CHAPTER 2: A familiar man

I never attended any social events because I was weak and fell ill very often. Even my swordsmen skills weren't that powerful, and if I ever used them, I would drop down unconscious and be sick for over a month or so. This is why my brother strongly opposed me from wielding a sword because I was too weak. Everyone in the Erwin Duchy is supposed to wield a sword despite their gender because we were always under threat by king's opposition.

Now that I think about it, it was around this time when I was attacked by an assassin but luckily Brother came right on time to save me. The killer was never to be found, so nobody knew who sent him. This remained a case because Aster didn't want to give up. There were a few clues but nothing seemed to match.

I went back to my mansion and thought about the events that would happen.

"My lady, may I come in." it was Nina. Once my previous handmaid Jenni was removed, I asked my father to keep Nina as my handmaid.

"My lady, we have to buy a dress for your brother's upcoming coming-of-age ball." She spoke.

"Do we need to buy a dress? Why can't we wear one of my previous dresses?" I said rolling myself in the banket.

Nina opened my closet to see the bare minimum dress or you could say no dress for a royal princess.

"My lady, this is a must. You must look the best for your brother's coming of age. I want to show you off to the whole world and crush that stupid rumor of yours saying that you look hideous!" said Nina with a spark in her eyes.

Nina would never change, that time and now, she never could lie nicely, though she did try when I wanted to sneak in the kitchen to get some snacks, and she always told me what was on her mind, without any filter, this is what made me love her a lot!

I gave in and got dressed to go to the dressing shop which was owned by Madam Ruth Rugger. She was a fashion sensation at this period, and everything the high nobles wore was made in her shop.

We started, and when we were near a village, at every corner there was a slum, the people begging for their daily grains, and the next year there would be a natural calamity, but fortunately for them Madam Ruth would help them. If I had been close to Madam Rugger at that time, I would also have been close to the people who have the voice to protest, so overall, I would have been able to escape my death and I would also have been able to show that Lilian was the actual villainess.

"My lady, we have arrived!" I got out of the carriage and entered the shop the place was decorated so aesthetically.

"Welcome. What can I do for you today?"

"I would like a ball gown for an upcoming ball and I need it as soon as possible"

"Yes, my lady but what is the occasion for?" she asked

"Ah! Well, it is for my brother's upcoming ball, the Young Duke Aster."

They all looked surprised because I never showed my face at any event. They tried to keep it professional and smiled at me.

"Yes Princess, we shall show you the new dresses"

In my last life, I wore a shabby old dress to my brother's debut and became a laughing stoke to everyone out there, telling me, I was truly the trash princess of the decade. I felt embarrassed, then right in time my brother jumped in and asked me for his first dance. I felt so bad about myself that I couldn't even make my older brother happy on his special day, from that day on I decided not to enter the social circle, that was before I got engaged with that crappy crown prince.

We went to the waiting room to check out the designs while she brought out the samples of her new dresses.

"How about this my lady, it is one of the top models," she said, but I didn't want to wear something that everyone would already be wearing to the ball.

"Bring me the first dress you ever made," I said.

She seemed a little confused, but I was willing to wear that to the ball. She brought out her first dress and showed me. It wasn't anything grand but it was something that caught my eye after I saw viscount Marsha Hunt wear it to her coming-of-age ball. It might be a stolen idea but it is not like I am going to harm anyone by it. This time I decided to live for myself and make myself more extravagant, I shall live up to the villainess Amora.

I agreed to buy the dress and they started to take my measurements, after taking the measurements, we paid for it, and went back into the carriage.

"But, why did you choose this miss, they wear prettier dresses but out of all that you chose the old one?" asked Nina.

"Well, that dress caught my attention," I replied.

After we finished checking the dress we went out and searched for accessories for the dress around the town and we stopped in a bakery for a cup of tea and some snacks. We came across a guy who looked so familiar yet I couldn't recognize him clearly and when I saw him. "Is he the crown prince?" I muttered, and suddenly our eyes met.

I was caught staring at him! He had messy blond hair and his eyes turned golden because of the sun's reflection, he looked like a theatrical actor with his chiseled face and his long fingers holding the teacup as he brought it up to his cherry lips.

"Do you know him, Lady Amora?" asked Nina. For some reason, I blushed and turned to my teacup.

"Ummm... No, I have no clue who he is, but...... Is he looking at me?" I spoke. Nina giggled at me, I slowly turned to him and saw him giggling at me too.

"Okay Nina, it is time to go!" I pulled Nina, paid, and headed out.

We went back to the carriage and acted as if nothing happened but Nina didn't seem to forget my flustered face.

"Oh! My lady is this some kind-"

"Oh, shut up Nina, stop teasing me! I don't even know him!" I said grumpily and looked out the window.

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