You're the One: Take Two!
Prologue: Chapter 3: Scars on the inside
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It wasn't long before the maid brought me to the front yard of an estate. There's several other servants waiting by the overly large cast iron gate looming before us. I notice four other males standing at full height on the cobblestones.
The maid gestures me to stand last in line.
I hesitate to comply before doing as instructed. I notice the maid run to her designated place before there's a sudden voice bringing me back to this reality.
"Did you crawl out of bed this morning with your night dress on?" The boy next to me snickers.
It causes the next two men nearby to chuckle as well.
I scrunch my nose in distaste. Glancing down at my dress, I didn't think I looked like I just woke up. With how extravagant and orderly my maid had been, but I suppose where I'm from, an insult means a compliment.
So, just before I have a chance to say a reply, the other stark white-haired man comments, "I see the hag is deaf."
The dark haired man next to him chuckles. His mauve eyes glance at me in amusement. "She isn't any better with her tongue either," he replies.
Their answers cause me to glare ice daggers at the three of them.
Who the hell are these jackasses?! I should wring them by their necks!
Before I could allow them to comment anymore, I gracefully hold my head high and look to the cast iron gates. Their words fuel me all ready.
They still snicker and remark several flaws within my figure, but I do my best to hold it in and keep quiet.
There's no use giving attention to a crying baby.
And this isn't my body anyway. I suppose I'm just borrowing it...
However, there is one remark that sends me off the rails.
"Look at how big she's gotten since supper! Shouldn't she feel ashamed to exist next to Erebus?" It was the older white locks that snidefully boasts his words.
The fact he didn't even try to tone down his voice or whisper told me all I wanted to know.
So, I decided to give them a spoonful of their own medicine.
"Oh, gee! Isn't that just disheartening?" Dramatically, I raise my hand to my cheek and lean over on my left so I wouldn't touch Erebus.
It was quiet for a moment.
I could see the men glance at me as I spoke. The dark haired lad was sparking with excitement in his violet eyes. The two white-haired immature brats actually turn their heads in my direction and scowl. The last man, he had the same dark hair and eyes as the other, stands there, ramrod straight, while the rest of us bicker.
With a grand smile, I pop my lips and sigh. My eyes blink up at the sun, holding out my act until I've finished.
"Ah! That's much better! It's so much more satisfying to enjoy nature when the dogs have stopped barking." My eyes glance to the gardens for a moment. "Such a beautiful scenery with gorgeous flowers. Too bad there are scars on the inside that make them so defensive. I wonder.. if they were called roses would their thorns be as sharp as their words?"
The three men, from what I could tell, tense at my words. Erebus' facial expression, and the other lad's is quite comical.
I let a wry grin cross my lips.
"Ah! Well," I shook my head, "doesn't matter. I'm too insignificant in this word to place my opinion. Who am I to speak next to the great and oh so wonderful boys in blue?" I bat my eyes at no one in particular. I had shrugged my shoulders and fixed my posture, relishing the soft victory before I was ambushed.
"You—"
"How could—"
"Shut up!—"
"..."
It was my turn to snicker in a fabulously feminine fashion, flashing my pearly whites at the three lads.
"Did you say something, hm? Oh, wait. I don't exist when I stand next to Erebus. How shameful I must feel now that I've soiled his reputation by staining his presence with my stench. Good heavens! What shall I ever do to repay a lovely creature? Maybe I'll just stay in my room with my night dress on, further soiling the Beauregard name." I sigh out, exaggerating my words with more foreign shame.
Tears spark in my eyes for a moment before I turn away.
"How could I show my face when even those who stand before me slander it? How shameful am I? What's a woman to do?"
A few tears had shed while I completed my act. Mentally patting myself on the back, I victoriously smile when Erebus' expression turns into a frown. He shifts to the other lad on his left.
"Why is she acting like that? She's never..."
It was Erebus talking to his brother.
Before anyone could speak, the gates open with a giant creak and in comes the horses with the carriage trailing behind them.
The three automatically straighten themselves out, seeming perfect to any bystander that might pass by. Their adaptive nature is quite frightening, but who in the twenty-first century hasn't adapted.
Like now. I really wish I could freak out about whatever's going on, but instead, I prevail as 'Miss Beauregard' in this weird new life.
I only wonder what this 'new life' brings...
With an internal groan, I pull on a smile and happy eyes before the carriage pulls to a stop. It's no more than a few seconds later when the footman comes around and opens the door, allowing the Master and Mistress to climb down.
Not knowing what to do, my heart beats fast. I look to the similar four men and observe them as they stand straight. The servants all bow and are as respectful as a painting. It's truly amazing.
I suddenly felt as if I was transported into a fairy tail romance.
As a man, twinkling as bright as a night sky, leisurely descends the stair with an utmost regal aura, a pleasant smile alights his lips. He stature screams dominance and high authority with those elegantly lit plum irises.
If this is the Master of the house, then these kids.. they must be his.
While I attempt to wrap my head around this, a curvy female with stark white hair and beautiful citrine eyes descends the carriage with the aid of the Master. She's quite beautiful, and very familiar. I couldn't put my finger on it until her eyes glance up.
She's.. she's me. No, I'm her! No— She— I— Me—!
My eyes widen on instinct and everything suddenly falls into place.
My hands begin to sweat and my heart thumps in my chest with so much ferocity I could pass out now due to too much blood flow.
I didn't want to be right.
I couldn't be right!
I mustn't be right!
Because if I am...
I'm destined to die such a horrible fate that I might just consider suicide!
No, never. But I'd never allow someone to rip out my throat, then gut me.
And this is only one step towards that bleak future.