The maids quickly cleaned me up, yet i could still feel the lingering disgust from the way they treated me. I closed my eyes as i sank deeper into the warm water, already covering my nose. I hugged my knees tightly as the maids scrubbed my back till red.
They quickly wrapped me in a towel, put me in a simple morning dress, and donned me with unnecessary accessories. They tended with my hair and makeup, gleaming me up with jewels and diamonds.
I sat silently as they roughly brushed my red hair, forcing the brush as it harshly pulled down on my hair when encountered with knots in my fiery mane, it made me yelp in pain, and made my scalp feel numb. My eyes looked down, as i fumbled on the satin sleeve of my day dress, to be honest, i was afraid.
Even though no one really did care for me particularly in my original world, i never been mistreated. I still had my sister, who would sometimes care for me, while my parents roamed the world.
But Vella's life was very different than my own. She had been tormented physically and mentally, she had no loved ones, no one had care for her. She was just a doll, easily controlled, easy to ruin and forget any moment. When the owner was bored, she practically nothing more that a pile of ashes, or a ruined ragged doll.
I wanted to cry right now. I really wanted to disappear right now. I didn't want to go through all her suffering. I couldn't help but feel bad for hating Vella's character setting, all she wanted after all was a happy life, but everything went wrong.
I wanted to dig myself a hole at that time, wanting to sink in the bathing water that soaked me a few minutes ago. I should've drowned myself just now, even though the maids would probably roughly drag me back up.
A knock rapped the mesmerizing gold and iron door, the knock echoed in my so-called new room. The person behind the knock didn't waste a second before opening it, not giving any face to me who hadn't even replied yet.
"My Lady, Master wishes for you to be in the dining hall know." An old woman appeared, though she wasn't too old, visible wrinkles and soft gray hairs were clear enough to see her aging. Her cold voice resounded within the suffocating cold room, only making it feel colder.
I stayed silent, hesitant to reply or just nod. I wasn't Vella, what if they found out i wasn't her? Or if they thought she was acting weird? Pressure weighed down on me, as if concrete bricks were piling above my shoulders, getting heavier and heavier by the moment. I wanted to go back, back to the messy room i loved, back to reality where i didn't know i cherished so much, though i had nothing but dust.
I nodded silently, "yes, tell father i shall be there." I spoke with all the confidence and courage i had. My hand was cold and sweaty, trembling ever so slightly. I internally sighed with relief as i watched the maid nod and silently go back from where she came from.
The maids tending me finished, i glanced nervously at the mirror, only to be greeted with the reflection of a weak and timid young girl, no, young woman. Her fiery red hair and matching ruby eyes that gleam and glow in the night, and sparkle in the broad day even though any feelings void. Her hair was done ever so simply, only volumed curves with a plait crown and a simple bun made my hair. Vella was a shell, that had many flaws and cracks. She wasn't anything different than me, only, she lived much more worse circumstances.
I stood up, only to feel my legs go mush. I rarely feel weak, scared, timid, and so helpless, hell, i barely cried through my years ascending becoming a college woman. But the me right now was unfamiliar.
I plucked my courage and walked out, using Vella's vague memory of where the dining hall was. Each step was filled with dread, blood pumped violently through my heart, yet my face was pale as a piece of paper, i felt feverish. I stopped at the gigantic door to the majestic yet large dining room. I heaved a breath before knocking, opening the door and quickly walking in, taking a randomly empty seat that was neither far or near.
"You're late Vella." A handsome young man in soft red hair coldly greeted me as i arrived. I could tell he was not the Grand Duke of course, but the man sitting in the middle, drinking his wine peacefully.
"I'm sorry, young master." I quipped quietly as my head hung low, i started meddling with the hem of my sleeve again. It suddenly looked interesting in my vision.
"Next time, don't be late again." His tone was not gentle or kind, but it wasn't cruel or overbearing as well. Neutral. He was just cold and indifferent which made me relieved.
That was Darren, the oldest young master and was the heir of the Evan family. He gifted since birth, talented in unparalleled ways, yet always number two after the tyrant crown prince.
For now, let's not talk about the crown prince, Kaisel. He was cold, ruthless, and cruel. Just as a normal possessive tyrant, a character i usually read in the cliched novels online. But the problem was, he was borderline yandere. He didn't particularly care about Vella, nor did he even know her. But when his beloved Adrianne was hurt by her... Dear oh dear.
I didn't want to talk about him. He downright scares me, borderline yandere alright. Although he was doting, caring and the most perfect lover in front of the heroine, he was completely different behind her back.
I shuddered thinking about him. Instead, i quietly observed Jasper and Xavien, my step-brothers, trying to forget matters about the crown prince. They were the ones who brought hell to Vella's doorstep.
The brothers only glanced at me, before returning to their meal, high-grade steak, red wine, and other extravagant side dishes that look marvelous. I thought at that time, how cliche it was for rich households to eat steak, did the chef not have any ideas what to cook?
The sound cutlery colliding with glass plates echoed in the room, the smell of high-grade steak and other delicious meals wafted in the air, making my mouth water and stomach rumble, i quickly dug into the meal, savoring the rich taste i rarely felt.
"Vella, come meet me in my office." Duke Issen sharply said to me, i nodded quietly as a reply as my heartbeat became rapid, and my palms getting cold and sweaty once more.
The awkward and cold dinner finished, the duke quietly wiped his mouth and walked away, the brothers following after him. The maids bowed their heads and took care of the dirty dishes, leaving me alone the gigantic dining room.
I stood up and quickly walked away, to the duke's office. The sound of my heels clicking with the marble tiles echoed once more. My feet brought me to his office, my heart pounding through my chest.
I knocked lightly on the door, the duke's deep voice replied, "Come in."
I walked in, pressure hit me again. Again and again, i was being such a wimp. I lowered my head, "Father, is there anything you need?" i asked.
The man in front of me was handsome. His deep red hair was flashy, i thought to myself, could such beautiful hair exist in my real world?
His jawline was sharp, his features upturned and sculpted perfectly. His thin lips were pressed into a line. Yet his eyes were emerald green, deep and jeweled.
"Do you know your mistakes?" His domineering voice boomed in the large room, making me jump in fear. Blood drained from my face, leaving me pale with fright. My powdered pink cheeks contrasted with my pale face. His handsome face became not-so friendly anymore.
I stayed silent, my head hung low. Yes, i inherited Vella's memories, but it was all jumbled up, not in order. She had made many mistakes, i didn't know which mistake he was talking about, this only made things worse for me. I started to tremble, I quickly bowed down with my knees hitting the cold hard floor, my forehead banging the floor. I didn't know if it was bleeding or not, my mind was blank.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty! P, please accept my forgiveness, I beg you!" The words came out of my mouth, i couldn't think straight. I begged and begged, i couldn't remember how many times i said the word.
He stayed silent, the room temperature seemed to be dropping to a cold degree. If i wasn't bowing down on my knees, i probably would have fallen due to my feet feeling weak.
"And why should i accept it?"
"I promise i will not repeat the same mistake again!" I was starting to get agitated and panicked, my heart beat suddenly sped up and my chest began to hurt, my body felt hot and cold. I felt nauseated all of a sudden.
"What was your mistake Vella? Why should i? You didn't do anything but give more problems to the family after all."
My breathing got heavier, and my chest pain became worse. I wasn't Vella! I'm Joo Yeona, a recent graduate from high school, not some noble teenager.
My head was throbbing as my body began shaking. I was panicking, i was scared, i was afraid. I felt anxiety from the pressure he was giving.
I want to go back home...