2 Chapter 2 - The Morning Without Memories

Violet slowly opened her eyes. The pain and tiredness in her body shot through her mind like a lightning shot. She wasn't born yesterday, and that feeling was too unique to be confused with anything else. She just spent the lustful night filled with passion. The trace could be found all over her body, as the kiss mark covered the pale skin.

The problem was that she couldn't remember her partner's face.

The room she woke up in was luxurious and spacious, something that a commoner like her couldn't dream about sleeping in. This must be a duke's mansion, as they celebrated together till late night. After so many drinks, he probably let the whole party use his castle.

Her yesterday dress vanished without a trace, and she was sleeping naked, but the splendour robe was prepared for her next to the bed. Her night's partner left without a word, but several strands of pink hair were scattered on the bed.

"Haaaah, how can this be…" Violet was confused. There was only one person that she knew of who had this colour of hair.

Ophelia Elligton, the daughter of a Viscount from the countryside. She was a precious and charming girl with a bright personality. Someone loved by many, and Violet is no different.

She cares about Ophelia as if they were sisters. Or maybe mother and daughter.

"Either way… what have I done?! Did I force myself on that innocent girl?"

This was the worst.

"Just how rotten are you, Violet…" She banged her head against the bed frames. The memory shards from last night slowly gathered, and a few scenes played in her mind. The soft kisses, the touch, the…

"AAAAHH! How could I…!" Violet's face was darker than the wine. She was never a shy person but remembering the bold-acting and the proactiveness she showed just a few hours before made her tremble in shame.

"This made absolutely no sense… Me and Ophelia? Absolutely no way!"

All her memories are sensational, and nothing clear could give her a definite answer. However, given the circumstances, the owner of the castle, young Duke Nathaniel Ashford would be a probable partner.

She and Lord Ashford maintained a friendly relationship, something almost impossible between the peasant girl and a high-ranking nobleman, but neither of them cared for their difference in status.

She never thought of him as something more than a friend. He was handsome, rich, and gentle when dealing with everyone regardless of their upbringing. He was the embodiment of the prince from the fairy tale and the object of dreams for many girls and young women.

If it was him, she could somehow accept it.

Violet wasn't the person who would insist on marrying someone she had lost her purity to. If they just treat the last night as the anomaly, blaming the wine or whatever, they might continue to be friends even in the future.

"Sister, are you awake?" The head full of long pink hair peeked inside. A bright smile appeared on Ophelia's face when she confirmed that the person she was asking was not sleeping anymore. Violet, who was unprepared, quickly grabbed the sheet and covered herself as she had no time to put the dress on.

"L-Lia…! Don't just come in like this…!" Violet tried to hide her embarrassment, but Ophelia was like an unstoppable storm. The girl danced her way to the bedside, her face slightly pinkish like she was remembering something that shouldn't be said in public.

"Forgive me… I should be calling you Violet, right? After what happened last night…" Ophelia bashfully covered her small face, as she giggled for unknown reason.

'Please, don't be like this! It will make me misunderstand!' Violet begged inwardly.

She can't accept this girl as her first-night partner. While she was open-minded and didn't shame any same-gender relationships, she had never experienced something like this before. Woman with a woman? If that was the case, she might as well take it proudly as a new experience, even if she doesn't swing that way.

But not with Ophelia.

The girl before her was out of her reach. She can never cross the line.

"Do not worry! It's going to stay our little secret!"

Ophelia looked happy, like having a confidential act between them was all she wished for. But that behaviour only caused Violet to be even more confused. She awkwardly looked around, fidgeting under the blanket. While a young noblewoman had a great sunny start to the day, the stunned one on the bed still looked for an opportunity to put some clothes on.

Not knowing how to stop the girl from a joyful mood, a polite knock on the door saved her from grave humiliation.

"Miss Thalassa, are you awake?"

A maidservant entered the room. She brought the warm wet towel that was welcomed for refreshing one's face after the long night. However, Violet was reluctant to reach for it as she was still naked under the cover.

"Lady Elligton, you are here, too. As the master ordered, I have prepared the bath for miss Thalassa. After you dress up, the Duke of Ashford has invited you both for a luncheon."

The sun was already high on the sky, way past the time for breakfast. Violet slept for a long time, which was the reason why she woke up alone. Otherwise, she might have seen her partner's face before they left.

"Then, I will help miss Thalassa to get ready," the maid offered.

"No need. I will take care of Violet as she bathes," Ophelia dismissed the servant.

"NO!" Violet screamed suddenly. How could Lia speak of bathing another grown-up person so lightly? She needs to save her face, for God's sake! If the news of them spending the night together spread through the castle somehow, Violet would need to run away. But maybe even hiding in another country wouldn't be enough, as Ophelia's admirer was the worst kind of jealous dog.

"Why?" The Viscount's daughter asked innocently. "We bathed together when we were younger, and I already helped to wipe you yesterday,

I can assist you well…"

"L-Lia, stop!" If she says anymore, the maidservant will know about their last night's affair. "I mean, we are not children anymore. I can do it myself…"

After fighting with Ophelia for a bit, she was finally left alone. It was an everyday occurrence for nobles to be assisted by servants through their daily lives, but it was an awkward situation for Violet. Although she had visited the public bathhouse numerous times, this was still different.

"Haaaaah," Violet's legs wobbled as she fell on the bathroom floor. She managed to send the maid and Ophelia away and finally slipped into the robe before locking herself in the white-marbled room. Everything there was probably worth more than her yearly salary, yet the Duke's household was covered in money from the simple doghouse to the last servant's bed.

Violet slowly undressed before the mirror and finally examined her body in the reflection. If someone else were to witness all those love's marks on her body, she would have to live in the underground canals for the rest of her life, as the shame would never leave her.

"This couldn't be done by Ophelia…" The trace left after the sucking and kissing must be done by much stronger lips. Her girl-friend mouth was small, thin, and cherry-like. They were created to be admired by many, not to be used as a tool to make her shiver in pleasure all night.

"No! What am I thinking?! I need to erase the thoughts of Ophelia's lips from my mind…!"

Duke Ashford's lips on the other hand…

But who could imagine that well-natured and gentle man to be like a beast during the night?!

"Either way… Unless the situation is cleared up, I better act carefully…"

With these words in mind, she submerged her head under water.