After I Died, They Finally Loved Me

In our family, Mom was the only princess. I was just the servant.

My father and brother adored her, doted on her, and let her unleash all her cruelty on me—her personal punching bag.

She said my birth ruined her figure, made her old and ugly. From the moment I took my first breath, she despised me.

Every year on her birthday, while the house filled with laughter, flowers, and cake, she made sure I disappeared—locked away in the attic to “reflect on my mistakes.”

That attic became my world of silence and shadows, while hers overflowed with praise and presents.

“Mom, are you finally satisfied?”

But then—why did you all regret it only after I died?

——

"Don't be angry, Mom… I won’t do it again."

I’ll be exactly what you want me to be.

Ignoring her insults echoing down the hall, I climbed into the attic one last time, heart already hollow. I closed the door behind me—no tears, no fight left.

In the stillness, I stared up at the bright moon. The crimson mandala bloomed across my vision, vivid and final.

"Why doesn't my hand hurt at all, but my chest feels like it's being crushed?"

"I'm giving myself back to you, Mom. That’s what you wanted, right?"

And just like that, I left—quietly, like I had lived.

But I didn’t vanish. Not right away.

I lingered, my soul drifting through the cold night air. No one noticed I was still up there in the attic.

Not even when morning came.

I let out a hollow laugh. "Elara, even in death, you're invisible."

Maybe I really was a mistake—an unwanted crack in their perfect family portrait.

Without me, they could go back to being happy. I was just sorry they’d have to clean up the mess I left behind.

The next morning, my brother Asher Quinn stumbled downstairs, yawning, irritated by the clutter in the living room. Only then did he remember—

I was still locked upstairs.

I used to wait until they were asleep, sneak out of the attic, and clean everything—quietly, like a ghost they never wanted to see.

Frustrated, he stormed to the attic and pounded on the door.

"Elara, are you crazy? Why haven’t you cleaned up yet? Still trying to spite me?"

"If you’re so useless, just leave already. What’s the point of keeping you around?"

"It’s just a holiday. Was that really enough to make you act like this?"