each passing second

"Miss, the coach has announced that we will be arriving soon." Lily, my maid, said.

"Hmmm." I said. We had set out that afternoon, and it was almost evening now. I fell asleep somewhere along the way and asked Lily to wake me when we got there.

" Miss, you need to wake up and freshen up your face." Lily said

" No, I do not want too~" I said in a childish voice. Lily was my favorite, and so I could behave however I wanted in front of here

"Well, miss you must." She spoke again

"Can I get at least five more minutes?" I pleaded

" We will already be at the marquess household in five minutes. My lady, your makeup has been ruined" She said

" No, it hasn't." I argued.

She then handed me a mirror. When she saw my shocked face basically questioning where she got that mirror, she said, "A lady always cones prepared."

Taking the mirror, I rolled my eyes.

"See, I look fine." I told her

" No, miss check properly." She said again

" There is nothing!"

" Keep checking."

"Just tell me where to look" I said as I finally lifted my head to sit up right.

" The mouth."

"Huh? Oh..." I saw what she was referring to.

" Why did you not just say that I drooled in my sleep? It is perfectly normal." I told her embarrassed as i wiped it off.

Okay, I never drool, it is just that the roads might have been dusty, and breathing through my nose got to be difficult.

" No, it is not, miss. What would the others think when they see you like this?"

" That I am cute?" I said batting my eyelids and pouting

" Well, you most certainly are, but that is not the point. Should I tell madam about this?"

" Okay, fine. Let's drop it. It won't happen again." I said defeated

She smiled triumphantly. " Do you want me to touch up your makeup?"

(Noisy background. The carriage slows down.)

Lily opened the curtain a bit and looked outside.

" Oh no! We have arrived! There won'tthe enough time to fix your makeup." She said distressed

" It is alright, Lily. Don't be sad." I comforted her.

"How can I not when you makeup is ruined. I wanted you to be introduced at your best." She said, almost crying.

Sigh," How long do we have?" I asked

" I am not sure." She said

"Okay, fine. That's more than enough." I replied

"P-pardon? Miss, what are you doing? What if they tell us to get out of the carriage this instant?" She asked panicked.

" Then you would have to help me and stop them." I said. I was not doing much, really. Looking in the bag Lily carried full of all sorts of makeup materials, I felt glad that she always comes prepared.

I wiped off my initial make up. Honestly, I did not like the way they did it initially because it was thick. Everyone in this kingdom loved thick makeup, and I was the same in my previous life. That was until I left this place and went to the Duke's residence, I learned that he preferred light makeup and found thick makeup repulsive.

"M-Miss..."

"Don't worry, I know what I am doing." I changed my makeup to something lighter, I felt like I could breathe again.

"Wow, miss. This... You look ...breathtaking." Lily said

Laughing, I said, "I see those extra lessons are coming in handy?" I was joking.

She blushed and said, "Thanks to you Miss."

Lily was not a usual maid, I found her when I was a child and forced my parents to take her with us.

 Normally, maids or ladies in waiting need to at least be from a family in society with some standing, a level lower than your standing and well-educated.

She was a year older than me and I hoped that one day she would find her own happiness.

" You are welcome." I smiled

"Oh, we are going to be introduced next." She squealed.

She was right, we were announced next. This was just a fancy way of saying that they were telling us to exit our carriages and move to the event where a proper announcement would be made in front of the crowd.

"Madam Catherine Carson, title: Viscountess

and her daughter, miss Charlotte Carson." someone announced.

"Well, looks like the stage is ready. Let the show begin," I muttered breathing sharply.

"Pardon? miss did you say something?" Lily asked

"Oh, not at all." I said giving her a bright smile

We exited the carriages. I had my own carriage and so did my mother.

 Since we were "special guests", we were immediately ushered into a different path one that led to the second house.

" Madam Carson, I am Thomas, the butler in this household. The marquess has ordered me to escort you this evening." Thomas said with a bow.

"Oh, pleased to meet you and sorry for the trouble." My mother said politely.

"Not at all Madam." Thomas said

"Please follow me." he continued and we followed him.

My guess was, since the even was in the main house, we were going to meet the marquess and his family before going to the event.

As the house came in view, Fear and anxiety settled in. Throughout the journey I never considered how my encounter with my step siblings would be like.

My plans felt sweaty, and I nervously pulled on my dress.

My mother noticed this because she suddenly pulled me closer, and held my hand.

I looked at her,, and she gave me a reassuring smile.

"Please wait here." The butler said politely,and went inside.

I used to time to breathe and calm down. I honestly did not know how to feel. Furthermore, I had lived here before, sat down with these people and had a meal with them and yet my heart kept beating so fast, my breath kept hitching out of fear because I could not look past it.

I still remembered the scene, being thrown out of a window from the fourth floor, the sound of my bones breaking, the blood oozing out from my body.

These were vividly painted in my mind so much that if I closed my eyes I would relive that moment each passing second.

He came back shortly after getting me out of my thoughts when he said, "The marquess and his children are waiting."

Ba dum, ba dum. I could hear the sound of my hammering heart as we walked in.

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