My identity was Aurelia Aurelius. I lay in bed, staring up at the canopy, repeating the name in my mind.
"But why don't I remember anything?" I whispered to the empty room.
I closed my eyes, trying to force myself to sleep, but my mind was too restless. Sighing, I threw the covers off, got out of bed, and walked toward the balcony beside the bed.
I pushed open the large glass doors. The night wind immediately rushed in, catching my long hair and making it wave and dance around me. In the sky before me, the Mother of Luna appeared in her full form—massive, white, and radiant. She illuminated the entire garden with her pale glow.
I leaned against the balcony railing, resting my arms on the cold stone. The wind was strong, constantly blowing through my hair, but it felt comforting after the confusion of earlier. It felt as if She had sent this wind specifically to clear my mind. I stayed there for a few minutes, gazing down at the silent garden. Once my thoughts had settled, I went back inside. I drew the heavy curtains shut, lay back down, and within minutes, I finally fell asleep.
While I was sleeping, I felt something patting my shoulder, gently shaking me awake.
My vision was suddenly filled with red light rather than darkness; the sun was shining directly on my eyelids. I blinked my eyes open. The balcony curtains had been drawn back, making my vision blurry for a few seconds from the sudden brightness. As I regained my focus, I saw the maid from yesterday standing by the bed.
"My Lady, good morning," the maid greeted with a polite curtsy.
"Good moooooorning," I yawned, stretching my arms high above my head.
"Did you not sleep well, My Lady?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.
"I slept well," I replied, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. "But after everything from yesterday… it made me a little tired."
"His Grace and everyone are waiting for My Lady at the table for breakfast."
"Oh my, really? I better go right now."
I immediately climbed out of bed and started walking toward the door, but the maid stepped in front of me, blocking my path with a gentle hand raised.
"My Lady, I think you need to dress before you go there," she said firmly.
"Dress?" I looked down at myself. "It's just breakfast, right? Why do I need to be dressed? What's wrong with my pyjamas?"
"There is nothing wrong with My Lady's pyjamas," she explained patiently, "but it is appropriate to be well-dressed at the table."
"But… they are waiting for me," I protested, frowning slightly. "Isn't it more appropriate not to make them wait?"
"I believe His Grace and Madam will understand My Lady's condition."
"If you put it that way, sure. I will get dressed."
"My Lady, please follow me."
She gestured toward the vanity. I sat in the chair in front of the large mirror while she prepared a bowl of water, a small towel, and soap. She mixed the soap into the water to create a lather, then dipped the towel in.
"Excuse me, My Lady." She began to gently rub the warm towel over my face to wash it.
Once she finished washing my face, she opened the drawers of the dressing table, took out a few small jars, and arranged them on the surface. She started combing my hair with a wooden comb; it took several minutes to detangle the long strands. Next, she took a powder from one of the small jars and dusted it onto my hair. It carried the soft scent of roses.
She took another powder from a different jar and patted it onto my face. After that came a cream from another jar, which she massaged into my skin. Then, she took an oily powder, mixed it with the rose scent, and applied that as well. Next, she applied a blush to my cheeks with a soft brush, and finally, she rubbed a powder mixed with honey onto my lips.
I thought the makeup was finished as she walked toward the wardrobe.
She returned holding a dress and a pair of stockings with a garter belt. She began to undress me. Once I was out of my pyjamas, she crouched down to put the stockings on for me. Before helping me into the dress, she applied some deodorant. Finally, she helped me step into the white gown.
I looked in the mirror, turning my head side to side. My face was so different than it had been last night; it was sparkling and lively. The dress was incredibly fancy and well-made.
"It is done, My Lady," she announced, clasping her hands.
"Is it necessary to do all of this just for breakfast?" I asked, smoothing the fabric of the dress.
"Of course it is necessary, My Lady," she replied with a professional nod. "It is my job to maintain your beauty everyday."
"Every day? You said every day?"
"Yes, every day."
"It looks like I am going to a party."
"If My Lady were preparing to go to a party, there would be many more steps to beautify you," she said matter-of-factly.
"Really?" My eyes widened.
"Yes. As My Lady can see, this dressing table has two sections of drawers," she pointed out. "The cosmetics I used on My Lady are from the right section—those are just cosmetics for a daily basis. If My Lady were going to a party, I would use the drawers in the left section as well. There would be much more treatment for My Lady's face."
"All of this is baffling my mind…" I muttered, shaking my head.
"My Lady doesn't need to think about it. Just let me do it for you."
"Right… and I still haven't caught your name," I realized.
"My name is Adeline, My Lady," she said with a warm smile.
She was a black-haired maid who appeared to be in her twenties.
"I will remember it. Let's go to breakfast. Can you lead me to the dining room?"
"Of course, My Lady."
We left the room and walked toward the dining area. On the way, I looked around but recognized nothing. The house was huge. There were many fancy ornaments and countless paintings lining the walls. My room was on the second floor, and it took us quite some time just to arrive at the breakfast room.
Inside, I saw everyone was already in their seats. Adeline led me to my chair; it was positioned between the twins, Aurelio and Ophelia. She pulled the chair out for me, and after I sat, she pushed it back into place before bowing and leaving the room. Our mother sat across from us, and our father sat at the head of the table. There was no food on the table yet.
"How is your feeling, Aurelia?" Mother asked, leaning forward with concern.
"It is getting better. I am sorry for making Mother so worried about me," I said apologetically.
"It is alright… I think your brother and your sister are the ones who worry about you the most," she said with a soft laugh.
I turned to each of them and patted their heads with both hands.
"Forgive this big sister for making my little siblings so worried," I said softly, smiling at them.
"I will forgive Sister Aurelia if Sister Aurelia plays dolls with me," Ophelia stated firmly, crossing her small arms.
"Sure… I will play with you later."
"UNFAIR!! You will play with me too, right, Sister Aurelia?" Aurelio intervened loudly, tugging at my sleeve.
"It's alright, I will play with both of you later," I assured them.
The two seemed happy, beaming with joy, but then Father cleared his throat.
"Aurelia will play with all of you tomorrow. Today, I want to introduce Aurelia to her tutor."
"Ehhhhhhhhhhhhh…" the two whined in unison, slumping in their chairs.
"It is okay. If your father said tomorrow, it means Aurelia will be free all day tomorrow, and you two can play with her all day long," Mother said, trying to calm them.
"Really??" Aurelio looked up, eyes wide with excitement.
"Aurelio… Don't get excited first," Ophelia interrupted him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Why, Ophelia?"
The two leaned in close, whispering to each other secretly in front of my lap, though everyone at the table could clearly hear them.
"It is Father… Aurelio, have you learned nothing from all the things Father says to us?" Ophelia whispered loudly.
"What do you mean, Ophelia?"
"Father is a cunning person… So we had better not trust his words," she declared solemnly.
"But Mother agrees with Father. Does that mean we can trust Father's word?" Aurelio asked.
The two turned their heads slowly to scrutinize their mother.
"Mother is an ally of Father… maybe she schemes with Father to take Sister Aurelia away from us," Ophelia concluded, nodding sagely.
"It makes sense," Aurelio agreed.
Mother and Father started to giggle at the little ones' conversation and serious behavior.
"See, Aurelio? They are laughing at us," Ophelia hissed, pointing a small finger.
"Right, right. How about Sister Aurelia? Is she laughing right now?"
They looked up at me with big eyes. I kept a poker face, maintaining a neutral expression to avoid being implicated.
"Sister Aurelia is our only ally, Ophelia," Aurelio decided.
"Because she is Sister Aurelia."
"Are you aware that your father and your mother can hear your conversation?" Father intervened, looking amused.
The twins gasped, their faces looking surprised.
"We aren't trying to steal your sister from you," Mother said gently.
"We don't believe it. Right, Aurelio?" Ophelia challenged.
"Yes," he nodded vigorously.
"What will make you believe that we will not steal Aurelia?" Father asked, resting his chin on his hand.
"Promise to us… that tomorrow we will get Sister Aurelia all day," Ophelia demanded.
"I promise you will get Aurelia all day," Father said easily.
"No… Father needs to raise one of his hands so we can trust the promise. Right, Ophelia?"
"Yes, Father needs to raise his hand."
Father sighed playfully and raised his right hand. "I promise you will get Aurelia all day."
"What will happen if Father breaks the promise?" Ophelia asked suspiciously, narrowing her eyes.
"Yes… what is the consequence?" Aurelio added.
"I will take the family to stroll in the city and take the family to shop—"
"DEAL!" Ophelia shouted, slamming her hand on the table before he could finish.
Mother and Father burst into giggles.
"Ehhhhhhh…" Aurelio looked shocked, turning to his sister. "Why are you suddenly agreeing, Ophelia?"
"Just agree with it, Aurelio," she whispered urgently.
"Well, Ophelia is a girl too, so she would agree to shopping," Mother noted with a smile. "Maybe it is inherited from you, my dear."
"Oh my… Aurelio acts more like you too, dear," Father retorted with a grin.
The little ones continued arguing for a moment in front of my lap while Mother and Father chatted. But my mind was on something more important.
When will we start to eat breakfast? I am so hungry right now… I thought, feeling my stomach rumble.
After a few minutes, the table situation returned to normal. Father clapped his hands, and immediately, maids entered the room carrying plates. They served the food in front of us. Finally, we started to eat.
Breakfast finished, and Adeline led me back to my room.
Upon arriving, all I wanted to do was lie down. I immediately ran toward the bed and dove onto the soft mattress.
"MY LADY!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Adeline cried out, rushing forward with a worried tone.
"I just want to lie down in bed," I muffled into the pillow.
"You are in a dress! It is not appropriate to do that," she scolded gently.
"Ehhhhh…" I groaned, rolling over.
"How about sitting on the balcony, My Lady? You can enjoy the view of the garden."
"Alright…"
I got up from the bed and walked outside. I realized there was now a table and chairs on the balcony; I remembered that last night, there had been no furniture there. There was a tea set, along with cookies and cakes. Adeline pulled out the chair for me, and once I sat, she adjusted it toward the table. She started to pour tea into a cup. I took a sip and enjoyed the view and the wind. Adeline stood dutifully beside me.
"My Lady, you can eat the cookies or the cake," she offered.
"I will try it if I want it."
I am already full from breakfast; I cannot eat anything for now, I thought, patting my stomach.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Adeline immediately went to check who it was. It was a butler. I saw him say something to Adeline, and then he walked away. Adeline returned to pass the message to me.
"My Lady, His Grace wants to meet you in his room."
We immediately went to my father's study, Adeline leading the way. When we reached the door, I realized it was massive—at least three times taller than my height.
"You can enter the room, My Lady. I will wait here."
"Are you not accompanying me inside?" I asked, looking back at her.
"No, I think it will be better if My Lady and His Grace talk privately. It would not be appropriate for me to disturb you."
"Alright then."
I pushed the heavy door open. The room was expansive, lined with bookshelves full of books. My father was sitting at a large working desk, and a lady was standing in front of him. I noticed the lady didn't wear a dress like I did; she was dressed in men's clothes and had blonde hair tied back.
I walked toward my father, and his eyes met mine.
"Aurelia, you are already here," he said, putting down his pen.
"Yes, Father. Is there something that you need me for?"
"I told you at breakfast that I would introduce you to your tutor, right?" Father gestured to the woman. "She will be your tutor and lady-in-waiting for now."
"Greetings, My Lady." She bowed sharply to me. "My name is Octavi Claudi. I will be your tutor and your lady-in-waiting."
"Greetings to you too, Octavi," I replied politely.
"She is from the Palace Academy," Father explained. "Her knowledge and ability are excellent."
"If Father praises Lady Octavi so much, it must be true," I said, nodding.
"It is an honor to me that Lady Aurelia and His Grace praise me," Octavi said, standing straight.
"You two can have a tea party so you can get to know each other," Father suggested.
"Like Father said. I believe there are some cakes and cookies on my balcony… How about Lady Octavi accompanies me on the balcony to enjoy the view of the garden?"
"I will gladly accept," Octavi replied.
"I think it is better to have a tea party in the garden rather than just enjoying the view of it from the balcony," Father suggested.
"That is a great suggestion, Father. I will ask Adeline to prepare it."
"No, I will ask a butler to prepare it."
Father clapped his hands loudly—Clap! Clap!
Immediately, the heavy door swung open and a butler stepped in. I was amazed that the sound of Father's clapping could be heard from outside.
"Prepare a tea party for my daughter and Lady Octavi in the garden!" Father commanded.
The butler bowed deeply. "At once, Your Grace," and he left.
"With that, the tea party is settled," Father said with a satisfied smile. "You two can go to the garden to enjoy the tea and the view."