"Eh? Is this only my food?" I asked, looking at the small portions of food above this long table where I am sitting. This isn't what I expect to experience on my first day here as Lady Valeraine Thornfield. I only have a few pieces of bread with one egg and bacon and the rest is more vegetables.
"You are on a strict diet Lady Valeraine," Eleanor said. She is my personal maid, the one who helped me arrange the books last night. She is incharge of taking care of my clothes, hair and my other stuff.
"Diet?" I look at myself. My hands are perfectly fine, even my arms. I checked myself in the mirror earlier and I was so thankful that I am more beautiful as Valeraine Thornfield than when I am still Ayaka. Ayaka's face looks so innocent and weak while as a Valeraine, I have a very strong feature from my hair, my face, my body and even the way I speak. I feel strong.
"Duchess arranged your diet for these three days because we have a guest tonight. She wants you to look best for the evening ball." Eleanor answered.
"But…" I pout and look at my plate with sadness. One thing that I love about living is that I want to eat. I love to eat. I thought being a duke's daughter now will be my great opportunity to eat whatever I want.
Eleanor took a few steps and stopped at my back. "Don't worry milady, I will sneak a few more sweets in your room later so you can eat more." she whispered. My eyes immediately widened and I almost screamed with joy but then I chose to be calm. I really like Eleanor now!
After my breakfast, I ask Eleanor to guide me around the Thornfield Mansion.This mansion may not be grand as my old Lord but the vibe and the ambience makes this more beautiful. The mansion had a massive ball room that could accommodate a lot of people. There's a lot of room too with lots of interesting things. I even got to see the collection of Duke Mandel, I can tell that he loves collecting the heads of wild animals and displaying them like a trophy. Duke Mandel is known because of his achievements representing the Queen's order, mostly known at this age as the Queen watchdog.
My father was once known as a viscount of Sollaine Kingdom but ended up quitting after I was born as Ayaka. My mother wished to live as an ordinary person so my father granted it. But I can tell beforehand that he still misses his nobility because he often talks about it with me.
Eleanor and I stopped by the mansion's garden. There's a small place at the center of it where you can sit and rest, it has one circle table and two chairs. "Would you like me to sneak a book from your room, Lady Valeriane?" Eleanor asked as soon as I sat on the chair.
"My mother will see it, I don't think it's a good idea." I said.
"Duchess Herona doesn't check this part of the mansion milady," Eleanor added. "This is why you always sit here and study."
Should I tell her that I am really smart even though I don't read books often?
"D-does my mother always strict on me?" I asked, I am curious to know so that I can do better. I always miss my mother in my past life so having a mother now excites me although she may seem strict.
"Ever since you turned your legal age, Duchess Herona became strict to you so you can get a royal husband. But you always said that studying won't affect your duty as a wife in the future." Eleanor started. A strong wind swayed the flowers around us. "However, although Duchess Herona is strict to you, your father always spoils you and even opposed the idea of the King to pair you with the Grand Duke's son because he's aware how much evil his family are. But in the end you became engaged to him."
He's like my father…"Wait what?" I asked as soon as I realized what she just said. "
Grand Duke son? I'm engaged?"
Eleanor looked at me confusingly. "Y-yes milady. Grand Duke's family from Sollaine Land are our guests tonight that's why Duke Mandel will come home after meeting the new Emperor."
I stood up and faced Eleanor with horror. "Don't tell me it's Grand Duke of Sollaine Kingdom?"
Eleanor nodded. I almost lost my balance hearing that but I am lucky that my body isn't that weak, I manage to hold the table as I recall the moments before I died.
How come that I have to be engaged with his son in this life? Why do I have to meet them again? Why do I have to marry the family who framed and killed me?
I tried moving to remain standing but as soon as I stepped on my right foot, I fell and darkness hugged me.
_______________
It's already afternoon when I wake up after I passed out in the garden. Eleanor immediately called the doctors to check on me only to know that I am stressed that causes me to faint. But all I know is that I fainted because of the fact that I am engaged to the family of murderers. The fact that I will meet them again tonight gives me anxiety. I'm scared to face them. Oh god!
A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. It's Eleanor and a few maids behind her. "Lady Valeraine, we are here to assist you. It's time to get ready for the family dinner."
There's no way I'm going to do that-
"Get up now Valeraine, your father will arrive soon." It is Duchess Herona, my mother. She looks somehow tired. The second I didn't move she talked again. "Hurry up, Valeraine."
"Y-yes mother!"
The moment I got up from my bed, Eleanor and the other maids began to assist me. They helped me to wear a very beautiful red dress with a pair of emerald jewelry. Someone even tied my hair up and put some accessories on it. While they're doing that I stare in front of the mirror and recall some events from the past. I used to help the Grand Duke's wife to tie her hair and prepare for her bath. I am used to that for at least five years so experiencing it myself now is a little awkward. I wonder if this is also how they feel when someone who doesn't have any knowledge can fix their hair beautifully.
"Are you alright, Lady Valeraine?" Eleanor said after putting on my earrings and took a quick glance at the view of my mirror. "You look worried."
"Tell me Eleanor, if God gave you a gift of living again after death, what would you do to those people who abused you in your previous life?" I asked. Eleanor immediately sent those other maids away before putting perfume on me.
"God always pity those innocent souls and hearts milady," she answered while smiling. "If that person were given a new life it means he wanted to rewrite your previous life and choose wiser. After all humans were given a gift to choose."
She's right. Humans do have an ability to choose. Grand Duke Bastian doesn't know me in this life now as Ayaka, I am Valeraine Thornfield. I am no longer a humble maid, I am no longer weak. I am sure this isn't a coincidence that even in my new life I am somehow still connected to them. Maybe God wants me to fight them because they are evil. If that's really the reason why I'm reborn then I will expose them because I am the Duke's daughter Valeraine Thornfield.
The sound of a carriage entering the mansion caught my attention. Eleanor immediately checks it through the open window.
"The Duke is here, milady!" she said and helped me get up. I don't know why I am in a hurry to meet the Duke but I am walking a bit faster. Maybe because he is my father in this life. I saw my mother Duchess Herona at the receiving area preparing the flowers on the base. "Mother, Father is here!"
She passes the flowers to the maid assisting her and joined me as we walk on the front door.
But before we could even reach the door, a beautiful man with long turquoise hair came. He is tall and thickly muscled, he is wearing a black clothes and a royal cloak with his sword on his right waist. Our eyes met and none of the two of us even bothered to look away.
What a beautiful man…
"You are being rude, Valeraine." my mother speaks and forces me to step backward. "I apologize for my daughter's behavior, Your majesty."
All of them lowered their heads, they all made a small curtsey so I followed them. I am completely distracted by his beauty!
When I stood again and checked on him he's still staring at me. Who is he?
"At ease," the man finally said. "I am deeply sorry that I have to come here unannounced, I have something to discuss with Duke Mandel personally."
"Having your presence here is a great fortune for us, Your Majesty. " my mother said. After my mother said that an old man entered the door and looked at my mother. From the picture on the wall of this mansion, he must be Duke Mandel, my father.
"Prepare a room for the Emperor Eryx Herona," he said. Emperor?
So this man is the current emperor?!