CLAUDETTE
"Duke! The miss is awake!" Rubbing both of my eyes as I sat up, glancing at the room. How come I am here? Am I not dead yet?
The first person that I saw is a maid with brown eyes and black hair, typically a commoner.
"Oh God, dear!" I flinched when I heard a soothing voice. Confusion is written on my face as I look at the man running towards me. His hair is silver while his eyes are blue. The mole on the left part of his nose is somewhat...cool, I think?
"Good thing you're awake!" Before I could move back, he already hugged me tightly. The embrace is so...warm. So warm that it made me burst into tears.
"I know, I know." He is rubbing my back. Probably calming me.
"Huewen, please leave us."
"Yes, Duke." After the maid left us, he threw a glance at me. "Who are you? Claudette may be crying a lot of time because of her being stubborn, but you, is crying after I hugged you. Claudette don't see me as her father." I flinched when he held my shoulders tightly, digging his nails.
"I-I don't know what were you talking about." I swiftly moved my hands even if I am trembling because of his peircing gaze. He lets go of my shoulders before staring at me. "I know what I am talking about. If you can't answer mr, I will execute you and cover all the evidence." I gulped because of his stern voice.
"I-Isidora. My name is Isidora." I mouthed as I lowered my head but I immediately looked at him when he spoke.
"Change, we will continue this in my office." I nodded. When he left, three maids entered my room, helping me to take a bath and change. I groaned when the purple haired maid tightened the corset around my waist. The body is already fit enough but she keeps on pulling the strings on my corset.
I looked at the mirror after we finished. I touched my face--no, Claudette's face. It was a face that I dream of, now and then. Her hair is blond while her eyes are color purple. Perfect sculpted nose, face and lips, her big asset is just an additional.
I noticed that there is someone who entered. It was the butler. I think he is in his mid 20s. His body is well built, impressive. He has brown hair and black eyes. He is somewhat resembles someone, perhaps his sister?
"Miss, Duke Josiah is waiting for you." I nodded, following him leading me to the duke's office. He announced my arrival before letting me in. The office is cozy. You can't feel any heavy feeling sorrounding this room. There are old vases, old pictures of his ancestors and old books, of course. Aside from that, I glanced at the familiar crest engraved on his front part of his table.
"Have a sit." Of course I sat. If I only stood, that's embarrassing.
"Now, who are you?" I tsk-ed before moving my lips, "I told you, my name is Isidora." He breathed calmly before replying. "Full name." I bit my lip while glancing at the sweets that are now in front of me. Newly brewed special coffee invades the whole room.
"Isidora Estienne La Rouge, I was an archmage back then. I died from falling from the stairs and hitting my head." He stared at me as I mouthed. Then when I finished my sentence, He frowned. "An archmage but you fell from the stairs?" I scoffed, totally pisses.
"Before that happens, the principal temporary removed my mana making me unable to use it." He nodded. I grabbed a macaron before creating a small bite, but I was taken a back because of its taste. The taste is weird and I am new to it so I left it alone.
"Claudette is my adoptive daughter." When my tongue touches the liquid, I instantly tasted the great combination of bitterness and sweetness. While I am drinking the coffee, I saw a chocolate beside the macarons, its coating is gold. I took it and made a small bite, a blend of sweetness and bitterness invades my tasting buds. My type. Yes, I like foods that involves both sweetness and bitterness.
"Are you listening?"
"I am listening. I'm not just paying attention." I covered my mouth when I spoke. I am too overwhelmed because of it. "You're using sign language. Are you perhaps, deaf in your past life?" I shaked my head while looking at the crest that is engraved on his table. That crest is somewhat familiar.
"I am not disabled, my only flaw is my big scar on my face." He nodded before talking again. "Your parents?" My body went stiff because of his question.
"My mother died because of an accident, but I believe it is a murder. The people in our town used to call her a beast because of the sue on her mouth." By just reminiscing the past, it made my anger burst.
"Seu? On her mouth?" I shaked my head, indicating that I have no idea.
"How can it be a crime?" I clenched my fist, stopping my anger from rising. "I believe in my guts. My mother is too kind and hospitable to make enemies so I believe this is a murder." When he stopped writing, he glanced at me.
"Your father?" My lips made a thin line, stopping myself from crying. I ate the chocolate I am holding. "She never mentioned how he left us. My mother is always saying something whenever I ask her ." Now, I have catched his attention. "What did she said?" I swallowed the dark chocolate before continuing to speak.
"My mother told me not to be mad to my father. She said he is not aware what my grandmother's have done to us." I breathed deeply, calming myself.
"My mother is living in poverty, resulting to my father's mother not accept her." The duke nodded even if confusion is visible on his face. "Oh, what are you saying earlier? About Claudette?" I asked while still munching a marshmallow. He shaked his head before standing up.
"Act normal, Your brothers are coming." I nodded simply sliding the candies inside the pocket of this dress.
"You should have told me that you like cinnamon pillows." Cinnamon pillows are basically cinnamon jam covered with marshmallow. "I remembered someone loving that kind of candy. That candy is not famous for nobles, even commoners. But, that person really loves it." I can see warm and, loving care in his eyes, but instantly it disappeared leaving his sad blue eyes.
"After that day, I didn't saw her again."
"Maybe that girl doesn't fancy you."
"What?!" I giggled before started walking. I am still not comfortable in communicating. I am not talkative in my past life. Instead of speaking, I use the sign language that mages used to learn. Learning that is making me kinda feel uncomfortable. My fingers are small and crooked, I am too ashamed to show it to the crowed.
"Claudette!" I glanced at the person who called me, Claudette's eldest brother. His name is Devawn Hilbert MacQouid, the first son of the duke. He is more cheeky and bubbly than the second child. His eyes are blue, hut his hair is so dark that you will mistake the color as maroon.
"How are you my little sister?" I choked when he suddenly hugged me tightly, almost suffocating me. This men is well built, maybe the effects of their training.
Before he could squeeze me to death, I pushed him. "Father, is Claudette's condition is okay now? She fell into the water and hit her head!" I scratched my cheek because of embarrassment. As far as I know, this woman--which is Claudette, doesn't know how to swim and yet she insisted to play beside a river. What a stubborn woman.
"So stubborn." The second son is now speaking. I squinted my eyes when he ruffled my hair, I tsk-ed before shoving his hand away. The second son of Duke Josiah, Luther Zonro MacQuoid. Despite of him being a young man, his body is well built. His hair is silver yet his eyes are green, but darker. His handsomeness increased more because of his previous mole all over his face and neck.
"Oh? Shoving away your brother's hand?" I was about to speak when a butler interrupted us, it was father's butler.
"The ladies from Throvan and Gheneve wished to see Lady Claudette." I was about to speak AGAIN when the duke spoke, "decline, my daughter just woke up." The butler nodded before leaving us. I flinched when the duke slightly tapped my shoulder.
"Rest for the day and ready yourself tomorrow."
***********************