I couldn't help but sigh at the much more eye-catching dress than I've ever worn before. That alone should've tipped me off that something was very wrong.
It was still very plain by noble standards, with a soft cream color and dull embroidery, no jewels, lace, or frills. The fact that it fit too well means they've been planning this for a while.
My mind couldn't help but feel annoyed with how nice the material felt against my skin. I was probably going to have a bad experience with such comfortable clothes.
Two maids flank me on either side as they walk me down the long marble hall toward the east drawing room. Their eyes never met mine; their grip on my arm was very firm. But it wasn't actually enough to hurt me.
Even the maids were slightly holding back? I couldn't help but raise my threat level even higher, swallowing hard as I was guided to the literal devil.
The doors opened up, and a warm scent of roasted meat and sweet wine hit me like a tsunami. My stomach clenched painfully at the smell, a sharp reminder of the meal I didn't receive yesterday. If I even tried to ask for some food, she would only make it into a game where I humiliate myself.
Evelyne sat there draped in soft rose-colored silks and those annoying golden curls that I so wanted to yank as hard as I possibly could. A jeweled comb perched behind her ear like a crown. She was sipping from a porcelain teacup with dainty fingers, her every movement calculated, poised, and perfect.
It was barf-inducing to look at her in obvious provocation with every action and all the food on the table. The maids nudged me forward; I half expected Evelyne to insult me right away. To suggest my dress was something a rat would wear, and to laugh with that evil, wicked one she usually does.
But, instead, she looked up at me and met my eyes.
"Ah, you're here. Sit." Just like that, she spoke without any venom in her voice or a sneer. This kind of freaked me out.
I froze for a second too long, causing one of the maids to pinch my arm with a silent command to obey. I dropped into the chair at the far end of the small dining table, eyes lowered, and every muscle in my body tense, waiting for the blade to fall across my neck.
The only thing running through my mind is what the hell this was! It couldn't be anything good with how nice she has been so far. As if she almost felt guilty with what she was about to put me through, so she would give me a little face before the execution started.
For a while Evelyne ate in silence while I just watched her in envy. Obviously she never offered me any food, and if I tried to take some, I'm sure I would regret it dearly. Every clink of her fork against the plate made my skin crawl.
Finally, she set her cup down and folded her hands neatly on the table. I just mumbled out the words, "Here we go." Just loud enough that I was the only one who heard.
"You're going to attend a party with me today." She said with a sweet voice as if she actually cared about me.
I just blinked at her, not saying any words, because it really didn't make sense.
"A noble gathering at the Goldenrose Estate is happening today. You will be accompanying me, so behave." She scolded me as if I were a child. What the hell? Honestly, making a scene and dropping her status in the noble circle sounded very tempting. "Make me look good." The temperature in the room plummeted.
My breath caught, and my stomach turned. There it is. There it fucking is! The real reason for the bath, dress, and the forced care was that I was nothing more than her puppet putting on a show.
She didn't want a sister but a prop to stand beside her in much less extravagant clothes to make her shine even brighter. I already knew this was probably the case, but it still annoys me to hear it said to my face.
I stare at her with my heart pounding and mind reeling, cursing her with every way you could express yourself vulgarly to someone you absolutely hate. Of course I couldn't argue about this and just had to accept it, or my life would be even worse than it is now.
Without noticing it, I think I started smiling towards Evelyne because her eyes were becoming sharper as I stared at her. It wasn't only because of the abusive words I was saying in my head but also the absurdity of it all. A man in a woman's body, forced to play a doll for the girl who'd ruined every inch of his/her existence.
"What are you smiling about?" Evelyne asked in a tone so cold it would freeze over the city in a matter of seconds if she had such a power.
I froze… Shit! Before I could form an excuse, one of the maids, the taller one with a hawk-like face, stepped forward holding a short wooden rod.
Crack
Pain exploded across my forearm as she struck me again and again until she reached five brutally painful swings.
"What the fuck?" I couldn't help but exclaim as this evil maid just took out her frustrations on this innocent girl. The heat coming from my arm and the pain made my vision blur, and then I looked at Evelyne, who had such an amused smile on her face.
Fuck this bitch!
"That's much better." She said in a warm voice, as if mocking my pain, as if nothing even happened.
I sat there trembling, eyes wet and teeth clenched, as the maids returned to their places behind her. The fire in my arm still burned, and the back of my throat ached from the cry I hadn't meant to give.
Evelyne picked up her teacup once again as if everything was as it should be, with nothing but a slight smile on her face. "As long as you remember your place, today will go smoothly."
I didn't answer her, knowing better than to speak unless given the order to respond. All I know for sure is I'm probably going to very much dislike today's events. Little did I know at the time just how much my life was about to change because of this noble banquet.
The carriage was ready and waiting at the front of the estate. A polished ivory monstrosity trimmed with golden leaf and a family crest I wanted to set fire to.
Evelyne descended the marble steps like royalty with grace and elegance, adored by the world, at least in her own mind. While I was forced between the two maids, I stumbled in these horrible high heels that I wanted to take off right this minute.
As we approached the carriage, I wondered what it was going to be like facing Evelyne the whole way to this event, having to look her way the entire time. Sounds like a stomachache waiting to happen. At least I would be treated as a human being for a change—at least that's what I thought.
Evelyne turned around as soon as she reached the carriage door, turning back in my direction with a sweet smile. "You know your place."
As I looked at her, confused at what she meant, I was forced up the steps, causing me to fall on my hands and knees on the floor of the carriage. I tried to pick myself up, but to no avail; they had forced me to stay in that position until Evelyne sat down and put her feet up, using my body as a piece of furniture.
I felt her heels dig into my spine in an obvious attempt to show she was the one on top. The evil smile plastered across her face was the only image I had in my mind, refusing to actually look up at her.
My only thoughts were, how could this be happening? Sadly, all I could do was grind my teeth while trembling at the sharp edges of her heels as we moved closer to the noble banquet.
It literally took everything in me to not just turn around and sink my teeth into that perfectly smooth, snow-white ankle. I wanted to bite her hard and tear into her flesh. Take a chunk out of her body that seemed to have no defects, like the rabid animal they all believed me to be.
But I didn't! Because I knew what would happen next, and I wasn't willing to make my life that much worse. I wasn't ready to die yet.
The carriage rocked gently as we rolled through the city. All the people living their quiet, uneventful lives, while I was reduced to this, my only saving grace was being unable to see out the window.
Evelyne just casually chatted with the maids and sipped her wine as if nothing was wrong with the world while literally standing on another human being.
She didn't even care to look at me with a second glance.
I tried to shut it all out and imagine anything else. But whenever I would become completely absorbed in my thoughts, I would get a heel stabbed into my side just to make sure I was still aware of my own position.
Such a bitch!
By the time the carriage rolled to a stop, my limbs were numb and my face was hot with rage! Not to mention the shame I felt even though the only ones who saw were in that carriage. No one wants their enemy to see them in such a position.
After the door was opened and the light from the outside world flooded the carriage, I was yanked forward by one of the maids and thrown out.
I hit the gravel hard with skin scraping against the stones as I slid for a few feet, causing injury to my knees, elbows, and palms. Pain flared up like firecrackers in my limbs.
Behind me, I heard Evelyne's voice smooth, sweet, and vicious. "Get up." That was all. No concern or pause for my current situation, just a command to stop slowing her down.
Of course the maids didn't wait for me to obey. They stepped forward and yanked me upright, uncaring of the fresh scrapes or the few tears on my face.
I staggered at first, barely able to catch myself as I was continuously pushed forward to walk.
Evelyne was, of course, in front of me as I was forced to walk behind her with my head down, eyes low.
The mumbling of those around me was annoying. Who the hell are these lotto winners looking down on? What have they even done to earn those positions besides winning the race of being born into the right family?
I don't even know how I didn't scream at the situation or find a rock and throw it at Evelyne's head. Because my heart was raging, it was blinded, and it desperately wanted to kill her.
The idea of having her knocked unconscious below my feet and at my mercy was something I always dreamed about. To see that perfect face of hers twisted in fear and drag her by the hair through the same filth she threw me into day after day.
The thought of it, I wanted it more than the air I breathe.
But I kept walking because I had no choice. One day, though, I would catch her off guard and get that sweet relief of revenge I deserve!