaining close to the capital city.
The Estate:
• The Main manor, where the Ashbourne family lives.
• Separate residence for older family members and guests.
• Landscapes gardens with lakes and walking path.
• A private library and museum showcasing the family history.
• An indoor sports complex and swimming pool.
• Reaserch workshop and innovation laboratories funded by the Ashbourne family.
• A greenhouse and botanical conservatory.
• Security headquarters and staff residence.
Aelith Ashbourne, room is on the third floor of the main manor.
The room is very big, it have small bookshelf itself filled with books.
The bed in her room is made of expensive wood with elegant hand curving on it surface, expensive silk bedsheets and pillows cases.
On the left side of her room two individuals door connect her room to bathroom and walk-in closet.
On the right side her room another door open to private workshop where she spend her most of the time.
Right now, she lay on her bed staring at her room ceiling like it’s her very first looking at it, not something she spend her life looking at whenever she do mental equations.
Another equations is running through her mind.
An equation which might or might not change the very course of her life.
She stare at the ceiling while calculating how she’s going to survive the today dinner, which is more of board meeting then filling one stomach.
This one in month dinner where all of the five side branches and the main branch is present, it’s an interrogation season disguise as family dinner.
This happened to be on the very first day of her school, which mean she’s already the main attraction point of the meeting.
And her act of escaping from middle of the school is going to be the crime worth mentioning to everyone.
But she knows more then well, she will be fine as long as that women is mentioned.
She’s very sure about that.
Sign…
Since, the childhood her dark purple hair had been talking of the whole society.
They say either she’s not true Ashbourne.
Or she’s really have some kind of rare genetic mutations.
From what big and pieces she had heard from other relatives.
When she was born.
Her DNA was tested by seven diffrent facilities.
Each confirming her being Ashbourne.
This is the reason why the close relative don’t talk about it.
But the media really find fun in talking about it whever her name is mentioned.
She had quite trouble in her school days cause of that.
Her different hair and eyes is the reason why she don’t have many friend.
And why she prefers to stay in library, reading books or working in her workshop with small trinkets.
Since, she had been bullied pretty badly about it during starting of her education.
She tend to show resistance towards going crowded places.
Although her parents and siblings had helped her alot.
They try their best to make her feel better despite being busy as hell.
She grab her phone and check the time.
Seeing theirs only few minutes left, before the dinner start.
She finally get up from the bed and change out of her uniform, wearing some comfortable pajamas she went downstairs.
In the dinning room, almost everyone had already gathered around.
Her arrival catch everyone attention.
Where everyone were dress in casual clothes yet in proper manner.
Those casual clothes are mean to show that it’s just family dinner no need for formality.
But everyone knows that’s not the truth, which is shown the way everyone are dressed fashionably despite in casuals.
Her plain blue silk pajamas with deep blue butterfly print look out of place.
In this fashion show down, buts it still on theme.
She took her seat according to the family status.
There’s are atleast sixty relatives gathered around the table.
On the one side, the head of the table seat two couple.
On the exact opposite seat and old man with grey temple yet dignified posture, he’s the retire head of the family.
Arthur Ashbourne: 78 year old.
Arthur had ruled the Ashbourne family nearly fourty years before retiring.
Although he officially handed over the family to his eldest son, everyone knows his words still carry enormous weight in family.
He rarely raise his voice.
He never repeat an order.
One sentence from Arthur can end the arguments that lasted for months.
He loves his grandchildren, but never shows his favouritism openly.
The only person whom he had expressed his favor is Aelith.
He’s one of the few people who stood beside her, when people point finger at her.
So, she’s quite close to this stern old man.
He’s also the reason why she can wear pjamas on the dinner table without being chastise by other’s.
But today they have knife in their hand, which they probably going to use against her anytime soon.
The dinner in the family only starts when Arthur pick his fork and knifes.
No one else dare to eat before that.
The chitchat happening on the table is more of testing waters to see the bottom line of people seating at the head of the table.
Aelith saw her second brother looking at her with worried face.
She given him a light smile trying to assure him that’s everything is fine.
“Aelith darling, I heard you run away from middle of the school on your very first day” the whole table fall silent.
Everyone eyes on the young teenagers who had just taken the bite of her food, slightly annoyed.
It’s well known in family not to disturb her when she’s reading or eating.
The women had just broken one of the taboos surround the young miss of the main Branch of the Ashbourne family.