After that night, Francheska finally enters a new vision that expands her world into a different view, despite unlocking possibilities– Francheska feels small and limited.
Spacing out, she stared at the ornamented ceiling of her room, Francheska was still lying down on her bed. Daydreaming– rather still dreaming about her magical debut that happened, being in a novel sure knows how to make dreams into reality.
Though her circumstances were awful, these were the moments that she cherished the most.
Remembering the night, also flashed the image of the two main characters. In her opinion, they were made for each other, a couple created for each other– literally.
Even so, being able to see it in real-time was so romantic… but being inside the body of a villainess spoiled the genre for her.
Francheska felt entirely different, she was angered, humiliated, and ashamed of what they displayed on the dance floor. She already knew how important dancing is from her dance teacher, even in her past life if the audience would just see how sloppy one would dance they would be brutal to the performer– there was no immunity to criticism, and she too got those. But to her, the female lead stepped on his shoes multiple times, her balance was off a lot– still, the crowd kept looking… Was her judgment wrong? Did being a perfect performer become tasteless for them– boring, and redundant?
Either way, it leaves a great impact on Francheska, her title of being a crown princess is slowly starting to be at stake– a hunch she senses from what she observed on that night's crowd, thankfully nobody saw her breaking down on that floor and got to keep her status, for now.
'life was hard in my previous life, but shits are harder around here– I'm still young and they expect me to act mature!?' Francheska then grabbed a pillow to bury her face and muffled her frustrated scream.
Francheska even remembers the slap the duchess gave to her on the balcony, which made her scream more on her pillow.
"How fucking dare she even say that to me!? Keep him company…? What the fuck am I… his guardian!?" Francheska angrily said to the pillow and decided to sit on her bed.
Supporting the pillow with her knees to make the pillow stand up, Francheska imagined the pillow was the duchess.
"If I wasn't being sentimental at that time, and was in the right headspace I would have returned the slap to her like this–" motioning her hand and slapping the pillow hard.
But she knows the meaning behind the duchess's slap on her, it was to straighten her mind– act as a proper debutante and give herself exposure.
‘...still, that does not justify anything–!’ Throwing the pillow across the room, Francheska's face planted herself on the mattress and let out another muffled scream.
Still, she was grateful that the female lead and her did not cross paths, after all– Francheska was not in the right headspace.
That was, for now, all she could do, for all she knew what even a fifteen-year-old can do in this kind of life!?
A knock was heard and a familiar voice chimed in, "Your Highness, it is time for your breakfast."
'Breakfast that's a start,' Francheska then prompted herself up, fixing her bed hair and making her way to the door for the servants to come in.
Like any other of her repetitive mornings, she went on but there sure was unusual– the amount of letters she received was so numerous that Francheska was stunned. She cannot read them in one day, but for her, these were the fruition of her successful night.
Scanning, in the corner of her eye a long-awaited letter was finally here. Grabbing the letter out for Francheska to open to read, she was quite surprised it did not contain much… rather she was suggested that lord William would appear in one of the parties that would soon occur three weeks from now. Thankfully it seems that investigations are naught for the letter also contains another paper that contains details for her to prepare, where to buy, and where it would be held.
‘I guess I would just have to trust the deduction of my memories from last night's interactions.’ Closing her eyes, as she lifted a finger to her chin thinking of yesterday's interactions. Francheska then ordered her servants for the letters to be prepared at her desk, and helped her organize some of the letters of its order by its seal.
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It took three days for Francheska and her servants to finally know whose party she would be showing. holding the letter at hand, her eyes lingered on the title of the tea party– the veil of sincerity.
‘Interesting, so this party requires a mask and it would be handed to them when they arrive…’ Francheska smirks to herself, as she puts down the letter on her desk.
“Shelly, can you help me organize my schedule? There is a party I want to attend, and I wanna prepare as much. This will be my first appearance at a party.” Francheska enthusiastically said.
Upon hearing the words from Her Highness, Shelly could not hide her happy expression without any hesitation she gladly accepted. Her trusted maid was glad to know that her highness had realized her vast accessibility to happiness, that despite cutting ties with the lad, and with a new rumor of the crown prince's new interest, she’s fine on her own– although Shelly has slight doubts about that. In her eyes, it was progress and a manifestation of change.
The rest of the day was them planning on what days they should go to such places– who, how, what, and when is the right day to reach out to the designers and owners of such boutiques lord William wrote in his letter.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Francheska cherishes the servants under her, although she has a hard time remembering both their faces and names– the familiarity was enough for her to know them. Every time Francheska tried to converse with them, it was difficult at first because of the differences in their status– especially with formalities, it was the boundary that gave Francheska a hard time forming a connection. At first, she wanted them to call her informally, but after much thought– it was a bad decision. From the outside perspective, if anyone knew about this information it would be about insubordination. Which she could not help but agree with, and from her past life– it took centuries for it to be changed.
For now, harboring sources is her initial plan, and that is joining the party that William would be in.
Even so, Francheska still tries to communicate with them, convincing them that she has no one to talk to in the mansion and that letters are not enough for interaction. Some servants are willing to share their life stories with her, but it is enough for Francheska to know how big this ‘world’ can be, and with their information, she has ideas to win the favor of the people.
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Three weeks was enough for Francheska to prepare for the party, of course from the help of her servants it took less than three weeks for everything to be in place, all that was left was for her to be at the party, So there she was sitting on the carriage, making her way to the party.
This was her first time going out on her own, her trusted maid was not there although her knight was there riding his horse alongside the carriage– it's not like he was there to nag Francheska about her behavior, unlike her maid. His role is going to stand on the corner and just observe the suspicious people.
After the debut, Francheska never really bothered asking Liam about his thoughts– she wanted to of course for the gossip. However, his stoic face just makes her push the thought back to her mind, Francheska also convinced herself that there was no point in being friendly with a personality like his– a character like him is already set for one thing only– his unrequited love for the female lead.
Francheska sucked a breath through her teeth, hissing out of pain as she felt it. Still staring at her knight through the carriage glass, Francheska could not help but feel sorry for her knight.
‘I always feel bad for the second leads, they are the green flag yet not the chosen one…’ Francheska heavily sighed.
As the afternoon glow hit the knights, contrasting the features of his being. Francheska finds it fascinating that in this fictional world, the majority of the important people are attractive, being sculpted by a professional illustrator surely is a blessing that for her it was hard to describe such a detailed character.
‘An imagination that came alive.’ Francheska went through her mind as she admired him in her carriage. The knight seemed to notice Francheska’s stare that he turned his attention to her, and she could only avert it by swiftly closing the covers.
It took them another hour to finally reach the designated venue. As the doors of the carriage opened, the knight was there before her making sure of her steps to the ground. Thanking her knight they proceeded to the line that greeted them. They gave the invitation as required and just like what the letter wrote– masks were handed out for them to wear.
Passing through the hall, Francheska called out to her knight, “Kni– Pardon me, Sir Salvia, can you enjoy the party with me?”
“Your Highness, I’m afraid I cannot do that my top priority is your safety. So I won't be enjoying this party.” the knight bluntly said.
“Sir we traveled so long and prepared so much, surely you do not intend to savor everything…” Francheska with her childish and begging tone tried to melt the wall her knight raised around him.
“It is best for Her Highness alone to savor and enjoy the party, with the peace of mind of me protecting you.” Another firm answered from the knight.
Rolling her eyes, Francheska gave up the idea but she still suggested enjoying at least the food and the atmosphere.
Both of them stood still in a spacious place where there were no crowds, “Your Highness, I will be here.” the knight said.
“Alright sir salvia, I hope you do not mistake me for someone else.” Francheska smugly said as she pointed to her mask where everyone wore the same design. The knight had a blank expression but it was clear in his eyes that a mask was enough to hide her highness.
‘For now, finding lord William in this party is the vital part… Now where should I start?’ Looking around, just a moment ago she said that important characters were easily depicted, but today’s party seemed to take her words back. Noble people around her dressed so elegantly that Francheska didn't know how to differentiate who was who– perhaps it was the effectiveness of the masks.
“I expect nothing less from the genius lady of the empire.” A familiar voice spoke beside her.
“I have enough resources,” Francheska replied back
“How about we go on a walk in the garden?” William suggested with his palm up hovering for Francheska to take.
Putting her hand over his, she nodded in agreement. Taking a final glance at her knight, the two of them let the crowd swallow their whole existence.
Through the hallways, there were still people but as they passed through the door few people were around, which was still good at least they were not alone.
William was looking someplace quiet, and when he spotted an empty bench, he swiftly let them sit comfortably.
“You high—” William did not dare continue when a few couples were walking past them “Lady rose…?” With his unsure tone, he raised his covered eyebrow from his mask, and thankfully Francheska caught his question and agreed to be called for the conversation.
“In these three weeks, I had nothing on my mind but your proposal… and I accept—”
“lord cloud…?” William in turn nodded in agreement and Francheska continued, “Are you sure? I mean did you even think thoroughly— especially between our families—”
“--three weeks was enough” William cut her off, “after the announcement of your new title my parents changed their minds about pairing us up, that was why I sent no letters.”
William then went quiet as another couple walked past them, and Francheska could only watch them make their distance.
“Then why agree? Your house will not benefit anything from me—” Francheska could not dare continue when William looked her in the eyes.
The orange glow of the lights coming from the party was enough to contrast William’s seriousness of their matter. He looked intimidating, something tells Francheska that the reason was personal.
Francheska can see his determination about ‘something’-- still, she wants confirmation.
“You’re rich, charismatic, handsome, and smart, you have everything. If you are using me for personal reasons, I must remind you lord Wil– lord cloud that in the future, you have no right to blame me for your downfall.” Francheska sternly said.
“I will certainly not blame you, Lady Rose. It is indeed for personal reasons but it is much more directed to the crown prince— he took something precious from me.” William spoke honestly to her.
‘shit’ Francheska cursed to herself, it was obvious what he was referring to.
Standing up from the bench, Francheska smiled.
“That is marvelous to hear lord cloud, I hope you put your regrets to yourself alone for I won’t be there to carry them with you. I have my reasons too, so the results of every shenanigans we do, are ours alone to deal with. I hope that is clear to you.” letting out a hand, Francheska wants to seal their deal with a handshake.
William then stood from his seat and eyed her hand. Francheska realized that skinships were prohibited.
Grabbing a ribbon at the hem of her dress, she tied it to a bow and gave the other edge to William for him to pull.
“This is the evidence of our deal, that we both agreed.” After Francheska said that, William nodded in agreement.
He was still confused about how it should go, and Francheska slowly started pulling her end William got it and pulled on his end too, unraveling the tie Francheska made.
Francheska then let go of her end of the ribbon, “lord cloud, you keep the ribbon. So it will remind you of our deal.” William then pocketed the ribbon and nodded towards Francheska.
“I’ll be on my way then, see you around.” Francheska waved goodbye.
“You’re not heading home?” He asked
“No, I will spend the rest of my hours here– have fun and talk to people.”
“Personal reasons?” he asked another.
“Personal reasons.” Francheska firmly answered.
“Alright, have fun,” William said his final words for the night and made his way.
Making her way back to the party. Francheska was glad to have the Cosimo son in with her plan, it was progress nonetheless and his having personal reasons was the driving force that indirectly helped her.
‘you sure are a tough opponent, Josephine, you’re slowly converting my potential pawns to yours.’