"Lyrica, if you want to do this, keep it down and do it while you have no visitors."
My mouth forms a small 'o' and feel my eyes tearing up again. The fallen noble let me go and I scoot away from him. General Calais frowns at my reaction. He walks closer, kneels before me, and opens his arms.
"Now, if you want my attention, come," he patronizes.
I freeze and then, instead of going to his embrace, I hug myself and cry all the more. I fix my dress and hug my knees to my chest.
Then, I just stay there and cry, as if I've been duped by two of my favorite characters. Lyrica is someone that I am uncertain I can handle. And General Calais is too cold. I am about to be raped, and he advises me to keep it down! Worse, he alleges that I only want his attention!
So, I weep. It is only until later that I hear sounds coming into the garden.
"Something is wrong with your sister," General Calais informs.
"You just realize that?!" Jonathan says. "Father is coming. Don't worry, sir, we'll fix this."
Then I hear heavy steps, followed by powerful arms pulling me up. "What the hell is wrong with you again?!"
It is Duke's Lartius' booming voice. Instead of worrying—like how most fathers should be if they have seen their precious daughter almost being raped—he is furious because I am making a commotion.
I sniff and I feel tired. I can't believe that a thirty-year-old me will be reduced to tears like this. And worse, unlike my previous life, there is no one here who can comfort me.
"Stop your sniveling!"
I stop, but my lips tremble. He glares at me and then hits me across my face. I hit the ground, shocked. It is also the first time someone has raised a hand against me.
"Stay, General Calais!" he growls. "This is my daughter and you haven't married her yet! I can discipline her if I want!"
I touch my stinging face. But before I can even breathe, Duke Lartius takes a hold of my hair and forces me to face him. My trembling stops. His face—it's laced with so much disgust and anger that I can't think properly. Without a sliver of doubt, Lyrica is his daughter. Still, how can a father hate his daughter so?
"I told you that an unmarried woman can't have a sex slave! You didn't listen and now you're making quite a fuss!" he shouts at my face, spits and all.
I wipe my face. And that action ires him even more. He raises his arm to strike me again when I close my eyes. But the incoming pain did not come.
"Duke Lartius."
I open my eyes to see my father straining and trying to take his hands away from General Calais' hold.
"I think that one hit is enough for disciplining your daughter. Besides, she's not trying to oppose you."
"All the more reason to discipline her now! While she's not fighting back!"
"I think that is wrong parenting."
The two stare at each other and it's Duke Lartius who gives in. "Ugh, you are lucky you don't live with her. That's why you can say that."
"Don't worry. I will talk to her."
Duke Lartius gets up and leaves. Jonathan throws me a dirty look, snorts, and leaves. The fallen noble is making himself scarce, but why are they letting him leave? They should punish him!
"I think you know why I am here," General Calais interrupts my thoughts.
"T-this is not the correct venue to talk about it," I whisper, stuttering a little. Slowly, I am gaining a little of my composure, but I still can't meet his eyes.
"Of course," he agrees.
He lends me his hand and I just stare at it. I am angry, too angry that he betrays my judgment of him. Still, I should have expected this. Not once did General Calais show kindness to Lyrica. All his dealings with her are in the norms of society. He treats her with respect as what a daughter of a Duke should get, but that's all. His kindness is more for Eliana and the other people who are not antagonists of this story.
So, I gather my clothes and try to salvage whatever I can. General Calais follows me. When we reach the drawing-room, I turn towards him and say, "I will return once I am in a b-better state than this."
I walk away from him and enter my room. Seeing my state, Aiko exclaims before I plop myself on the bed.
"Miss!" she starts. "Did you go to Marcus again?! Is that why you told me not to follow? You should really stop this miss. You have wreaked too many beautiful dresses!"
Ugh! Lyrica! See what your reputation in this house is? Almost raped and all your maid cares about is the damage it causes to your set of clothes! How distorted that can be!
I cover my face with the pillow. I am exhausted. Being Lyrica is tiring. Why can't I have a world with a villainess who acts in a more normal way?!
I sense Aiko sitting on the edge of my bed and comments, "Seriously, Marcus will be the death of you."
"Is he going to die as punishment for this?" I ask, even though I already know the answer.
"Why? The poor guy is just following your orders."
I slump my face on the pillow again and scream. F*ck you, Lyrica! You could have it all! But you destroyed your life with all your contradictions!
"Are you tired of him, miss?"
I turn my attention to Aiko. She's blushing. "Why?"
"Can I have him?"
Seriously? I shut my eyes in consternation and sit down. Meditate, Lyrica. Meditate, me. Calm yourself down. We can get through this. I inhale and exhale. And when I open my eyes again, my heart has stilled.
I look at Aiko. She's expectant. Lyrica used to give her all the boys she was tired of, including that noble from the Academy who took her virginity. This salacious woman. Doesn't she know she won't find love this way?
I take Aiko's hand in mine and say, "No, Aiko."
"But aren't you going to get married to the most eligible man in the Kingdom? That is, next to the Prince. Are you planning to keep Marcus even if you have General Calais? I don't think the general will allow that."
Ugh. I facepalm. How will I tell her I am planning to let that Marcus guy go? I'm not like Lyrica. I don't have the same sex drive as she does. I don't lack love as well. I have a lot of it from my previous life.
I sigh. Shouldn't the rule of reincarnation be… that those reincarnated are going to have a better life? I indeed have everything here, but there is no love, no acceptance.
Then, a crazy idea hits me. I look at Aiko and with a stern face, I say, "General Calais is here to break off our engagement." I pause for special effects. "And the King has decreed for me to join the Queen Selection."
Aiko makes an excited moan. "Am I going to have a Queen as a mistress!?"
"You don't need to be excited," I say. "I don't want it. I love General Calais."
Aiko blinks in confusion. "You… love… him?" she asks.
Understandable. Lyrica does not like General Calais because she cannot control him. He can fight against her magic, and he is as cunning as she is. He is very unlike her younger brother, who she can easily overwhelm in most aspects.
"I thought you liked the Prince more than the General. You just complained a week ago about the engagement and contemplated about when the Queen Selection invitation will arrive!"
I swallow. "I thought I did. But I realize it's only his influence as a Prince and the future King that I like."
"But power and strength are all that you want."
"Which is exactly why I am like this! I can't believe I will fall for General Calais like this!"
"Is it because he's a gorgeous man? I caught a glance of him earlier. He's getting more and more handsome!" she squeals.
"He is, but—"
"Then, just have sex with him and then ditch him! You can have the best of both worlds that way."
I'm not getting through to her! I want to hit something! Why is she so suspicious? Ugh! I really hope I came here as a child. Still, right now, I need her to believe that I love Calais.