Charlotte woke up as the sunlight hit her face, the warm sun greeting her in the morning.
"Good morning, my Lady," Charlotte's loyal servant, Ana, greeted her with breakfast placed on a silver platter.
"Here is your breakfast, my lady," Ana placed the tray on Charlotte's table with a smile on her face. It was very rare for her servant Ana to be smiling, as she was a very shy and timid person.
"Thanks, Ana."
Charlotte smiled back as she walked towards the table to eat. She paused and looked at Ana before speaking.
"Do you want some?"
"No, my lady, I'm fine with this."
"Are you sure? Aren't you hungry?"
Ana nodded, giving Charlotte a reassuring smile.
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While Charlotte ate, Ana prepared her warm bath in her bathroom. Filling it with blue and red roses and petals with the clean water from the Lacaruchè River.
"Is it warm enough, my lady?"
Ana asked as Charlotte bent down, feeling the warm water with her bare hands.
"It's perfect. Thank you for your service, Ana."
Charlotte smiled with full gratitude as Ana bowed and left the bathroom, leaving Charlotte alone to do her own business.
Charlotte took a deep breath before pulling the straps of her nightgown down, the silky fabric gracefully sliding down her body, letting it pool below her feet.
She released a deep sigh and settled into the bathtub, letting her body relax against the porcelain as the warm, fragrant water enveloped her, cleansing both her body and soul.
Charlotte's bathroom exuded opulence, with every piece of furniture adorned in glistening gold, from the resplendent chandelier above to the ornate carvings gracing her vanity and walls.
As Charlotte submerged herself in opulence, her expensive possessions unable to scrub away the shadows of both her tumultuous past and the ongoing trials of her life, she confronted the painful reality that luxury couldn't cleanse her of these burdens.
After Charlotte's bath, she called Ana to help her prepare for her meeting with the seamstress early this morning.
"Milady, do you not agree that these pearls adorn you most gracefully?"
Ana gently assisted Charlotte in preparing for her grandeur attire, an opulent style, draping her in majestic pearls to complement her resplendent white ensemble.
"Milady, Lady Jean is waiting for you downstairs."
"Did you give her a coffee? And some dessert for her to not feel bored."
"I already did, My lady."
Ana replied.
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Under the gentle rays of the morning sun, Charlotte, with a sense of anticipation in her eyes, found herself in the charming parlor of her grand estate.
There, in the midst of ornate tapestries and exquisite period furniture, she was joined by Lady Jean, a gifted seamstress who had served the family for generations.
The room was adorned with antique lace and elaborate fabrics, echoing the opulence of a bygone era, as they began discussing the most important attire of Charlotte's life: the gown she would wear for her fourth-year anniversary celebration with Anton.
This particular anniversary held deeper significance, for it marked the strength of their enduring love in a world where time often shifted like the sands of an hourglass.
As they sifted through fabrics of silk and satin, Lady Jean, with her skillful hands and keen eye for detail, shared stories of her own ancestors, legendary artisans who had once designed for royalty.
Charlotte, with a hint of nostalgia, listened intently, knowing that she was a part of a lineage of elegance and tradition that transcended generations.
Their conversation blended seamlessly with the rustling of luxurious materials and the soft hum of the sewing machines in the adjacent room.
In this historical backdrop, where fashion and heritage intertwined, Charlotte's attire was not merely a dress; it was a symbol of her love, her history, and the promise of an unforgettable celebration.
"You really want to surprise Lord Anton, don't you?"
Lady Jean playfully chuckled as she measured Charlotte's waist. Charlotte glanced at her and back to the mirror with a faint smile marking her face.
"Well, um.... about that..."
Charlotte hesitated a bit before continuing.
"I'm not doing it for him, I'm doing it for myself. Although, I want him to at least tell me that I'm beautiful. But I know that's not going to happen."
She smiled faintly. She knew that waiting for Anton to love her back was hopeless, so she wanted to focus on herself. But at the same time, she wanted to wait. Maybe wait for him to at least change, something that would happen when pigs learn to fly.
Their marriage was just filled with downs, no ups. The two of them had different love interests, the reason they acted that way toward each other.
But despite that, Charlotte remained loyal to her current husband. She never intended to look back at her past lover, as she was raised to be a loyal and a perfect woman who would follow etiquette even in marriage.
Unlike Charlotte, Anton was very different. Unlike Charlotte, who remained loyal, he forced his way into a married woman, Charlotte's half-sister, the one and only Isabelle Al hère.
As Lady Jean measured the length and width of Charlotte's body, she couldn't help but always be amazed by the amazing proportions that the eldest daughter Sserafim had.
"Still as beautiful as before, my lady."
"Thank you, Jean."
Charlotte smiled back at Jean as they both sat down on the sofa. As they sat there, Jean presented the various kinds of accessories that she had.
From a series of pearls to a series of diamonds, Lady Jean made Charlotte wear and try everything that she had to offer.
Every one of them fit her, everything suited Charlotte. Her gorgeous light rose gold hair and her blue eyes made everything she wore look perfect.
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As Lady Jean graciously allowed Charlotte to select from her extensive accessory collection, an air of anticipation hung in the room. Just then, Anton strode in, his expression frosty and mysterious, casting an intriguing shadow over the unfolding scene.
"Lord Artonele,"
Lady Jean stood up and bowed to Anton to pay respect, as Charlotte didn't even dare to glance at him as she was too fascinated by the blue sapphire necklace that Lady Jean had.
"I see that your collection has already arrived,"
Anton's cold voice sliced through the room as he lingered his gaze on the unbothered Charlotte. He gritted his teeth as he looked at her unbothered posture.
He doesn't like it when she ignores him.
He likes being the center of her attention, but, like any madman, he loves torturing her feelings. He knew that Charlotte loved him.
Or did she?
He knew that playing with her feelings would be something that Isabelle would agree to. They loved torturing a defenseless woman; they loved seeing her on her knees.
He had always been fascinated by the idea of Charlotte being his wife, he always loved her. But that was four years ago, before Isabelle interfered and entered their lives.
Before she seduced him, just like the snake she is.
But a loyal man would never be seduced by a shedding snake, but he was no loyal man. He's a man full of temptation and desire, which made it easier for Isabella to steal him from Charlotte.
"I like this, I should take this...."
"No,"
Anton cut Charlotte's sentence with his stern voice. He clenched his fist as he looked at her. Charlotte just looked at him, wondering on what she did for him to act this way.
"I'll take it,"
Anton said with his cold voice and made an attempt to steal it from Charlotte's hand. Charlotte was able to stand up and step back before Anton was able to grab the necklace from her hand.
"What are you doing?!"
Charlotte shouted at him with a shaky voice as she gripped the necklace tightly, not willing to let go of something she already had.
"Just give it to me!"
"No! What is wrong with you?!"
"Charlotte!"
He shouted at her with a growl, and she flinched as she looked at him with teary eyes. The grip she had on the necklace loosened as she looked at him.
"If I said it, you'll do it,"
He grabbed the necklace from her hand and walked away, leaving Charlotte and Lady Jean both dumbfounded because of his questionable actions.
A tear fell down from Charlotte's right eye as she looked at Anton's retreating figure. She knew what he was up to.
She knew that he knew how much she loved gems, accessories, and many things that shined. She also knew who else loved things that shined.
That person loved anything that sparkled, shimmered, and shone, like jewelry, and her eyes would light up at the sight of gemstones. And she knew that she had a particular fondness for a certain kind of gemstone. Something like the Blue Sapphire.
But what made the situation even more intriguing was that Charlotte had discovered her husband, Anton's secret.
She knew exactly why he had stolen the precious necklace and that the intended recipient was none other than...
His mistress...
...Isabelle Al Hère.
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END OF CHAPTER