His eyes were dazed and drunken.
It was obvious that he couldn't see me well or even register in his mind that this was reality.
"Ace...?" I murmured as my eyes fell toward his two glistening fangs.
Ah...
Ace was really, really, really upset right now.
But, even though I was stuck in this horribly dangerous situation, I wasn't afraid at all in the slightest.
For some reason, I had faith that he would never hurt me, even if he wasn't in his right mind.
"Ace...wake up."
I reached my hand out to him and ran my fingers through his soft, silvery hair.
"Cor...delia..." Ace whispered in a heartbreaking voice.
There were mysterious tears in his reddish eyes and he seemed to have long surpassed his breaking point.
"Mmm...Yeah, it's me. What's wrong?" I asked him cautiously as if though not to shock him.
"F-ck...I'm going crazy..." Ace slurred as he buried his face into the nape of my neck.
His grip around my waist tightened and I couldn't help but feel as if though he were a fluffy koala gripping desperately onto a tree branch.
And so, I returned his embrace and stroked his back gently until I could feel his strong muscles relax and loosen.
Soon, his eyes drooped downward to a close and he was fully asleep again as if though nothing had happened in the first place.
His entire body weight fell down on me and I was squished between his hard chest and the softness of my bed.
"Sleep well, Ace," I said in such a sweet voice that I surprised even myself.
His head was resting against mine and I could feel his light breaths tickling my skin...but it didn't bother me at all.
I gave a light kiss on his forehead, which was such a simple meaningless act but gave me so much warmth that I did it again secretly.
I gave a wide grin in satisfaction.
A part of me was worried though.
Ace's body was burning hot and he was sweating terribly as if though he had just gone through the worst nightmare of his life.
What in the world was he dreaming about that shocked him so much...?
I recalled what he had said before when he was still semi-conscious.
"Haha...I finally got you back," Ace had murmured in a daze.
What did he mean by that, I wonder...
I couldn't help but feel that this was maybe all of my fault somehow...but I had no reason as to why.
But...whatever...when we wake up, I'll just ask him...
I closed my eyes, feeling a sense of comfort with Ace's body against mine, and soon fell asleep once more.
.
.
A While Later
.
.
Unfortunately, when I woke up, Ace was already gone.
I wonder if he remembered anything...
For a while, I sat on the bed, stretching my limbs while staring outside the window.
It seemed to be afternoon-time, which meant that I hardly slept for long at all.
Well, to be fair, I only needed a minimum of an hour of sleep every three days to properly function and stay sane anyway.
"Hmm...since I have all of this free time...I might as well go figure out the rest of my revenge plans..." I mumbled to myself with a sigh.
I already knew exactly what I wanted to do.
The only that I needed to do left was to set it all up perfectly...so that there would be no way for the Marquis and Marquess to escape.
And to do that...I would unfortunately need some help.
"You called?" two voices called out from the other side of my bedroom door.
"How did you guys know I was going to go out of my way to look for you?" I asked as I opened the door to my bedroom.
Standing outside was a pair of grinning twins.
"We can read minds, Cowdelia," Lin smiled.
"We heard your thoughts from the first floor," Min continued.
"So...is there something you'd like to ask us?" the twins chuckled as they cocked their heads to the side.
I clicked my tongue as I welcomed the two into my room.
"I have a plan...and I need your guys' help..." I said as I turned to look at them.
For a moment the twins were silent as they slowly looked at each other and then back at me.
"You should have asked us earlier," the twins said.
"Is that so?" I asked as I began to swing the bedroom door shut.
"We're the perfect ones for the job," the twins smirked.
And, the last thing that I could see before the door closed, blocking off all of the light from the hall, were the twins' eyes glowing in sadistic delight.
.
.
.
"And so...that's the plan," I mumbled to my father and Sophie two days before their wedding day.
For my father's wedding, they had planned for three days of celebration.
For the first day, there would be a private party held at the dukedom estate, where only noble families close to ours would attend to state their congratulations.
The second day, of course, would be the actual wedding, where my parents would state their vows in front of the Holy Priest.
On the third day, there would be a banquet at the royal palace for all noble families to celebrate my father's union with Sophie and it would last throughout the day and night.
The best date for my revenge plans would be on the third day, where every noble family would be there to witness the downfall of the Marquis and Marquess.
"I know what I'm asking for is completely unreasonable...and that I'm such a horrible daughter...but...please, if it's possible, I'd—" I tried to say.
"Cordelia," my father said.
His voice was strict.
I flinched a bit.
It has been a very long time since I have heard my father use my given name, instead of "sweetie" or "angel."
"...this will be difficult. I'm sure you know that," my father sighed.
"I know...that's why I made sure that our dukedom wouldn't gain any backlash from it. Rather, there would be numerous benefits for us like—" I started.
"And what if everything goes wrong? Sweetie...in order to do this...we'll have to disrupt the wedding..."
"I know. I just...I know I'm a hopeless, selfish, and terrible daughter but...the Marquis and Marquess are trash that I need to get rid of...so, please...I'd like to ask for your cooperation...just once. I promise I will make it up to you two so..." I said as I squeezed my eyes shut in worry.
"Alastair...just let her," Sophie finally spoke to my father.
"Sophie...?" my father's eyes widened as he turned to his fiancee.
I peeked open my eyes slightly in surprise.
"But I thought you were excited about the wedding..." my father murmured.
"I am...but...this is the first time I believe that Cordelia has ever sincerely asked us for help," Sophie smiled gently to my father.
"But still..."
"Cordelia," Sophie said as she turned her head to me, "I know that your mother mistreated you completely...and that, even though I've raised you since birth, I will still never be able to completely take over the role as your mother...."
"Sophie..." I murmured.
"But after this wedding...I would really like it if...if we could possibly get closer...instead of maid and lady, but as mother and daughter," Sophie said a little bit bashfully as she held my hands.
"I..." I said as my eyes widened a little, "...o-of course..."
A mother...
I wonder what it will be like...to have a real one for the first time in my life...
"So, about your plans...I'll let you do as you like, Cordelia. Let's get rid of that corrupt Marquis and Marquess pair once and for all," Sophie smiled.
"Sophie!" my father gasped.
"But, in return, once everything is done, will you call me 'mom,' please?" Sophie asked me sincerely.
I was shocked for a brief moment but soon, a warm, fluttering feeling filled me up from the depths of my heart somewhere, and I nodded my head.
"Sure."
.
.
.
"So that's what happened," I said as I walked alongside my brother, Ash, to his office.
"You did...WHAT?!" my brother gasped as he stopped dead in his tracks.
"Yes, I know. I must be the worst daughter to ever exist in the history of mankind," I sighed.
"Wait so...they agreed? How—" Ash asked.
"Hehe...It's a secret," I smiled as I recalled Sophie's wish.
"That's suspicious...Anyway, what is it that you wanted me to do?" Ash asked me with the cock of his head.
"Well...remember how you planned all of the events for the third day of the wedding celebration...?" I asked Ash with a smile.
"Yes...?"
"So...I'd like you to do a little bit of extra work and add in..." I whispered into his ear as I explained everything that I was planning.
"WHAT?! I literally finished all of my work this morning!! Why the heck are you asking me to do all of this stuff now?!?!" my brother complained loudly with a groan.
"Yes...well, I'm sorry..." I chuckled awkwardly.
"What the hell. So...What am I going to get in return?" Ash asked with a frown.
"Well, if you do it, this dear sister of yours will...love you for the rest of her life!" I announced loudly as I added in an awkward chuckle.
Haha...
There's no way that Ash is actually going to help me, is he—
"F-Fine..." Ash stuttered.
"Huh?" I asked.
"I said t-that I'll do it. O-Oh my god, a-are you deaf?!" my brother shouted as he walked away from me quickly.
The tips of his ears were red and I chuckled.
Ah...
Tsunderes are quite refreshing.
.
.
.
Soon, it was the day of the wedding.
Before I even knew it, maids were massaging every single last inch of my limbs and I was put through long hours of pure pain and torture.
After all, apparently, in this world, beauty is pain.
Extreme pain.
But I knew that this pain was a sign that everything would soon come to an end.
Soon.
...Right?
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A/N: That's it for another chapter! Ohohoho~ I wonder how you guys feel about this chapter's ending~
Ahahaha...Mwahahaha...AHAHAHAHA~
Anyways, I don't have much to say this week...Other than the fact that school has finally ended for me!!! WOOOOOOO!!! I'M FREE!!!
Unfortunately, my AP exams go on even after school ends but, for now, I don't need to worry about grades this year! And, yes, I did great~
This chapter ended a bit short because I had exams all the up until today so, unfortunately, I didn't have that much time to write...HOWEVER, next week's chapter should be back to its regular length~
Thanks, again, to my readers/voters/commenters for everything that you guys do to support me~ Y'all are literally the best!
Stay safe, everyone~
Okie byeee!
Word Count: 1693