"Lina! Your back!" Rienne waved in a lively manner. She seemed to be in a good mood, quite different to how Angelina was feeling.

An elegant smile spread across Angelina's face. She glanced at Arianna who was behaving normally and her smile dimmed.

Arianna didn't even know that this new mother of her's, who she trusted and cared for, was actually disgusted and repulsed by her.

Angelina was shocked the new Marchioness was able to speak of the incident of the previous Marchioness Chandler's suicide so casually.

Although the incident happened when she was young, she still knew about it.

The previous Marchioness Chandler was Arianna and her brother's mother. The late Marchioness committed suicide only 5 years after she wed the marquess.

It is said that although marquess Chandler treated her well, the Marchioness despised him and couldn't stand being his wife. It was not a hidden fact that the Chandler couple treated each other more like guests at their home, then husband and wife.

Eventually the Marchioness couldn't take it anymore and committed suicide. The details were not released.

Arianna was only 2 years old when it happened. Her brother was 4.

"...?" Arianna noticed Angelina's gaze that was directed at her and tilted her head, as if to ask, 'is something the matter?'

Angelina smiled once more and shook her head. ' It truly is hard to find kindhearted people in this world.'

Before she discovered Marchioness Chandler's true colors, she thought the Marchioness was a sincere stepmother. But that does not seem to be the case.

*************

That night, Angelina stared out from her bedroom's balcony, in a daze.

The night was cold and silent. Not a sound could be heard. She leaned against the balcony's railings, and suddenly heard a quiet whisper.

She looked down and saw a figure in the dark. She was spooked but kept quiet.

The figure below her was shrouded in the night's darkness, but the pair of sapphire eyes glowed and she was able to reconized the man immediately.

"Y-your majesty!?" Angelina was dumbfounded. What was he doing here!? And how did he get in the Skyler family's mansion!? Was their security that bad!?

In a blink of an eye, the man jumped and landed on the balcony. He extended his index finger up to cover his mouth and whispered, "shh..."

"......" Angelina could only stare with a stupefied expression as she has yet to recover from the shock.

"Sorry. Did I frighten you, Lily? Don't be scared. It's just me." Charles said. He was so close to her face, she could even feel his breath.

"Y-you...how did you..." Angelina couldn't help but back away a few steps.

"I came here to see you." Charles avoided her question. He didn't want to admit to knocking out a few guards to come here.

"Visiting a lady in the middle of the night is not proper!" Angelina scolded.

"But me and Lily used to sleep in the same room when we were children." Charles smiled. He didn't seem to feel as nervous as the young women in front of him.

"Well that was..." Angelina rubbed her forehead while shaking her head, and sighing in defeat.

"Lily...you still haven't visited me.." Charles put on an aggrieved expression. Seeming to try to attract her pity.

"W-well... I've been busy, your majesty..." Angelina quickly came up with an excuse.

"Lily need not to be so courteous with me when it's just the two of us. Just speak to me like how Lily used to." Charles insisted on her calling him by his name.

"Tha... that's not right... Your majesty is an Emperor...." Angelina averted her gaze.

"Yes... But when it's just me and Lily, this Emperor is merely Charles. The one Lily saved and cared for." The moved closer.

"You.....um fine!" Angelina finally agreed. "Cha.... charles..."

The man smiled and pulled her into an embrace.

"H-hey....let me go..." Angelina weakly resisted. Her strength was no match for him.

"Let me hug Lily for a little while, okay?" She heard him whisper into her ears.

"Um... whatever!" Angelina bit her lip and said in a stubborn tone. Her immense pride didn't let her completely succumb though. She still made an effort to look like she wasn't enjoying the hug.

"Hahah..." Charles chuckled. He was not oblivious to her intentions. When they were younger, Lilith would act like this too, when he took the initiative to hug her.

In the past, everyone found her stubborn and arrogant personality annoying and irritable, but he found it so adorable...

To him, it was like watching an angry kitten. She attempted to look tough, but instead looked cute and lovable.

Charles reluctantly let go and stepped back.

"Is Lily okay? Was Lily upset attending the Bailey's new miss's debut?" He asked. Concern filled his sapphire eyes.

"It's alright.... Lady Harper wasn't unpleasant. She seemed to be a true pure and innocent maiden." Angelina coughed.

"If Lily is upset, I am too. So don't hide anything from me, alright?" Charles reached out and piched her cheek with little strength.

"Y-yeah...okay... s-stop touching my face..!" Her face flushed.

"Hehe...Lily is so cute..." A smile graced the man's lips.

He spent a few more minutes consoling her and cheering her up, before taking his leave.

******************

Angelina's shop has been doing quite well. It was extremely successful, and Angelina began to make some more plans. She was hoping to spread her influence even further. So that if the duke ever decides to disown her, she could still be able to live quite the comfortable life.

"Marie." Angelina waved her hand, calling over Marie who was sorting out her jewelery.

"Yes miss?"

"Come here." Angelina glanced at the two other maids present in the room.

"Oh." Marie followed her gaze and understood. She nodded before walking over to her master.

"I have to bother you with inviting sir Robert here. See to it that no one finds out about this. If someone does ask, tell them I'm requesting a painting." Angina whispered into Marie's ear.

"Oki miss!" Marie whispered and winked at Angelina. She glanced at the two oblivious maids and smirked. She was quite proud of the fact that she was the maid Angelina trusted the most.

Angelina smiled and let out a light chuckle. As she was amused by Marie's recent action.

**************

Inside the parlor, a silver haired lady sat on the sofa in a relaxed manner, as her maid, Serina, calmly fanned her.

"Where is elder sister Marie, my lady?" Lia asked curiously while she placed down a plate of pastries.

"She's doing an errand for me." Angelina sipped her tea gracefully.

"Oh..um." Lia felt slightly embarrassed now.

"......" Serina stood beside the sitting lady, silently observed the two.

Then came a knock on the door.

"Miss~ I'm back~" Marie walked inside, behind her was a familiar man.

"Marie. Sir Robert." Angelina greeted them and placed her teacup on the low table in front of her.

"Lady Angelina. It's an honour to see you." Sir Robert took of his hat and bowed. Seeing as there were two unfamiliar faces in the room, he made the wise decision to not call her 'boss'.

"Please sit." Angelina smiled before turning to her two maids. "Marie will stay here to serve me. You two can leave and rest."

"Understood m'lady." Serina bowed and left the room after stealing one more glimpse of Angelina.

"Alright m'lady..." Lia walked towards the door and gently closed it before she left.

"Now then, let's talk business." Angelina leaned back and rested her head on her hand.

"What is it that boss intends to discuss?" Sir Robert sat down and nervously held his teacup.

"I'm interested in opening a new shop." Angelina stated.

".... cough! Cough!" The man choked.

"Don't be so surprised. I'm sure you were expecting it." Angelina reached out her other hand and took a cookie.

"Well I didn't expect it to be so soon. What shop does boss intend to open?" Sir Robert asked.

"I'm intending to open a boutique. I'll entrust you with establishing where it will be. It would be better if it wasn't too far from 'colored beauty'." Angelina dipped the cookie in some warm milk, Lia prepared.

"Understood boss. But what about the designer? Could it be that..." Sir Robert widened his eyes at his own thoughts. It couldn't be that this 14 year old lady knows how to design gowns right...?

"I have a person in mind... She's quite good and I believe in her abilities. But I'll have to ask her if she is willing." Angelina answered while biting into the treat in her hand.

"Oh..." Sir Robert sighed in relief. If Angelina did know how to do all these things at such a young age, he would think she's some unrivaled genius!

"I'll hand over the money later. The details will be discussed after you establish where this boutique would be held. Also...would you mind looking for a few seamstresses for me?" Angelina asked.

"Of course not boss. It will be my honour." The man agreed. How could he not? He had a premonition that if he kept following her, he would gain some benefits as well.

After all, for a commoner like him, having a backer as powerful as the daughter of a duke was already a blessing.

They spoke for another hour before they sent sir Robert on his way.

*************

In a dimly lit room, the curtains were closed and a man sat in his desk, as he silently does paperwork and signing documents.

He shifted his gaze over to the door after he heard faint footsteps approaching.

Then a light scraping sound could be heard, and a folded piece of paper slid in from under the door.

The man smiled and got up to take it.

He read the letters written on the paper and smiled.

He gazed at the white diamond pendant around his neck and smiled lovingly.

*************

"Lady Angelina...?" Arianna, who was enjoying afternoon tea, was quite surprised.

"Yes m'lady. Would you like to see her? Or should I say my lady is not feeling well?" Her maid asked.

"No that's alright. I'll see her. Let her in." Arianna sat down her cup and twirled a lock of her hair.

"Alright miss. I'll let her in." The maid retreated and exited at the drawing room.

Soon the door to the drawing room opened once more and a slim, white hand pushed it.

"Lady Arianna. I hope I didn't intervene." A smile spread across her face.

"Lady Angelina. Of course you didn't. Come, take a seat." Arianna used her arm to point at the seat opposite her.

"Why thank you." Angelina walked over. Her footsteps light and could barely be heard.

"What is it that lady Angelina wishes to speak of?" Arianna gracefully poured Angelina some tea.

"I'll explain the details later but right now I just need m'lady to answer me this question." Angelina took the teacup and held it tightly.

"Oh?" Arianna sat it down and adjusted her seating position. Looking quite interested and curious.

"Would you like to be the designer for a boutique I'm planning to open?" Angelina asked before sipping her tea, waiting for the lady's answer.

"....." For a moment Arianna was caught of guard.

__________________

A/N: so for three months, my days r just filled with exams. So to make sure I don't fail school, imma post chaps every 2 or 3 days. Cuz homework and tests r piling up (っ˘̩╭╮˘̩)っ

Wish me luck with school-