"How dull..." Felicia uttered as soon as she saw the dresses that Olivia prepared for her. All of it has frizzles and it looks too much to the point that everyone can tell that it's you from afar just by looking at how hideous the dresses look.
Even Olivia was smirking at the dresses that Helena passed out to her. Although she's stopping herself from smiling so much that it may annoy Felicia who's currently assessing the dresses. However, Felicia has already noticed Olivia smiling over her demise.
As she looks at the dresses, the first one was filled with frills and laces that it looks like someone plans to become a clown herself. The second dress was less frills but the sleeves were torn open and the dress itself is too short. The third was simple, nothing can be seen as amazing at it.
As Felicia has no other choice, she chose to wear the simple dress that Helena gave her. As much as how she cursed her step-sister for being an asshole, this dress would give her a humble look.
A green off-shoulder dress that shows her upper cleavage, tied with laces that emphasizes her figure well. The sleeve's length is up to her wrist as the hem of the dress touches the floor, creating the effect of Felicia floating on the ground.
Maybe it's because of her malnutrition that the dress was a bit too long for her to wear. It was plain yet with Felicia's outstanding beauty, it didn't make her too modest at all.
Olivia has to help Felicia wear the dress. Although it was awkward given the fact that Felicia is not used to someone dressing her up. But it would be too hard if she were to dress by herself only. Olivia sure was making her die by tying the corset so much that she stopped herself from attacking the maid.
Olivia was smirking all over as she tortured Felicia with the corset. But as soon as Felicia wore the dress that she borrowed from Helena, she couldn't help but gasp at how pretty she looked. Even Felicia smiled as she looked at her own reflection.
"Thank you. But may I ask what day it is?" Felicia asked as she sat in front of her vanity mirror while Olivia started to comb her hair while staring blankly at her. She was speechless at how it turned out. She wasn't expecting that the dress would compliment Felicia, she thought that she would look like a simpleton, disgraced by the fashion society.
"Olivia!" Felicia had to shout as Olivia wasn't paying attention. Olivia then blinked and looked at Felicia through the mirror's reflection, confused as to why Felicia had to shout.
"A-ah, well it's Year 648, 17th of Janus," Olivia replied.
'Janus? What's Janus? Is it referring to January? It's the closest month to define it.' Felicia wondered. The months and the year differ from the month system that was applied in her own world.
"Do we have any guests?" Felicia asked once again. She needs to know where the hell is the point of the novel now. Because she needs to plan a course of action to unmask Helena and destroy the cathedral that killed Felicia in the novel.
"Ah, if it's about guests then the Young Master Alexander has a guest coming over. I think it's the Marquisate's young master Liam Findel Hughes." Olivia answered. She didn't even doubt why Felicia was asking for such information.
"So it's that time... I see." Felicia muttered to herself.
"Pardon?"
"No, nothing. Are you done with my hair?" Felicia asked and Olivia nodded. It was a simple hairstyle. With a crystal hair comb, her hair was half tied which allowed her natural red hair to flow at her back.
"I see. You can go out now." Felicia ordered as she stood up from her seat. "Oh, and do fetch me a set of tea and some sweets." She added that Olivia has to oblige if she doesn't want to sell her soul to the devil.
Olivia's face shows how hateful she was towards Felicia but decided to follow her command. She bowed her head and left the room, storming out. Felicia chuckled at how badly she acted as if she wasn't scared that she'll actually sell her for a couple of silver.
"Now then... Shouldn't I be working on my plan?" Felicia said to herself as she looked for papers and a quill pen to write on. She also grabbed a piece of fabric just in case. She definitely needs a plan to overthrow them because if not, she'll end up like Felicia in the original novel died. Being burned alive.
She then went into the veranda to write. The truth is that she can just write inside but with the young marquis visiting, she can't ruin the timing, she should act first. It's hard to trust emotions into that man knowing his cunning and manipulative. He'd rather feed Helena with empty words as a form of toying with her. But that's based on how Felicia adopted his personality while reading the novel.
"Since I've confirmed the date and the events that would happen today, it seems that I am at the almost middle part of the novel. Getting betrothed to the crown prince is the main cause of Felicia's demise. And now that it happened, I must annul this engagement and that of course is to torment Helena. That would seem like the easiest way to get out of this relationship and of course, to create a disruption between the holy law and their love."
"Shouldn't I try to seduce one of her men? The young marquis will visit the residence and I'm sure Helena will be with Alexander, flirting with the marquis. If I can make the marquis fall for me, that would trigger Helena more to show her true nature. The second would be I need to try to get my hands on the holy sword. If I can't then I'll travel to the north. My enemy's enemy is my friend. I could pull some strings to persuade them. For example, a revolutionary weapon that could spark a war."
"But that would take some time. I should focus more on destroying Helena's face and robbing what's hers that was mine since the beginning. I will also try to involve myself in politics to play the Duke's head to my content. Ah, investing in some business will do me good also. And I forgot that the young marquis' special disguise is being a guild leader with a brilliant mind. The soonest that I get to pull his interest into me, I would use him to my heart's content." She muttered to herself as she wrote her plan.
It seems that a horse carriage is approaching which makes Felicia's ears twitch. The guest is approaching so she immediately stood up from where she was sitting and grabbed the piece of fabric that she grabbed earlier.
As soon as the carriage stopped in front of their manor, she immediately let go of the fabric that was to secure the young Marquis' attention.
As the fabric flutters in the air, she immediately looks down, creating a false display of look on her face, as if she was troubled as the fabric landed on the ground, the same time that the young marquis' went out of the carriage, picking the fabric.
The young marquis then looked everywhere and as his head looked up, he saw Felicia whose expression was troubled. Seeing that the young beautiful woman shrieked and went back inside, Liam Findel Hughes, the young marquis smiled.
Felicia on the other hand didn't immediately walk herself to where the young marquis was. She'd rather let them meet Alexander and Helena first before she could act up. But wouldn't it be fun if Alexander and Helena were to see her getting flustered?
At the idea of surprising them, she immediately went to where they are right now. They must be at the front door, introducing themselves and socializing before moving on to the gazebo in the garden.
She was running slightly as she grabbed the hem of her dress to not step into it. Her hair was fluttering as she jogged her way to where she could find Helena, Alexander, and Liam.
By her guess, since Helena is still 17 then Alexander must be 20 and Liam too. That's not bad since she's already a lot older than these kids.
"Good thing you visited me. I almost couldn't help but get jealous that you get to spend more with your studies than your friend here." Alexander said. Felicia could already hear their voices as she immediately let go of her dress and calmed herself first.
She then held the railings of the stairs, holding the hem of her dress in the other hand and slowly descended the stair, enough to attract the man who was facing him. His face was awed at the moment which made the two confused at his look.
But despite that awed face, Felicia knew that it was all acting.
Alexander and Helena looked at where Liam was looking and immediately lost their facade. To see Felicia descending the stairs was so captivating that even Helena felt irritated suddenly. Her facade was almost twitching but she hid it well enough for Felicia to smile.
"Greetings, How have you been, Princess?" Liam asked as he bowed his head in courtesy. it's a lesson that one must hold its head low when someone in front of you has a higher rank.
Felicia then smiled at the result, grabbed her dress and curtsy towards Liam. Alexander and Helena were surprised at the sight, Felicia never knew anything! She wasn't even given the right to study with them. How can she learn this?
"I've been well, Young Master Liam. How about you?" She answered with confidence as her smile was wide on her face. To steal the spotlight in front of her nemesis held her victorious at this point. As expected, it's nice to see them getting awkward now.