With trepidation gnawing at him, Mikael braced himself to greet the visitor as he stood at the main door of their estate.
Anxiousness clutched at him, his thoughts portraying the sight of Secretary Cade descending from the carriage. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he took a deep breath.
Thankfully, the person who stepped out of the carriage wasn't who he had expected. Rather, they were the designer and tailor responsible for his twin sister's wedding dress.
'One moment, the designer?' Mikael connected the pieces. This could be the last fitting before his twin sister's wedding.
His twin wasn't currently on the estate since she ran away, but perhaps this could be better than meeting Secretary Cade.
Even though their arrival was unexpected but not unwelcome, Mikael watched as the designer closed the distance between them.
"A pleasant morning, my lord," they greeted in unison.
As he exchanged pleasantries with the designer, Mikael couldn't help but notice a subtle shift in their demeanor.
It seemed they had been prepared for someone else's company alongside him, their gaze momentarily darting over Mikael's shoulder before settling back on him.
Curiosity piqued, Mikael tilted his head slightly to follow the designer's gaze, though he already had an idea of whom they might have been looking for.
"Ah, if you're in search of Count Steele, I regret to inform you that Father departed yesterday to oversee our mining operations," Mikael explained, a faint but amiable smile gracing his lips.
Then he started guiding the designer, accompanied by Mister Remus and the maid named Beth. "Please, this way," he said, leading the group.
As their footsteps trod upon the carpets, they eventually arrived at the guest area. Mikael settled onto a sofa, the very one, his father, habitually sat on when entertaining guests.
He motioned for the visitors to settle on the couch across from him before taking the chance to begin the conversation.
"If I recall correctly, my sister's wedding is set for five days from now, isn't it?" he inquired, his gaze meeting the designer's with controlled apprehension.
"Yes," the designer confirmed with a nod. "We have come here to conduct the final fitting for the bride. To ensure that any necessary alterations are made to perfection."
A slight twitch appeared at the corner of Mikael's mouth, a barely noticeable sign of his growing panic. Yet, he held his composure, veiling the storm beneath his calm façade.
He could already discern the direction of this conversation, his gut feeling leading him to a particular conclusion.
"May we see the bride-to-be, my lord?" the designer asked, setting off a subtle wave of tension within the room.
Mikael's throat tightened as he swallowed. From his peripheral vision, he noticed Mister Remus managed to cloak his panic from his eyes. In contrast, Beth, the maid, flicked her head toward Mikael, which drew his annoyance.
With a clear of his throat, his irritation simmered, which he managed to restrain. After a barely noticeable pause, he continued smoothly, addressing the designer, "Certainly, you shall meet the future bride shortly."
Mikael rose from his seat with a carefully orchestrated smile aimed at the designer.
"Accompany me, Beth," Mikael's tone was serious. His gaze settled on the young maid, still in her teenage years, expecting her compliance.
Beth responded with a swift, "Yes, my lord!"
Leaving Mister Remus to entertain the guests for the time being, Mikael and Beth exited the room together.
As they crossed the threshold into the corridor, closing the door behind them, Beth's anxiety was no longer contained.
"M, My lord," she began, her voice tinged with worry, her expression a portrait of worry.
Mikael, however, cut her off before she could voice her distress. "Hold your words for now," he interjected, his tone firm. "Let's make our way to my sister's room."
"B, But," she stammered.
Beth was about to say something, but Mikael's determined expression stopped her words in their tracks. He started walking, and with each step, he left her questions without answers.
Following Mikael's lead, Beth trailed after him, and together, they walked through the hallways of the estate.
…
Mikayla's room resembled a pastel pink and pristine white symphony, mirroring her love for everything girly. Floral patterns delicately adorned the walls, and gauzy curtains fluttered gently in the breeze, giving the room a warm rosy hue when the sun shone in.
The vibe screamed Mikayla's vibrant personality. The vanity was packed with all kinds of cosmetics. And there was a music box sitting on it, which had the melody she once dreamt of mastering.
Her walk-in closet overflowed with dresses, and another closet was dedicated entirely to her accessories collection. Their father was all about giving Mikayla what she wanted, like getting her those new dresses aligned with the latest noble fashion trends.
He spared no expense to fulfill Mikayla's wishes, although there was a time he hesitated.
It happened last year when Mikayla had earnestly asked to learn music. Despite his habit of spoiling her, Count Steele took a moment to think about her request.
So, for weeks, Mikayla started skipping meals with the family. She made sure her dad didn't hear her voice at all. She used silence to protest, making it clear she wasn't backing down until her wish was granted.
This standoff dragged on for almost two months, a clash of strong wills between the doting father and his pampered daughter.
Eventually, Count Steele gave in. He said yes to her plea and arranged for a renowned pianist to help her learn music.
Even though they acted all fancy to make things seem well-off, the Steele household was actually dealing with money problems.
Count Steele had been cleverly hiding it from Mikael and Mikayla, keeping up a front.
And now, Mikael came to know the real deal, realizing that the businesses weren't really doing as great as he had thought.
Mikael sighed deeply, looking intently at his reflection in the mirror. A wave of memories took him aback.
He remembered all those times they had cracked up in this room, Mikayla's contagious laughter filling the air. The memories of their shared secrets and those playful arguments that tied them together flowed through his mind.
Yet, the calm of the room got suddenly shattered by some hurried footsteps. Mikael's focus snapped away from the mirror when his sister's room door burst open. There stood Talon, all out of breath.
"Mikael, I bought what you asked for–"
But the words faded away, stopped short by what he saw. He was so shocked that his mouth hung open, and he couldn't take his eyes off the person in front of the mirror.
Honestly, anyone in Talon's position would likely have had the same surprised reaction seeing Mikael dressed up in his sister's clothes.
Mikael wore this delicate pink and white dress, matching his sister's style. The fabric swirled around him as Beth carefully put the finishing touches on his outfit.
Mikael raised an eyebrow, and a hint of pink appeared on his cheek. He peeked at Talon's reflection, who was standing looking like a huge idiot by the door, calling, "What are you standing there for? Hand me the wig already."
"Oh, um, here," Talon snapped out of his daze. Still sort of out of it, his surprise hung around as he strolled to the vanity table and gently put down the wig.
Mikael sidled up alongside him at the vanity table, followed by Beth. She then began to arrange his hair and the wig that was the same color as his sister's.
Beth did her thing like a wizard, skillfully tucking strands of Mikael's hair beneath the wig. While she was performing her magic, Mikael just sat there, taking in the whole show playing out in the mirror.
He was engrossed by his transformation bit by bit until Beth finally announced, "I am done, my lord."
Mikael rose from the vanity chair with a nod, ready to see the end result. Stepping before the standing mirror, he gazed upon his changed reflection.
The figure that gazed back at him was a testament to Beth's artistry, mirroring an uncanny resemblance to his twin sister.
Confidence radiating through him, he commanded, "Time to say hi to our guests."