n

n

nThe second week had passed by. The list of guests is finally done, thank goodness, without any more changes. The invitations that we had ordered for customization had come as well, so I spent the next few days sifting through them and sending them all to their respective recipients.

nThen for the dress. Adele had spent most of her time with me, asking for more details regarding the design. She had also added her own suggestions about the materials to be used. I told her she can do whatever she wants, as long as it comes out fine. After all that jazz, she and her team would now focus on creating it.

nApparently, she also closed her services for a while because she would focus on the making of my dress. I was surprised! Adele is the most prestigious designer in all of Rosenthal. Her, rejecting orders just like that, must mean that the money my father paid her is enough for her to confidently do that.

nMoreover, my brother Nathan and my dad's suit will also be done with Adele and her team.. So aside from the money for my dress, dad had paid for theirs too. My dad is rich y'all!

n

"Freedom!

" I voiced out as I lounged around the garden for the first time in the last two weeks.

nI have been so busy that I have missed loitering around doing nothing. I did not know that I like being lazy until now. But eh, I like what I have been doing so far anyway.

n

"Milady, you have a dance lesson schedule for later,

" Mari then debunked me.

nOf course, I truly have no time to spend on leisure and Mari just reminded me of that.

n

"Dance lesson…

" I mumbled and silently groaned.

nIs this the start of RIP to my feet? I would bet everything that it wouldn't just be a simple dance like just swaying your body side to side, and it sure as hell won't be twerking.

nIs twerking simple? It amazes me how dancers shake their wiggly bits like that. What if I started twerking on the dance floor though? That would be hilarious!

nI'm sure that the whole nobility would find it preposterous and vulgar, and would definitely put me in a stake.

n

"Fufufufufu~

"

nMy maids all looked at me, wondering why I just started giggling all of a sudden. Man, if they knew what goes on in my head, what would they think of me?

nErin refilled my tea as I gazed at the horizon, feeling peaceful. No matter how many times I have seen this scenery, it never ceases to amaze me. It's just, this all feels so surreal. When was the very first time I had come to this world? It felt like a dream by then and I was very incredulous from all that was happening.

nI mean, who would know that they would get thrown into another world while they were sleeping, right? That stuff only happens in books and movies, it's not supposed to be real! It's fictional! A product of a pure fantasy… And here I am, experiencing it firsthand.

nThis just all seems so... unreal to me. I might not say it out loud or think of it, but deep inside, I had these thoughts that I might wake up one day and find myself back in my bed in the real world, and discover that these were all just a dream. What would I react by then?

nHeh~ Am I being too sentimental now? But I can't help it. What if this wasn't real? What if I'm just having such a vivid long dream?

n'Oh, what the heck! Why am I wasting my precious time thinking nonsensical stuff?'

n

"Milady, Countess Miller had arrived,

" Freesia announced, waking me up from my reverie.

nMy head turned to her. Right, Countess Miller is not just my etiquette mentor, but also my dance teacher. Today was the first day of my lessons with her, and I was a little excited because I have not seen her for quite a while.

n

"Okay,

" I uttered and stood up from my chair.

n'Time to work!'

n-----------------**

nMy feet… My feet are dying. No, I am dying!

n

"Ugh,

" I grumbled and launched myself on the sofa, feeling exhausted as hell.

nImagine, this was just the first day of the dance session and I already want to bail out. Who wouldn't? Not one single person had told me that I have to memorize three different dances!

nThe one for the waltz, and not just any waltz from my world, it's the Rosenthal way which is very difficult to master! The next one is the birthday dance or the initiation dance for the ladies who are celebrating it. It's compulsory to learn because, in the middle of the event, ladies around my age who are having their debut as well would dance it.

nThen the last was the most basic out there. It's also a waltz but was simpler than the first one I had mentioned. It also happened that it was my most favorite dance out of all the three, mainly because it's the easiest. Oh, and by the way, Countess Miller also told me that she would teach me Tango as well.

nSo yes, I am dying here.

nI heard someone enter the drawing-room but I was too tired to look at who it was. It's probably one of my maids…

n

"Nadia.

"

nNope, it's my brother Nathan.

nI raised myself from the sofa and turned to him. It was not only me who had been busy as well. My brother was training new recruits and every time he was free, I wasn't. So we had not talked or seen each other these two weeks either.

n

"Brother!

" I instantly called out to him and beamed.

n'Oh! I miss this handsome face! How did I go on for two weeks without my daily dose of eye candy?'

n

"I heard you had your dance lessons today,

" he mentioned and sat down on the opposite side of me.

n

"Yes, I had,

" I answered and laughed lightly but it sounded painful to my ears.

nMy feet are still sore. I'd rather be numb right now than suffer from it any longer. Countess Miller did not give me mercy at all.

n'She was as strict as ever…'

nAfter my response, Nathaniel had not spoken again so we sat there in silence. I was intrigued by the reason that he came here and was waiting for it, but he was still completely quiet. I stared at him, he appeared as if he wanted to say something but was a little indecisive.

n'Fine, brother. I will put you out of your misery.'

n

"So, did something happen?

" I inquired and looked at him expectantly.

nNathan's eyes strayed everywhere in the room except for me. It got me even more curious now.

n

"Do you… I mean-- about your escort…

" Nathan muttered in a low voice.

nI almost did not catch it for how faint it was but when I did hear it, I was a little confused.

n'Escort? What escort?'

nI don't want to ask him that because he might get even more embarrassed, so I tried to plunder my brain with the meaning of it.

n'Escort… escort--Ah!'

nMy head snapped up to him again who was still not looking straight at me.

n'He meant the birthday party! A partner or whatever that is!'

nSlowly, a smile started to show on my face until it became a full-blown grin.

nNathan wanted to know who I wanted to pick as my first dance and the person I would be with as I descend the stairs… Does he want to volunteer but was too shy to say it directly?

n'Darn it, he really is cute!'

n

"Ahh...

" I uttered in nonchalance, but deep inside, I was secretly screaming.

n

"So…

" he added.

nI did my best to suppress the grin I was spilling,

"Well, it's not yet decided. So as of now, I still don't have one,

" I answered him.

nNathan then chose that moment to finally look at me.

n

"Do you have anyone in mind?

" he asked, looking alert all of a sudden.

n'Hehe~ This makes me want to tease him…'

n

"Hmm…

" I hummed and acted as if I was thinking real hard with my eyes looking up at the ceiling.

nIn my peripheral vision, Nathan was intensely waiting for my answer. He looked so serious that I almost wanted to burst out in laughter.

n'Just look at this guy! He truly wants me to say his name but he is not being honest at all!'

n

"Uhh… Prince Ezekiel maybe?

" I declared as a joke--

"You know because it's a girl's dream to be with a prince…

" I trailed off when I saw his expression suddenly turning sour as soon as I said that.

n'Oh my, oh my!'

n

"Right… a prince. Of course,

" Nathan remarked and leaned back on the couch as if he was defeated.

nI really want to laugh now. So I did…

nI laughed out loud, scaring Nathan in the process, and laughed, even more, when I saw his epic face. I feel so bad for fooling him but he was seriously adorable, so I wasn't guilty at all! It was worth it!

nI wiped away the imaginary tears in my eyes while still giggling, all the while Nathan was staring at me as if he was mystified.

n

"What's funny?

" he inquired with knotted brows.

n'You.' was my answer but I held back. He might get upset.

n

"Don't worry brother. Of course, my escort would only be you and dad. No one else,

" I stated and gave him a sweet smile.

nNathan's eyes widened a bit.

n

"Me and dad… oh… That's understandable, I guess,

" he noted and nodded slowly.

n'What? Do you want it to be you? Don't be selfish, brother!'

nOf course, that's only a joke.

nI looked at his expression again. It had mellowed down without the trace of that bitterness from earlier. He also appeared quite happy as well, which made my smile even brighter.

n'He's so happy… so cute.'

nWho has the most adorable brother out there, except for me?

n