A strong hand grabs my shoulder to prevent me from dropping.

I peek, curious and afraid to know who was holding me. Crimson reassuring eyes looked at me tenderly, while the irked stare of Alastor rested on us.

"Laura...It's fine, let yourself go...It's ok"

His pleasant mumble stopped all the worries at once, as my mind desperately promised to become stronger, it consoled me, saying it was normal for someone to be stressed about a sudden and extreme change.

For the first time in my life, I relieved myself without giving ulterior faults to my name.

Voices and sounds muffled all together and then all went black.

...

A loud pounding warmed my entire body. It wasn't the beating of my heart nor any strange sounds coming from the surroundings. It was in my chest. I ignore the noise as the first rays of the morning pinch my face.

I slowly open my eyes, and I try to focus on all the clouded images that appeared in front of me while my hearing becomes gradually clearer.

"My daughter, how do you feel?" the Marquis asked anxiously.

I try to get up from the bed and sit down but a sudden flash of dizziness hits me.

"Lay down, Laura, I shouldn't have told you about the debut, it was very selfish of me. Forgive this crazy father"

"Father, it's not your fault, I was the one who said that I wanted to attend, you couldn't do anything, I didn't leave you with any choice"

"You were really lucky that Young Lord Blair prevented you from getting hurt"

"Young Lord Blair?"

"Yes, Young Lord Vernon Blair"

Who would've thought I would meet both the first and the second male lead in one day?

I sigh.

"Father...would you mind if I rest for a little bit?"

"Don't worry, you must be very confused and scared right now, I understand" He pats my head and leaves my room.

"My L-Lady..." Lydia seats next to me, with two huge swollen eyes for all the crying.

"I'm fine don't-"

"You are not fine! If it wasn't for Lord Blair, who carried you back to the mansion, what would've happened to you, My Lady?!"

I hate to admit it, but if Vernon wasn't there something bad would've happened.

I realized how foolish I was, thinking I could do something as soon as I came into this world after understanding I would eventually die.

Every unplanned and spontaneous strategy that is followed never ends well.

I should've used my head instead of letting fear control my actions. I thought I was strong because after all, I put up with everything, and then when I finally made a choice it was the wrong one.

Yesterday, nothing serious happened but you never know what could happen tomorrow if I make the same mistake.

I should direct all my efforts to growing stronger instead of worrying about something without making my body and mind ready for that situation.

"Lydia, I won't do it again, I promise"

Her lips curve a little in relief, she dries her tears and tucks in my blankets, and before leaving she shouts.

"Now you rest! I don't want to see you on your feet"

I laugh soundly at the reaction of my cute maid, it feels amazing to be cared for.

I find myself looking out the window, a habit that I got from my previous life. Then, my window faced the garden of one of my neighbors, I saw almost every day how they were a happy family, they were connecting with their child, playing with her, giving her time while I was locked in my room, forced to be the perfect daughter.

It wasn't about how good of a person I was, it was about how much money and prestige I could earn in the future, somehow the same rules didn't apply to my older brother.

He would get all the love, it didn't matter whether he was the first in his class or the last, for my parents, he 'tried' and I didn't try hard enough.

It was always 'you are not enough', I never received any compliments for how hard I attempted to be their perfect doll. Nothing was appreciated from my side.

Here, I can ask anything and still be respected, say anything, and still be loved. Would it be the same if I was in my old world? Hah, not even one bit. I ask something, I'm greedy. I say my opinion, I'm arrogant. I have good results but I'm not first, I'm useless.

I never felt loved before, never felt appreciated. Now I have Lydia and the Marquis, they didn't scold me for not behaving properly in front of the guests, instead showed concern and tried to make me feel comfortable. The only scolding I received was because I didn't take care of myself. I can't list all the insults my parents would've said to me if I was in a similar situation back in my world.

Even though I'm not the Marquis' real daughter, I'll try to fulfill all her duties to the highest standard I can, and will never collapse like that again.

"Laura..."

I recall that honey-sweet voice. I still don't understand why Alastor and Vernon already know me but that's a problem I need to solve later, and not something to worry about now.

I breathe out as if I could throw all my insecurities and thoughts in the air.

I slap my cheeks.

"Lauraaaa, it's not time to whine"

It's decided, as soon as I feel better I'll start to train with the best knight the Marquis can find, I will also start all the politics, literature, and other required subjects to be a perfect heir.

It might be hard at the start but I can do it, I can't waste any time. I can do it, after all, studying and learning quickly is my forte.

"Laura you can do it!" I motivate myself, finally freeing my body from all the tension.