Chapter 2 Part 1. There Was No Place For Me

“My Lady, you’re so beautiful!”

Velvet exclaimed as she looked at me in the mirror. She was more excited about the party than I was, and so were the other maids.

Regardless of what she said, laughter broke out everywhere.

“The main character of today’s party will be Young Lady no matter what.”

“Of course she is. No one can compare with the Lady of Tiodurop.”

“Oh, yes. I’m sure they’ll be envious of our Young Lady.”

In the past I would have been enamored of the debutantes, but now I couldn’t even control my expression. I felt like a cow being taken to the slaughterhouse. Was it really a nightmare I was having? I blinked slowly and saw my reflection in the mirror. I had dressed myself up for the morning and looked more beautiful than ever, but my face did not look happy at all.

‘I think it was a dream. No, it must be a dream.’

Today was a special day, because the successor of the Tiodurop family, hidden behind a veil, would finally be revealed to the world. I had to look more perfect than ever. And yet I closed my eyes, unable to look at myself in the mirror. I tried to forget, but I couldn’t.

The more I tried to erase it, the more vivid the memory felt, as if it happened only a moment ago.

“Are you sure you’re alright, My Lady?”

Velvet looked at me carefully, as if she thought I was out of character. I felt like crying, but I held back my tears. I was very worried that the dream would become reality. I wanted to run away from everything if I could. I was afraid that I would feel the despair of having to fall into the abyss at the happiest moment of my life once again.

“Should I call a doctor?”

“Yes, I think I should take a break…”

I couldn’t finish what I was going to say and kept my lips tightly shut. If I ran away now, I would have to admit that the dream was real.

“No, I’m fine. “

“My Lady…”

“I’m really fine.”

I didn’t want to… I didn’t want to accept the fact that this terrible life was the future I was given. In the end, all I could do was shake my head and close my eyes tightly.

****

“You look beautiful today, Charlotte”, my father said, holding out his hand gently and asking to escort me. I looked blankly at my father’s big hand. The dream was too vivid and frightening for me to smile as brightly as I usually did. My father, who had always been so kind to me, had changed after the appearance of the real Charlotte.

My father pretended to be there for me, but it was only a pretense. It was my father, of all people, who had turned me into an impostor who pretended to be the daughter of the Duke of Tiodurop.

“Thank you, father,” I said, smiling politely at him and then quickly looked away. I wasn’t confident that I could keep my eyes on him.

“It seems as if it were only yesterday that I found you, so it’s strange to see you so big, and I’m afraid now that after your debut the capital will be at your mercy. I have a headache just thinking how many suitors will be dazzled by you.”

“Charlotte?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I haven’t been feeling very well since this morning.”

I smiled awkwardly and averted my eyes.

“Are you unwell? Where are you going? If you had told me earlier, I would have called a doctor……… No, no. You should see a doctor now.”

“No, it’s not that bad. And there’s an important moment coming soon.”

I shook my head hastily and took a step back.

“If you insist, then so be it. But if you feel any worse, you must tell me at once. Nothing could be more important than you.”

“Yes, of course.”

In my normal life, I would have felt good about my father’s concern. Now I have only a forced smile.

“Come on, Charlotte.”

“Yes, Father.”

My father called me with a warm smile, and didn’t have any idea how I felt. I took a step to catch up with my father’s pace. From here, I could see the party hall on the first floor through the glass walls. Guests were already crowded at the party venue, where the glamorous chandeliers sparkled.

“Isn’t it beautiful?”

“It’s so beautiful…” I murmured as usual.

I had always dreamed of a dazzling party place, but the contradiction made me feel miserable now.

“This is just the beginning,” he said, “because soon all this will be yours.”

My father grasped my hand firmly.

“Shall we?”

“Of course.”

“You’re my only daughter, Charlotte. You deserve everything. You’ll do fine. You always have and you always will. You’ve never let me down before.”

My father was right, I’ve always been a good daughter.