"Good day, young lady Amaryllis. Miss Eloise is waiting for you in the garden gazebo."
"Yes. Thank you."
The attendant gave a short bow and proceeded to guide me throughout this gigantesque mansion. The house of Florence has improved significantly across the years.
I never got to see or visit their estate personally, but I've heard words on how unfancy and average their household was. Their business was not well known nor does endorsers approach their family often. Rosalie had to swallow her sharp pride down her throat and approached my mother in order to uphold their family business.
Years ago, Rosalie and her daughter would tour our house almost everyday, but now that their business has improved, she only visits about three times a month now.
I trekked through the garden of pink roses behind the attendant guiding me and soon, we arrived at a gazebo. Being lavishly adorned with flowing, translucent silk and with green vines wrapping and sticking themselves comfortably onto the gazebo's rails and partial walls—this part of the garden really looked like a scene in a fantasy novel.
And if the shade of the gazebo's roof wasn't enough, the purple flowers of the enormous wisteria tree were there.
Seriously…We don't even have this kind of garden at our estate.
"Miss Violet! Thank you for visiting!"
I could hear Eloise's voice chiming into my ears—it was years ago since I last heard her voice, but I could tell.
A girl then suddenly emerged from who knew where, a pair of silver drop earrings, a charming floral mini dress, a serene face painted in perfection—this definitely was the person I asked to crawl in the mud with me.
A girl was also following behind her, also dressed in casual floral dresses—quite a surprise that I did not immediately notice her.
"I'm so sorry for visiting on such short notice. Your mother rarely visits the estate anymore and I only got the chance to speak to her last night."
"Please don't be sorry for anything! I should be the one saying sorry for not preparing enough…"
The way she's saying it is almost like pushing the blame on me softly on how she only got so little time to prepare…And who the f*ck is this minion?
"You really didn't have to prepare anything…"
I waved my hands in front of me in a slow manner, not wanting to go deeper about the topic. I just want to throw the burden of marrying Killian to her then leave.
"To think I could get the chance to see the young lady Amaryllis in person, it really is a glorious occasion…"
The blond girl standing behind Eloise who was dressed in a short sundress greeted me with a smile.
"I am Rosette Ashbourne, it's a pleasure to be in the same space as young lady Amaryllis."
She extended her arm for a handshake which I accepted while also returning her smile.
"It's a pleasure to meet you too."
After the greetings and compliments, we made our way to the gazebo. Somebody was already sitting there with a serene expression, not even bothering to change her still smile. The person inside the gazebo seemed to know how to uphold her composure and pride.
It turned out I wasn't the only one who was planning to make a visit to this estate—the other guests were actually here for the small tea party that Eloise was holding.
There were four people present in the gazebo, including me. The two unfamiliar faces sitting next to Eloise must be new acquaintances she managed to lure in as her family's increasing prominence—then again, they could just be her friends.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Amaryllis. I am Jade Everhart."
It was the person who stayed put in the gazebo when Eloise and Rosette greeted me earlier. She spoke in a tranquil and confident manner, truly appearing as a noble and gracious lady.
"I have heard rumors about your engagement with the young master Entrinia, congratulations."
She added, sipping her tea lightly.
"Right! That shocking news was almost thrown into the back of my head, congratulations young lady Amaryllis!"
Rosette cheered from excitement.
"Ahem…Well," I cleared my throat after hearing their commendations. I had been too caught up in restraining myself from focusing on the desserts and sweets on the table that I nearly forgot about the reason I came here. "That's the reason why I'm here."
"But first of all, I'm honored to meet you too, young lady Everhart."
This person is no joke. Jade Everhart is the only daughter of the owner of the biggest ship building company. My family and hers have a decent relationship at least, I assume we're on equal footing right now, but as expected of an educated lady, I actually feel like I need to be cautious around her.
She only nodded.
"Actually, me and Killian aren't engaged."
I swear I could hear crickets singing in the middle of the afternoon. They didn't say anything for a good while, until finally, Everhart retorted.
"I-I don't think it's a good thing to deny your fiancé like that, young lady Amaryllis…"
"I'm not denying it. Actually, our parents forced us into an engagement, but neither of us wants to marry each other so…I'm here looking for another woman to marry him."
I don't think I lied. I mean, we really were forced to be squished together in an engagement.
"But, won't your parents be mad at this?"
At this rate, only Everhart was responding to my bullsh*t, the other two were just sitting blankly, looking like they still haven't processed my words through.
"...I think they will be, but I don't want to add to Killian's burdens. He helped me countless times already—since we were kids, he'd always put himself in the frontlines to clean the messes I got myself into. I think it's only fair for me to return the favor, at least once."
Lies, I never met Killian when we were kids—even if we did, I would have prayed to the heavens to make him drop dead on the spot.
"I see…so this is how you got engaged to Killian."
Eloise's voice trailed off, making it seem like her deep thoughts had just been enlightened by the truth.
"So if this is the case, you're looking for other women who are willing to marry him, right?"
Rosette chimed in.