Chapter 110: Chapter 110
Days went by.
As ordinary as they could be lived by us, the remaining days at the duchy passed quickly.
We went to the garden about three times to explore some more and draw a few sceneries there.
It was quite a wide piece of land where the hidden garden was located, so there were a lot of good spots from where I could draw awesome perspectives.
The Duke visited daily too and ate his meals with us as usual. The family dinners continued to show their fake harmony and Paul..... Only visited yesterday night to say his "goodbyes" since today we are leaving early in the morning to fulfil the promised visit to the Royal Palace.
He didn’t do anything though. Just like the day we went shopping with Marianne’s Father, Paul merely seated like a statue next to me after telling me to keep sleeping —which I obviously didn’t do — and stayed until he felt like it.
Thus, right now... I feel like a zombie as I am being dressed up when the sun has yet to come out... By a trope of maids.
’... Someone..... Help.....’
I’m half dead at this point.
That f***ing psycho couldn’t find a better day to be creepy and rob me of the little hours I had to refill the little energy bar this poor body has.
’I swear..... I’ll make it so he can’t have children... He won’t even be able to use it..... I’m sure he’s a freaking cherry boy for how creepy he is..... You won’t get to have your fun Paul... I’ll make sure you’ll die a virgin... Naffy Co***r..... I’ll kick your hanging bo*****s so hard... I swear...’
Cursing inwardly with my eyes closed as the maids did their job at changing me into the new gear, Marianne was aghast at my relentless spew of obscenities.
I guess not doing it as often makes her forget I have a foul mouth when I’m ticked off.
But I guess it’s more of a shock to her since right now I don’t have much of a lucid mind because of sleep deprivation and I’m still pouring them out quite clearly...
’Heh... I ain’t a twenty-eight-year-old for nothing..... I’ve been cursing in my sleep from the time I started working in a corporate office..... This is nothing, Marianne...’
I don’t know why I feel proud about this right now but... who cares... It’s an achievement that deserves some praise, d*mn it...
Since closing my eyes helped me to gain some energy, I didn’t even bother opening them in the slightest during the... three?... Maybe almost four hours?...
During the eternity it took to get me ready to depart.
When Paige asked me if I wanted to look in the mirror once they had finished putting the dress on me before continuing with the make-up and hair... I looked at ourselves with disgust.
Why?
’Bloody hell... Even though I feel like sh*t..... Marianne... Could you comply with my sh*tty mood?... Like hell..... Who would believe I’m wasted by looking at our face???... Wait... Don’t we actually look prettier?? Tha f***?’
I don’t understand.
If I’m sure of something, she certainly didn’t have a good night of rest last night.
I would know, we share the same body for f***s sake...
So. Why do we still look like we are glowing??
’Haaaaaaaaaa... Rationality has indeed never really worked with this body’s behaviour anyway...’
If you ask me, we didn’t even need much make-up. But... Whatever.
When in Rome we must do as Romans do.
And today’s dress was... Cool.
Maybe even vanguardist for the times this novel is set but... Not that much... It’s kind of in the middle.
The dress was of a red velvet colour in its entirety. If not for the second skirt over it, the dress would look similar to a mermaid kind of dress.
It had simple golden decorations only on the chest area that spread onto the short sleeves.
My shoulders were uncovered again, but the straightened sleeves at the sides made it look a bit less showy, which gave it a conservative vibe.
The underskirt stuck to my curves without it being tight enough to make it look vulgar, and with the help of the second skirt that mostly acted like a tail, the curvy line our body has was slightly covered. Yet... The underskirt could still be seen from the front... Which actually...
’... Why the..... Uh..... Is it a thing here to make us wear clothes that incite one to want to see more?..... Our hips look... D*mn..... We might go to prison today, sweetheart~ We’re totally killing it with this one~ I can honestly say I’ve reincarnated as the ultimate Femme Fatale with this~~’
Our make-up looks awesome too. A day natural style where the eyes are certainly the main point...
’This golden shade... Don’t tell me it’s real gold because I’ll faint..... Woah... Maybe... Should I give it a lick? What does gold taste like again??’
I feel like a monkey again. Seeing all these high specs preparations — I’m totally not used to yet— reminds me that I often struggled to make it to the end of the month in my past life...
The difference between my past as an average low pay working adult and this one as the daughter of a Duke, is really hitting home at times like these...
’... I don’t mean to brag... But... You’ll never know what a smartphone is... So... Let’s say it’s a tie.’ — Trying to comfort myself, I childishly made it a competition.
Nonsense is bound to be puked when one is sleepy so... Sigh...
What am I saying? I’m not even sleepy anymore after this...
"My Lady, let me place the last pieces on your outfit."
’Uh? There’s more??’
Paige came over, holding...
’What kind of... Accessories(?) is this??’
It was like a belt made of thin golden wires shaped in the form of vines. On some spots there were blooming golden flowers and once it was placed on top of the second skirt... It gave the sensation that a golden bindweed was climbing down the deep red tail, naturally and splendidly...
’Woaaaah... Cool....’ — I thought as I glanced at my back, stunned by the obviously delicate accessory I was now carrying.
"And... Lastly..."
’Hmm?’
Taking advantage of my slightly bent pose, Paige placed another accessory on me.
This time, the adornment belonged in my head.
My hair was only stylised with one big five-strand braid that, thanks to my abundant long hair, came down my back graciously and with weight, only to spread the loose strands at the end between the golden wired flowers. Therefore, this last accessory was the cherry on top.
A golden and silvery leaf headband that went from my nape zone to my temples... Beautiful, just like real leaves...
’Anne... Sweetheart... You look beautiful.....’ — As soon as my eyes saw our reflection, I couldn’t even tease her like usual.
Marianne looked like an Empress... maybe even like a goddess... She looked truly... Breathtakingly beautiful.....
I couldn’t even dare to say "we" when praising her.
Looking at the mirror... The one there was certainly not me.
I grew used to seeing her face as my reflection but..... That doesn’t mean that when I look at our face I see my real self.
We are too different...
I was... very different.
"... It is time, My Lady." — Paige said, interrupting my thoughts track after another servant whispered something to her.
"..."
"His Grace, along with Young Lady Theressa, are waiting for you."
Suddenly, hearing it was time to go, I thought:
’..... Uh... Wh–What about breakfast?... D*mn... I’m a bit nervous...’
Slap!
"!! M–My Lady?!!" — Paige jumped in surprise.
’Haaa... That’s better..... Sorry about that, Anne. But I needed to wake up from the daze, hehe.’ — After slapping my cheeks, I apologised to Marianne for doing it without notice.
Straightening up, I looked at our reflex and smirked on the inside.
’Alright, let’s hunt some hearts~ Walking arrow Marianne is coming~’ — With a renewed confidence, I walked through our bedroom door.
The slap not only had helped me get out of the whirlpool my mind was soon to become, but also, helped me come to the realisation... That is time to forget how I used to be.
I believe that if I do... Our union will come sooner.
Mine and Marianne’s soul union.
*******
No one was at the Main Hall.
I went down the stairs and finding it strange, I slightly moved my head to peek through the floor searching for Marianne’s Father.
Paige noticed and said they were already outside.
Apparently, we were short on time. If not, they wouldn’t be waiting at the Castle’s entrance.
It’s obvious we are to depart immediately after they say their good mornings... If not why leave the Door open so I can gain time not having to open it?
As soon as I gave the first step outside, Mister Thomas, who seemed to be speaking with the Duke halted his sayings, smoothly stepping aside to bow at me in a greeting.
Thus, the others, including Marianne’s Father and the newbie villain, turned to me. Knowing that, if the Butler was making a reverence, it could only be to a member of the Ducal Family.
I must say, it was quite a satisfying reaction I got.
Because once they turned to me...
I knew that the slaying Silence that heavily fell... was a~ll out of how flabbergasted they were at our fabulous appearance.