They were the most handsome men I’ve ever seen. I don’t know which one is the best looking because they have equal beauty. They were like Greek gods that became mortal.

        I first noticed the man who seems like their leader because he was always in front and followed by the other two. He has shoulder-length, blond hair tied in a ponytail. His eyes were pale, icy blue. Then, I saw the dark circles under his eyes. It seems that he lacks a good sleep. His skin was very pale but he had those dark circles. No. He’s not the only one who had those weird features. Even his two comrades had those. But these did not affect their handsome faces. It made them more mysterious and more handsome.

        The man on his right had short, dirty blond hair. His eyes were Prussian blue. His expression was serious.

        The other man had slightly messy jet black hair. The circles around his eyes were lighter than the Ponytailed Guy and the Serious Guy. I stared at his eyes and noticed that the color of his eyes were peculiar. I don’t know but his eyes were like the darkest shade of red. I’ve never seen a person with those eyes. I was staring at him for a long time when he noticed me. I was caught off guard when he looked at me.

        He smiled at me. His smile was intoxicating. I looked away from him, feeling embarrassed. But I can see in my peripheral vision that he laughed softly. And I felt that my cheeks were turning red.

        The Ponytailed Guy talked to Black-haired Guy and said something and I’m not sure if it is French. The Black-haired Guy nodded and said “Oui”, that means yes in French. So they are French. His voice and the way he spoke was like heaven. It complemented his good looks. I can see that my stepsisters looked at him intently. They tried to hide their smile but they can’t hide that they’re blushing. But my stepmother had a sour look. It seems that she did not like the inclusion of Monsieur d’Artois in this talk about my father’s fortune.

“Mrs. Watson, I would like to introduce to you, Monsieur Louis-Philippe d’Artois and his brothers, Messieurs Alexis and Hans,” the lawyer said enthusiastically. In the way he gestured, the Serious Guy is named Alexis and the Black-Haired Guy’s name was Hans.

Monsieur d’Artois walked toward my stepmother and held her gently and kissed its back. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said with a French accent.

“Mrs. Watson, Monsieur d’Artois, shall we start?” the lawyer interrupted politely.

        We all sat down. The lawyer flipped through the pages of my father’s last will testament.

        It was indicated that I would be given a ten percent of my father’s fortune. I saw that Victoria was uneasy. Maybe she’s waiting to hear the rest of the share.

        The lawyer continued reading. Victoria and her daughters will have twenty percent of the fortune. It was also said that seventy percent and the management of my father’s company will be given to me when I reached the age of 24 and if I’m a college graduate. If I did not fulfill these requirements, the seventy percent share and the company will be given to the Marianne Foundation.

        The Marianne Foundation was the charity foundation of my aunt and she named it after my mother. I was surprised that my father decided to give the big part of his fortune to that charity if I did not do his conditions. It was the last thing he would do.

        He never heard anything about my mother since she left us. Her disappearance also caused problems between her family and my father.

When I was a child, he always avoided me whenever I asked something about my mother. As I grew up, I learned the true story. The mother that I longed for is not exactly what I think of as a caring person.

        After seventeen years, he still loved her even though her disappearance caused pain to my father.

        “As for Monsieur d’ Artois, he will have the custody of Miss Francesca until she is 24 years old,” the lawyer added.

        “Miss Francesca, he will be your guardian starting tomorrow. That means you will stay at his house until you’re 24. Don’t worry. You will still go in the same school as you are now.” I sensed that there was doubt in the lawyer’s voice. Maybe he was also surprised by my father’s wishes.

        I noticed that the faces of the three strangers are very calm. It was as if they knew this would happen.

        Who are these guys? Are they relatives of my father that he decided to entrust me to them?

        My eyes widened with surprise. Is this the moment I’ve been waiting for? To get away from this miserable life? I don’t know if living with them is good or bad. But I have to trust my father. I hoped I made the right decision. I only asked for one Prince Charming but three came.

        I did not listen to the other things they’ve been talking about. I felt tired. Maybe it was because I have been under stress. I’ve been crying a lot since the death of my father up to his burial earlier this morning. It had been very emotional. I can hardly scatter his ashes into the sea. It is hard to let go of someone you love but it was my father’s wish.

        Unwillingly, I looked at Hans. He was listening intensely to the conversation. I can’t help but stare into his eyes. It looked scary when he is serious but was enticing when I first saw him. His attention suddenly shifted to me. His gaze met mine. This time I didn’t look away but my heart was beating fast. I saw that he was scrutinizing my expression and looked amazed after a few seconds. And then he smiled.

        “Miss Francesca, are you alright?” Alexis asked. There was concern in his tone.

        Victoria approached me and touched my face. “You looked pale. Maybe you should rest now before you faint.”

        She was right. I really need a rest. But did I look like someone who is about to faint? Is it because Hans smiled?

        Victoria rang a small bell. She always used it to call one of the servants. A servant came and helped me stand. I felt dizzy when I stood up. I walked slowly through the door. While the servant was opening the door for me, I managed to catch a glimpse of Hans. It seems that he was saying something to Alexis but I’m not sure. They did not look at each other but Hans’s lips were moving slightly as if talking to someone. Alexis was nearest to him so might be the one whom Hans was talking to. The expression of Hans was a little bit serious.

        “Miss, we have to go now.” The servant brought back my attention.

        After I had shower and changed in my pajamas, I went straight to bed. A lot of things had happened today. I don’t know what will happen tomorrow. I prayed that my suffering will end. I don’t want to cry anymore. I felt that my eyelids are getting heavier and I let my sleep overcome me.