Villainess' Second Chance

CHAPTER TWO

I met one of the male leads in the novel. However, it's weird... Eloise wasn't supposed to met him until few years, when she finally mets Thalia.

Augustus glared at me with a sword in his hands and asked, "Who are you?"

I jolted, and glanced at the sharp edge of the sword. A flashback from my execution keeps appearing in my mind. I assume I developed some kind of fear that emanates from my first death experience as Eloise. It appears that I now feel uneasy towards swords. Was it probably because they stabbed me multiple times mercilessly?

"I-....I," Fuck, I couldn't even construct my sentence properly.

The sword makes me nervous, but I couldn't take my eyes off of it. I feel like one wrong move and he'll stab me right here.

"I'm Eloise Ophelia, the duke's daughter,"

There's a silence between us

Why the hell did I say my name in front of him!? Of course he knows me, I am quite well known in the whole empire, and not in the good way! Damn it.

"Eloise? You're that girl?"

See? I am right.

Stupid, Eloise.

"I believe I overheard your name once before. One of the maids talking about how sick your demeanor is when I was on break."

Heh, what's new. The maids in this state were the source of the rumors that have been spread regarding myself before.

I am surprised though. He heard my name once and still remembers it. I hardly could even remember everyone's name.

However, I did not foresee Augustus appearing here. Why is he even in the ducal's garden?

Was he following me? Was he here before me? Or is this meeting just a coincidence, I suppose?

"It is indeed true that my behavior seemed to be problematic he before, and that's the reason individuals from this state are unwilling to serve me, well whatever you heard concerning myself, I do not really particularly care about it." I uttered, "But I did not expect you to bring up such topic to someone you just met knowing the fact that you know me as the Duke's daughter."

He simply stares intently at me; I could not really determine exactly what he was contemplating from his gaze. He then bow his head, "I apologize for my rudeness, madame."

I simply rolled my eyes. I believe it is time for me to leave as I've nothing further to add. I still have another session with my new educator to attend.

"Madame, wait,"

Now what?

I turned around, waiting for him to say what was on his mind before I went back inside.

"Are you truly the girl the rumour claims you seem to be?"

"What an odd thing to ask. However, it depends upon the way you perceive me through your perspective," I said. "Let me ask you this, Mr Augustus, now that you've met me, did I give you a bad impression? Did I insult you and tortured you? Was I tyrant to you? Did I ask you to be my slave?"

He simply didn't replied. Instead, he looks at me. Unable to read his expression, I left him immediately.

He apologize for being rude yet continued to ask such rude and ridiculous question.

Although it bothers me a little if I did gave him a bad first impression.

I wasted enough time. I have to meet my new tutor, the one that the duke hired for me for the last time. I seemed to have five educators in total and all of them drifted away because they could not even handle my temperament, throwing temper tantrums all of the time.

After dressing, I went to the room where I attend my lecture. No one's there yet so I stayed there for a while and reading some philosophical books as I waited.

Veronica opened the door, "Lady Eloise, your instructor is here," she informed.

I closed the book and put it on the table. "Please allow her in."

"Yes, dear lady."

I put the book aside and stood up to formally greet her.

A lady soon enter the room, looking pale as she saw me. She looks scared. Did my bad attitude reached to her?

"I-It's great meeting you, lady Eloise." She carefully bows down as she approaches, visibly uncomfortable and apprehensive as she stutters.

"It's lovely to actually meet you in person as my new educator," I remark as I bows.

"I-I prefer if you call me A-Adelaide, my lady."

I smiled at Adelaide and then said, "Alright, then. Have a seat, Adelaide."

Despite her being older than me, she appears to be youthful.

I went on to say, "Please enjoy the tea my personal maid brewed."

"I appreciate it, lady Eloise." She uttered, but still unable to look me directly in the eye.

I requested Veronica to depart the room till my lecture ended after we finished our tea.

She attempted to smile, however it is noticeable that she feels nervous, presumably due to the allegations surrounding me.

"S-Shall we begin our lesson now, lady Eloise?" she questioned while still stuttering.

I slammed the table and it made her jolted. She closed her eyes, thinking I would hit her. Instead, I smiled. "I am just teasing. You look tense, Adelaide. Did you hear some nasty rumors about me before you went here?"

I didn't respond for a second. I sipped my tea and looked at her

"Adelaide, although I understand that you're reluctant into becoming my educator, try thinking of me as being one of your colleagues because we'll be spending months around each other. I'd really like us to be friends."

She looked perplexed. I bet she didn't expect me to say such thing.

I didn't either. In fact, I initially doesn't have any interest at anyone in this world. But if I want to avoid that path again, I am determined to change my fate as Eloise. Even though my fate is prewritten by the author, in this life, I get to write my own destiny.

I have to do something, and I am thinking of starting this little change with Adelaide.