Villainess' Second Chance

CHAPTER SIX

The next day....

"Adelaide!"

I rush upon her and give her a hug. We are nearly the very same height. She looked surprised as I abruptly hugged her.

"My God, Lady Eloise," she muttered

I apologized, "I'm simply so thrilled for today that I can't seem to help myself,"

She pats my head and says, "It's okay, lady Eloise. I find it cute." She smiles

I'm currently 15 and she's 19, therefore she can legally get married in her age in this world.

"We're heading to the city," I say as I gently hold her hands and pull her towards the carriage. I smiled at her and said, "I promised you yesterday that I'll treat you today. And also I wish for us to be friends, Adelaide. I feel comfortable around you."

And just like that, she has no choice but to go with me. Veronica escorted Adelaide and I to enter the vehicle.

While in the carriage, traveling towards the city, Adelaide spoke, "Where are we heading, Lady Eloise?"

"We're heading to the spa, and I'd like you to unwind today. It's weekend and I want you to enjoy." I stated

She grinned at me and replied, "I see, well, I'm genuinely looking forward to this, lady Eloise."

Once we got in the city, we enjoyed having a massage, a grandeur private bath, and I bought her a few things. She brought a lot of books and I offered to pay for it. We also enjoyed dining at the finest restaurant.

"So, Adelaide, do you plan on getting married soon?" I asked

She looks at me before she ate her food. "Well.... My father want me to marry someone right now. But I told him no, and he said if I don't find someone before 23, he'll arranged my marriage himself." She stated, "But you probably don't understand what I'm saying right now."

"I understand." I stated, "You just don't want to get married."

She chuckle, "I should've said it that way."

I just smiled at her and ate my food. Adelaide then suddenly added, "You're a good kid, lady Eloise."

I paused and looked at her, "Thank you..."

It was almost dusk so we drove home. "I had fun with you, Lady Eloise, I didn't know spending time with a friend would be this amazing." She stated while we're in the carriage

I looked at her, "Is this your first time having fun with a friend?" I wondered.

She nods, "You know, I was overlooked when I was only a kid since my mother is a commoner. Although my father is a count, the whole servant in the mansion will not really give a shit about me. Probably because it's a direct order from some of my father's side family. Sometimes they would fail to make dinner for me so I fall asleep with an empty belly, however I still receive much more love from my father, I could not go this far without him."

"But he wants you to marry early." I stated

"Yeah, because it's a tradition for our family to get married as early as 18."

I was astounded since I had no idea that she had gone through that.

I'll do everything in my power to suggest her to the imperial palace. Her big break to success in the future would come from that. I'm sure Adelaide won't settle for a marriage without having her desired career first.

"I should let the carriage drive you home, Adelaide; it's already dark," I offered

She smiled at me, "That sounds wonderful, lady Eloise."

I bid farewell to her when we dropped her off to their mansion a few moments later. Before Veronica could close the carriage door, I heard Adelaide spoke

"Lady Eloise, thank you a lot for today. I'll meet you again on our next session." She stated

I grinned as she waved and I said, "I had fun today with you, Adelaide. I'll see you too."

It's been a long day, but I'm glad Adelaide and I are getting closer now. I walked into my bedroom and dressed into a different outfit.

I must move on to my next goal, which would be to banish the person who nearly destroyed me.

But why would she do such thing? I just really don't comprehend why she would wish to assassinate me while considering that she served here the longest amongst the other servant. She worked here even longer than Veronica.

Still it makes literally no sense, although if ever she despises me, it's still not valid to take one's life. This one is making my head hurt.

Nevertheless, I want her to confess everything once I have enough evidence to expose her.

My father and brother had already been sitting at the table before I arrive.

My father remarked, "You woke up late." with a blank look on his face.

"I was worn out from having spent the entire day with Adelaide in the capital yesterday.

"I see,"

Suddenly, my brother said, "Tell me, Eloise, would you like to learn swordsmanship?"

"What?" I asked in astonishment. That question popped out of nowhere.

"Some knight claimed to have witnessed you frequently observing them rehearse in the backyard. Are you perhaps, stalking someone?"

What?! The nerve!

"Or do you want to learn swordmanship?" He continued

I'm constantly in the garden because I'm concentrated on the dahlias rather than them. And I only fell asleep there one time!

"Huh, you're not answering. So you are interested in one of our guards there."

My father coughs as I dropped my spoon. Elliote, you bastard, talking rubbrish stuff in front of the food! If only I could slap you right now.

He looks at me while I glare at him, "What? Am I wrong?" He ask

Absolutely wrong

The duke responded, wiping his lips with a napkin, "Well, it's natural for the a lady to become affectionate at a young age."

Grrr! These two are total dickheads.

I managed to state it gently, "No, I wasn't in love, and I certainly wasn't stalking someone." I emphasize it to them

Elliote questioned again, "You want to master swordsman then?"

"No. I do not wish to learn swordmanship nor wield a sword." I responded, "However, it has always been my desire to use a bow and arrows, and thus I decided I want to learn marksmanship."

It's a sarcasm, by the way

swords, arrows, what's the difference? They both have sharp edges

The duke said, "Marksmanship, huh? That wasn't a bad idea."

"It's not?" Both Elliote and I said in unison, we're surprised.

"Yeah. For one thing, Augustus seems to be a brilliant swordsman, and he is extremely skilled at archery either, you should take some lessons with him."

"Augustus?"

"Indeed, he's one of the people I've hired and since then they've been training here in the ducal state."

Ah, that's why he's here. It nearly convinced me that he might become a knight inside this state. The ducal state is bigger and has a lot of space so the duke decided to make a training area not far away from the mansion's garden.

"That's terrific suggestion," I laughed forcibly as I spoke. "But I understand if you don't want me to take that class either cause you know.... I'm.... I'm a lady..."

"It's a good self defense for you. Are you saying you want to defy my decision?" He asked. His tone sounds more threatening than earlier, so I had no choice but to shake my head. The duke got up, "Good, you'll be conducting the session starting tomorrow." He added before walking away

I face palmed myself. Fucking stupid.