The Deor household had gotten prepared for the visit of two prestigious young men; Count Thomas and Farret, who is Olivia's fiancé, and Ronald, who is Paisley's lover and my ex-fiance.
Maybe it was a coincidence, maybe it was not, seeing as both Paisley and Olivia had invited their love interests to the mansion under the same day.
Was it a plot to faze me? I guess that they'll have to try harder.
I walked downstairs in order to go out to the garden. On my way, I was passing the parlor.
I was surprised to see Thomas Farret, sitting, here very early.
Originally, I was going to pass by with a light greeting, but he called my attention first.
"Good day Lady Deor!"
"Good day, Count Farret"
My greetings were gentle unlike his that was filled with too much vigor. He got up and stood before me. Then he began his attempt to make conversation with me
"Um Lady Deor....I hope you have been well"
"Thank you for your concern Count, I'm perfectly fine" I smiled.
Seeing me smile seemed to make him blush and talk shyly.
"You have been absent from all social gatherings for the past days. That's why I was concerned....." He scratched the back of his head and spoke with concern.
"I appreciate your kindness"
Thomas Farret stared in awe of me, almost about to drool while I held back the urge to roll my eyes.
The young Count Thomas Farret is among my numerous not-so-secret admirers. Always trying to earn my attention so openly.
I hold no bad feelings towards Thomas Farret, but he's not my type of man. He seems to be sweet and kind. He has a handsome face with gentle features.
However that's the complete opposite of my ideal type. I prefer the dangerous, cold, strong, mysterious and murderous type, if you know what I'm saying.
'Of course, I've never let Nathan know this and will probably never do'
Finally I was about to move away from the parlor.
"If that's all-
"Wait! U-um...
***
Count Thomas Farret was a young man in his early twenties. A few years ago, his father passed on the title to him.
In order to further give himself a strong standing, he needed to ally himself with an influential family in the South.
He was thinking about this at a party.
"Haha. Thank you for the compliment lady"
It was then that he turned to her; Adrianna Deor.
She was smiling so beautifully. Her eyes shining. A sight to behold.
Thomas Farret could easily remember that he had once possessed feelings of attraction towards Adrianna during his teenage years. His first crush maybe.
The first time he had beheld the beauty was during her debut party.
Dressed in a white laced gown along with simple accessories, she possessed ethereal beauty, making her look like an angel.
He was captivated by it all - her innocent smile, her kind purple eyes, her locks of red hair, her gentle steps and fairy-like movements.
Everything she did were acts full of kindness. She was smart and polite.
Thomas had made plans to court her then marry her, since she was his ideal woman that he wanted. A perfect match, he thought. She even had an excellent family background.
But before he could get the chance to court her or get close to her, he heard about her engagement to Lord Belv of the Belv Duchy.
'I can't compete with him' Thomas Farret had thought at time.
Though the Farret family had a powerful social influence, they were only a Count family that had a name in the South. The family was incomparable to the Belv Duchy.
Thomas then gave up on courting, engaging or getting married to Adrianna. He was heartbroken for weeks.
His parents, who knew of his feelings towards Adrianna, recommended that he courted another lady.
Their first choice was Adrianna's cousin; Olivia Deor.
Thomas Farret hadn't been to positive about the idea but decided to give it a chance in order to come out of his heartbroken state.
To Thomas Farret, Olivia Deor was similar to Adrianna in some ways.
What Thomas wanted the most was an innocent, kind, polite, quiet, gentle, smart and calm woman to be his wife.
Adrianna had fulfilled all the qualifications. Olivia on the other hand had failed to meet some of these.
After courting her for five years, he had come to understand her.
On the outside, Olivia seemed to be kind and gentle, put he often times felt like this was all just an act.
He had witnessed her being rude to some people because they were of lesser status, but quickly changing her attitude when he came over.
Plus she wasn't even intellectually smart.
Thomas had used Olivia as a means to forget his yearning for Adrianna. He had decided to get married to Olivia and visit the Doer manor, getting a glimpse of Adrianna from time to time.
But ever since he heard that Lord Belv was breaking up with Adrianna, he became overjoyed.
'She must be heartbroken. If I am to stand by her side, in this time of distress, she is sure to fall in love with me! Then we'll get married!'
He admitted that it was mean for him to devise such a plan when he even had a fiancé. But he had no obligation to marry Olivia. Weren't people allowed to end a relationship?
So his only goal now was to make Adrianna fall in love with him.
He was waiting for Olivia in the parlor of the Deor mansion, when he noticed Adrianna coming down the stairs.
How could he not notice her? Her presence was too bright to be ignored. Bewitched by her ethereal beauty he shouted an overl enthusiastic greeting.
"Good day Lady Deor!"
"Good day, Count Farret"
Thomas enjoyed the sound of her voice. It's gentle rhythm-like tone, tingling his ears.
He was eager to talk to her, at every chance that he got.
"Um Lady Deor....I hope you have been well"
"Thank you for your concern Count, I'm perfectly fine"
Adrianna then smiled at Thomas.
'So pretty....'
His brain blanked out for a second, making his thoughts jumbled. Subconsciously, he began to compare Olivia and Adrianna.
Olivia had seemed as a good enough Lady to be the Countess Farret, however she seemed to pale in comparison to Adrianna.
Thomas Farret then recalled the news of the affair between Lord Belv and Lady Paisley. He concluded that Adrianna would be very heartbroken, but was just trying to cover up.
"You have been absent from all social gatherings for the past days. That's why I was concerned....." Thomas Farret scratched the back of his head and spoke with concern, still trying to continue the conversation.
"I appreciate your kindness"
The burning desire to reach out to her and hold her was barely controlled. It would be rude and inconsiderate since his fiance was her cousin and she was still recovering from a relationship.
"If that's all-
"Wait! U-um...." Thomas saw she was about to leave and quickly stopped her, coming closer to her. "Is Lady Olivia around?"
"Yes. She is upstairs"
Thomas Farret already knew Olivia was in her room because he had asked the servants about her whereabouts.
He wasn't planning to stay long because he had an important meeting to attend to and could not attend the lunch which had he had been invited to.
He had come in person in order to tell Olivia that he would be very busy this afternoon, but he had ended up waiting in the parlor for Olivia for over half an hour. The servants kept on saying that she would be down soon, but it seemed untrue.
Now he had to leave, but he'd convey the reason for his absence through Adrianna. Besides, he enjoyed Adrianna's presence very much.
***
When Olivia woke up by past eight, she was excited about today's lunch that was arranged for Count Farret and Lord Belv to attend.
She had just taken a bath and was about to choose a simple dress when a servant came in with some news.
"Count Farret just arrived"
"What?"
'So early?' Olivia thought to herself. 'Maybe he misses me so much and couldn't wait for it to be lunchtime!'
Olivia then gained a very good mood. She summoned all the maids serving her and went back into the bathroom to take another bath. A very special one on which the water was mixed with many perfumes and ointments.
When she had finished the bath she took all her time and effort to carefully pick the right dress.
The maids were all happy to see their usually ill-tempered lady in such a good mood.
She was adorned with many precious jewels after wearing her dress. The maids then proceeded to apply her style of heavy makeup and dress her hair.
Olivia then looked in the mirror then curled her lips into a smile.
'See! I can be as pretty as Adrianna!'
The heavy and suffocating makeup seemed to hypnotize her into believing that. But for now, no one was going to tell her the truth.
'Now I'm ready'
Olivia then turned around to exit her room. She went downstairs towards the parlor were here dear fiancé, Thomas Farret was waiting.
She did not expect him to be already hosted by somebody.
Furthermore, seeing Adrianna and Thomas standing so closely made her infuriated!