"Good day, Madame."
Rosaria opened her eyes as she noticed Penelope waking her up by opening the curtains.
When Rosaria stood up, the maid brought her a wash basin so she could wash her face. Rosaria washed her face and wiped it with the maid's cloth.
"Would you like tea or milk, Madame?" asked Penelope.
"Please, milk."
As they both smiled, they quickly became good friends. While the lady was eating breakfast and conversing with Penelope. Sir Cesar entered after hearing a knock on the door.
"Good day, Madame."
"Good morning, Sir Cesar, what brings you here this early?"
"I came to greet you and remind you that I have an appointment today that the Duke has assigned to me."
"Is there a meeting? Is the Duke on his way?"
"No, the Duke has gone to the capital for official duties and will return in a week."
"I see; may I write to the Duke later this evening?"
" Without a doubt, I will dispatch a messenger to deliver the message to the Duke."
"Thank you very much."
The secretary checks the list after seeing the table full of resumes of the candidates who will be assigned as ladies in waiting. "Have you decided who you're going to pick?"
"Not yet, Sir Cesar; I intend to make a decision by today."
"It's fine, Madame, please take your time," the secretary said as he checked his pocket watch. "The time is on schedule, Excuse me as I leave for some errands before our appointment, Please freshen up and come to the garden Room as I will be waiting there," the secretary said as he went and instructed Penelope to instruct the maids
"I'll be there, Sir Cesar, but... may I ask what the appointment is?"
"I cannot reveal anything for the time being because the Duke has stated that he wants to surprise you."
"If that's the case, I'll wait for it." Rosaria smiles, anticipating the Duke's surprise.
"Thank you for your cooperation," the secretary says as he reminds her to arrive on time at the Garden Room at noon.
As Rosaria took a bath, the maids first cleansed her body with fine bath salts and milk to moisten the skin and carefully washed her long hair as it took time for the maids to rinse the hair as she wore floor length hair and was properly mended by the maids as they had been instructed by the secretary to take good care of her hair for today's appointment.
When the clock struck noon, Penelope led her to the Garden Room, where she noticed Cesar standing at the room's entrance. The maids had been instructed to dress the lady in comfortable clothes, so she was dressed in a fine satin gown.
"Sir Ceres, Duchess Rosaria has arrived," Penelope said as she greeted him, Rosaria behind her, curious as to what surprise was in store for her.
"Excellent timing. Madame, please follow me to the room, and Penelope, the dresses we ordered yesterday have arrived. Please ask someone to assist you in retrieving the dresses and transporting them to the ladies' room."
"Yes, my Lord," Penelope said as she exited, leaving the secretary and the lady in the entrance.
"Please come in; we have been expecting you. The gentleman has arrived early after learning that he will be seeing you."
" Who?"
The secretary leads her inside, where she notices a man standing and arranging tools. He led her to an open area at the far end of the room, where a man stood next to a chair.
"Mr. Heres is the capital's top hairdresser, my lady. He will look after your hair."
Rosaria was taken aback.
"It's an order from the Duke himself; he found your hair to be very long, resembling a broom when down and resembling a beehive when tied, and I also heard from his Highness that you complained about difficulty maintaining your hair and that it made your head feel heavy when tied. I apologize to your uncle, the count, for not taking care of you, but please know that as the duchess of this house, we will make certain that you are recognized as the Lady Duchess of Eklostead."
" But..."
"There are no buts... Mr. Heres will take good care of your hair, my lady. For years, he has been Capital's top hairdresser, having done the duke's hair and even the noble ladies of high society. So you're in safe hands."
"Um, okay."
She approaches the man who greets her.
" Good day, Sir. My name is Rosaria Eklostead, and I'm looking forward to you fixing my long hair.
"It's a pleasure, my lady. My name is Mr. Heres, and I will make you beautiful and will do everything in my power to make you look beautiful and admired in the house of Eklostead."
"Ummm... okay... Mr. Heres, I'm under your care," Rosaria said as the hairdresser brought in a chair and asked her to take a seat. She agreed and sat in the chair, getting chills as the man opened the pins in her hair and untangled them.
"My lovely hair, why didn't Sir Cesar warn me? This is worse than a surprise. Please help me, God, because all of my beautiful hair will be gone. Please help! .. Should I just submit and go on like this? But I'm going to miss my hair terribly. I wish he could cut down to my waist. Yes, I will advise you to cut until you reach your waist. Oh, this is so humiliating "Rosaria begins to consider what to do with her hair.
The man then brushes her hair with a comb and examines it to determine what to do with it before consulting the catalogue to see what would look good on her.
"Oh my!... you have such long hair, even if you don't keep it silky smooth. I've never seen a lady with extremely long hair "said the hairdresser, surprised.
"What are you doing, Mr Heres? Time is running out; have you made a decision? what should be done about the lady"
"Yes.. The duchess's hair appears to have been neglected for years, resulting in damaged hair all over. Madame, how would you like it trimmed?"
"Um...I'd like a..." Sir Cesar interrupted Rosaria before she could respond.
"There is no trimming... Please cut her hair "stated the Secretary
"What?" she exclaimed, and even the hairdresser was taken aback.
"What are you saying, Sir Cesar?" Rosaria inquired.
"As I previously discussed with the Duke, he requested that the lady's hair be cut short. Please make it fashionable and ensure that she impresses the Duke."
"How short are you saying, Sir Cesar?" Mr Heres inquires, but is taken aback when he points to the area where the Duke has requested a cut.
"Excuse me... you mean to cut all my hair?" exclaimed Rosaria.
"Madame, you can rest assured that you are in good hands. You will look good because the season is very hot and it will be difficult for you to maintain your floor length hair, which is why the Duke has instructed for what is good for the lady. As Mr Heres stated, your hair is damaged everywhere and would not look good on you; therefore, Mr Heres, please proceed with caution and ensure that the bangs do not cover the lady, as the Duke stated she has difficulty with her hair covering it. Now, chop chop, the clock is ticking; please begin, Mr Heres."
"Yes, sir," the hairdresser replied as he turned to face the lady, "are you ready?"
*Gulp*
"I've never had my hair cut and have kept my hair since childhood; now I'm going to sacrifice my hair. I'm terrified."
"Don't be afraid, Miss, you're in good hands," the hairdresser said.
Rosaria took a deep breath and stood up, believing him. "Please give me some time, this is too sudden, I cannot accept cutting my precious hair," she said.
As the lady attempted to leave, Sir Cesar stopped her and told her to return to her seat "This is a direct order from the Duke, and you must obey. Please remember that you are the Duchess, not the Baron's niece. We are acting in your best interests."
"But I'm afraid to cut it." "Please, there must be another way," Rosaria said, her eyes welling up with tears.
"Don't worry, you'll look great," the Hairdresser assured her.
"It's now or never, Madame. You want the Duke to like you, and it's your job as the Duchess to set a good example as the Eklostead family's lady. Society will condemn you if you keep your hair like this. That is why the Duke desires that his wife be admired in the capital.
*sob*
".... I see... if this is the Duke's wish, I will fulfill it," Rosaria said as she gave up and let Mr Hermes handle it. The secretary then instructs the lady on how she should appear before returning to the nervous lady.
"I have instructed Mr Hermes, and I hope for the best."
"O...Okay"
"Then I'll excuse myself and summon the maid to stay with you, Madame," Cesar said.
"OK, I'll see you later," Rosaria said as she prepared for her biggest challenge.