"My lady, my lady," I heard Blair's voice. I looked at her and saw the smile on her face. What? "Happy birthday," she said, and my eyes widened. It's my birthday already?
"T... Thank you," I said, looking around. I had fallen asleep while studying again. I got down from the high stool to follow Blair.
"I think you should get some rest before we start preparing. The ball is not until evening," she said, and I nodded. I strolled to my other room and fell on the bed.
...
I opened my eyes and looked around. What happened? I sat up and noticed a flower with a note on it.
'Please come through the back door when you wake up'
I dropped the note and walked out. I followed the back around the maids' quarters to my room. I walked in and saw a dress standing by the corner. The minute I saw it, I froze.
It was a white dress with a bit of sky blue. I walked in and sat on the bed, tapping my lap. Tyler, understanding the gesture, came to lie on my lap. I patted his head as I waited for Blair.
A few ladies walked in, but none of them were Blair.
"My lady, we are here to help you get ready," one of them said, and I nodded. They helped me to a bath and put a robe over my body.
"My lady, sorry for being late. I was taking care of something," Blair said, running in. "How do you see the dress?"
"It's pretty," I replied, focusing my gaze on the mirror as they dried my wet hair.
"I'll do that," Blair said to the maids, and they moved aside. "Start her makeup," she instructed, and they moved quickly. "I want you to look like an angel, so I picked something that matched your skin tone. That way, you'd stand out a lot," she said, and I nodded.
I was not sure who was touching which part of my head, but there were a lot of them.
"I think that color is too vibrant for my lady's skin," Blair said.
"Her skin is too pale; we need to give it more color," the maid shot back. She didn't seem like an ordinary maid.
"I want to showcase that complexion. Change it," Blair ordered, and the maid tsked.
"What do you think, my lady?" the maid said, looking at me. Why is she asking me? Blair is in charge.
"I said change it," Blair replied with a stern voice.
They finished the makeup session and stepped aside for me to see my face in the mirror. They didn't change much; I still looked the same except that the bags under my eyes were gone.
"As expected of my lady, you look so pretty," Blair said in admiration. I wish I was ugly. I want to be ugly. "Let's get you in that dress. Guests are already arriving," she said hurriedly.
"Where's the corset?" the other maid asked.
"I took it out," Blair replied.
"Why?"
"There's no need for it. My lady already looks so thin. Must be that academy," she said the last part with resentment. The maid just pursed her lips and said nothing.
I wore the dress and stood in front of a large mirror that was wheeled inside my room. My complexion was almost the same as the dress's color, but the dress still looked very pretty.
"Wow," Blair said, scanning me from every angle. "I just knew you'd look like an angel," she said, smiling proudly.
"Are you ready?" a lady walked in and looked at us.
"Yes," Blair replied. I followed them out to the large hall on the ground floor. "Are you nervous?" Blair asked. I don't feel anything.
I shook my head and gave her a faint smile. She smiled brightly and looked at the halls ahead.
"Good luck," she said, letting me walk alone.
"Lady Faina Alden," someone announced, and I stepped forward. I stood at the top and looked at the crowd. Mother wasn't there. Where is she? I looked around but couldn't find her. I had forgotten that someone would have to receive me for the first dance.
I walked slowly, holding my dress up barely so I wouldn't trip. As I got to the end of the stairs, a hand reached out, and I looked up. Hayes, Gray, or Avon? I gulped and glanced at the crowd one more time before taking his hand.
He led me to the stage, and we danced. I had enough practice with Elise when she was teaching me, not forgetting it was mandatory for me to learn how to dance in the Rosen's mansion. I was 'disciplined' a lot of times for being good, but I couldn't afford to make mistakes either.
"So, adopted daughter, you got a debutante," he started. "For a leech, you are quite demanding," he accused, and I could say nothing but look down.
I danced diligently as I counted the seconds till it'd end. When it finally did, I quickly stepped back and curtsied.
"Try to know your place in the future," he said, and I just stared at him blankly. He tsked and walked away. Do I have a place? I don't think I do.
People started approaching me, and it made me nervous. This is why I didn't want this debutante. I don't want to involve myself in these social circles.
"Miss Alden," someone called, and I turned.
"Livi," Mother said, spinning me around with a smile. "You look beautiful," she said, and I looked down. I don't want to look beautiful.
"T... Thank you," I said quietly.
"Why don't you take a break from dancing and look around?" she said loudly. I know she said it as a warning, and I'm grateful.
"Okay, Mother," I said and turned to look around the room.
I walked slowly, observing the people around me, hoping to see a familiar face.
"Wow, is this the daughter of the duchess?" I heard someone say. It was probably meant to be whispered, but I heard it. It could be because of my ability to make out sounds from years of dreading what's behind my door, but I heard the following conversation clearly.
"She's pretty."
"Oh, please, she's just Lady Myra's charity case."
"Don't say that," the previous person scolded.
"What did I say wrong? Why would Lady Myra need a child when she has three sons?"
"That's true, but it seems like Lady Myra really favors her."
"A low born is a low born." I'm of noble bloodline. I subconsciously glanced at them, and they stopped talking. I turned and looked down.
"You know, if you ladies have that much to say, why don't you do it in your houses?" I heard a familiar voice but didn't turn around. I just made my way to the darkest-looking corner.
"My lady," someone called, and I turned. Ariel? My mood brightened a bit at the sight of a familiar face.
"Where are you headed to?" Bella asked. Even though they were both wearing dresses, Ariel still had that boyish aura about her. She wore a black choker necklace that had a small pendant dangling from the middle.
"Nowhere," I said, turning around. I glanced at the ladies who were bad-mouthing me earlier and turned my focus back to the twins. "I had no idea you were here," I said.
"It's our lady's debutante. Why would we miss it?" Ariel asked. I didn't go to theirs. I feel so guilty. "Everyone is gawking at you, my lady. You look different."
"You usually look like a body that has stayed hours after being brutally murdered," Bella said, and we both looked at her. Should she say that easily?
"Anyway, you gathered quite the crowd," Ariel changed the topic. I don't know most of these people, and no one wants to introduce themselves to me, which is great.