“My Lady, please,” my maid continued to beg me, her dark eyes glazing over.

I was exhausted from squabbling with her by now. Deep within the back of my mind, I was wishing for her to give me another faulty reason, so I could brutally puncture it and end this conversation.

When I didn’t react to her consistent whining, she stood there, desperately searching for anything that she could say to convince me. As if an idea had only just popped into her mind, she gasped with an “Ah!” Simultaneously, Teresa directed her pointer finger at me, and upon absorbing my expression of disdain, she slowly lowered her hand.

I pushed my raven hair to one side, easing my irascible self into submission. “What is it? Go on, tell me.”

All it took was my permission to make her face beam with happiness. “Then...if you’re concerned about the use of your gown,” I pushed for her to continue, “it has been enchanted so that it prevents fire or any explosion from harming you.”

What? If it was enchanted… Then...

My eyebrows scrunched up as she resumed. “Madam added the enchantment to protect you,” Teresa clarified. I gazed upon her without blinking.

That just blatantly confirms it! The duchess of the Carabell family is a mage! Now I can add to the list of things I would have never found out if people didn’t tell me. You’ve surely accomplished quite a lot in your life, fake Elisabeth. No one ever talks about the Carabell family members themselves. It’s all just gossip about our affairs. How was I supposed to know Elisabeth’s mother is a mage if she avoids me like the plague?

I groaned in disbelief, running my hands roughly through my wavy locks of hair. Teresa initiated her tilt head and furrow eyebrow command.

Seeing her make that face only reminds me that I have no one I can confide in regarding my thoughts. Oh sure, I could, but I don’t want to make Elisabeth’s image that of a crazy psycho. It’s already in a detrimental state.

In a final attempt, Teresa displayed the golden gown’s fabric for me to judge. “Don’t you see that she cares for you?” I tried to contain it, but my facial expression immediately shifted into fury.

Excuse me? She’s trying to tell me to just treasure whatever this woman gives me? I am trying to live here. The duchess certainly doesn’t care if I live.

“And, you didn’t tell me about this when I put on the gown that day?” I snapped at her. “I had asked you if there was anything else the duchess did to my dress, and you acted as if nothing else had been added.” My maid protectively returned the gowns back to her chest, clutching them as if it were worth more than her own life.

“It seems like you’re always hiding something from me. Why is that?” I crossed my arms and clicked my tongue in annoyance. “You’re lying to me, and you’re also concealing important details from me.”

Why does she keep being like this?

Teresa struggled to answer promptly. “Well, I…” Then, she shut her mouth and didn’t dare to finish her sentence.

“Let me say this then. You’re wrong, Teresa. Duchess Marianne Carabell doesn’t care for me.” My maid prepared to jump at the opportunity to retort against that. However, I refused to allow her to do so. With a glare, I silenced her, lips closed, and hands clenched in her lap.

Now, where was I? Ah yes, the duchess’s gift.

“If you were not my maid, would she have given us anything?” I asked her with the raise of one eyebrow. She fiddled with the dress, refusing to meet my eyes. I knew I was being blunt, but the more Teresa tells me about how much “my” mother adores me, I can’t help but call bullshit. “Do you understand why I don’t care? Whoever I was before, forget her. It isn’t going to take a single gown for me to trust her, and the duchess should know that herself. Don’t preach about her caringness, you’re not the duchess.”

Teresa is an outsider in Elisabeth and Duchess Carabell’s relationship. Then again, she may very well be the only reason that the duchess remembers me. Even so, I downright despise it when people try and bud into an issue that doesn’t concern them. Teresa may have been with Elisabeth all these years, I know that. I do have to consider the fact that I have not met the original Elisabeth, but let me be realistic. No one would eat up spontaneous “kindness” from someone that has neglected them for years. Perhaps, not me, maybe someone desperate.

I’m not desperate.

The fact remains: If you hurt someone, you can’t expect them to just take whatever you threw at them for compensation. Strongly bonded relationships don’t work that way.

“I’m tired of this conversation. We’ll just keep both gowns.” I sighed, flopping onto the bed with weariness. Teresa placed her hand over her chest with relief. “I wanted us to have somewhere we could stay permanently. I don’t want to rely on inns nor my family. The Carabell name is useless when it belongs to me. I feel like I’ve been leeching off Eddie and his father’s benevolence. It’s such a sickening feeling to have to always rely on others. What are we going to do now?”

My maid strung the hangers of the dresses in the closet. Then, she told me, “It’s fine. We can just stay here until the lord leaves.”

“When is that going to ever happen? Don’t you think that now that Allen has returned, he’s not going to leave? You know, it’s been local talk at Eddie’s tavern. Leonard is having internal conflicts between their own citizens. That’s where Allen was staying, right?”

My maid nodded in concurrence. “Yes, Lord Carabell has been there for magic study since mages are of abundance there.” She spread her arm out to emphasize the “abundance.”

Huh, so Allen is a mage. That's interesting. The Carabell family does have mana compatible blood, thanks to the duchess.

“Whitensen has nearly no mages in comparison to other kingdoms. Classes only briefly go over magic in this world. It’s no wonder he left,” I muttered derisively. “The mana of Whitensen’s land isn’t fulfilling to magic users either. In reality, Whitensen is lacking an entire population of people because the magical potential of its land is so little.”

“That’s because of⎯”

“The Throne War,” we chimed in unison.

Teresa clapped her hands together. “Yes, the Throne War. You’re doing better in remembering history, my lady.”

“History was never my expertise,” I returned, adjusting my position on the bed, making a T-pose. “My professor is reviewing the topic in my social studies class. It won’t hurt to have a factual refresh.”

My maid nodded and resumed speaking. “The lands of Whitensen were malnourished and drenched in blood. The essence died away along with those dead soldiers. That is the hypothesis historians have come up with.”

“Sad,” I commented, already wanting to change the topic. “The mages are going to overtake the Leonard kingdom soon. Where else could my brother go but home? It’s simply not safe. I don’t blame him if he doesn’t leave the estate. He is finally with his parents. My father and mother are not going to kick him out as soon as he arrives.”

Teresa didn’t admit it at first, but after a few moments, she said, “Yes, that’s true.”

“Besides, I’ve already taken matters into my own hands and sold some jewelry.”

“What?!” Teresa exclaimed, panic flashing in her eyes. “Which ones did you sell?”

“All of them,” I stated. My maid was already freaking out, her hands on her head and pacing back and forth. I rolled my eyes and slid back to the side of the bed. I proceeded to walk towards the drawer of my vanity and pulled out a connection of jewels. I dangled the necklace in the air. “All, but this set.”

It was the magical necklace Teresa had used to blind us when entering the Carabell property. I figured we could use it in another situation. There was no way I was retailing something of this value.

She placed her hand over her heart and curved over. “Thank goodness.” I held out the jeweled necklace, and she mindfully took it into her hands, cradling it with care.

Now that she’s not thinking of the gowns any longer, maybe I’ll cut snippets of the glistening fire-resistant fabric and sell it. That should surely make enough money for a cottage and some extra for savings.

- After Prince Caydel’s offer -

Recalling that day, I would have to retrieve the gowns some way or Teresa would never let it go. She’s my lifeline for navigation, communication, and mannerisms. Without her, I may as well be good as dead in this world. Therefore, for my beloved and dedicated maid, I will listen to her about the gowns and the sentimental value she sees in those glittering rags. At the very least, for now.

Exiting the academy, a coachman from one of the immobile carriages waved towards us. I slapped my hand over my mouth and drew in my breath. “That looks unbelievably expensive.” Teresa let her gaze run over the piece of art. “That rich royal asshole...” I murmured as I stepped forward.

“Excuse me, my lady? What did you say?” she questioned me with her usual tilt of the head. I gestured for her to follow me, ignoring her inquiries.

Waiting for us outside the academy was a lavish horse-drawn carriage. Golden embellishments decorated the vehicle with polished handles for the door. The frontal area had a golden sculpture of a bird with its wingspan stretched out. I couldn’t quite identify what species it was, and the harder I thought, the less I cared about it. The coachman stepped down from his seat and opened the door for me to enter.

“Lady Carabell, this carriage was arranged to deliver you to the Rosalind Mansion of the Whitensen royal family,” the gentleman informed me.

Inside, there was the familiar fabric of burgundy velvet seats. It was remarkably spacious, and there were little curtains that covered the windows.

“My Lady, please, go ahead,” Teresa ushered me.

I sent her a nervous smile as I took one step into the carriage, which was much more glamorous than the ones the Carabells owned. If anything, I thought it was a conspicuous target for people to aim at.

How are we speaking of safety when I am literally in a flashy ball on wheels pulled by horses with elaborate regalia? There is no way anyone is going to miss seeing this thing rolling down roads.

I facepalmed, being careful not to smear so much of my makeup. “This...this is not what I expected.”

“Ah! Did you want the official royal carriage for ceremonies instead?” my maid asked me.

“No, no, no!” I shouted, shaking my hands and head. “Why would I want a ceremonial royal carriage? That’s way too much for just a single trip. People may think I am holding my wedding today!”

She frowned at my vehement refusal. “I thought you enjoyed that, my lady,” she said innocently.

I met her eye to eye. “As I have said, whoever I was in the past, I want you to forget about that person. I’m someone else now. I am going to think rationally and cautiously.” I paused in my words.

Okay, maybe not rationally and cautiously all the time. I suppose I will make an effort.

“At least, I will think more rationally and cautiously than I used to. You have told me that I should not tarnish my reputation further. Do you believe a queen living so lavishly without any modesty would be respected by her subjects?”

With that, she set her head down.

I could just take advantage of this chance to steal anything I can from the mansion. In a way, I could legally loot this place before ditching it. A property belonging to a crown prince should have all the basic necessities: Food and water, clothing, and shelter. I could keep selling the gowns I have for an unreasonably high price, and eventually, we should have enough gold to make it out of the mansion on our own.

I don’t believe Prince Caydel wants me to stay long.