The place was the same as in my past life, gorgeous and elegant. It was subtly decorated with minimal glitter.
I remembered that they once said that the marquess's late wife had personally seen to how the second house was decorated.
We came to a huge open space with chairs arranged in the middle. This was the family portrait room where they took important portraits.
Standing just ahead was the marquess, his eldest son, his youngest son ,and his daughter. The was one person missing his adopted son.
"Madam Catherine Carson and her daughter, Charlotte Carson have arrived." The butler said with a bow.
The marquess rushed to my mother's side to greet her. He looked like a teenager in love.
"Marquess." My mother said politely and we both did a curtsy.
Looking around I could see the servants' shocked faces. I bet they assumed that my mother was a pretentious woman.
The siblings looked very satisfied with our behavior like we know our place and should not overstep.
"Nonsense, from today, you are my wife, and she is my daughter." The marquess said tenderly
"Please call me by my name." he said
For the first time in history ever since my father passed away, my mother blushed.
"D-David." She stammered. Oh! How I wished I was not there to see this, so embarrassing!
"Catherine." The marquess whispered, please someone save me. I was standing behind mother, but I could see the entire interaction.
He turned to me and looked at me expectantly.
I looked at him confused then he said, "How does Charly, may i call you this?" he asked and with my mother looking, i simply nodded
"Okay, how does Charly want to address me?"
I froze, he did not mean that, did he? Does he really expect me to address him as father? Sigh, I braced myself and said it
"F-father?"
"Oh, look she is shy just like her mother. Is she just not too adorable, Sofia?" the marquess said calling out his daughter who was his favorite out of all his children.
From here, I could see the eldest son's scowl and the daughter's pretentious tight smile.
Instead of Sofia answering, the eldest son said," Father are you not forgetting something?"
The marquess laughed.
"Oh, apologies. I forgot about my own children. Children, come meet your mother and sister." he said softly, he was truly happy.
Just like the marquess, I had completely forgotten about the siblings. They walked towards us elegantly in a line.
They got in front of is the two brothers bowed while Sofia effortlessly did a curtsy.
"Hello, I am Carlos, this is my sister, Sofia and our youngest brother, David Jr." the eldest son said
"Their second brother and my adopted son, Max is not feeling well so please Pardon him." The marquess added after the introduction.
My mother nodded, "Hello, pleased to meet you." My mother said with a polite but elegant smile.
I on the other hand, had a mini panic attack. I stood there frozen in place because they were so close. The people who instigated my murder were standing right in front of me.
I felt my chest tighten up, and I suddenly struggled to breathe, but I did not gasp for air afraid that they would notice me, so I silently struggled.
"You look pale, are you okay?" It was Sofia. She said that looking at me with fake concern.
Everyone turned and looked at me. My mother being the faced to notice my struggle to breathe
"Charl, what's going on? Is something wrong? Come dear, breathe with me." She said as she took me by the hands and knelt to the ground with me.
"Come on, In and out. Repeat after me."
"Is she okay? Do you need anything?" David Jr said, I never had any interactions with him, but I think he was also involved in the rumors plot.
" Get a glass of water." the marquess said to him.
I couldn't take it. My mind was running wild with questions, questions they would not be able to answer because they hadn't done those horrible things to me as yet. But I wanted to know! Why would they do such visicous things to me?
I looked at them, Carlos and Sofia and I saw my answer in their eyes. Sofia was looking at me while Carlos at my mother. I do not know how I did not notice it in my past life.
From the moment their eyes fell on me and my mother, they had a viciousness in them. Like we were an eyesore for them, and what was I doing? I was panicking right in front of them! I was breaking down over, something that happened in the past!
I could not be like this, at least not in front of them. I had to strengthen my resolve. My panic gradually settled and my mind was cleared.
If they waged war from the beginning, I would gladly play. Do not get me wrong, I would not pay viciousness with viciousness, but I was going to make sure that they did not trample over me and my mother like they did in my previous life.
I would foil their plans without being dragged in the viciousness, if they wanted to get evil then I would simply play the victim...
Starting now.
"She is crying!" the marquess said in a panic.
I vigorously shook my head, " I-I am not crying."
" I am just so glad. I was worried that the family would not welcome us,, and we would perhaps lead a difficult life after this marriage but…" I stopped for dramatic effect and sobbed.
"B-but Sir Marquess, you and your family really seem like good people. You welcomed us with a smile, and I am afraid we might implicate you in the future." I said in between sobs
"Implicate us, what do you mean?" he asked puzzled.
"You know, societal norms and us being a baggage." I said crying even louder.
"Nonsense, you are now my daughter. I do not care what those outsiders have to say. I have accepted you and your mother." he said drawing closer and hugging us.
" Now, now don't cry." My mother said. Her voice was also breaking, andd I felt a little bad, but this was a better outcome than what these siblings had in store for us.
I looked around, the servants looked touched and some would have cried if it wasn't for the strict rules in the household.
I knew that the servants present would most likely gossip about this, and I had planned to give them a good show. If there were going to be any rumors, they had better be good.
Then looking at the siblings standing on the sidelines, my eyes fell on a very angry Carlos, and I could not help but smile.