Isang buwan na ang lumipas simula ng magkulong ako dito sa Eveque mansion at sa isang buwan na iyon ay nagtutok ako sa pag-aaral. Maduguang pag-aaral.
Hindi lang iyon ang pagbabago sa loob ng mansion. I can say that the ambiance inside has changed. It isn't suffocating anymore. Everyone works very comfortably.
Also, the people around me are already talking with me without breaking out cold sweats. They have accepted that I am no longer the crazy villainess. HAHAHA.
Maliban sa pagkukulong ko sa library ay nagtatanong-tanong ako sa mga workers tungkol sa magic nila as I need to know more information. Minsan pa nga umiiyak (tears of joy) si Alina, yung head maid, kapag nagtatanong ako sakaniya or kapag nakikita niya ako nakikipag-usap sa iba.
She's like a proud mama.
I did talk and observe the people around me while they are using their magic.
I've researched and read a lot of books if it is still possible to harness your magic in my age but sadly, it's not possible. I accepted the sad truth and move on. And now, I started learning swordsmanship.
Why swordsmanship? Since I am an anime addict, may napanood ako about Qi and it seems Qi does not exist in this world. Na-excite ako kasi kapag na-master ko ito, ako ang pinakauna or ang founder kumbaga.
Qi Manipulation is the power to manipulate the flow of latent energy inside the body. Once I control this, this will allow me to have superhuman capabilities and use them in cases of extreme combat like; getting killed by the male leads. I so thanked all the animes I've watched before.
Kasalukuyan akong nagte-train gamit ang wooden sword. Tinuturuan ako ng vice captain ng Eveque knights at sikreto lang ito. Ang nakakaalam lang ng secret training na ito ay si Letty at si Vice Captain Bogart siyempre. Nung nag-paalam kasi ako na gusto ko matuto ang daming nagreklamo. Kabilang ang parents ko na dumating na after ng business journey nila.
You're a lady, you don't have to do that. You have knights to protect you, yada yada.
Alam ko naman iyon, pero iba pa rin kapag alam mong dipensahan ang sarili mo. Lalo na't kaharap mo sila kamatayan (Chadwick, Ashton at Daryl). Only you who can help yourself. Tama ba?
And in two weeks, I've slightly mastered Qi Manipulation and some basic swordsmanship. Itinigil ko na rin ang swordmanship training ko dahil medyo nakakahalata na ang parents ko. Nagka-muscles na ako. Hahahaha.
Dalawang linggo nalang din bago ako magsimulang pumasok sa Kershian Academy. I'm a bit confident na since I'm no longer powerless but that is a secret.
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I'm currently having my snack time in our garden. Napaka-fresh ng hangin at napakasarap ng strawberry shortcake. With all of those training, I also need a break.
Since I'm no longer a powerless fool, how about we fix my reputation outside?
"Letty, could you get all my invitations sent to me from the butler?", utos ko kay Letty. "Yes, my lady", sabay alis niya.
Halos dalawang buwan na rin naman akong hindi dumadalo sa kahit anong salon/tea party/social gathering. Baka kung anu-ano nanaman pinagchi-chismisan siguro ng mga minor characters. Kala mo naman kinaganda nila.
Ilang minuto lang ay pumasok na din ako sa loob dahil medyo umiinit na dito sa labas. Sakto namang pagpasok ko sa study room ko ay nandoon na ang iilang mga invitations.
As a Marquis' daughter, a powerful household, isn't four invitation too little? Are the puny characters trying to cast out me in society? If it is, they are doing a great job!
It would be great to be forgotten instead.
"Hmm", binuksan ko lahat ng invitation at binasa to see the most beneficial gathering to me. Kailangan ko ng party na maraming kilalang family ang aattend at maraming chismosa.
Prim Devenney? Count Gregory's only daughter. The wealthy family that the aristocrat faction wants to recruit but that doesn't do anything for me since we're far way richer than them. Hahahaha.
"Letty, send a letter to Lady Devenney that I will be attending her tea party", pagkasabi ko nun ay siyang naman tuwa ni Letty. "Yes, my lady!", happy much?
I am no in good relationship with Prim but the party she always put up are always popular in the society. It's popular for gossips as she is also a blabbermouth.
Society is scary especially if you are the center of gossips which happens to book-Alexandria all the time.
I wonder what kind of fuck-up stories circulating about me this time. Why am I excited?
"What dress should I wear?".
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"Miss, I have received a response from the house of Eveque. The young lady Alexandria Eveque will be attending your tea party".
"My, my, oh my. Thank you for delivering the good news. You may now leave".
Prim Devenney took a sip on her tea as a wicked smile drew on her lips. She did send an invitation to the villainess but did not expect that the latter will attend since rumors said that the young lady was punished and was being house arrested.
The high society was in an uproar since the young lady of Eveque wasn't active in the past two months. This causes a bunch of groundless rumors.
Now, the news of Alexandria Eveque attending the tea party of Prim Devenney has awakened the gossipers of the society.
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Wow. I didn't know attending one tea party will cause a ruckus.
Kalat na kalat ang balitang comeback ni Alexandria Eveque sa social activities. Mga leche kayo, dalawang buwan lang ako nawala (nagkulong). Big deal na yun? If I know, inaabangan lang nila kung anong kamalditahan nanaman ang gagawin ko sa party.
What will the villainess Alexandria Eveque do this time?
Too bad, I won't be doing anything wicked. It's about time to put those rumors to rest once and for all.
Kasalukuyan akong tinutulongan nila Letty at dalawa pang maid sa pagdadamit. Ngayon araw na kasi ang tea party sa Devenney countdom. Surprisingly, I'm not nervous. In fact, I kinda looked forward to this day. This is the day I redeemed myself and clear the villainess tagged on my name.
"Miss, you're all done. Please look in the mirror", humarap naman ako sa malaking salamin and holy shit. I didn't know that I can be this beautiful.
"Miss, you are so beautiful".
"You're sure will be the limelight of the party once again".
I really can't get used to getting compliments. Lalo na't harap-harapan kang kino-compliment. Hindi pa naman ako sanay. Mas sanay akong binabash ako.
Inihatid na ako nila Letty at butler sa nakahandang carriage na sasakyan ko. Nakaabang din ang apat na knights at si vice-captain Bogart.
"Good day, milady", then the rest of them bowed to me as respect. "Good day to you too, vice-captain Bogart", pagbati ko rin.
"My lady, I would like to introduce to you our newly recruited knights. Though they are new, I can assure you their skills are comparable to me and the captain. They will protect and accompany you today, milady".
"That's very assuring, Sir Bogart", since you also taught me. "If you approve them, then that is fine with me since I trust your judgment". Lumiwanag naman ang mukha ng apat na bagong knights. They bowed to me and introduced themselves. It's funny because they have the same hair color and they kind of look alike aside from their eye colors. Are they four related?
"Your ladyship, My name is Leonardo". Hmm? Blue eyes.
"My name is Donatello, my lady". Purple eyes.
"I am Michelangelo, milady". He has orange eyes? Wait. Isn't this too familiar?
"And I am Raphael, my lady". And he has red eyes.
"Ninja Turtles?", I mumbled in disbelief. "Pardon, my lady?".
"Oh, nothing. Then, I will entrust you my safety, Sir Leonardo, Sir Donatello, Sir Michelangelo and Sir Raphael-- pfft ehm ehem".
"THANK YOU FOR ACCEPTING US, OUR LADY! WE SWEAR OUR ETERNAL DEVOTION TO YOU", sabay-sabay nilang sabi na akala mo pinagpraktisan talaga nila.
"That's good to know. Now, let's depart", sabi ko tsaka pumasok sa carriage. "Thank you".
Gago ka Isabelle! Kanina pa ako nagpipigil ng tawa dito. Dinamay mo pa yung mga nananahimik na Ninja Turtles. Halos maluha-luha akong nagpipigil ng tawa. Kailangan kong pigilan dahil baka pagkamalan akong nababaliw. In their perspective, wala namang nakakatawa since they are not familiar with the ninja turtles.
"Milady, we have arrived", pinagbuksan naman ako ng pinto ni Leonardo. "Please enjoy the party, milady. We will be waiting here".
I sashayed my way to the Devenney countdom and a grinning lady greeted me.
"You've arrived, Lady Alexandria Eveque. I'm delighted that you accepted my invitation. Please enter and enjoy the delicacies I prepared. I hope it's up to your taste". Aaahh, so this is Lady Prim. Plastic.
Pagkapasok na pagkapasok ko, lahat ng tingin ay dumako saakin. Dang. I'm too popular.
Forgot the stares, it looks the people are hesitant to come near me though some of them are gossiping about me. They may be covering it with their over-designed hand fans, I can still clearly hear them.
Umupo ako sa bakanteng upuan. Super bakante dahil wala akong kasama. Are they planning to desert me? Huh! I took a bite on the chiffon cake.
At least it's tasty.
I'm in the middle of enjoying the delicacies when an alive voodoo doll with her two minions approaches me.
"Lady Alexandria, I heard that you were ill for a long time. I hope you are feeling better now since you are attending social activities again. Parties are different without your presence I might say". Hmm? Are you really concerned about me? Your words are different from what your face is expressing. By the way, who is this voodoo doll?
" I appreciate your kind words. Your concern might have helped me recover faster", sabay ngiti sakanila.
They were taken aback by my genuine smile and genuine response. Naging uneasy naman ang expression ng mukha nila. Medyo nagulat din yung mga spectator sa paligid.
"However, the rumor says that you intentionally jump on the stairs to get the Lord Chadwick's attention", voodoo girl with a smug written on her face.
"Though, the young lord didn't care", minion 1. Sabay tawa pa ng gaga.
"Did the young lord even pay you a visit on your little accident?", minion 2. Sabay tawa rin ng isa pang gaga.
"Seriously, I admire your effort just to get the young lord's attention but at the same time I pity you". And with that, whispers from the spectators filled the room.
"But, is it true though that you intentionally throw yourself? I really admire you that you are willing to hurt yourself. How thoughtless", at tumawa na nga ang tatlong gaga. May mga nakitawa rin na spectator.
Feeling ata ng mga ito nanonood ng sine.
Just like what this voodoo girl said, yung kumakalat na rumor saakin ay sinadya ko daw magpagulong sa hagdan para magpapansin kay Chadwick which is not true.
Book-Alexandria did really slipped in the stairs. Similar to what happened to me. That's not all. Meron pang chismis na I've reached hard bottom because of the heartache and became insane. Crazy.
"You're quiet, Lady Alexandria. Can we assume that your silence means the rumor is true?", instead of answering them I gave them my sweetest smile.
Nagngitngit naman sa inis si voodoo doll. Punong-puno naman ng pagtataka ang mukha ng mga spectator. That's expected since book-Alexandria is known for her short temper and violence.
Kung si book-Alexandria ang nasa harap nila kanina pa ito nag-iskandalo at pinagsasasampal itong mga babaeng mukhang grupo ng kulto.
"Wha--? I see, you still have the audacity to be arrogant. You must have really gone insane", mas lalo pa akong ngumiti sakaniya.
"Stop smiling, you bitch!", hindi ko napigilan mapatawa sa sigaw niya tsaka napa-palakpak pa.
"I applaud your effort trying to offend me. It was entertaining, no, it was hilarious. You must be interested to become a comedian perhaps a clown? I didn't know that you have a talent for it, either way, I will support your passion".
Mas lalong nagalit ang mukha ni voodoo girl dahil sa sinabi ko lalo na't may ibang nagpigil ng tawa from our audience.
Since they already established that I am crazy and wicked, then why change? The way things going on now, screw my image. My reputation can no longer be fixed. If they want me to act like a villainess, then I will happily give them a high-class villainess. In the first place, I am not a good person. No wonder Isabelle chose me as her novel's antagonist.
Tumayo ako sa pagkakaupo at lumapit kung saan nakatayo ang tatlong kanina pang nagngingit-ngit sa galit. Mas lalo ako napangiti ng medyo umatras sila. See? Despite trying to offend me, they are still afraid of me. They really tried their best to slander me.
"Let me asked you this, do you know what a rumor is? A rumor is a form of a story that hasn't confirmed yet. It's groundless. Now, what do you think of the rumors about me? I wonder, is it true?".
"I-It m..must have been true. The way you are acting right now, it seems like you have gone mad", sagot ni voodoo girl.
"Am I?", tumingin ako sa lalaking nakatayo malapit saakin na siyang ikinagulat naman niya. "Do I look like I have gone mad?", tanong ko sakaniya habang nakangiti. "N-no, Lady Alexandria", agad na sagot nung lalaki. "I see", dumako ulit ang pansin ko kay voodoo girl na hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko pa rin alam ang pangalan.
"Listen here little girl, believing in the rumors is up to you. It depends on everyone's choice actually whether they believe in them or not. Either way, I respect what they believed in. So, do you still believe in the rumors about me, little girl?".
"Yes, I believed in the rumors", I smirked at her answer. How foolish.
"I respect that--".
"Then, it must be tru--"
"However, did you know?", pagpuputol ko sa sasabihin ni voodoo doll. "Rumors are created by haters, people with ill-content intention, jealous people. And these rumors are being spread by fools that eventually accepted and believed by idiots. Now answer me little girl, are you an idiot? Are the three of you idiots?", and by that, I once again smiled triumphantly. Tumingin ako sa paligid dahil sobrang tahimik ng mga spectators. Ha! Are they now questioning themselves if they are idiots? Hahahahaa....
"You three are being quiet. Can I assume then, that you three are idiots?", mas lalong nangasim ang itsura nila.
"Oh my, you look unwell. You look pale. Are you okay?", pansin ko sa mukha ni voodoo girl.
"Did you just called me an idiot? How dare you!".
"Did I? All I did was asked you if you were an idiot. Wait, did you just admit that you are in fact an idiot?", I said sarcastically. Mukhang na-realize rin niya yung sinabi niya dahil may mangilan-ngilang napatawa ng mahina.
"Compared to what I did, isn't what you did earlier is more disrespectful?", book-Alexandria is also popular because of her intimidating glare. "How impudent!", I erased my sweet smile and gave them my infamous glare.
"Where did you even get the confidence to publicly slander me, the lady of the house Eveque? You must have hit your head and forgot what my family can do regardless of your status", what I said is true. The Heroux imperial family and the house of Eveque have a close relationship. "I wonder, what kind of punishment is befitting to these lambs".
Mukha naman silang nataranta sa sinabi ko. Though, I'm not really going to punish them. I just want to see their pathetic faces like what they are expressing right now.
"L-lady Alexandria, we b..begged for your forgiveness", now your begging? Kanina patawa-tawa ka lang kayo mga gaga. Asan na confidence niyo?
"But since you entertained me with your comedic acts and foolishness earlier, you all are pardoned", to lift the heavy tension I smiled again.
"T-thank you, Lady Alexandria".
"Oh my, the lady just forgave them".
"She's too kind".
Bulungan ng mga spectator.
"Well, I shall leave now. I hope you all have a good afternoon", tinalikuran ko na sila at naglakad paalis. Sumalubong naman saakin si Prim, ang host ng tea party. I expected her to be angry but she is smiling ear to ear.
"I apologize, Miss Prim. I have to leave now that I caused a commotion at your tea party. However, I enjoyed your party and the delicacies you've prepared are delectable".
"Oh no, you don't have to apologize Lady Alexandria. I'm delighted that you have a great time and liked the foods that I prepared. I hope you still attend my future parties", ani naman niya saakin which I think is sincere? I think she also enjoyed the little show.
"We'll see, since next week I'll be attending the academy".
"Oh that's right. Well, I bid you goodbye and have a safe trip going back".
Matapos akong ihatid papalabas ni Prim ay nakita ko ng nakaabang yung ninja turtles.
"It seems that our lady enjoyed the tea party looking how you are smiling right now", salubong saakin ni Michelangelo.
"I indeed enjoyed the party", sagot ko tsaka pumasok sa carriage. Mukhang masaya ang yung mga ninja turtles, dahil ba masaya at nasa good mood ang ladyship nila?
Wow. I must say, being a villainess is quite enjoyable. Yep, I'm in good mood.
Tumingin nalang ako sa bintana. "Gee, idiots these days are entertaining", I mumbled. Napatawa na ako ng tuluyan ng maalala ko yung nangyari kanina. Voodoo girl really fell into my trap and admit she's an idiot.
"Pfft-- Hahahahah".
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Napangiti naman ang apat na knights nang marinig nila si Alexandria na tumatawa sa loob ng carraige.
"The lady probably enjoyed the party too much?", Donatello.
"Ssshh--, she might hear you", Leonardo.
"But still, it's great to see the lady having a great time", Raphael.
"Indeed", Michelangelo.
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Oh right, my plan to fix my reputation epically failed but whatever.