AINA
As I perch on the hard bed, a woman around forty-five steps into the dull room wearing a long gown like gray uniform. Her sharp eyes are too arrogant and so is her posture.
She wouldn't even bow to me.
"This is our head maid, Kim Bora." Nancy mumbles, standing inches closer to me.
"What is it?" She asks in a rude tone.
"You were clearly informed about my arrival. Why didn't you arrange the room?"
Her sharp gaze glances around the room, then lands back on me, still, confident.
"The room looks fine to me."
"But there are spider webs…" Nancy opens her mouth to speak but with one death stare from Bora, she gulps, silencing her voice.
She was bullying me on purpose. Before stepping into the mansion, I promised myself that I wouldn't let anyone look down on me. This is a path of revenge and each one of them is on my radar.
"You're right. The room is pretty fine. I shouldn't have bothered you about it."
"Why did you even waste my time? We have a lot of arrangements to make. Madam Woong is waiting for her tea." She turns around and takes a step outside. Her scheme is evident, forcing me to clean the room myself.
"Nancy, invite Father to my room right now. We should have coffee together." My calm tone utters the words.
Bora pauses, hesitant to take another step forward, her confident shoulders quickly crumble down. She then slowly turns around and grips the side of her gray uniform.
"I am leaving, Miss," Nancy answers.
"Wait a minute," Bora shouts anxiously.
"The room needs more touch. Mr. Ryu is a man of high class. It should match his taste."
"Oh! That's really considerate of you."
"I am sending maids right away." She rushes out of my sight.
A tight smile glints on my lips.
"You're smart, Miss." Nancy looks into my eyes.
"Madam Woong is my aunt, right?"
"Yes, Miss."
"Ehm…She handles the household."
"Why not my mother?"
"After your sister's death, she's just lost in her own world, locked herself in her room, refusing to talk to anyone."
"Though your father is the younger son of the family, he is more capable and makes the decisions for everyone. He was chosen as the heir by your grandfather before his death."
"Your mother used to manage the household but now the elder madam does it."
"I know you were sent to the orphanage at a very young age, so you don't remember anything but I will help you."
"Thank you, Nancy."
"Your grandmother is respected by everyone in the family. She never really interferes in anyone's matters but when she does, no one dares to go against her words."
"What about my cousin brothers?"
She appears to be slightly reluctant.
"What's wrong?" I ask, furrowing my brows.
"You better be careful around them. The five young masters are a little arrogant and cold. They don't really care about others."
"Thanks for letting me know."
Shortly, a few maids enter the room. They brush off the dust from the walls, clean the marble floors, remove the spider webs, make my bed with a new blanket and sheet, and even sprinkle room freshener.
The room is now unrecognizable but the maids seem to be holding a grudge against me.
"Why do they hate me?"
"It's because of that incident years ago. You set fire to the maids' quarters. Four maids died and you got the name crazy lady."
The maids quietly leave, whispering.
"How long have you been here?"
"Since childhood. My mother used to work here and brought me with her. She died last year."
"So sorry."
"Don't worry, Miss."
"Do you by any chance know why I set fire to the maids' quarters? My memories are a bit fuzzy about that incident."
"Honestly, no one saw you setting the fire. You were just there, screaming and pulling your hair, and everyone assumed you did it."
*Maybe Hana was framed?*
"Let's get you ready, Miss." Nancy turns me around, a polite smile glinting on her lips.
"We couldn't buy new dresses. Would you be okay wearing your younger sister's dresses? Nobody has touched her wardrobe ever since."
"Yes, please."
Nancy brings me a gorgeous long pink dress, shimmering under the light. The sleeves are so delicate like feathers, transparent, and a mermaid flares down the knees.
She helps me dress up, tie my red hair into a messy bun, and slide my feet into white heels.
Miss. Rachel told me, no matter what happens, never let anyone find out about the lenses.
Nancy stands before me and her fingers softly do my makeup, natural but elegant. The gentle strokes of the brush tingle on my skin, caressing every feature of mine.
"You're now ready, Miss."
I look at myself in the mirror, a completely new version of me.
All these years my body has only worn dull and lifeless clothes. For the first time, my skin has felt something so flashy.
"You're looking beautiful," Nancy whispers.
Sera's scent is still lingering on the dress.
As the clock hits eight at night, my feet step out of the room and head straight to the grand party at the guest house next to the main mansion. It's only a few inches away.
The guards open the main door for me, and with my first step under the golden chandelier, all the heads turn to me.
Whispers echo through the huge walls.
Who is she?
I have never seen her before.
Is she new in Cloverwood?
She is beautiful but her dress looks cheap.
Why is she wearing a cheap dress at such a grand party?
Which family is she from?
It was after the gossip that I realized Sera never wore anything flashy and expensive. The dress that looked exceptional to me was cheap to others.
My gaze runs through the crowd, each of them is dressed in expensive dresses and suits. They are all from rich and influential families.
As I go deeper into the crowd like a lost puppy, my shoulder accidentally bumps into someone.
"Can't you see?" Her voice startles me.
"So sorry." My voice apologizes to her.
"Sorry? Do you even know who I am?"
Her gaze scans me upside down.
"Don't tell me you're a maid here for free food and drinks?"
"I am not a maid."
"Then, who the hell are you?" She raises her voice, drawing everyone's attention to us.