Chapter 23: Chapter 23

Trisya was still not excited to meet her parents this morning. However, her stomach couldn't take any more hunger. She couldn't ignore her meal again this time. And as soon as she arrived at the dining table, her mother greeted her with a friendly smile.

"Did you rest well, my daughter?"

"Yes, Mom. Where's Daddy? Are he still in the room?"

"Maybe your father will be here soon. Anyway, after this, I'd like to introduce someone to you. After this, we'll go straight to the living room!"

Trisya raised her eyebrows. She was quite curious about who her mother would introduce her to.

'I hope it's not a new character that doesn't exist in the novel, like Viscount Evan. It's very confusing if there are too many new characters whose characters I can't guess,' Trisya thought.

Moments later, the Duke joined the table. He smiled warmly at his youngest daughter. "You slept well, didn't you, Trisya? Your personal maid said last night that you were so tired that you couldn't join us for dinner."

"Ah, yes, Dad. Last night I wanted to rest immediately because I was so tired. But now I'm fine," Trisya replied.

Duke Gerald smiled at his daughter's words. "Very well. Now that we're all together, we'd better get something to eat. So that after this we can continue our respective activities." The Duchess and Trisya nodded. Then, the Duke led the breakfast.

After breakfast, Trisya followed her mother to the living room. Trisya raised her eyebrows when she saw a girl with light hair standing behind her. Trisya felt unfamiliar with the girl, even when she had turned her head towards Trisya.

"Good morning, Ma'am, Lady," the girl greeted. Trisya nodded, and returned the girl's greeting briefly.

"All right, Trisya. She is the one I would like to introduce you to. Since you'll be celebrating your debut party soon, and that means you'll be attending more royal lady events, I think you need a new maid who also comes from a noble family," said the Duchess.

Instantly, Trisya's brain went blank. She seemed to know this scene from the novel. Yes. She remembered that Trisya had a new maid when she was almost eighteen years old. However, Trisya did not expect it to happen this soon.

And she was...

"She is Adriana Morsche. The only daughter of Baron Ren Morsche. You know the Morsche family, right?" said the Duchess.

Trisya was even more confused. However, after a few seconds, Trisya finally rounded her eyes. She remembered! Adriana - she was Lady Rania's older cousin, who hated Lady Rania because the title of Count that should be passed on to her father who was the firstborn, instead fell into the hands of Count Rexer - Lady Rania's father.

"But, Mom, what's the point? Isn't Layla enough? I even have a few other maids around me. Why would you find me a new maid?" Trisya wondered.

Trisya didn't fully know how much influence Adriana had in her life. However, considering that the girl has a hatred for the main female character, shouldn't Trisya avoid her?

"Just like I said, Trisya. Soon you'll have many invitations to attend noble events, including tea parties. You need a maid who can be truly appropriate for you to go to such events," said the Duchess.

"I'm sorry, Layla. It's not that I doubt your devotion. It's just that you've been here since you were a child, and you don't come from a noble family like Adriana. So, perhaps Adriana would be better trained to attend such events. You understand, right?"

"But, Madam, does that mean I cannot be Lady Trisya's personal maid anymore? But-"

"Mom, I want Layla to stay by my side," Trisya snapped.

"Are you sure? Actually, perhaps Adriana alone will be enough for you. Layla can be a regular maid, or switch to being a maid for other parts of the house if she wants," said the Duchess.

"No, no. I'm already close to Layla, and I don't want to switch maids just like that," Trisya refused.

After all, she wanted to keep Layla by her side. 'Because as far as I know, she's the only one who is truly sincere and by my side until the end besides Mom and Dad,' she continued silently.

The Duchess let out a long sigh, then rubbed Trisya's shoulder. "It's fine if that's what you want. But, you still cannot refuse Adriana's nomination to be your maid. That means, you will have two personal maids nearby from now on."

Trisya nodded. 'Alright. That's better at least. After all, I now have my own consciousness, and it won't be as easy for Adriana to instigate like Trisya in the novel,' Trisya thought.

"Thank you, Lady. Thank you for accepting me as your personal maid. From now on, I will only obey and serve you. I will not disappoint you," said Adriana.

Not wanting to make enemies, Trisya tried to force a smile on Adriana. "Please cooperate, Adriana. And even though you come from a noble family, while Layla does not, as long as you both become my personal maids, that means you have the same status in my eyes."

"Yes, I understand, Lady," Adriana replied.

***

Day after day passed. In one month, Trisya will turn eighteen years old. The maids and bodyguards had also begun preparing invitations and other necessities.

In the novel, Trisya's debut party would be held in the main hall of the Lovatta Family residence, with the royal family in attendance - at Trisya's insistence that the Duke invite them.

And right now, Trisya was busy with the brush and canvas in front of her. She has been painting in the back garden of her family's castle since breakfast ended a few hours ago.

"Lady, I heard that the royal family is coming to your debut party next month. Did you know that?" Adriana asked excitedly.

"Yes, I did," Trisya replied lazily.

Really, this time she hadn't asked the Duke to invite the royal family at all. However, a few days ago she heard from the maids that the Duke had invited the royal family, even though Trisya had never asked.

As always, fate played out without Trisya's control. Indeed, many things have changed. But Trisya is still unable to control fate even though she knows what should happen in the future and tries to anticipate it.

"Lady! Lady Trisya!" Trisya was so startled that she accidentally missed her brush - making a long scribble on her canvas.

"Layla, what's wrong with you? Why are you making so much noise? Don't you know that your shouting is ruining my painting?" Trisya was annoyed.

She had poured several hours into the painting. However, when she was just finishing it, Layla messed it up.

"I- I'm sorry, Lady. But I don't have any more time." Layla seemed to be still catching her breath.

"Layla, what's wrong? Did something go wrong inside?" asked Adriana.

Layla shook her head, then nodded.

"Speak clearly, Layla!" exclaimed Adriana.

"It- it's... there's His Majesty coming, Lady," Layla said.

Layla furrowed her brows not understanding. "Whose highness?"

"Y- His Highness Prince T-"

"Good morning, Lady Trisya!"

Trisya immediately jumped up from her chair, and reflexively saluted the man who had just arrived. A few seconds later, Trisya straightened her body and looked at the man lazily.

"What's the need for Your Highness to be here?" asked Trisya curtly.

Not long after, her brother - Darian - also appeared to them.

"It's been a long time since I've seen you. How are you, my beloved sister?" said Darian while taking Trisya into his arms.

"It's your fault. You never took the time to meet your beloved sister," Trisya quipped, making Darian chuckle after releasing his hug to his sister.

"Look, you're going to be an adult soon. In just one month, you will celebrate your debut party, which means you will enter adulthood, Trisya," said Darian.

"Yeah yeah yeah, I know. So what's wrong with you and Your Highness suddenly coming here, without any prior notice?" snapped Trisya.

Darian looked at Prince Terry, before refocusing on his sister. "Do you remember my promise the other day?"

"Which promise?"

"About I promising to take you on a tour of the palace. Today, I will fulfill that promise. We came here to take you to the palace."

Trisya was wide-eyed. Had she not heard wrongly? She could still consider it normal if only her brother came. But why did Darian come with Prince Terry?

"So, can we leave now?" asked Prince Terry, breaking the silence.

Layla looked at Trisya, waiting for her lady to make a decision before she finally started packing.

"I hope you won't disappoint His Highness! He came all the way here to pick you up," Darian whispered.

"But I didn't ask!" protested Trisya.

Darian did not respond again. However, from his gaze, he seemed to be emphasizing to Trisya not to do anything. Having no other choice, Trisya finally nodded her head.

"Alright. Layla, can you help me pack?" Trisya said.

"Of course, Lady," Layla replied, then immediately left the back garden - heading to Trisya's room to get some things that Trisya might need later. Meanwhile, Adriana ordered her subordinate maids to clean up Trisya's painting tools.

Trisya caught Prince Terry staring at her painting. However, Trisya tried to ignore it.

"It turns out that Lady has quite a high taste in art," Prince Terry said.

Instead of being happy, Trisya was reminded of the scribbles that were so disturbing because of Layla's shout when announcing Prince Terry's arrival earlier.

"Don't mock me, Your Highness! And just so you know, my painting wouldn't have become such a mess if it wasn't for Your Highness!" Trisya was annoyed. Rather than blaming Layla, Trisya happily chose to put all the blame on Prince Terry.

Trisya's words made the maids and guards look down in confusion. Meanwhile, Darian was ready to reprimand his sister, but Prince Terry's voice cut him off first.

"Can't you tell the difference between praise and mockery, Lady?" asked Prince Terry.

"Of course I can. It's just that somehow when you say it, it feels more like a taunt than a compliment," Trisya retorted which made the maids and the others even more worried.

"Alright. This time, let's forget Lady Trisya's words! Can we leave immediately? Darian, you've already said goodbye to your parents, right?"

"I have, Your Majesty," Darian replied.

Trisya was still looking at Prince Terry fiercely, while the man still had a flat face. Prince Terry walked ahead of Darian and Trisya. Meanwhile, Darian immediately took his sister's hand to follow Prince Terry.