บท 30: Good Luck, My Enemy!!
"You have cut your hair?" Oriana frowned as she looked at Olivia. "Have I not told you to.."
"I was busy with Abi. the girl misses you." Oriana gritted her teeth. Her eyes narrowed with a warning in them.
"Stop using her as your shield, Olivia. She is a child." there was censure in her voice.
"I will follow your orders and meet the second prince tomorrow. As long as you prepare a gift for Abi and give it to her." Oriana frowned. She stared at her sister intimidatingly, but Olivia did not cover.
She did not bow her head or shivered in fear. Something had changed in her sister? But how and why? How could a person change so drastically overnight?
"Consider it done. Agatha.." the maid came forward and nodded when Olivia sneered.
"Personally, sister. You will give the gift to Abi yourself." Oriana paused. Even Agatha looked at Olivia with a stunned gaze.
"Foolish girl, are you challenging your grace?" Agatha's voice rose and she raised her hand, ready to slap Olivia if she did not lower her head.
"Why?" Oriana stood closer with a perplexed look. "Why are you rebelling now, Olivia? You have lived a good life here. I am so disappointed in you." Olivia looked at her sister.
Her shoulders moved slightly and her breath quickened.
"When I was young, you were there for me like my mother, sister. I want to be there for Abi. she is a child, she did not understand politics. She pine for your love. As long as you give it to her, I would do anything for you." her voice was teary and pleading. Oriana tilted her head and stared at the eyes brimming with tears.
"Anything!" Olivia paused. But she nodded without hesitation.
"Alright, bring my best dress for my sister and prepare a gift for my daughter. We will have lunch together and then my sister will leave for the palace right then?" Oriana waved her hands. Agatha glared at Olivia for her bold words but she could only bow her head and left.
"Should I pack my belongings?" Olivia asked carefully, making Oriana chuckle.
"You still have some? I heard that you bargained your coins and brought a few rations for the remaining knights." Olivia froze on the spot. She had been discreet about it. But..
"Do not concern yourself. Even if you have feelings for those knights, they have a different future from you, Olivia." Oriana dismissed the thoughts. "But if you continue to have feelings for him, his future might change because of you. Then… would he accept you or hate you?" Olivia frowned as she did not understand what Oriana was speaking about.
"Playing dumb now?" Oriana laughed. "Forget it! It is nice that you do not know. My maids would arrange your luggage. Remember Olivia, you are not a maid there. But you could be the future royalty. So behave like one. You have to win this competition." Olivia nodded this time.
Even she had her goals for this trip. The maids soon took her. After a long time, someone helped her in washing. They used the scented flowers and oil on her body.
Then she was given a beautiful dress. She was sitting in front of a large mirror. Two maids helped her with her hair and make-up. She looked beautiful to the point that many could not recognize her.
The whole process felt mundane to Olivia. There was no thrill in her eyes. No happiness on her face. Her expressions were so cold that the maids exchanged glances.
"We are done, my lady." Olivia nodded in a mechanical way and went to meet Oriana.
Orina was cutting the flowers and arranging them in a bouquet. Her movements were precise as if she had always lived as a noble woman. She was humming a tune from the latest theatre she had seen.
When she saw Olivia, she paused. Walking closer to her, Oriana circles Olivia as if she was assessing her goods.
"Hmm, you look very presentable now. Smile a bit more." Olivia stretched her smile only for Oriana to frown. She walked closer and pulled the dress a bit lower. A good amount of her skin showed now.
"Hmm, as long as he would be busy staring at your cleavage, he would not notice your stiff smile. Come on, let's get over with your lunch game so that we can leave for the new show on time." Oriana clapped her hands and two maids brought a packed gift.
Oriana stared at the small gift. This was the only thing different from the past. Even though it might mean nothing, it showed that she had changed a bit of her life.
How pathetic! Damon still left to be tormented and she was still leaving for the palace, leaving the kids alone, yet she felt she had made a change! Olivia wanted to laugh.
"What is inside it?" Oriana frowned. She tilted her head and sighed.
"I do not know. Olivia, do you think being a duchess is easy? I have checked the weekly budget in the morning, dealt with you and Damon in the noon. Then I checked the rations taken away. Supervised our lunch and snacks sent to your grace and now I am arranging flowers.
I will leave for the theater. Do you think I can rest? Or you want me to go and personally choose the gift too?" The look of mockery on her face made Olivia sigh.
"Where are your kids in your list of tasks? You might not go personally but you could have decided on the gift and ordered it." Oriana frowned and walked away. She did not want to deal with Olivia's nagging.
Abi was chatting with her brother when Oriana entered the room. She was stunned for a second before jumping on her feet.
"Mother!" her eyes glittered despite the shock on her face.
Oriana paused as she stared at those innocent glittering eyes. Something clenched her heart in her chest.
"How have you been, Abigail? I heard you were not feeling well?"
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