The room is a vision of refined elegance, bathed in the soft glow of a crystal chandelier that casts delicate patterns on the high, intricately adorned ceiling. In one corner, an opulent full-length mirror with an ornate gilded frame stands beside a luxurious vanity table draped in ivory lace.
Seated in front of the mirror is a young lady, her features serene yet expectant. Her light, glossy silver hair falls over her shoulders, waiting to be styled. She wears a delicate silk robe, foreshadows the even more impressive and grand outfit that she will wear next. Her skin glows with a natural radiance, enhanced by the careful application of makeup.
On either side of her are two other women, attending to her with meticulous care. One, standing slightly behind, gently gathers her hair to style it into an elegant updo, her fingers deftly weaving and pinning with expertise. The other kneels by her side, delicately applying the finishing touches to her makeup—a touch of blush, a hint of highlighter—ensuring every detail is perfect.
Marysville who's eyes closed all this time to avoid the dust of makeup, finally decides to open it with curiosity.
There she saw her own reflection.
A young person with very pale skin and strikingly light features. Her hair is platinum blonde, long, and slightly wavy at the end part, with bangs that lightly touch her eyebrows. Her large and turquoise eyes with a shimmering quality, framed by delicate light eyelashes. Her lips are full, painted with a subtle pink hue, complementing the overall ethereal and doll-like appearance. Looking at the mirror emotionless.
"Ohh… how beautiful you are, young lady." Said the maid who's standing behind Marysville, looking at her with awe.
The other maid who's kneeling down by Marysville's side suddenly stands up alerting Marysville unintentionally.
"Of course, she has always been beautiful, and we will have to double-...no, triple her beauty to show off in the ceremony how beautiful our young lady is…" Said the other maid, looking hype and excited for Marysville's coming of age.
Marysville, who sat in front of the mirror, couldn't help but laugh softly at the two maids, she finds them hilarious for being more excited than her.
From this day on, Marysville will have to bid farewell to her life as a young lady, as she is about to enter the world of the adults and will have to learn more about politics and hierarchy. But for Marysville, things like this don't count as a concern for her, not because she has once experienced the world of being an adult, but because she doesn't plan to even involve herself in Marysville's family business or deal with political issues. Marysville plans to follow the plot of the game.
There's only one thing that Marysville has her focus on after remembering the truth about this world, and that's none other than to avenge someone—to seek justice for someone who's not able, or allowed to.
This has become a reason for her to use Marysville's body just to achieve this useless goal that doesn't even benefit her. A goal that even Marysville herself doesn't know how to start or begin with.
"My lady, shall we have you dressed up?" said the maid, politely asking Marysville.
Marysville merely glanced at the maid and smiled as a response.
The maid finds it hard guessing if Marysville's action is an agreement or disagreement. She looked at Marysville with confusion, and didn't know what to do.
Day one of the celebration, the welcoming feast where the arrival of dignitaries, noble families, and guests from across the 'Kingdom of Night' gathers in the Grace Palace's grand courtyard, where the young lady, adorned in a gown of silk and lace, greets them with grace.
Everytime a noble family arrives at the palace, Marysville would greet them flawlessly, and from time to time, a young nobleman would approach Marysville hoping that this beautiful young lady would show interest in them, and from time to time that this happened, Marysville would just act as respectful as she could, showing only her respectable side.
***
A very beautiful young woman standing among the crowds dressed in a Victorian gown.
The dress is an elegant, dark blue ball gown with intricate silver embroidery and beadwork. It features an off-the-shoulder design, a fitted bodice with a sweetheart neckline, and a voluminous, layered skirt. The gown is adorned with sparkling details and delicate patterns, giving it a luxurious and sophisticated look.
It was Marysville who's standing among the crowds, itching to get the heavy dress out of her body, giving her very best to hide her frustration and anger with a smile, closing her eyes to hide the tint of golden yellow color that signifies her anger.
It's still the morning event of the Day One Celebration, yet Marysville's body wants to get out of this crowd and run outside as freely as she could.
I have to hold myself until night. Everything will surely pass if I hold myself. All I have to do is hold in. I'm sure you can do this Marysville.
Talking to herself, holding her inner emotion well, smiling as respectful as she could in front of the nobles, until a young man accidentally dumps into her heavy dress that she's been itching to take off.
Resulting for Marysville's eyebrows to frown and twitch out of frustration, but she immediately reached her frowned eyebrows with her bare hand and relaxed it before looking back at the nobleman who dumped at her.
"My apologies, lady Grace." The young noble glanced at Marysville awkwardly before taking his glass of wine.
Marysville merely looks at the nobleman holding in her frustrated emotion with a smile.
It's still day one, yet I feel like I could kill anyone at any time by now because of how annoying it is socializing this bunch of annoying persons.
—
The evening event features a Welcoming Feast in the Great Hall, decorated with floral arrangements and chandeliers.
The feast includes a variety of sumptuous dishes, local wines, and entertainment provided by skilled musicians and dancers.
While the ceremony was being held inside the hall, Marysville was nowhere to be seen.
—
Inside the palace on the balcony on the 3rd floor.
Under the beautiful blue moon, Marysville looked at the scenery of the garden below, having her hand leaned on the handrail with no thoughts in head.
On this time round, Marysville has changed her outfit from dress to ruffled blouse with high-waisted lace-up pants.
—
On the other side, inside the mansion hall.
There Luis dressed in an outfit consisting of a black, ornate double-breasted vest worn over a white shirt with wide, flared cuffs. The ensemble includes black pants and is accessorized with a black cape draped over one shoulder. Additional embellishments include a lace cravat with a brooch, a chain detail around the waist, and an embossed bird having both of its wings spread pinned to the lapel. This bird is the symbolism that he belongs to the Grace. The crest of the family Grace.
Surrounded by noblemen and noblewomen, Luis was busy entertaining and communicating with other nobles. Then suddenly a gentle man appears on Luis' back.
The gentleman was the nobleman, Baron Finlor. He greeted Luis with a bow having one of his hands in his chest and the other one hiding in the back.
"Greetings, Lord Luis Demos Grace."
Luis, who noticed this, greets the Baron back to show respect.
"Greetings to you too, Baron Finlor." Luis did a bow above the neck to show superiority.
"What a great and peaceful ceremony this is." Baron Finlor raised the glass near his mouth taking a small, deliberate sip on the wine.
"it is indeed a peaceful one, Baron Finlor." Said Luis
Luis held the stem of the wine glass delicately between his fingers, gently twirling it in slow, smooth circles. The deep red liquid swirled gracefully. Luis looks at the wine emotionless.
It's so peaceful, it's like a calm before the storm, but when will the storm come?... Every time a ceremony like this is held the mansion would become a place open for outside, and a small accident would always happen on the day of the event.
Just like the one in my coming of age… On the very first day the event happened, I was poisoned by an assassin pretending to be a maid inside the mansion.
The same happened when the twins celebrated the coming of age, but that time, Martinez was almost stabbed by a knife from bandits pretending to be nobles.
But this time round, nothing specifically happened, no… more like, everything is so peaceful.
Maybe they don't find Marysville's existence threatening since she's a girl, or maybe the opposite.
Luis sighs in discomfort.
Suddenly, Martinez, who's running towards Luis' location, makes a nervous face.
"Luis, this is bad… Marysville is nowhere to be found." Said Martinez, nervously.
"WHAT!!!" A trace of nervousness and fear can be seen in Luis' face.
"Just a few minutes ago, I asked Marysville's personal maids where she was since I didn't see her around, and her maids told me that she said she was going to the room, and after changing her clothes… Marysville suddenly disappeared, nowhere to be found." Said Martinez.
After hearing Martinez, Luis' nervousness calmed down a bit, knowing Marysville's personality and the fact that she can fight. Luis have thought that Marysville was not kidnapped but simply ran away or is hiding right now.
Luis sighs in relief. "I think there's no need to worry, she must be somewhere inside the mansion hiding like a rat, or maybe on the rooftop acting like a cat." Luis shrugs, yet a hint of nervousness is still seen in his face.