Learning to get by without any memories of their lives here was an almost impossible task. Almost, because while Selene struggled profoundly, Sophia seemed to know just enough every time to clear them of any suspicion.
The diary wasn't foolproof, but it did its job, and the rest Sophia picked up from the way people reacted around them and the things she heard from eavesdropping on all the Ellsworth staff.
The two maids they had interrogated earlier were quickly disposed of when they stopped being useful. Selene got her hands dirty, and then Sophia found a good place to bury the bodies.
The residents of Ellsworth manor thought nothing strange of their disappearances, for Henry had found that he was short a significant amount of money, and Lillian found her jewellery had lessened by half. From there it was easy to put two and two together. The two maids had stolen from the Ellsworths and then ran away. It wasn't unheard of, for a maid to have done something like that.
Meanwhile, Sophia kept the money and jewellery safe inside a locked desk drawer.
Having gotten rid of the maids, Sophia moved onto the next part. She brought up Auntie Victoria in a casual conversation with her father, making him remember that it had been a while since she last visited, and inspiring him to send an invitation for her to come visit.
While they were waiting for her arrival, Sophia continued trying to teach Selene how to act like proper nobility. The Ellsworths were a ducal household, after all, so Selene needed to know how to properly act and behave.
Sophia seemed to just naturally have those mannerisms in her from the beginning.
Victoria finally arrived five days later, and Selene at that point was bursting at the seems for something, anything to happen.
Victoria was beautiful, just like their mother Lillian, with curled blonde hair and those signature red eyes. It seemed it was a Boyd family trait, those red eyes.
She was obviously surprised by how close Selene and Sophia were, and especially when she heard about the two maids that ran away after stealing from Henry and Lillian. While outwardly she showed the proper amount of indignation and concern, Selene could read her body language very clearly. Her hands had tightened around the teacup she was holding, her knuckles going white, and her jaw was tensed.
Everything about Victoria screamed that she was up to no good, and as people who have been up to no good their entire lives, it was all to easy for Selene and Sophia to recognise the signs.
Sophia got up from her seat, claiming that she was going to rest in her room, while Selene mentioned that she wanted to go for a walk. Victoria jumped at the opportunity, and told Selene she would accompany her on the walk.
"I see you've made up with your sister." Victoria tried to sound nonchalant, but it still came out sounding a bit forced.
Selene plastered on her best fake smile. "Oh, yes, it was the strangest thing. Once those two maids ran off we realised they were feeding us lies about each other the whole time, pitting us against each other whenever they could. Sophia and I haven't been able to figure out what they could possibly have done it for."
There was a flicker of anger in Victoria's eyes, and then a flash of relief, before she made an appropriately sympathetic face and placed a comforting hand on Selene's shoulders.
Selene didn't manage to get any more from Victoria after that, so she said she was tired and headed back. Victoria would probably approach Sophia some time later, and there was no doubt in Selene's mind that she would be able to get more out of Victoria.
In the mean time, Selene retreated to the library. She wasn't actually looking for anything to read, reading was more Sophia's department, but she thought it might be good to at least seem like she was reading every once in a while.
She picked a random book off the shelf and began flicking through, bored out of her mind, before her father approached.
"Selene."
Selene sighed in relief in her mind and shut the book. "Father."
"There's something we should discuss."
Honestly, Selene had almost forgotten entirely about the fact that she was living out the plot of a book, at least until Henry told her that she was about to be formally engaged to the first prince, Cassius. She forgot about all the fancy pants training Sophia had put her through in that moment and dropped her mouth open in shock. Henry did not seem to anticipate that reaction from her.
"Is this... is there any way to get out of it?" Selene asked.
It was Henry's turn to drop his jaw. "You... you don't want to get engaged to Prince Cassius?"
She assumed that his shock meant the Selene of before would've been overjoyed by the idea. Current Selene, however, would rather die than marry Cassius. Sophia had badmouthed all the book's characters to her for hours on end, Selene didn't think she could like any of them anymore.
"... Lately my priorities have shifted, somewhat."
"I've noticed you've been quite different ever since you made up with Sophia. And she's been quite different as well. It must be your influence on each other."
Selene smiled, neither agreeing or disagreeing with his statement.
"If you're really sure you don't want the engagement, I'll go have a word with the king and get it sorted out."
"Are you sure that's okay?"
"Of course!"
"The king's not going to get mad or anything?"
"No, no, he wouldn't dare! He owes me after all."
With that last curious statement, Henry then stood up and left. Selene was happy she managed to avoid getting engaged to the first prince, but she felt a strange sense of foreboding, like the decision was final and would change everything.
Then she shrugged and said, "Whatever."