"I didn't know that Miss Lyrica Dunnett would visit our humble abode," says Anna Pellegrini.
She is Eliana's mother, who has red hair. She is beautiful in her own right, but I can see that Eliana didn't get her beauty from her. She gets her height and body frame, though. Anna, in her early forties, maintains her slim body and has no indications that she already has three kids.
"It just happened," Eliana answers for me.
Anna looks at me again and says, "Sorry about my daughter. We should have sent you an invitation to your house."
"It's really fine. I'm the one who insisted," I answer.
Everyone is silent and doesn't talk as much. But I remember that meals in Eliana's household are loud. That is why Calais likes to eat with them. Is it because of me? Is it because they are unfamiliar with my presence?
"You are betrothed to Calais, right? Are you trying to meet his family?" Anna asks again. "And all the people in his life?"
She looks at me and Calais on my side. Eliana is seated in front of us. This is another change. Calais belongs to Eliana's side during meal times.
I stop eating and place my hands under the table. "I'd like to, but our marriage is not yet set on stone."
"Why? Do you still have no schedule for your marriage?"
"I—"
I look at Calais, planning to seek help, or some kind of gesture to inform me that I can answer Anna's questions without restraint. But then, I see him looking over at Eliana, who's scolding Julia and gently wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. Something catches in my throat. This gaze. He looks so in love with Eliana. Not once did he look at me like that.
"Lady Lyrica?"
I feel sad. Is this because I am expecting him to shift his attention to me? Is it because I am still his fiancee that I am hoping for that?
No. I should not hope. Besides, I am not in love with him. It's a shallow type of like, just an admiration. A crush. A fleeting attraction. I'm sure that if I don't see him for a while, I will forget about this feeling. I'm certain of it.
"Lady Lyrica?"
I jolt. I am brought back to reality by Anna. I look at her confused expression. I smile while trying to remember what we are talking about before I notice the longing gaze that Calais is giving to Eliana.
Anna's eyes go to the three of us. I swallow. Based on her expression, she realizes the reason my mind wanders off for a while.
I blush and whisper, "As you can see."
She nods. "I understand. So, are you still planning to join the Queen selection?"
"As a last resort," I answer, as I cut a piece of meat and put it into my mouth.
The meal is delicious, but not as delicious as the food in the Duke's mansion. Nevertheless, I will choose the shared meal here rather than with Lyrica's family.
"You don't seem like what the rumors say," Anna says, and I watch both Calais and Eliana flinch.
"What kind of rumors?" I ask.
"That you are cruel, spoiled, and selfish. That you are a slave collecting master. Manipulative. Drug and sex-addict daughter of Duke Lartius Dunnett."
"Mom!" Eliana protests.
"She needs to hear it."
I stop eating and suddenly, the food tastes bland. Same as the other people in the Duke's mansion, Eliana's family does not like me as well. How many days has it been? Lately, I feel more and more affected by the hate that's revolving around Lyrica.
"You are right," I say. "I am a cruel, spoiled, selfish, and manipulative daughter. I don't have slaves right now and I haven't touched drugs for a while. I am promiscuous too. But all that, I am trying to change. It might be too late, but I am trying."
"They also said that you need sex every day and you have multiple boy toys at your mansion. Did Calais satiate your cravings while he's in the Duke's mansion? Is that why you come running here?"
"Mom!" This time, Eliana stands up. "Lyrica is my guest!"
I remember now. Anna doesn't want her daughter to join the Queen selection. She wants Calais to marry Eliana. She would rather have a Countess daughter than have a Queen daughter. She especially doesn't like the rule wherein the next three women after the selected Queen will become concubines. It is a guarantee that will ensure an heir can still be born if the chosen Queen is infertile.
I drop my eyes to my unfinished meal. I didn't do any of what she's accusing me of. It's all Lyrica. However, sharing the same body as Lyrica, I still feel the pain from her words.
"I'm sorry. It seems like my presence is unneeded here."
I stand up and bow to Mrs. Pellegrini. I walk out from the dining room, toward the living room and am about to reach the main door when someone stops me.
"I'm sorry about that. She…" It is Calais. "She's not always like this."
"Don't worry, I'm used to people hating me. Besides, she's right. I've done a lot of cruel things."
"But you said so yourself. You are trying to change."
I remove his hand from me and withdraw from him. "It might not be enough for everything that I've done."
Once free from him, I go out of the house. Now, how am I going to return to the mansion? No, I should go to the library first. It is closer to Pelligrini's. I sigh. I need to start walking before it gets dark.
I walk across the grassy front yard when Calais calls out again. "Are you planning to walk back to the Duke's mansion?"
"I can't walk that far."
I hear running from behind me, and then Calais reaches for my arm. "Wait here. I will bring you to your house. I will just prepare my horse."
I frown at him, suspicious. He chuckles and touches the crease on my forehead. "I promised I would be with you the entire day, right? Why do you look surprised?"
"Because this is your chance to spend more time with Eliana."
"A promise is a promise. You wait here. I'll be quick."