"Lady Velora, your professor has finally arrived for your etiquette lesson."
"Yes!"
—Few hours later, Hallway—
I left the study room.
'Now I should go to the garden since Ethan is waiting for me.'
"Velly!"
'He better not pester me...'
I smile happily as I look at Rey.
"Yes?"
"Have you figured out what your ability might be?"
'Why's he curious suddenly...'
"Why...?"
"Ehhh... Don't be stingy, we can ask Lu's fairy to find a match for you since you're both dark elements!" Rey smirks and pats my shoulder.
"ahahahahaha... no thank you"
I avert my gaze from Rey while Rey puts his hands on both my shoulders and shakes me.
"Tell me, tell me, come on Velly, don't be stingy!"
'I can't say I already know and at the same time, I'm not sure what dark fairy, Lady Velora signed a contract with.'
My smile starts to waver and I avert his gaze while he keeps shaking me!
'That problem is for the future me to solve, and I'm not much of an ability freak like you.'
—Few hours later, Garden—
"Lady Velora. Did I do well?" Ethan beams brightly.
"Yes now 3 pages per day." I smile at him annoyingly.
—Few hours later, Velora's room—
Erisa hands me piles of papers.
"You'll be handling your birthday. Duke Lucien will handle the nobles' list and has already organized the documents into separate categories so you won't have a hard time choosing."
'I didn't even get a single day of rest as a birthday gift, now they want me to handle my birthday celebration with the nobles!?'
"Good luck Lady Velora!" Kel clasps her hands in excitement.
'Good luck my butt, I don't even have a personal taste, I don't even know what Lady Velora likes.'
As I slump down and let out a sigh.
—Night time, Velora's room—
"Lady Velora, Lady Elie sent a letter."
"Again!?"
—Next Day, Morning, Hallway—
I sneakily walk around the door to the lecture room to avoid it and suddenly someone comes out.
"Lady." Erisa appearsscarily.
The hair on my whole body suddenly raises
'Crap.'
—Few hours later, Velora's room—
"Lady Velora, here, please choose any of the varieties of desert for your birthday."
—Later that afternoon, Garden—
'I really regret using him at some point ever since fear got the best of me about my? upcoming birthday.' as I look at Ethan with my hand placed on my cheek and my arm resting on the table.
"Lady Velora, I finally finished the whole book."
Ethan lifts the paper.
"Great now let's do the next children's book."
Ethan smiles happily and starts writing once again.
"Yes!"
'Huh? Weird why's he happy about it?'
'This is why he still receive punishment...'
'...'
"Hey Ethan."
"Yes, my lady?"
"Do you still get punishment other than this?"
Ethan remains silent.
'Seems like he can't lie about it either.'
I let out a sigh.
"Sorry, I must've made it much harder for you."
Ethan slams the table.
—bam—
"No! My lady!"
I hold my chest in shock.
'Holy sh— my heart jumped.'
"You actually made it a little less."
Ethan hesitates and calms down.
"I'm very grateful that you gave your time for a mere knight like me."Ethan suddenly goes down on one knee, and puts one hand on his chest.
Ethan reaches out for my hand.
I abruptly give my hand.
'Ah..! I did it again!'
Ethan places his forehead on my hand while he holds it with both hands.
'This feels like full respect and loyalty.'
My eyes widen.
"..."
My expression softens.
'I feel pressured...'
—Later that evening, Hallway—
I look at the window and look up the sky as I walk by.
'Its already night.'
I crack my back and fix my shoulder.
'This has been my daily routine, I know being an heir isn't easy but being a daughter of the former duke is hard...'
'I thought being rich will make my life easier? Why am I having a hard time!?'
I see Kel near my room, ready to open the door.
'Finally I can rela—'
"Velora."
I look around with an annoyed face.
"WHAT YO— oh, older brother Lu."
Lucien hands me a paper.
"Here's the list of the guests if you're curious, I heard you take a liking to Count Edelweiss daughter, Marigold."
'Who...? Oh! FL best friend.'
"I also removed pests who fly around mother."
"Okay." 'Wait what?'
'What do you mean pests???'
I look at Lucien who seems to be nonchalant about the matter.
'Don't tell me he's talking about the nobles? How was he able to get that information?
The guards? No, it's a tea party for nobles so it's just us in the Gazebo especially since it's an open space.'
'Did one of the nobles themselves tell him?'
'Saying flies... Is a bit...'
'Whatever it is... I really should be wary of Duke Lucien's connection or the abilities they possess.'
'Wait, shouldn't I try getting on his good side and use him as leverage?'As I hit my hand against my other hand as I thought of a great idea.
'Why didn't Velora use the Rosethorne's connection instead of clinging to the villains?'
"I also heard that you already finished choosing what you wanted for your birthday."
"I must say, you have quite a unique taste."
'Is that a bad thing?'
"I've heard around your age, your taste start to change."
"I do hope it's just your rebellious phase, not to tarnish the name of the Rosethorne."
Duke Lucien looks down on me as his stare pierces right at me.
'Or... Maybe not... I feel like I might die faster asking him for help.'
"I just wanted to try different things."
I smile at Duke Lucien, beaming.
'Please fall for it!! We're literally the same age if I didn't transmigrate!'
"I see."
Duke Lucien smiles faintly
Inside my smile, I'm judging him.
'I learned it from you to smile and not waver from your real feelings!'
Duke Lucien closes his eyes and walks away.
As he walks away I raise a middle finger at him.
—Few days later, Garden—
I put my face against the table and stretch my arms.
'Urgh when will this end?'
I count by using my fingers.
'1...2? Almost 2 more days before the day of my birthday with the nobles...'
I rest my chin against the table, squirming slightly.
'It's quite weird to have a separate celebration with real birthday and birthday with invited guests.'
'I'm quite bored but—.'
The wind blows softly, brushing past my skin.
The scent of flowers and fresh grass lingers in the air, light and calming.
Leaves rustle gently above , scattering leaves gently through the air as the shadows shifting with the breeze.
'For once—.'
I take a deep breathe.
'everything feels… peaceful when I'm here.'
I look at Ethan diligently writing.
His brows are slightly furrowed, too focused.
'He looks like those students with a certain victory headband like he's about to defeat the paper instead of write on it.'
"Pfft..."
Ethan pauses and looks at me.
He suddenly reaches out, his hand brushing lightly through my hair.
'Eh?'
"Ah! Sorry my lady, There's a lift on your head."
"Ah... Sure."
'...'
'Now this is awkward...'
I look at Ethan, his ears red.
'Why're you blushing... Stop blushing!?!'
—Next Day—
I raise both my hands and bend on my knees.
'Finally! I finish it'
Neatly arranged papers, scatters my floor as I finish organizing everything I need for my upcoming birthday with the nobles.
"Congratulations, my lady!" Kel and Erisa claps for me.
"You're able to finish it before the event!"
'Yayy!'
'...'
I froze
'Wait...'
'Don't they need more time to furnish every request I did? They did say everything will be available on time but wouldn't some take weeks if I count how many guests coming.'
I start counting with my fingers.
"1...3...10?"
"What are you thinking of lady Velora?"
"Ah... Well... How will they be able to ready everything by tomorrow?"
"Ohohoho!" Kel stands tall, hands on her hips, brimming with bold confidence.
'Huh why's she being like that?'
"You'll find out my lady, once the papers are delivered. Would my lady like to watch?"
Kel looks at me, beaming.
—Next day—
'They wake me up very early in the morning.'
'There isn't even the sun out...'
I try adjusting my eyes while they ready me for a bath and change my clothes.
"This will be your temporary dress, my lady."
As they open the door for me across the other building.
'I forgot how large the Rosethorne estate is. There's over 4 buildings and one tower.' *refer to chapter 14*
The next building opens into a vast hall, wide and high-ceiling, clearly meant for gatherings with high nobles.
'So this is where It'll happen.'
"Woah.."
"Please seat here, my lady."
"If you have any problems, do not hesitate."
"Okay..."
I look at my surrounding as I take a seat.
Servants move everywhere.
Maids glide across the floor with trays in hand, butlers stand poised near the sides, and knights linger at a distance, assisting where needed.
'There's so many people here but they never bump to each other.'
At the center, the head maid giving orders, her voice firm as everything falls into place.
Suddenly, my eyes catch something.
Not from the huge chandelier in the middle but from tiny specks of light.
Floating, dancing through the air.
Different colors flicker around the room—soft blue, faint green, hints of gold, even traces of red—each one moving like it has a life of its own.
My eyes widen.
'Don't tell me—'
'What I'm seeing right now… are those elements!?'