I felt a deep sense of embarrassment and shame when I was caught in that situation. All I wanted was to disappear and find a hole to hide in. The person who caught me seemed to relish in my discomfort and added to it by teasing me with a smirk on their lips. He asked, "So, aren't you going to answer?" in a teasing making me feel even more ashamed.
'That smug face has stolen countless hearts. I've had men, but that face is a criminal, every girl's dream.'
"I...I think you didn't hear me. I said when you are quiet, completely silent. You know, like when you're in deep sleep. Not like now, like a..." our eyes met, embarrassed I looked downcast. "There's a difference." I can't even think straight now...damn it.
"I can see that someone's feeling frustrated," he said with a hint of playfulness in his voice.
"It's not like you're that handsome," she said. Upon hearing this, he made a sad face like a puppy who had been scolded. "No, no, I mean you are very attractive," I said in a low voice. As I spoke, my ears turned red like beetroot.
"Do you really think so?" He leaned towards me, squinting his eyes as he asked. In that moment, I realized that, he was making fun of me. My face turned red with embarrassment and I quickly got up, saying, "Oh, look at the time. I should be going now." And with that, I ran away.
"Hahahaha", the sound of the duke's laughter reverberated through the hallway, uncontrollable and infectious. It was clear that he found something truly amusing and couldn't contain his mirth any longer.
'ah..I am going to die from embarrassment.' I kept walking fast, trying to escape this shame.
*************
In my room...
I As I sat in a plush chair, positioned near the glass door, I saw Miya enter the room. I quickly called her over and said, "gather a few servants who are skilled in cleaning. Tell, I instructed to lead them to the library", and handed her a letter addressed to Sofia, outlining the tasks that the servants would perform to assist her from that moment on. With the letter in hand, Miya quickly set off to find the appropriate staff members and carry out my instructions.
Lately, I've been pondering about Ivan and our relationship. I often find myself asking, "What are we?" At times, I feel optimistic that our marriage will work out, but the fear of being abandoned when I know that you will eventually leave me is too much to bear. It causes me immense pain.
'the way we are now, I'm afraid that...'
I was shocked where my train of thought was headed.
'no, Arya, you know that's not possible. He abounded us in his every lifetime. More than anyone, you know that best.'
As I contemplate the emotions that arise within me, I begin to realize that these are the true feelings of Arya. Despite the temptation, I am not foolish enough to succumb to them. I am well aware of the consequences such actions would bring about, and I am not willing to take such risks.
After spending hours dwelling on my worries, I finally made a conscious decision to stop spiraling down that path. I took a deep breath, got up from my chair, and decided to focus my energy on something more positive. I started planning the details of tomorrow's tea party - which guests to invite, what kind of tea and snacks to serve, and how to decorate the table. This simple task helped me redirect my thoughts and gave me a sense of purpose for the next day.
'Ivan is correct; I should socialize with other women. Establishing meaningful connections with women will prove beneficial in the future and alleviate my concerns.'
I invited some of the estimable ladies for an afternoon tea party. I hope tomorrow's party goes well. It was my very first tea party, and truth be told, I was so nervous that my body was shaking.
As I was getting dressed, the maids attempted to lift my spirits. I wore a cerulean dress with an illusion neck cut and elbow bishop sleeves. The dress was shaped like a sheath and had a high-low style skirt. I wore a hat to protect myself from the sun. The maids were giving it their all, as they knew this was my first indoor party. I decided to host the party in the garden. The head maid suggested we use the porcelain rose tea set and serve biluochun tea. For snacks, I ordered pastries from Reynard shop along with some macarons and cookies.
All the preparations are complete, and everything is under control. "You have nothing to worry about, my lady. You will be absolutely fine," the maids assure me confidently. "You look stunning today," they add with admiration.
"Thanks guys." I was still nervous but felt much better.
"My lady, the guests has arrived," Miya said.
•°•°•°|°•°•°|•°•°•
In the garden...
"Welcome, ladies. It's a pleasure to see you all here this afternoon," I warmly greeted as they all rose to reciprocate my salutation.
A red-brown-haired girl came forward, "Good afternoon, my lady. Thank you for inviting me to this wonderful party. I'm Eleanor Amorim, daughter of Marquis Amorim. It's nice to meet you finally," she greeted politely.
"Welcome, Lady Amorim. I'm delighted that you could join us. I hope that you're enjoying the party," I replied with a smile that exuded authority.
As we maintained a positive and friendly atmosphere, the other women in the group felt comfortable enough to join in and share their own thoughts and experiences. Our discussions covered a range of topics, and everyone appeared content with the direction the conversation was taking. It was clear that the good vibes were contagious as the group became more connected and engaged with each other. 'Well, i feel pleasant and satisfied how things are going...'
"Thank you for inviting me today, my lady. I had a wonderful time," Eleanor said before adding, "May I have the honor of inviting you next time, my lady?"
"Of course, I would be delighted to attend," I replied with a smile.
Lady Olivia then asked timidly, "May I also invite you, my lady?"
"Absolutely, I would be honored to attend," I responded with a reassuring smile.
Eleanor then asked, "Would it be okay for me to write letters to you as well, Lady Arya?"
I nodded my head in agreement.
After successfully concluding the tea party, I watched as the ladies made their way back to their homes with a sense of pride and satisfaction. It was my first time hosting such an event, and I had nailed it. I was confident and assertive in my approach, and everything went according to plan.
As I said my goodbyes, I couldn't help but feel elated, knowing that I had done an excellent job. I expected someone to acknowledge my efforts, and Ivan instantly came to mind.
'what did I just think? But having him praise me doesn't feel bad. Rather, it feels......delightful.'
=========∆========
The passage of time was relentless, and before I knew it, the sun had set and the night had descended. Sitting in the solitude of my room, I couldn't help but ponder over the events of the party that had taken place earlier. The people I met were incredibly friendly and welcoming, and I couldn't help but wish that we could develop a meaningful friendship.
My eyes were drawn to the table in the corner where a large tower of books was stacked neatly. Upon closer inspection, I realized that Miya had brought a great number of books from the library and arranged them in a careful, organized manner. "Do I have to read all of this?" I sighed.
I picked up the thinnest book from the there. It was a book about the history of the royal family. Although there wasn't much of a collection, I read a lot during my stay at the Marquis house. As I was going through the pages, I suddenly heard a knock on the door.
"Come in"...the door creaked open as the maid entered the room, shrouded in a dark, ominous aura. As she approached, her eyes seemed to be devoid of any emotion, and in her hand, she held a glinting kitchen knife. With each step, the sound of her shoes echoed through the room, accompanied by a low, indistinct murmuring. I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as she drew closer to me.
My body was frozen; words wouldn't come out of my mouth, and I felt sick in my stomach. In fear I covered my stomach with my hand.
My senses were screaming to me, to move, to run away from there. It felt like she was going to stab me in the stomach, any moment now. She leans down, holding the knife near my epigastric region.
Slowly, she stabbed me in there; pain came in like a wave of electric shock, yet no words from my mouth. My body refuses to listen to me, as she stabs me.
She pushed the knife deeper; blood flowed like water as I fell on the clod marble floor. My body started feeling numb, my views became blurry, darkness drowned in me, and finally, my eyes closed.
_______•°•°•°•________
Eleanor Amorim
Daughter of Marquis Amorim
19 years old young lady
Red-brown hair
Hazel eyes
Likes sweet stuff
Likes Arya
Mana user
Specialty: making her clones
*************
Olivia Miller
Daughter of Baron Miller
18 years old teenager
Chocolate copper hair
Lapis eyes
Doesn't have mana
Good at using bows
Likes Arya
*************