Cannon Fodder To Villainess

🏮92. Desperation

"I love it sweetie, it's perfect. Did you help to pick it out?" Amber said."

"I really wanted you to wear all white at first because I thought it would show off how amazing my big sis is, like a beautiful angel! But Granny Mabel said you can't wear all white until you're married, or it'll make your wedding dress look like just another dress. So, we picked blue instead! Blue is my favorite color because it makes me think of the sky, clouds, and flying, and of course, you!"

Amber felt her cheeks flush as she listened to her younger brother ramble on, particularly when he likened her to an angel. However, if her adorable little brother viewed her in that light, she had no intention of correcting him or letting him think otherwise. He truly was a sweetheart.

"Why don't I try on the dress to ensure it fits perfectly? After that, we could go out for some treats to celebrate my beautiful new outfit! I'm so excited about this dress that I really want to mark the occasion. Would you join me?"

"You don't have to take me out, it was a gift," said Ethan."

"Oh? You'd actually be doing me a huge favor. I'm confident that with your presence, we can eliminate those annoying leftovers for good," Amber said

"You got it! I'm really great at finishing off those leftover goodies. Are there going to be some cute little cakes?"

"There will be all sorts of varieties! The celebration simply wouldn't feel complete without your presence," said Amber

"Really? You want me to come," said Ethan while pointing to himself.

"That's right, you're very important," said Amber.

Ethan blinked his eyes a couple of times. "I'm...important."

Amber reached out her hand and ruffled the top of Ethan's hair. "That's right, it wouldn't be that same without you.

Ethan paused while looking up at Amber and then he threw his arms around her waist in a tight hug, "I love you!"

Amber's hand stilled and she took a deep breath. "I love you too," she said quietly.

The moment she slipped into the dress, which clung to her form with an almost divine precision, a fleeting sensation of ethereal grace washed over her. Yet, as she admired her reflection, a nagging thought crept in: her nails and makeup were in dire need of a revamp for the upcoming soirée. The notion of hiring a new maid also surfaced, as the current one was clearly unfit. The shadows of her other subordinates pasts loomed large; she couldn't afford to hire a maid whose history might invite scrutiny from the ever-watchful eyes of high society.

Perhaps it was time to pay a visit to Dr. Denari's household, to gauge their situation. With a series of social events on the horizon, it would be utterly unacceptable to appear without proper attendants. The risk of a foolish man cornering her and fabricating scandalous tales was too great without witnesses to safeguard her reputation. Noble society was a labyrinth of irritating complexities, and Amber felt the weight of it all. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she contemplated the treacherous vipers that had infiltrated her home. Her finger drummed against her leg, a nervous habit that had become all too familiar lately, a manifestation of her growing concern for those she wished to protect. Locking them away in a vault was a tempting fantasy, yet it was a prison for living souls, and she knew that such a life would be unbearable for them, even if it would simplify her quest for their safety.

"No...no, self-restraint. Self-restraint," Amber said to herself.

"Did you say something, dear?" Mabel said from the other side of the door.