Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Never seen a lady fall.
"You look more beautiful than this beautiful day, my lady!" The maid exclaimed having finished with her work of getting Veraya ready. The day had been bright and happy but Veraya couldn't appreciate it, she neither had the time nor the right state of mind to do so as she awaited the presence of her important guest.
Today she was to meet the female lead of the novel, Rose Conwyn. Again.
It had taken her an entire week to grasp the fact that she had been born into another world and another week to get settled in with the ways and the rules of the world. It had been a relief when she found that the original Veraya's memory had been instilled in her body and so she only had to get used to what her body naturally knew to perform.
Standing up from where she was seated in front of the mirror she turned around and smiled, "Thank you, Mary. I really like what you did with my hair."
While the words that came out of her mouth had been sweet and the expression she wore had been one of pure gratitude the maid couldn't help but look at her with suspicion and disbelief. It was hard to believe that the lady who had been known for her harsh words and cruel judgment was now thanking a mere maid.
Veraya understood this and therefore said nothing but it was apparent from the slight downward curve of her lips that she had felt hurt within. She wondered how much longer would it take for her maids to finally trust her.
Leaving the maid behind she proceeded to the garden where she was scheduled to meet Rose. A few maids escorted her even though she asked them not to and sighing tiredly she let them be as she reminded herself to get used to the people and their constant attention on her.
Sitting down at the white table that had been prepared for the two ladies, she looked around at the ornamental garden that supposedly belonged to her and she knew she should be happy to finally own such luxuries but she couldn't.
She had lost her home, her love, and her world and had come into a place where she was looked on with suspicion by everyone, even by her only remaining family, her brother. Adjusting to this unfamiliar and unknown world of the novel had been difficult and she wondered if the characters that she had come to love had always been this cold and uncaring.
What was she supposed to do now?
Tresses the color of a budding light yellow rose that was tinted with pink highlights had been falling down her back as they framed her pale face. The sapphire that was morosely looking around had been beautiful but it was unable to hide the sadness that she felt whenever she took her surroundings in.
Why didn't anyone like her?
She had been living in this world for almost a month and had finally come to accept her reality and leave behind her past. This was her present now and she knew that she needed to live it well but even after everything she tried she couldn't help but fail.
The dislike and discomfort that had been prominent in the original Veraya's relation with her brother and Lady Rose, which was caused by her actions before Sophie took over her body had been making it unbelievingly difficult for her to make amends now.
She was surrounded by so many people but truly she felt more alone in this world with family than she had ever felt in her original world where she had been living as an orphan with her boyfriend.
Why did she have to come to this novel?
It would have been better if she would have just die-
No, she had once promised Caleb to live a happy life no matter where she was and she was going to fulfill that promise.
Gathering her wits she, therefore, took a deep breath in, and forcing her pink glossy lips to curve up she said, "I can do this! I will win her trust today and make them both believe that I have changed."
That was the only way to save herself from being killed by her brother. She needed to become a perfect angel in their eyes, besides she loved Camden and Rose together as a couple. If she kept all her sad emotions aside then she could feel herself be ecstatic about the fact that she could probably help them to get together faster and in a less chaotic manner than what it would have been in the original book.
But would that be alright?
She wanted to give it another thought but a maid announcing the arrival of Rose brought her attention away from her thoughts and to the beautiful female lead.
Rose Conwyn was what people would call a sophisticated yet sweet girl. She had been a noble and justly proved that fact with her etiquettes and actions making her father Marquis Conwyn very proud.
"Good evening Lady Rose, please take a seat," Veraya greeted her as she stood up from her seat and waited for her to settle first. Rose stared at her for a few seconds her gaze hiding her thoughts well but Veraya could sense that she had been uncomfortable by the way she spoke and treated her.
The tea was almost instantly served as Veraya had previously instructed her maids to do and the pastry, that she had learned from the kitchen staff was known to be Veraya's favorite had been presented along with them.
She had already been trying to win her heart and trust from the past three meetings that they had but not a single tactic had worked yet and she was hoping that food would be the way to bridge a friendship to her heart.
"I heard that you liked these pastries so I had them bring in some, especially for you, I hope you like them," she said with a friendly smile intact on her face. How couldn't she possibly smile when she was looking at the woman who had been the reason she had smiled countless nights and had been comforted in her home when she was reading her book alone trying to escape her misery?
In reality, she had to do everything that she could to control herself from bursting out in excitement like she had the first time she had met her. That had been such an embarrassing situation that Rose had left a minute after greeting her unable to take her overly friendly behavior.
The longest they stayed in each other's company had been for five minutes only.
"I appreciate your thinking of me and caring for my tastes but I am truly apologetic for I am on a diet right now and I won't be able to eat these," she said as she lightly sipped on the tea presented to her.
When she placed the cup back down Veraya noticed that the stain of the tea hadn't even reached the rim of the white china cup and she knew that Rose had merely put up an act to drink some tea when in reality she hadn't even let the liquid touch her lips.
She didn't want to let it show but the hurt flashed through her face at once making Rose look away. She had been poised so far and had been civil in her ways to not out rightly reject Veraya even though she didn't like her but Veraya could tell this was only making her more uncomfortable with every meeting that they had.
Did she really think that she would poison her food?
"I am sorry for the intrusion madam but Lord Amias is looking for Lady Conwyn." A guard came greeting the two ladies with a bow as he politely informed her of the news that he was bearing.
It had been the same pattern every time. Veraya would call Rose to tea and after Rose had greeted her and been in her presence for a few minutes a guard would come calling her on the command of her brother.
She knew that Camden did this because he didn't trust her with his lover but if he didn't give her even one single opportunity to prove herself then what was she to do?
"It was nice meeting you Lady Amias but I will have to take my leave then," she said standing up, it was immediately evident by the twinkle in her eye that she had been happy at being saved from the awkward situation, and with a gentle nod and another passing smile, she left.
Veraya sat there staring at her retreating figure with her shoulders feeling heavy and her mind thundering with the remembrance of all her failed instances.
"My lady…" A maid dared to call out as she saw Veraya stand up from the table and stare emptily at the garden path through which Rose had just left. She didn't have to say this but Veraya knew that the maid had been more afraid of Rose's well-being than Veraya's. She had heard rumors that the maids spread that they had all been afraid that Veraya was going to strike at Rose soon for all the short meetings and rude dismissals that she took on meeting her just like today.
"Don't follow me I want to be alone," Veraya said as she took in a deep breath to soothe the rumbling in her chest.
"But my Lady…" The maid started to say when Veraya turned to look at her and with a sharp glare she said, "Do as much as you are told to do."
Her tone had been defiant and dignified enough to make the lady cower in fear at the mistreatment that they had received before at the hands of the original owner of the body and shutting up immediately they all stayed in their place with their heads down asking for forgiveness as Veraya rushed away, deeper into the garden.
She knew that her behavior right now had made a dent in all the effort that she had put into getting the maids to realize her changed nature but she couldn't stay in their presence anymore. The judgmental gaze that she was hit with was causing her a headache.
The diamond-like tears that flowed down the clefts of her rosy cheek had been out of her control as she despaired at the ill fortune that had been bestowed upon her.
Why was this happening to her?
How much more did she have to suffer?
Was she really going to die?
But if she didn't mend her relationship with Camden and Rose then sooner than later she would meet the end that was destined for her in the actual story. Was it that hard to change the actual storyline?
Feeling her legs start to ache from the heels that she had been forced to wear in this world, she kicked her leg to open them when she felt herself misbalance and go crashing down in a heap. Her dress pooled around her unflatteringly while she sat there crying more pitifully than she had before. It seemed like nothing in this world was going her way.
"That is the first time I have ever seen a Lady fall," she heard someone chuckle and she immediately looked away to hide her face.
Shit!
Who was he?
She hadn't been able to look at his face but just by the tone, she could tell the person was someone from a higher status to have spoken to her in that manner. There had also been something in his voice that didn't settle well with her.
When she felt the man walk up to her and try to look at her face she immediately turned around to the other side to continue to hide her puffy eyes and red face that must be looking every shade of ugly with the way she had been bawling her eyes not too long ago.
"Are you trying to hide from me Lady Amias?" he asked, his voice still holding the mirth that made her blood boil in embarrassment and anger but defiant in not letting him see her face she simply shook her head.
"I don't know who you are Sir but if you could please leave me alone then I would be very grateful," She said trying to get this persistent stranger to leave. It didn't help much that he had been a jerk who was laughing at her state as it was.
"If I do not then what are you going to do?" he asked still not leaving but he had stopped trying to look at her face at least.
"Then I will have to call the guards on you, as you are already trespassing by strolling in my personal garden. Besides the fact that you had been laughing at a lady who had been grieving should be considered a crime by a noble man with morals and etiquette," she said trying to scare him but instead of the answer, she was hoping for she met with another one making her confused.
"You wouldn't have dared to say that if you knew who I was but since you provided me with some comic relief I will let you off this time," he said in an almost serious tone making Veraya feel the back of her neck tingle with Goosebumps.
Who was he to say that in her own dukedom?
She was second in position to her brother in the aspect of power and respect there then how could this unfamiliar man claim this?
When she heard the footsteps retreating she looked behind to see that the man had been nowhere in sight anymore. This odd experience had distracted her mind successfully but the feeling it left behind wasn't exactly a nice one.
Why did she feel like she had just set herself up for some future misery?
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