Reborn

Ainaira opened her eyes, breathing heavily.

"Haa...! haa..!"

She gripped her blanket with her left hand while she clasped her chest with her right.

A maid frantically entered the room.

Worriedly, she asked: "Lady Ainaira! Did something happen?!"

Her eyes widen in horror as she saw her maid, her room, her face.

Her face was much more childlike than she remembers it.

The maid looked at her mistress nervously like a ticking time bomb. "Um.. Lady"

Her heavy breathing stopped. All her body froze into place

"No.."

The maid was confused but thought it was best not to tick off the villainess

"NO!!"

She screams so loud that the maid whimpers at the corner.

"This can't be-!"

Her thoughts were at chaos.

(no no no no no no this can't be this can't be this can't be. Why why why why why. Why am I back?!)

"M-my lady, you must get ready for your debut toda-"

"Debut"Hearing those words triggered the young lady.

"GET OUT! DON'T COME IN AND DON'T BOTHER ME!"

The maid ran out of the room terrified

-

"Where is lady Ainairi? The party is in 1

hour!"

An old maid rubbed her forehead in frustration.

She's is the head maid of the Manor.

She clicks her tongue.

"The marchioness won't be happy"

"Umm…the thing is… the lady screamed not to bother her"

She sighed at the young maid "It's not the time for her tantrums, go back and get her!"

"B-but Madam Enata, the lady is scary…" the maid cried out

The head maid felt like bursting at the maid's incompetency.

Most servants fear Ainaira with the only exceptions being the head maid, Enata, and the butler, Fredrick.

Why would they be scared of her when they saw her and the marquess grew up?

"She was once a bright child...hah..." the head maid muttered to herself

-

She laid down on her bed, almost looking like a corpse. Her face was puffed from the crying "This is a nightmare…"

She raised her head and body and walked up the vanity.

She just stared at her reflection.

Gray-blue shoulder length hair, styled in an unusual manner. Although "unusual' wouldn't be the right term.

The beauty standard in the Ethereal Empire are long and even hair, but Anaira's hair was layered and uneven.

Despite this, instead of being belittled for not keeping up with the trends and norms. Her face was so gorgeous, and the fact everything looks good on her. No one would dare to criticize her fashion sense.

She, of course, inherited the iconic white strand and blood red eyes of the Dharmanath family.

her door burst opened without a single knock.

No maid would not dare open her door without permission except for the head maid.

She entered her room while shouting:

"Lady Ainaira! Time to get up and get ready! I don't want to hear your complains"

Eneta gestured to the maids to fix Ainaira up.

Strangely enough, the noble lady didn't make a fuss and just let them do their work.

They dressed her in a blue and black slim dress. Her gray-blue hair tied in a bun, complemented with a flower ornament.

She was truly beautiful.

-

(Let me tell you something strange)

(I'm supposed to be dead, killed by my twin brother and his best friend)

(Well, I wasn't really a good person and I deserved more than a simple stab)

(But I'm here, back in time at my debut)

(Absolutely Horrifying)

She stopped her tracks when she saw the Marchioness. She had pink hair and green cyan eyes.

With one look, you can tell she was popular among the men in her youth. She had an elegant aura around her that can bewitch anyone.

"You ingrate, how dare you be late. Dear Aeron even took a time off from the academy just to attend your debut! Have you no shame!?"

Ainaira didn't answer, just staring at her step mother nonchalantly

"Aeron brought some of his friends that hail from esteemed families. Do not embarrassed the Dharmanath."

(Of course I won't. They're that pink bunny future boytoys)

Unlike her thoughts

Not a single voice of defiance or even agreement left Ainaira's mouth.

She just left.

"Rude child." she grumbles but her concern could not be hidden.

"Luna, what's going on with that wrench?"

"Lady Ainaira has been acting like this since morning, my lady"

Luna, who is the Marchioness' personal maid. White hair and white eyes are rare genetic traits, if it weren't for her common background she could've easily become the empire's most beautiful flower.

There are only two people in the Ethereal Empire with white hair and white eyes. Luna and a certain mercenary.

"Keep an eye on her"

"Yes madam"

The current Marchioness dislikes Ainairi.

No, she hates her. You see, the Marchioness, Rosetta, is a strict person.

She showed great care for reputation and doesn't want to disgrace her husband's dignity and grace.

Coincidentally, her good for nothing step-daughter is a threat to the things she wants to protect. In contrast, she favors Aeron, so much so that she neglects her own son, Ainsley.

Rosetta only pays attention to those who are useful, neglects those who don't, and hates the one that gets in her way.