18 years ago I woke up in a strange baby's body with no memory of who I was just that I died before my time and was given a second chance. In this new world my name is Amora Haku,  I'm 19  years old. I'm from a noble family. I live with my uncle and aunt and two twin cousins as my parents died when I was very young leaving me with nothing but a book. My parents were the Viscounts but since I was much too young to succeed that title when they died it was given to my next of kin's instead as I had no other family. I'm treated as a noble woman in public but behind closed doors I'm treated as less than that. But it's fine because somehow I've become numb to it.

"I heard the Duke was back in town" said two maids outside of my door as I sat in the window nook of my bedroom reading the book my parents left to me that I'm sure I've read a thousand times before. I tried not to listen to their gossip as it was a normal occurrence around here, "Do you think he's here for this seasons love festival?" Asked another maid, "Probably, I did hear that he was looking for a wife but was said to have extremely high standards which is why he declined every lady who's ever approached him even members of the imperial family are obsessed with him" said the maid. "Who wouldn't be the Duke is a very handsome man" said another maid "That is true" she said before they both broke out in giggles. I rolled my eyes I never understood the noble ladies of this town obsession with getting married to the man with the shiniest title, it made no sense. He could be a prince with a nasty attitude and woman would still flock to him all because of the title Prince. Just then my younger cousin Roman came barging into my room.

"Amora father and mother wants to speak with you so put that ragged book down and come on" he said with an annoyed expression on his face. I sighed and sat my book down before getting up and following him downstairs. I stood in front of my uncle and aunt who both looked at me. "Sit down Amora" said my uncle, I sat down and the maids poured some cups of tea. "You are aware that the Duke is coming back to town?" Asked uncle, I am now after hearing the maids talk yes, I answered in my head before clearing my throat and answering out loud. "Yes" I simply said as I then went to pick up a cup of tea but the maid moved it over to my uncle and aunt, I sighed and looked up at them. "We have signed you up to be presented to his grace, you're too old now and we already have two children a 3rd isn't necessary" said my aunt. I wanted to protest but we've been through this before when I turned 18, since I've came of age they've been trying to marry me off but it hasn't worked so far. Just then I heard a giggle and automatically knew that it was from my other cousin Elsie. "Good luck I heard that the Duke is tempered and cold, he'll most certainly blow a fuse when he sees your ugly face" she said with a snicker as Roman stood behind her chair and joined in. "They also said that any woman who proposed to him goes missing" said Roman. I ignored their words but my hands still shook a bit after hearing them. "You can have one of Elsie old dresses for tomorrow, if you can't cozy up to the Duke then find another place to stay, I want you out of this house as soon as possible" said uncle before getting up and leaving. "Come Roman and Elsie" said my Aunt as she followed, My cousin's both laughed as they left the room leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I didn't want to get married but I had no choice. if I didn't then I'd surely be kicked out, i can tell my aunt and uncle has grown tried of me by the treatment I've received that's harsher then usual. I have no money so if that was to happen I'd be homeless and probably become a slave.

The next day;

I was dressed in Elsie's old last season gown by some of the maids as I listened to their subtle insults. "My your very frail nothing like the young Misses" said one maid as she tried to fit the baggy dress around my waist. "And her skin is much too pale we'll have to use lots of blush" said the other maid who was doing my makeup. After about an hour they were finally done and they had moved onto my hair. "Such an unusual color" said one maid as she brushed my hair I watched in the mirror I was sitting in front of expressionless. As they whispered and giggled, once it was all done I was escorted to the carriage where my Aunt and cousin Elise was waiting inside. I got inside and sat down and the carriage immediately took off.

"You need to be on your best behavior when we get there, you've been leeching off of us for too long as is" said my aunt I just sat with my hands on top of my favorite book I had brought with me and my head hung low, Later we arrived at a gathering. I was about to get out of the carriage after my aunt when suddenly Elise snatched the book from my hands causing me to quickly turn around. "You don't need this old thing" she said I tried to grabbed it but it was too late as she threw it out of the window. "No!" I shouted slightly as I immediately got out of the carriage and was about to go look for it when my aunt yanked me by the arm. "Come on girl don't make a scene" she said dragging me through the crowd as Elise snickered and followed closely behind.

Amora age 19 ;

I stood behind as my aunt and cousin talked to the other noble woman who were here to either present themselves or their daughters. Even with all the bad rumors going around about the Duke they still want their daughters to marry him all so they can say that their family members of the Duke. I watched as everyone laughed and giggled with one another. just then a girl in the back who stood out from all the rest was being hounded by some noble man. You could tell she needed help but everyone ignored her. That poor girl I thought to myself before gathering all my courage and sneaking away to go help her. As I got closer I could hear her distress. "Do not touch me!" She shouted at the man bravely. He went to grab her wrist, "oh come on don't be like that, why stand around waiting for a Duke to sweep you off your feet when you could have a handsome Nobel man like me" said the man as he leaned in closer. I cleared my throat once I was close enough, "Excuse me gentlemen" I said gaining their attention. "My apologies for butting in but my sister and I must be on our way now" I said before grabbing the young ladies hand and pulling her away from them, she was shocked as I did so. I tried to get her a safe distance away from them but before I could they stepped in front of of blocking our path. "Not so fast she still owe us something for our time and now so do you" he said licking his lips as he grabbed ahold of me. "Run!" I told the young lady but she stood there with her fist balled "Hey! Let her go now do you know who I am!" She shouted at the man but then another grabbed her. "Aw listen to this one, do you know who I am" he mocked as the man all laughed just then. A tall muscular frame appeared behind the man who was holding onto me. He had on a hood the covered his face but when he looked up all I could see was his light blue eyes. "Let them go now" said the man in a deep intimidating voice.

The noble man pushed me to the muddy ground and I landed with a thump. he then turned to face the mysterious hooded man with blue eyes. "Oh yeah and who are you" said the man. The hooded me took off his mask and hood before looking up at him and narrowing his piercing blue eyes at the noble man. "I'm the Duke of this town and your holding onto my sister" he said the man swallowed hard as his eyes glanced down at the royal pin that was on his chest. "You-your Grace" said the man as he stumbled back. The noble man holding onto the young girl immediately let her go before running off. "I-I'm truly sorry your Grace I- I didn't know" said the man stuttering in fear. "I should have your head right now and I'd be well in my rights to do so, did you know any offense against the commander of the royal grand and Dukes family is a crime against the imperial family?" He asked in a calm but threatening tone. "I-I- didn't know she was your sister your grace" he said trembling as the Duke pulled out his sword and pointed it at his throat. Everyone's attention soon turned to the little corner we were in when they all realized that it was the Duke.

"I don't care if she wasn't, to try and take advantage of a young woman because she's alone is sicking enough but to do so with the title of a noble man is even more insulting" said the Duke his hand gripping the handle of his sword tightly. "Kneel" said the Duke. "Please your grace mercy" the man cried out. "I Said Kneel" he repeated is voice growing more aggressive. The man shamefully got on his knees in front of His Grace, the young girl immediately ran over to him and grabbed his arm. "Brother no don't please" begged the young girl. The Duke stood there as he began to raise his sword. I closed my eyes tight not wanting to witness the bloody scene. I heard the sound of the wind passing the sword and the gasping of the people around us so I was sure that the man had been killed. I slowly opened my eyes after a moment of preparing myself for what I was about to see but when I looked up the man was still kneeling there, Alive.

"You will be stripped of your noble title and held prisoner for insulting the imperial family and attempted assault on a member of the Ramiro household" he said snapping his fingers causing two guards to come and grab the noble man up and walk him off. His grace then put away his sword and looked down at me who was now covered in mud and bruised on my knee. His sharp eyes stared into mine for a moment before he kneeled down and offered me his gloved hand. I was embarrassed to take it as my hands were covered in mud and his gloves were white. "Are you alright?" He asked as he looked at me still with a sharp gaze. "I am" I replied he looked down at my clothes and immediately retracted his hand from mine. I was sure it was because I was muddy and dirty so I didn't blame him. Just then the young girl came up to me she looked to be no older then 15 or 16, "Oh no your dress is ruined, brother we can't leave her like this we must do something" said the girl. "Oh no it's fine really" I said with a smile, I didn't really care about the dress it was an old hand me down from my younger cousin anyways I just wanted to get out of here because people were starting to stare.

"No she's quite right we must repay you for your dress" said the Duke as he folded his arms across his chest. "Come we'll take you to get changed" said the girl and before I could protest against it further I was already in the Dukes carriage leaving the gathering. As I looked out of the window I felt bad, all of those woman waited all day for his Grace and when he had only just arrived he had to leave again because of me.

Duke Raul Ramiro Age; 23

When the carriage finally came to a stop the Duke got out first and offered me his hand seeing that he had changed his gloves I didn't want to take it and mess them up again so I refused and got out of the carriage on my own. In doing so I tripped missing a step causing me to fall for the second time today, but just before I could hit the ground, The Duke caught me by my waist stabilizing me with his body against mine. I looked up at him shocked as my eyes met his, his sharp gaze made me nervous and rendered me speechless. I looked at a spot on his shoulder and realized I had just smudged mud on him which made me push away from him immediately. Oh my, first his gloves now his jacket why is everything going so terribly wrong today I thought.

I looked at His grace fearing that I may have upset him but saw that surprisedly the look on his face remained the same, but not angry which was a relief. Just then the young girl immediately grabbed my arm. "Come on I'll have the maids run you a nice hot bath" she said bubbly and happily as she energetically dragged me up the stairs to the big beautiful palace in front of us.

I looked back momentarily at the Duke who was just standing there with a sharp cold look as he watched us go into the palace. When we walked in we were immediately greeted by an older maid and a younger one. "Your grace your finally here-" said the younger maid as she came running up but stopped in her tracks when she saw that it was two women instead. I looked around Hmm they must've been prepared for the duke's arrival I thought. "Miss Zee, lady Trish could you run our guest a bath she fell in mud" said the girl "Yes lady Raya that we can see" said the older maid who's name I learned was Zee, the girl blushed in embarrassment and Miss Zee chuckled warmly after before looking at me. "Come now dear we'll get you cleaned up and out of those muddy clothes" she said.

During the bath;

I closed my eyes as the warm water ran down my face as the younger Maid named Trish rinsed the soap from my hair. "My your hair is..." said the woman, fully papered for her to say something insulting I looked down into the water and sighed. "Beautiful and long gosh I wish my hair was like this" she said which left me surprised. "Beautiful? You think my hair is beautiful?" I repeated in a questioning tone. "Well yes of course it is and it's one of the rarest colors too the only other person who had this color was the empress who ruled over the land of Nelyvir centuries ago" she said in awe as she ran her fingers through my hair. After the bath Trish pulled out a beautiful pink dress it looked like something a princess would wear. "I'm sorry but this was all I could find I know it's not the best but I think it'll do for now" said Trish as she handed me a dress that look like it's never even been worn before.

"It's perfect thank you" I said she smiled and helped me into it. After I put on the dress she did my hair and took me to a mirror to look at myself. I stood in front of the mirror shocked I've never worn anything like this before, I only own 5 dresses and all of them are hand me downs from my younger cousin and aunt. Just then the door opened and Miss Zee walked in. "My you are quite beautiful" she said I smiled a small but noticeable smile as she walked over to me. "The young miss wanted me to ask if you'd have dinner with her and his grace" she asked. "I don't think I sh-" I started to say but was cut off by another voice. "Miss Zee Did she say yes?" Asked a familiar voice I looked up to see the young girl peaking through the door.

She realized that I saw her and just came all the way inside. "I was just asking her about it" said Miss Zee with a warm smile. they all then looked at me waiting for my answer. "I don't think I should" I said "you absolutely have to you saved me" she said taking my hands in hers as she pleaded making her best puppy dog eyes. "I-I guess I could" I said miss Zee and Trish smiled while the young girl jumped around excitedly.

As she walked me down the hall her arm was looped with mine. "My names Raya Romiro by the way" she said "I'm Amora Haku" I replied. "Amora that's a pretty name" she said I blushed and smiled. "Thank you" I said and she smiled "No problem" she replied as we continued on down the hall.

Lady Raya Ramiro age : 16

At the table while waiting for the Duke;

I sat at the table with my hands in my lap nervously looking around the dinner room. is this ok could I have agreed to this what if I'm butting in on his Grace?, maybe I should leave now, I thought. about to get up when I heard two double doors open loudly. I looked up to see the Duke entering the room, he had on a completely different outfit as expected I did dirty up his last one. I watched as the maids pulled out his chair for him and sat down some silverware next to his plate. I couldn't help but stare he really was quite handsome, just then his gaze met mine and I immediately looked away.

3rd person switch:

The Duke looked at the woman who's name he's yet to figure out their eyes met and he was sure she was going to blush or flirt with him but instead she just looked away as if he wasn't even there. His grace was shocked once again, first it was when she got her gown ruined from helping his sister which he found suspicious, he thought at the time that it was only to get close to him as she is the Dukes sister and woman have took advantage of that knowledge before but she even refused the offer to replace her gown and his hand when getting out of the carriage most noble woman would jump at the chance to touch the Duke even be near him. it was desperate which irritated and annoyed Duke Raul because he knew that all the noble woman and the imperial family wanted him for was his title and power.

He watched the lady carefully as she talked with his sister. Raya had took a liking to the lady as she does with anyone who shows her kindness so she wouldn't see when she's being used which is why the Duke knew it was his job to figure that out for his clueless only little sister. Just then the lady giggled and his grace found himself staring at her momentarily before clearing his throat causing both his sister and the lady to go quiet. If he was to find out the lady's true attentions he had to at least know her name and the household she belongs to.