"I was about to ask if you also got invited. They brought your invite just in time."
Now sitting in my garden with Elmira, Mary and Ruby, we're chatting about the invitation I just received. Elmira takes a sip of her tea after talking.
"So, do we go there to give money and leave?"
I ask looking at Elmira. I've only heard of this thing on tv. The fact that I'll be attending one, and as the giver, not the receiver is shocking.
"It's like a ball. We do donate money but it's mainly a place to form social connections among the wealthy."
"No parents are allowed as the children are representing them. All parents dress their children up in other to make themselves look good and improve their image."
I nod at Elmira's words. If the event is about making yourself look good and forming connections...
"I'd better start going home. It was really nice talking to you today. If you don't mind.."
"Would you like to be friends?"
Elmira says giving me an anxious smile like she's scared I'd say no.
"Aren't we friends already?"
Elmira smiles and suddenly gives me a hug. I reciprocate with a smile on my face then see her out.
"Of course, making friends always give you the best feeling."
"I've only got 4 days till the event, I should get ready."
~~~~
The only option for clothes I have are the ones I ordered from Madam Grace.
"I ordered them for fun, who knew I'd actually have to use them."
Ruby put the dresses in a line and we stand in front of it trying to look for the best one.
"What about this one?"
Ruby says going to touch a dark cyan dress with a corset waist.
"That doesn't suit an event like that. This is Vivian's ( and my ) first time on this kind of occasion."
"I shouldn't stand out too much but I also shouldn't blend in too much."
I glance through the clothes and finally stop at a Russian violet-colored dress. The top of the dress has a ribbon going zig-zag on the chest. The sleeves are wrist length with embroidery running down the waist sides.
The down part is a layer with black lace around the edge. There are flowers imprinted on the clothing so it doesn't look plain.
"This one will do."
I pick the dress from the hangar and put it on the bed.
"All that's left are shoes and accessories to go with it."
I look through the shoes with my hand grazing them one after the other. I stop when I catch sight of something and go back to the previous shoes.
This...This is the pair of shoes Vivian wore when she asked me for help, I didn't know it actually exists.
"Is it okay to try this on?"
I say quietly to myself before slipping on the shoes.
"It's not her size. It seemed to size her perfectly then though."
I take off the shoes and put them in the far back of Vivian's wardrobe. I'm not sure of what happened to Vivian but I won't meet the same fate, at least until I find out why I'm here and how to leave.
I pick up a black leather shoe that's ankle length with a pointed tip.
"This will do."
After placing the shoe beside the dress, I look around Vivian's room to find any sort of earrings or hairpins but she has none. After turning the room upside down, I finally find a pair of pearl earrings.
"Now that everything's ready...I guess I'll just wait around till the event."
Ruby and Mary have left the room to do other things. I look around my room to look for anything to entertain myself when I see a book. It's peeking out from under the bed.
I bend down and pick it up.
"HOW TO: PLANT"
I open the book to see different drawings of plants and their names and how to take care of them is written underneath.
"She's really good at drawing. If she's good at it does it mean I'll be good at it too since her body is used to it?"
I smile to myself putting the book down and picking up a piece of drawer and pencil.
"I guess pencils exist earlier in this world. Very convenient."
I smoothen the paper on the table and begin to draw. *sketch*sketch*sketch*
"When I'm done, even Vin Ggogh will come back from the dead to praise me.
*Sketch*sketch*sketch*
"Hmmm. What was I expecting? It's not like I was ever good at drawing."
I ruffle the paper and throw it in the bin.
"I'm sooo bored!!!"
~~~~~
MAPLE MEADOW MILITARY BASE
The entire place is silent as the general walk the ground of the palace. The soldiers all have their heads down with serious look on their faces But deep inside;
"Finally he's leaving."
"I'm free."
"I hope he trips and falls on his face"
"Those are probably the thoughts going through your heads."
The general says making the once silent grounds fill with awkward noises.
"You shouldn't stop training and doing your duties just because I'm leaving."
"You should all remember that I'm always watching you."
Chuckling anxiously, the commander in charge of the base slowly walks towards the general and holds his hand.
"Why don't we go easy on the soldiers and start our farewell party, General?"
The bald 5ft4 man says to the 6ft3 silver-haired man with his hair covering his eyes.
"I didn't come here to dine and wine with you, dismiss the soldiers."
The man starts walking away from the grounds before he's stopped by a familiar figure. The figure points an envelope in the silvered hair man's face.
"You've been invited to a party, Let's go get ready to go."
The silver-haired man ignores the figure making him frown.
"General! Don't you think it's time you start attending social events like a proper royal?"
"General!!"
"DEXTER LARSON!!!"
The tall man named Dexter turns back to see his butler/bodyguard Leon Chapman looking at him with fury. Dexter slowly walks towards him and pats his shoulder.
"Do you want to go to a party that much?"
Leon now regretting his previous action nods a no.
"You can go alone to represent me. If I'm going to mingle with does nobles, now is just not the time."
"I'll be back in 3 days, arrange to leave by then."
Leon looks at the man's cold gaze with a small smirk. He watches as his master walks towards the gate and then releases a huge sigh.
"Why on earth am I that man's butler? He's taller, stronger and everything in between! Why did my ancestors choose a job like this!"
The ginger-haired man jumps around with his hand in his hair screaming in silence.
"I really wanted to go to that party though... All those pretty girls will now have to live their lives without meeting me"
The soldiers walking around looks at Leon like someone who's gone crazy with the way he's jumping around one minute and admiring his own face and muscles in the second.
~~~~~
6 PM, COUNT SULLIVAN'S MANSION
I come down from my room wearing a hooker's green 3-layer dress, my red hair in a bun with a silver hairpin decorating it. I smile at my mother holding her hand.
"Don't worry mother, I've been doing this for 4 years. I'll make sure to make you proud as well"
Mother sighs patting her chest.
"You think I'm worried about you? I'm scared that thrash might mess up the reputation that you've been building all these years."
I chuckle but the smile soon fades off when I see Vivian come out of the house.
She's wearing a violet dress with her dark hair let down and some strands braided to the back. A small pair of pearl earrings I'd gifted her on her 18th birthday adorn her hair.
It seems I've underestimated her because she's been quiet all this time. I just have to show her, why pure nobility blood can't be mixed with that of pigs.