Love

As I walked past them, the maids whispered to each other and giggled.

"She's so cute."

"The lady is holding her hand, she can't even resist the baby's cuteness. Aigo."

"Hehehe, right. But who's the other one?"

"She doesn't have golden eyes but she's pretty too."

"Sshh, the lady might hear you."

Accorsa still kept a straight face as if she couldn't hear the whispers of the maids even though they were quite audible.

In the original novel, Tatiana wasn't welcomed like this, she was brought into the dukedom as a boy... but I came as a girl, wouldn't it be a little inconvenient and unbelievable if I suddenly turn into a male child.

However, the situation now was quite...

"Wow, it's so pretty." Mariana exclaimed beside me as soon as we entered the extravagant building.

My eyes widened.

The interior was even more ravishing than the exterior, the designs were extremely lavish. I felt like I was walking in a place made of gold.

I turned to Mariana, dried lines of tears on her cheeks, previously dull eyes that was now glowing widely.

Ha, kids were strange beings. Capability of changing and forgetting the situation, as long as something fascinating appears.

"Irene." Accorsa calmly called out.

"My lady." A woman with beautiful pink hair and emerald eyes answered with a smile.

She seemed to be around Accorsa's age, since Accorsa was twenty years old, the young lady might be twenty years old too.

Irene was a name that appeared quite frequently in the book, since she was Accorsa's best friend but just like the best friend of every miserable female lead, she died in an attack that was meant for Accorsa.

"Oh, hello there." She bent to I and Mariana's height and smiled ever so sweetly.

"What are their names?" She looked up at Accorsa and asked.

Accorsa awkwardly looked away.

Just like I thought, she didn't even know our names, no wonder she had been addressing us as 'child' all this while.

I smiled and decided to save the female lead from her best friend's glare.

"Hello, Aunty. My name is Tatiana." I saw and looked down with false shyness.

"Oh my, she's so sweet."

I finally managed to divert her attention from Accorsa.

"What's your name, sweetie?" Irene turned to Mariana with a light smile.

"Ma, Mariana." Mariana answered, her cheeks and ears were all red.

"You both can call me Irene, okay?"

"No, I'll call you big sister." I immediately said.

I wanted to be close as possible so as to complete the novel on time and... It felt wrong to call someone who was fifteen years older by her name.

"Huh, that's nice, Tati but what would you call the lady?"

That's right, what should I call Accorsa?

"No, Sister is really pretty. So, I'll call her pretty sister." I smiled sheepishly without a care in the world. I just solved a major problem, so I had to smile as widely as I could but would Accorsa tolerate such names?

I looked up at Accorsa, but her head was turned the other way like she didn't hear what I said.

That was good though...

"Take them to their rooms and get them something to eat." Accorsa ordered before walking towards the stairs.

Huh? She left?

"Alright, girls. Let's go." Irene clapped and led the way with a smile that never seemed to leave her face.

I moved to follow after her but something tugged on my skirt.

I turned to see Mariana, she had her head down.

She might have fantasized coming here but not in this way.

"Is there a problem?"

Aish, I suddenly feel like a big sister...

"Ah, no, not at all." She shook her head frantically.

I knew she had something to say but I wouldn't force her to say it of she didn't want to.

"Then let's go."

"No, wait. Ca, can I hold your hand."

"Eh? Uh, okay?"

"Thank you." She held my hand happily and ran forward, dragging me behind.

***

Accorsa took large strides her room, she shut the door immediately she got in and leaned against the door.

"Pretty sister?"

Accorsa ran to the mirror and stared at her reflection.

"Isn't Irene prettier than me?"

Of course, the female lead wore pants while her best friend wire dresses. Everybody would choose the humble pretty lady to a strict and stern woman.

"Argh, I shouldn't trust the words of a child." Accorsa sighed in frustration.

The child was supposed to act as a male heir but after she saw the treatment the child received. Accorsa couldn't bring herself to go on with the original plan. So, the male clothes were left on the road.

"I'll just find another way instead of stressing on the child... Tatiana." Accorsa muttered her step sister's name.

***

"Kya, put this on."

"No, let the little princess put this on."

"Gold would look more better."

"No, gold is too much, pink is better."

Who I'm I? Where I'm I? What is happening here?

I sat stiffly on the sofa, the maids argued about the dress I should wear.

Aren't they all the same?

"Ask the little Princess Tati, then!"

And what with this 'Tati' name everyone calls.

"Princess Tati."

Oh no.

"What dress do you like?"

"What colour do you prefer?"

"How do you like this one?"

Argh!!!

"That one." I randomly pointed at any dress.

"Oh my, the princess has a good eye."

The dress was purple in colour with black designs, it was pretty.

"Fast, get her ready."

Ready for what?

I had a sense of foreboding.

***

"Now, how does she looks."

All the maids had been in my room hours m, making me try on different dresses.

"Oh, the next one is a blue tea party dress."

Oh no. Please, I'm going to die if this goes on. I beg of you all.

The food I thought would come didn't come, I was just trying out dresses and jewellery all the while.

Help... I need help.

"The head maid, the head maid is coming!"

"Oh no, run."

Ha, thank you, dear head maid.

The maids finally left the room, I sighed and flopped down on the bed.