I was sitting in front of my mirror, adjusting the accessories on my hair, ready to go out again today with Nathan.
A knock came on my door and I permitted the person to enter.
"Sister!"
I looked at the person from the mirror. Behind me was Paisley, whose eyes seemed to have been red from crying.
Without turning around to face her, I only spoke in an indifferent tone.
"What do you want?"
"S-sister...well. I've been trying to talk to you but we've both been busy so I didn't have the chance"
"Please be quick with what you have to say because I have an appointment"
Paisley fiddled with her fingers then raised up her head to look at me from the mirror.
"Are you angry that I took away Ronald from you? I hope you're not. After all it isn't my fault. We're still good, right?"
The fact that she had come as if she wanted to apologize but still remain so bold, infuriated me.
"So Paisley. You seduced my fiancé. Took him away from me. And you expect me to not me mad? Why is that?"
"Um...In the first place, he never loved you! He told me. So your relationship would have never worked out..."
"So it's okay for you to steal my fiance, because he doesn't love me. Hmm"
Finally I turned away from the mirror and faced Paisley. There was no soul in my voice as I spoke. Even my smile seemed lifeless.
"Fine then. Our relationship is still good even though you stole my fiance and even refused to apologize"
Paisley's expression brightened and she immediately ran towards me, embracing me in a hug.
"I knew you wouldn't be mad! After all, no one's ever mad at me"
Disgust creeped up my skin as I listened to Paisley's soprano voice ringing in my ears. The smell of roses which was her perfume, hit my nose harshly. She always had a habit of over spraying perfume.
Paisley was such a self absorbed and gullible person.
'So she thinks we're still on good terms? Messing with her is going to be fun'
Embracing Paisley into a reciprocal hug, I spoke in an innocent tone while my lips formed an evil smile.
"Of course! Who would me mad at you? You're such a bundle of joy! No wonder Ronald is in love with you!"
My tone was full with sarcasm. I redrew from our hug and moved away from her a bit then looked at her swollen eyes.
"You're supposed to be happy now that you and Ronald's affair is no longer a secret. Now you both are free to love openly...so why were you crying? "
Paisley's hands shook as they held mine. Tears began to reform in her eyes as she sniffled.
"W-well...yesterday, Ronald was angry and he shouted at me. He didn't listen to any of my plans for our wedding!"
"Oh, how horrible"
Sarcasm was laced in my voice but Paisley being naive as she was, did not seem to notice any of it.
My expression morphed into one full of concern.
"If he didn't listen that means....he might now want a wedding"
"W-what?"
"When he was my fiancé he was told me that he loved me. That I was the only one, yet..."
Paisley held her face in surprise.
"What does that mean?"
"It means that, he has another woman. Or possibly other women.
Haven't you heard rumors about him being a womanizer?
Using you as an example, they seem to be true".
"N-no. N-no. It can't be"
Paisley moved away from me and looked at me with a look filled with horror.
"It's true. Ronald only wants your body. Maybe your face. Nothing more"
"N-no! You're just jealous!"
"Jealous? Of what exactly? The fact that you have a scumbag playing around with you? Or jealous that you're only a bastard child of Marquis Deor?"
I sprouted hurtful words while still maintaining my sweet and innocent expression.
Paisley was shocked by my speech. She would obviously be surprised since she had only seen the 'innocent' and 'kind' part of me.
My innocent expression morphed into one full of wickedness.
"Why s-sister?"
"Don't call me that. You betrayed me and broke our relationship. It's all your fault"
"How?"
"That's how. You're unable to accept your fault. You're so self absorbed. Always thinking that the world revolves around you. Always thinking that the whole world loves you"
"But everybody does! Everybody is meant to like me!"
"What makes you think that? As a matter of fact, I don't like you"
"U-um...
Being unable to take it anymore, Paisley ran out of my room crying.
I smiled watching her run out of my room. The unpleasant smell of roses disappeared with her too.
Turning around, I continued to adjust my look, ready for my date with Nathan.
***
Henry had prepared a carriage for me. I was walking to the parking area. On my way, I encountered Cardin.
He looked me over and asked.
"You're dressed up. Where are you going?"
Cardin questioned me in a demanding tone, as if he was my father. He blocked my way.
"I'm going out"
My answer was ambiguous.
"To where? To meet who? And why? "
I was a grown woman. No one had the right to stop my outings.
'Not even the Marquis would dare to restrict my movement'
But I had been keeping up the image as the innocent and weak willed Adrianna in front of almost everyone, including Cardin.
Now wasn't the right time to reveal my true nature to him.
Looking at Cardin with the expression of an intimidated rabbit, I spoke in a soft tone.
"I know you care brother Cardin, but when you question me like this, you make me feel scared!"
Cardin sighed then moved closer to me, patting me on the head like a little child. There was a strange look in his eyes.
I could see his eyes wander around my body for a second, and notice the blush creeping up on his cheek.
"I don't want you to get hurt. Now that your engagement with Ronald is about to be officially broken.
Many men will want to bad things to you. I don't want you to be tainted or taken away by anybody"
Cardin took my right hand into his. Squeezing it as an act of possessiveness.
"Don't worry brother! I'll make sure to remain innocent and one day, a handsome man comes to marry me.
Maybe brother will be among the best men. You'll see me have the perfect marriage with somebody outstanding!"
I redrew my hand from Cardin's hold, still retaining my innocent smile.
I could see his eyebrows furrow, each time I called him 'brother'. He even seemed to be mad as I spoke about my future marriage.
Slipping away from him, I went past him, continuing my walk to the carriages. I left him with two final words.
"Bye brother"
.
.
.
In the novel [I Shall Save My Knight] the original Adrianna had been the villainess because she tormented the female lead who was her half sister, and devised many wicked plans to gain the affection of the male lead.
Adrianna had met her downfall at the guillotine were she was executed after her heinous crimes had been revealed. The greatest, being the fact that she tried to kill Crown Princess Paisley.
But before the villainess was finally defeated she had received many blows and was often prosecuted by the so called plot armor of the story.
Her reputation had suffered a great blow at the time when the secret relationship between her and her cousin was revealed.
Even without the information from the novel, I was aware of Cardin's romantic feelings towards me.
I had noticed the way he acted towards me and immediately became aware.
And a night when I was sixteen years, made me fully aware of Cardin's not so brotherly feelings towards me.
It was night time and a bit past ten. Everyone had gone to sleep in the Deor household. It was very dark because all the lights were out.
I was a light sleeper, so the sound of my door opening made me to wake up.
I laid down quietly and pretended to still be asleep in order to see the person who was entering and know their intentions.
I was not afraid, because at that moment, Nathan who had been under my care at that time, was sleeping in my wardrobe.
The figure that opened the door was dark. The person tiptoed towards my bed. I peeked a bit from my slightly opened eyes and saw Cardin standing beside my bed.
Cardin seemed to be talking to himself quietly for some time. He then got unto the side of the bed, and towered over me.
His rough hand slowly and gently trailed up my face. In a hoarse voice he whispered. "My sweet Adria....oh how much I want you"