Deadlock

XXII

Days passed by so fast. I couldn’t believe that I was on my way now to the mansion and that I would stay there for good. That was the plan anyway. That was the deal I created so that my grandfather would allow me to live a normal life and become a normal person. My grandfather hadn’t brought up the arranged marriage thing lately so I was kind of hoping that he wouldn’t force me into an agreement anymore.

“Hey butler Lee, why does it seem like it’s so quiet in here?” I asked the butler when we were finally inside the mansion's border. 

“Everyone’s preparing for the occasion tonight young mistress.”

Yay, a birthday party. Lots of people I barely know would be there, as if it would make me feel better. Then I could only prepare myself, or my feet and my lips to walk around and smile at each one of them. That’d really be tiring. But it was my birthday party and I hadn’t been given a party since I was fourteen so I was guessing this would be really huge.

“Then why is the mansion quiet?” I ducked my head through the limousine window to see things outside the place but I couldn't see anything that is out of the ordinary. “Where are you planning on holding my party?”

“To an island young mistress.”

“To an island? Why can’t we just have it here?” I asked in awe.

“You must understand the chairman young mistress. It was your fourteenth birthday when he last gave you a party. He wanted to make this an unforgettable birthday party for you.”

“Well he doesn’t really have to do that.”

“I’m afraid you have to get inside the mansion young mistress. We’ve already arrived.”

I went out of the limo. When I came to the top of the staircase, a beautiful woman in her late twenties came to me with a very big smile. I was sure I haven’t met her but she acted like she knew me really well.

“Hello young mistress Emilia.” She exclaimed. I was urged to smile at her. 

“Ahm, hey.” I tried to be cheerful. 

“My name’s Suzanne. And I’ll be your company today young mistress.” Her smile was I guess already plastered in her face. But I felt like it was really genuine she didsn’t seem like faking.

Instead of going into my room, which was what I wanted to do first, she brought me to the parlor. It was just another big room of the mansion, nothing special. But I saw clothes everywhere and there were like a gazillion shoes too. Make up kits are scattered, or they were just probably plenty of them, I don’t know for sure. There were also other people in the room.

“Ahm, I don’t think I could wear all of those in one night.” I told her in amazement.

“Silly girl, of course all of these are here so that you could choose your attire for tonight.” Said Suzanne.

I forced a smile in front of everybody. I was not really sure if tonight’s event would be successful. I felt like I wanted to run away again because of fear I might mess up and humiliate myself in front of a lot of people.

When Suzanne asked me about my apparel, I told her to choose for me. I was not really good with it, never did. And when she picked a baby blue full-skirted gown made of luxurious fabric, delicately and exotically trimmed, I knew I couldn’t argue. It was beautiful I’d definitely look like a princess. She also made me wear long white leather gloves that went well above my elbows that close with small pearl buttons at my wrist. And my shoes were… amazing. They were like the little glass slippers. I was wondering if I’d be just like Cinderella, if my happiness would only last up until midnight. I hoped not; I was the most important person tonight, things like when-clock-struck-at-12-end-of-happiness wouldn’t happen... right?