The room had gone silent once again.
Only the distant click of boots and murmurs from the hallway reminded me that we were still in the heart of the archduke's estate. For some reason he still hasn't let me get out of his embrace, creating an awkward atmosphere.
I've just been declared by the Archduke himself that I would be his fiancée. To a man I'd thought was the most beautiful woman the night before. I can't believe that one comment got him to cut off all his hair, but to my dismay it didn't take away the attraction I started to feel towards him.
My mind still couldn't catch up to what just happened, so I did the only thing I could.
I looked at him and asked, "What happens now?"
Noah, his grace, or whatever else I'm supposed to call him shifted his weight slightly and looked down at me. That one exposed eye was no more, both piercing sapphire blue eyes staring deeply at me.
"Tomorrow, we're going to the palace." He said calmly.
My mouth opened wide in surprise. "The… Palace?" I'm sure he could feel the shock in my voice.
"To see the King about our betrothal and make arrangements for our marriage in the future."
I nearly choked at his words, but he continued with a serious face without pause. "We'll have the king formally recognize our engagement. Once he does, your family won't be able to touch you anymore. Not even the nobles who support them could challenge it."
The only thing I could really do in this situation was nod my head with really no outs.
Then he added casually. "You know, the King favors me more than the crown prince. If I wanted to rule, he'd probably grant me the opportunity."
I blinked rapidly at Noah's last comment and couldn't help but think, was I going to be an empress in the future? No way… right?
My jaw hung low as I stared up at him in horror and at the same time awe. This wasn't a golden finger.
It was a diamond! I felt a rush of heat to my cheeks and had to turn away quickly before I started grinning like an idiot.
I'm now rich, protected, and even have a royal backing. What else could I ask for?
The concern you always have when dealing with royalty is their attitude towards those who follow them. Are they bastards who treat their people poorly, or are they good to the people and magnanimous to those who follow them wholeheartedly?
For the first time in either of my lives, I felt something that terrified me more than anything else.
Hope.
Was I… really going to accept this?
Fuck… I got caught up again in a fantasy that might never happen, especially with my still conflicting emotions. Of course I had no plans of stopping the forward progression; it's just, will I be able to handle it when the time comes?
There was this warm feeling that had been growing within me ever since I met him, and I wasn't ready to accept what that could mean for the future.
Then Noah clapped his hands once and called out. "Bring the maids."
I panicked and yelled, "NOOO!!" My first instinct on seeing evil maids was to free myself from Noah's grasp and throw my pillows towards the door, showing my refusal to their services.
He blinked at me in complete confusion at my actions. "What?"
"Maids are evil!" I said, completely serious, glaring at him like he'd just summoned the devil himself.
"How so?" Noah asked while looking at the maids, obviously not seeing or understanding my feelings.
I folded my arms. "Because all they do is talk behind your back, scold you for things you didn't even do, beat you when any mistake is made, scrub you harshly in cold water, and use towels rough enough to sand wood! If you're not happy with this answer, I can go on." My arms folded as if I had just made a mic drop moment.
He just stared at me, and then very slowly his expression changed as if he understood something. "Just what the hell did that family do to you?" He quipped back at me with a face that seriously wanted to know.
My gaze met his; I couldn't help but deadpan his question.
"Probably more than you're even thinking. That place? That house? Literally hell on earth! If they ever get their hands on me again, I will, without any doubt, be tortured to death. I slapped their favorite child, Evelyne, in public."
Noah went quiet for a while, visibly considering something. Then he looked back at me, his tone much softer than before.
"Well… if you're with me, you don't have to worry anymore. I'm actually pretty powerful." He said, with absolutely no arrogance or boasting, it was just a fact of this reality.
I couldn't help but believe him from what I felt earlier, when he got mad on my behalf. It was the first time in my life. That someone made me feel I wasn't the one carrying the entire burden for my own survival.
There were too many thoughts bouncing around in my head that I found it hard to say anything to Noah's words. Too many feelings I had never experienced.
So I just looked away, folded my arms, and whispered, "Thank you."
Only two words, but I truly meant them, and for now that was enough.
"I'll be handling some things before we visit the palace tomorrow." He said, turning towards the door. Before he left, he paused, then pointed to the far side of the room where a doorway led into a bathing chamber. "Can you handle your bath alone?"
I blinked at his words and then nodded quickly, seeing he was relenting on giving me any maids. "Yeah, I'm not completely helpless."
His eyes twinkled faintly with amusement. "That's yet to be proven."
I scoffed at him and then glanced down at myself. "I don't have anything to wear."
"I'll see what I can find." Noah said with a short laugh and then stepped out of the door, closing it softly behind him.
After about ten minutes had passed, I found myself pacing the room while stretching out my arms and legs. So much had happened in the last twenty-four hours that I couldn't just lay down on the bed; I needed to get my mind off it for a while.
Just as I began wondering if he forgot to send me clothes before my bath, there came a soft knock at the door.
"Miss Seraphina?" I couldn't help but scowl at the door as I heard the female voice. She was a maid, an enemy. "I've been asked to deliver your change of clothes."
I swallowed hard, not wanting to open up this door. "Please… just slide it through the door quickly and leave."
"Yes, of course, miss." The voice said once with no attitude or delay.
I peeked from behind the dressing screen and watched a hand gently pass folded garments through the slightly ajar door. A clean dress, soft underclothes, and even what looked like warm stockings. The fabric was new! Not too extravagant, but acceptable for me.
The door closed gently. "If you need anything, please don't hesitate to call me." The female maid said politely through the door before retreating.
I didn't answer. Not out loud, at least.
Like hell I will!
Maids were always some of the most evil characters in stories. I experienced it at my birthplace, to think I was born into such a hell. They might smile, bow, and even speak softly, but they were demons in aprons. They were two-faced harpies who'd beat you with a slipper for just a little bit of gold and then curtsy to a noble in the next moment.
I've seen too many shows in my last life where maids thought they were untouchable. Maids would whisper behind the backs of their ladies, judging everyone as if they were on the same level, and getting away with it because no one ever called them out.
Even if they did get into trouble, they would just blame someone else and get away with it. They're always only out for number one and won't care at all if they have to take someone's life. On the other hand, they're so easily targeted by those with power because of their closeness to targets of other high-level people. At any time they could put a dagger into your back.
I didn't care how gentle this one sounded; she could keep her concern, and I'll figure it all out on my own. With the door locked and no one to watch me, no scolding, no bruising hands or arms, and no towels as rough as sandpaper, I can fully enjoy myself in a comfortable soak.
The clothes I'd been wearing were simple, borrowed. Still nicer than anything I've ever seen in the Durrell estate. My body, on the other hand, told a completely different story.
It was layered from head to toe in bruises, yellowing and purple along my ribs. A scar down my side I hadn't noticed before. Scrapes along my arms and thighs told the story of my constant suppression in that damned house.
I looked down at my modest breasts, slim waist, and curves I never wanted. But fate had other ideas for me. I can only hope the higher power that sent me here had a better plan than what I've been through so far.
My hand waved in front of my crotch a few times; nope, it's not there, that's for sure. I couldn't help but sigh even though I knew the result of being in this body for a while. It still pained me to think about because my heart and body weren't yet aligned.
The bath was already warm with water trickling down endlessly from a lion-headed fountain along the wall. The room smelled sweet with roses sprinkled into the water.
I couldn't help but be astonished; with all the time I've been in this world, I had no idea they could actually get hot water out of a faucet.
Carefully dipping my foot into the water, it felt just right, so I stepped in. The heat hit my legs, then my hips, and I gasped as I dropped myself even further in, not even thinking about all my injuries. It was a bittersweet experience.
After I had cleaned myself thoroughly and for the first time truly taken care of my body, I felt fully refreshed, as if I had become a completely different person.
Before I looked at myself in the giant mirror I had been avoiding during my bath, I got all dressed up in the clothes I was given earlier. I approached slowly, like I was about to meet a stranger.
Silver-bluish hair fell to the middle of my chest, damp and sleek. My skin was pale and bruised, but at the same time it was smooth beneath it. I had soft lips, a narrow jaw line, and large emerald eyes shimmering like polished jewels.
That was me, the new me, but at the same time I couldn't help but feel down at such a beautiful girl's luck. The original Seraphina is truly an unfortunate person.
"How could they treat her like trash?" I said aloud.
Was Evelyne jealous of her obviously better-looking body? Did she hate that Seraphina was so much more attractive than her? My guess would be most likely.
Evelyne was truly a bitch, taking out her inferiority complex on an innocent girl.
I frowned at my reflection, only to watch it shift into a smirk, and a thought suddenly struck me. Now that I'm all cleaned up… What happens when Noah sees me like this?
I winced at the thought—probably nothing good.
He already thought I was interesting, and that was dangerous enough!
Now I look like this; I was so fucked!
Then one word came to mind with becoming an archduchess, and that was etiquette. What would he say if I refused and told him to shove all this nobility crap where the sun doesn't shine?
Still looking in the mirror I couldn't help but marvel at myself as I smiled, such a beauty looking back at me. My original body would have killed to be with a girl this attractive.
He's an archduke, maybe even a future king. Why should I even learn etiquette when everyone is already beneath me?
Doesn't that give me the right to forsake such a stupid tradition between nobles?
Since this is my new life, I want to enjoy it, not worry about how I'm eating or the way I'm talking to people around me.
I want to look down on everyone and rule from above like the brat I secretly am!
The image of that made me giggle, then laugh, until I went full-on villain mode.
"Muahahahaha!"
An actual evil laugh escaped, echoing in the marble-tiled bathroom. I clapped my hands over my mouth.
Maybe this new life wouldn't be all that bad. I smirked again towards my image in the mirror, and then walked away.