'H-how did that happen?' I start to ponder.
'Did I sleep too long? Do I have a habit of talking in my sleep.'
'But wait... Didn't she say 3 days ago?'
'Does that mean... 5 days has passed?' A quiet fear settles in.
The fear of not knowing what happened, or what I should be afraid of.
"Lady Velora... Are you okay?"
"Eh?" I snap out.
"You seemed down these past few days."
"Was I?"
"Even Lady Elie and young master got worried when you suddenly started locking yourself up again."
"You were so cheerful back then you suddenly stopped talking to us, we got worried." Erisa's voice filled with concern.
I tilt my head, curiously on what actually happened.
Erisa hesitates for a moment before continuing,
"..."
—5 days ago, Lady Velora's room, Erisa's POV—
—knock, knock, knock—
"We're coming in, Lady Velora." I gently open the door.
"Lady Velora! What do you think about the tea party?" Kel smiling brightly.
Lady Velora looks at us as she slowly rises from her bed, her gaze lingering for a moment.
Then—
Lady Velora in her gentle voice softly says "no..."
Without another word, she pulls the sheets over herself and lies back down, refusing to speak again.
Silence fills the room as if time itself stopped.
Lady Elie pulls the sheet out and grabs Lady Velora's hand.
"Come on Vel, get u—"
—Slap—
We froze in shock.
Lady Velora slaps Lady Elie's hand.
Lady Elie suddenly falls silent and quietly leaves the room.
—End of POV—
"Even Young Master Rey's request couldn't make Lady Velora rise from her bed."
"So please, tell us if you have problems. We'll always be here."
I scratch the back of my head awkwardly, forcing a grin that doesn't quite match my face.
"Don't worry, Erisa—ahaha… I guess I just had those days."
"I'm glad you're okay now Lady Velora." Erisa's voice softens.
"I should go ahead and apologize to Lady Elie."
"Speaking of Lady Elie, we actually receive a letter from her." Erisa hands me the letter.
The letter talks about Lady Elie apologizing about her behavior few days ago.
I wrote a letter back to Lady Elie, saying I'm fine now and that I apologize.
I give the letter to Erisa.
"Please hand this to Lady Elie."
After for some time I start to think about the tea gathering that I missed.
The way the day past unlike before makes me think if, the story is preventing me,
'As if it's stopping or interfering in meeting other characters.
'But one way to know is ask again—,'
I look at my hands, tightening my grip.
'I need something to help me create a good alibi if things goes south cause of the abilities that I'll have as soon as I turn 15.'
"Do you think I'll ever get the opportunity to join a tea party?" I scratch my cheek as I ask Erisa.
"Do you wish to ask the Count's daughter for another time?"
"Yes."
'I'm still not sure what happened but I cannot fear anything since I know my future and I'm not making this opportunity slide.'
My eyes fills with determination.
"Can you also send this letter to the Count's daughter, she's Marigold Edelweiss right?"
"Yes."
'Still an unknown name to me, I'll be able to find out once I see her.'
After sometime Erisa left to send the letter.
—knock,knock—
A soft knock on my door confuses me.
"Come in."
"Hey Velly, I hear you're okay now..." Rey steps in with a sad look on his face.
"ahahaha—, I just have those days."
"You're my little sister, It hurts me when you isolate yourself all over again." Rey comes closer and pats my head.
The look of dejection in Rey's eyes makes my heart ache, as if the feeling I feel doesn't come from me but to lady Velora herself.
"Forget it, I'm glad you're okay now." Rey scratch his head.
"We aren't able to see Aether's statue at the Cathedral since we sort of caused a scene."
"ahahahaha..." a dry laugh slips out of me.
'That would probably be me... Calling the priest a pervert and a creep. I'm not religious myself so I didn't know priest pats kid's heads as a sign of peace.'
—knock, knock, knock—
Kel opens the door, casually pointing at her right side with her thumb.
"Lady Velora, someone's been peaking in your door."
Lady Elie slowly pops out, walks in while her head is looking down.
'I'm actually the one who pity her, I didn't know if I'm the aggressive one or Lady Velora's sleeping habits.
I stand up, slowly walking towards Lady Elie.
"I—."
"I'm sorry." Lady Elie bows instantly.
"I abused your kindness, I took the opportunity of your vulnerable state and thought you were finally opening up."
'W-wait... Is she apologizing cause the Lady Velora they know finally softens up?'
I blink, my head starting to spin as confusion settles in.
'Doesn't that mean they should be suspecting something is wrong…?
I slowly point at myself in confusion.
Or do they just think Lady Velora has finally changed?'
'Are they... Dumb?'
I stare at them once more.
They play like I'm a child, show me things as if It has always been my first time.
'Worried… relieved… happy.
They're not dumb—
they're just worried about Lady Velora.'
'It makes me feel that I want to make them happy and for Lady Velora's sake.
Even if I'm an imposter.'
'…Enough moping around.I'm the Lady Velora now.'
'And with them by my side… this finally feels like home.'
'I can get used to this.'
As they continue talking, arguing over small things, their voices overlapping.
I find myself smiling without realizing it.
Their expressions soften.
After that day, I receive a letter from Marigold Edelweiss.
Gladly accepting and on an instant she was holding another tea gathering soon, alongside other Counts and Baron.
'Based on the hierarchy, barons are the lowest, followed by counts, then dukes where Lady Elie's family is from.'
'Above them are grand dukes, like The Rosethorne family, known for the fire element. Then there's Duke Claerion, the male lead, who holds the earth element if I remember.'
'And above all stands the royal family.'
"So I'll be meeting barons and counts… those below a duke's rank." I whisper to myself, resting my clenched fist against my chin.
—Few days later, Edelweiss residence—
"I meet the Lady Velora Rosethorne, I'm Marigold Edelweiss."
She has yellow hair falls in soft curls, paired with bright green eyes that give her an innocent, almost doll-like charm. Wearing a yellow dress, she bows gently, a cheerful smile spreading across her face.
'She looks like the FL best friend...'
"EH!" I suddenly grab her to take a closer look.
'She is... THIS IS THE BEST!!! As long as I befriend her she can help me convince the Female Lead to save me!'
'Befriend Marigold = won't die'
She wears a flustered face not knowing what happened.
"Y-yes Lady Velora?"
"Ah—"
I smile gently.
"Your hands are delicate and smooth, It's pretty."
—Marigold's pov—
Lady Velora looks both beautiful and alluring yet at the same time, intimidating.
'After all, she comes from a ducal family, the red element.'
'I heard from others if she doesn't like someone she'll kill them.'
'So that can't be true… right?'
—poof—
Marigold blush and greets me again.
"I appreciate your presence for coming here, Lady Velora."
"I'll be hosting the Tea gathering soon, I'm grateful you came early."
—Few hours later, at the Edelweiss Gazebo—
As the other ladies continue their gossip, I spill tea over the baron's daughter's head, leaving everyone stunned as the situation escalates.