"You look beautiful." I was focusing on trying to force the warmth in my chest into my lips. No one else could see it, but little bubbles of pink floated from my mouth and swirled in the air. When they hit the wall, they popped and danced in the air. My head was swirling and my breath was ragged. Unlike the original Mercy, I wasn't used to using mana. The first time I tried to use it, light poured from my hands until I felt so weak I collapsed. I thanked Mercy inyeranlly for the books she left behind. She had pages explaining the same things over and over again, like she was worried she would forget. Her body still knew how to use the mana, I just didn't know how to control it. I was practicing her Empath skill, putting emotions into words and pressing manna against my lips. It came to me easier than my bout of struggling with invisibility, and I didn't even want to think about teaching myself healing magic on the fly. I didn't have a chance to practice it on anyone before today. I tried to take those negative feelings and pursed my lips.
"You should hate her." It left a burning sensation, and red bubbles of anger left my lips. Unlike the pink ones, the red ones were spiky and moved erratically. They too exploded against the wall. The more I spoke the more the burning in my chest intensified as my mana drained. Overheating and fever set in, and I had to sit on the bed as my head spun. Mercy's notes noted that if you could physically touch the person you are trying to enchant, it makes it much easier. Having to use words as a medium lessened the magical effect even though it used the same amount of mana. I couldn't guarantee that I could get close to Ophelia to convince her of my plan. I gritted my teeth and looked at the midday sun. The party was just a few hours away. If I wanted to succeed, I needed to rest. At least I wanted to until I realized I should probably start getting ready. I hadn't been dressed in formal attire, but I knew that it was going to be elaborate. Emma had already told me that Agatha had been bathed and pampered all day to prepare. Me on the other hand, the dress and undergarments I was going to wear were hanging over the vanity chair. I was given a rough bath in the early morning so I looked presentable. I was forced to wear a deep dark red gown, with a low sweetheart cut to enhance my bust and black lace. It screamed classic villianess, dark and mysterious but it didn't fit me at all. The My ombre soft brown to pure white hair clashed with the dark attire, as did my pale eyes. I hadn't even put it on yet but I knew it would make me look like a child who decided to put her mother's clothes on. I knew I should start getting dressed and prepped, but my overheating took over my eyelids. It almost felt like they yanked themselves shut without my consent as I fell asleep.
"Get up you lazy child!" Emma's shrill voice screamed near my ear. It caused me to snap my eyes open and sit up with my heart racing. My muscles were still sore and I had a small fever going. Emma was huffing and puffing, pulling at the cream corset and underskirt. My mind was a little fuzzy, but Emma slapped my calf hard making a loud cracking noise. It stung and I yelped at the sudden movement.
"Get up now!" She shrieked, yanking my leg so hard I thought it was going to pop from its socket. She pulled me to my feet, basically ripping off the night gown I was wearing so I was completely bare. I barely had a moment to react before she pulled a black cotton slip over my body. She was like a painful whirlwind around me, taking fabric and strings and she pulled the corset and black underskirt to my body. The cream corset pushed against my chest harshly and I grimaced as she tightened it sharply. My figure was so small though that she barely pulled in my hips. The black underskirt was lace material of roses over it, because the blood red gown the threw over my head had a slit up the front so part of the underskirt was visible. The dress wrapped around my shoulders, just enough so no scars were showing but my collar bone was prominent. The sleeves were tight until my mid forearm where they bellowed out into bell sleeves with black rose lace on the sides. My breath were pushed up to the sky in a seductive way, but with my soft and almost cutsie features it didn't really fit. She shoved me into the vanity chair and I was wowed at how I looked. Even drained and dressed in clothes that didn't work, Mercy was still pretty to me. Her big doe eyes and slender physique, soft hair just looked almost angelic. I never really looked too close in the mirror because I could never get used to the face. I almost reached up and touched my face, but Emma slapped my hands away. She sorted through the cheap makeup on the vanity that was mostly untouched.
"You look horrible." Her tone was sour and angry, and I frowned. I did have bags under my eyes and my skin was a little flushed but I didn't think it was that bad. Before I even had a moment to react, she was pressing pale powders to my face. They smelled similar to chalk and I couldn't help but sneeze. That action caused another crack to the back of my head, causing it to snap forward. In that moment I almost lost all composure and threw a punch, but I gritted my teeth together and dug my fingers into my thighs.
"If you waste any if this, I won't be feeding you dinner for a week." Emma was almost spitting flames. Her crows feet were pulled taunt, and her face was blooming red with anger and stress. The powder she almost punched into my face swirled in the air like misty stars around me. It was sheer, but for the most part covered up my dark circles and redness while looking still skin like if not matte. She moved on you attacking my hair with a hairbrush, making me stiffen as she yanked hard almost intentionally. I had maintained my hair with the chipped bone hairbrush, but she was going through my hair as if I hadn't brushed it for weeks. Even though she was so harsh, my hair was still soft and the waves didn't become frizzy. I didn't know if it was because of 'magic, genes, or plot armour in the story that made me like this. Whatever it was I was grateful. One of the things I hated about my old like was trying to keep appearances up. Lose weight, wear nice clothes, have good hair and clear skin. I haven't had any of those problems in this body-- probably the only good thing out if everything. Emma was still like a storm around me, poking, pulling and prodding. I sat still, bearing the sharp pains and humiliation as she spat venom at me.
"Such a pain. The Count and young Mistress had already left, but you can't even manage yourself." Her words were meant to be painful, but instead I was just intrigued. She didn't mention the Countess, just the Count and Agatha. Was the Countess not attending? I thought it strange, but I didn't have time to process any clear thoughts before Emma stopped assaulting my hair. She didn't even do anything to my hair, just left it down and flowy. I wasn't permitted to wear any jewelry, other than a simple thin gold chain with a sun pendant for the Empire. I was bare otherwise, not that I minded but I knew that if this was anything like the old nobility from my world they were doing this to embarass me. Too bad for them I wouldn't wallow in the shame they tried to drown me in. Emma grabbed my upper arm and yanked me to my feet, still bare and cold on the hardwood floor. I was used to the feeling as I was not allowed to wear shoes. I often just used my beaten up slippers. I hadn't even noticed that during the commotion they had slipped off my feet.
"Where are my shoes?" I asked, never realizing I never had a pair. Emma rolled her eyes and sighed like I was an idiot.
"I put them in the carriage."
"What do I wear down to the carriage?" I couldn't even finish my sentence before she grabbed my wrist and yanked me towards the door.
"You'll have to make do until the carriage." Again, more humiliation tactics to make me feel less than human. However, I actually didn't mind. I would be running through the hallway without my slippers to dampen the sound, so it made it more accurate to time. As soon as she opened the door, I started counting in my head.
One... Two... Three...
She pulled me through the creaky hallway and through the forbidden door. The guards in their navy coats with silver adornments stood up straights when we exited as if they were slacking off. They barely even noticed me, their eyes on the angry woman dragging me.
Eleven... Twelve... Thirteen...
We raced through the hallways, guards and maids alike smiling cruelly or sneering at me as I was pulled down the hallways.
Eighty six... Eighty seven... Eighty eight...
We made it to the grand staircase with silver flowers flowing down the railings. The dark navy blue carpet looked almost like the night sky as we ran down them, the stark contrast to my dress. The doors were there, made of clear crystal with silver floral designs against it. It made it possible to see with white carriage waiting outside, but they were almost glowing with magic. The pure white horses were elegant, almost shimmering as well.
One thirty one... One thirty two... one thirty three...
We burst through the door at about two minutes and thirty seconds. I barely had time for a small smile of glee before sharp stones dug into the soft flesh of my feet from the pavement.
"Ow!" I cried out and tried to slow down, but Emma kept yanking me. The pain was actually quite severe and I started fight back. Emma almost made a sound closer to a roar and yanked me forward, throwing me against the carriage. My head bashed against it painfully, so much I actually say stars and my breath was pushed out. I gasped, feet stinging and head pounding. Emma just ripped the door open, throwing me inside so I collapsed on the wooden floor. My world was spinning, my body sore and my soul shocked. She slammed the door closed, the carriage shaking violently as whe did. For a moment, my hardened exterior cracked, and I could help but sob as the carriage pulled away.