The Queen Wicked Deeds

From that day forward, Henry couldn't help but have Beth by his side. Everyday without excuse, she had to be near him.

He told her that everyone had dinner together in the mansion. So he had Jano, Mateo, and Aunty Smith eating together with them. Though, they could not hide their little smiles for the cuteness of the young boy in love.​​

He told her that she had to be in the library for at least two hours to learn the basics to attend school. She was a little girl with a bright mind, so she was happy every time she entered the world of books.

Jano was the one to teach her most of the time while Henry sat on the side listening. He loved to hear her voice when she had some questions. She would smile when she answered correctly, and she would show a happy face when she understood something.

It was easy to notice that she was a genius. Even if she never had proper education before, she didn't even know how to say some words. However, she understood things with ease and fast.

He would sit alongside her when she would nod on the couch after reading an entire book that evening.

Her little head with her carefully styled hair will lean on his shoulder and doze until she was finally asleep. He will watch her and smile feeling her near him.

It was his little treasure, one that he had found by himself.

Not many days passed when the news reached Grandpa Hill. The old man ecstatic, finally the little boy had someone to share his days with and not his dull habit of not minding anything.

He rushed to the mansion to see the little girl that will change the world of his grandson. The view he observed left him with his mouth wide open.

The boy was kissing the cheek of the little girl in a blue dress while she was sleeping. His eyes were fixed on her face, and he had a small smile on his mouth. Even his fingers were playing with her long red hair.

"Master," Jano walked towards the old man that was taking photos and even recording the scene for eternity.

"When?"

Jano looked over the two little children and smiled, "it's been over a month, Master."

"Who is she? Had you researched her background?"

"She doesn't have family, her parents had left her in a house of a couple that mistreated her. It seemed that she was never registered nor reported to the authority."

The old man sighed… that could mean that they will never know the real identity of the girl. However, it didn't matter. They had enough to provide for her and to welcome her into their house.

"What is her name?"

"Little Master gave her the name, Beth."

The old man smiled, "Did you suggest it?"

"It was Mateo," Jano frowned a little. "I guess she was called that way in that house."

"How do you know?"

"She seemed to be uncomfortable with the name."

The old man nodded. "It doesn't matter anymore, from now on, she will grow to love it."

He moved out of the room to give the two kids some space in their little bubble. It didn't seem that Henry would get down the couch to even greet his grandpa.

However, the old man didn't seem to be angry. He even found everything amazing.

"Jano, let's go to the study, there are many things we had to postpone… sigh… that little brad won the deal."

It seemed that one year more would be added to the little guy to roam free in the house. The school will have to wait.

***

After many days, weeks, months, Beth had grown used to the mansion and to Henry. She will smile when seeing him and her eyes will shine with enthusiasm. Even the old man had grown fond of her.

"Beth, darling, we need to talk," the old man took the hand of the little girl and looked into her eyes, "would you like to belong to this family?"

Beth widened her eyes, and then she leaned her head to one side. "I thought I was already part of..."

"Darling, what I mean is to make it official."

The little girl smiled widely, however, before she could nod with happiness, Henry interrupted her.

He knew what the old man was planning to do, and he didn't have any intention to let him.

"Stop it!"

"Henry?" Beth frowned her forehead. She didn't know what had she done wrong. She only wanted to be acknowledged as part of the family and stay with Henry for much longer.

"What is this?"

"I am only offering Beth a place in our family, you brat, now, don't interrupt!"

"I opposed this!"

His eyes were disturbed, and he took Beth's hand to pull her towards him.

"I won't let you!"

Henry shouted. Maybe there was anger or even disgust in his tone, but more than anything, there was desperation.

"She can't be part of this family."

Beth didn't know what was going on, but she felt as if her little world was shattered. Her bubble of happiness had just exploited.

"Why not?"

The old man continued with his teasing.

"Because… because she is mine, she belongs to me and not to you!"

"What do you mean?"

Henry didn't know why the old man was making things so difficult for him. Why wouldn't he let it go? Beth just needed to stay by his side forever, no matter any title or so-called family.

"She is in debt with me, there is no way she can enter the family without paying her debt."

"What are you saying, kid?!"

The old man hit the floor with his cane.

"I am saying that she doesn't belong to this family, she is only a debtor."

The old man widened his eyes. He knew why the little brat didn't want to take Beth to his family, but he never thought that he would say those words.

Maybe he didn't know what the little girl had to live in before she escaped that awful house a year ago, but now… he was destroying everything with his jealousy and selfishness.

Beth looked at Henry with vacant eyes. That was the first time in her life where she felt true sadness.

She lowered her head as her eyes were filling with little drops. She wanted to snatch her hand from his hand, but she couldn't.

Henry didn't notice the sadness of Beth, but he took her hand and went to the garden. There he paced around until the suffocation in his heart was over.

Then he turned around to see her face, to see her smile again. However, there were none of that, only a face with tears and red eyes.

"Why… why are you crying?"

She didn't answer but looked down to her feet again.

"Tell me," Henry took her hand, but she didn't say a word.

From then on, her face would always display the same empty eyes, the same downcast expression, and loneliness. She didn't talk, and she didn't eat as much as before. Not even her sweet candies or cakes.

Henry was going crazy, he didn't know what to do to make her happy again. He bought her toys, dresses, books. Everything he could think of, but she didn't say a word.

"Fine!"

He shouted when she refused again to say a word. The next day, he announced that she will be the daughter of Aunty Smith and her husband, John Smith.

However, their time together will be reduced, only if she wanted to come to him. He also took the decision to attend school, one where only the elite could attend.

Beth, on the other hand, went to the nearby public school. The days passed, and her smile came back again, however, she never saw Henry directly again.

She will help her mother to clean the mansion or even his dad to tend the garden from time to time. It was her way to pay Henry for his kindness.

If he wanted her to pay, then she will make everything in her power to pay, though, she didn't know until when.

"Henry!"

The voices of several kids appeared in the garden one evening. They were playing around and laughing.

A girl with shiny blonde hair was particularly loud. She was dragging Henry by his hand and giving him cookies. Beth saw them and was surprised, not only because the two looked so good together, with their elegant uniforms but because Henry was letting her take his hand.

"Who is that?"

One boy signaled towards Beth and the others looked towards her. She didn't know when she had taken several steps forward. Her hand was extended.

Suddenly she felt embarrassed.

"No one, only a maid's daughter."

The cold voice resonated in her ears and she turned around and ran.