The maids formed a circle around me and kept adding different kinds of hair accessories to my hair, causing the weight on my neck to become even more heavy. In addition to the heavy weight on my head were the numerous clothes wrapped around my body. My breathing turned hurried as it became hard for me to breathe while draped in such thick clothes. Damm. The expression on my face became contorted as I let out a complaint.
"Can't I change into something lighter? I can barely even breathe in this dress." I dabbed the sweat that was starting to cluster on my forehead with the sleeve of the dress.
"The minister told us to dress you up in this outfit and we dare not disobey his order, my lady." One of the maids gently explained.
"I understand, but can't you see that I'm barely surviving while garb in this attire? Get me something lighter!" I hollered at them in order. Who cares if they were following someone else's order? I don't want to be the first person who died while suffocated in a dress.
Ever since I found out that I wasn't in a dream, my mood this morning has been quite distressing. Now, the only speculation that could come to my mind is that my actual body died while cleaning up the library storage room and then ventured into the afterlife to become this girl named Zanillia.
But why would I become someone else if I'm dead? Shouldn't I be here with my soul instead? Although, the face I bore is quite a beauty who wouldn't panic after realizing that they were wearing someone's else face. Just what the hell is going on? Or could it be that this is all an illusion? My mind became even more muddled as I questioned myself.
The maids' minds were in mayhem as they contemplated, whether to follow the young lady's request or stick with the minister's order.
"Are you done dressing?" Amid their predicament, Minister Zhao walked into the room, which sent a wave of relief down their surging hearts. The maids quickly bowed towards him in greeting. "That dress certainly looks great on you." He saw my dress and complimented me with a smile.
I almost rolled my eyes when I heard his flattering remark. "Can I change into something else?" Since he was the one who ordered the maids to dress me up in this dress, he should be able to order them to change it into something lighter.
"What a rude behavior." The same woman who had admonished me yesterday, or should I say my current identity stepmother walked into the room and berated me. "How dare you speak to your father without even a greeting?"
Today, the woman was dressed in an even more luxurious outfit. Her dress was embroidered with a flowering gold pattern. She wore bold makeup, generating the effect of how an actual villainess looks like in those fairytale movies.
"And here comes the villainous character." I rolled my eyes backward as I muttered to myself.
Perhaps hearing what I said, the woman became enraged, her nose flared as she pointed at me.
"You evil wench!"
"That's enough, Belia." Minister Zhao had a scowl on his face as he stopped his wife. If it weren't for her powerful background, he would have admonished her for stepping out of bounds.
"Belia? Tch." I sneered. "You're unworthy of bearing such a name." Last night when checking this body over, I saw that there were numerous scars on it.
Now facing the clear disparagement in the woman's eyes, I knew she must have been the sole cause of the reason why there were numerous scars on this body. How dare such an evil person like her bore the same name as mine.
"What do you say? How dare you!" She waves her hand forward to slap me on the face. I swiftly draw backward, evading her confrontation.
The laid-back father soon interfered. "That's okay."
"Do you hear what she just said to me? It's a curse that a girl like her is born into this family. She's just as vulgar as her lowly mother."
"I said that's enough!" The vein in Minister Zhao's head protruded as he shouted.
The woman witnessed this and knew she must have stepped on her husband's bottom line this time. Still, she didn't back down as she turned to face Minister Zhao in accusation.
"Are you trying to protect this bastard, now? If you hadn't brought that lowly woman into the house despite my refusal, maybe all this wouldn't have happened. I truly regret marrying you." As she finished saying this, the woman charged out of the room angrily.
Just like in movies, all villains always have a sad backstory. Although I do feel a bit of pity for the woman, that wouldn't erase all the evil deeds she had done to this body. Or perhaps if it hadn't been for a certain person's greediness, all this wouldn't have happened. And then I wouldn't have found myself in this situation either.
Two sighs resounded out at the same time. One from me and the other from this so-called father of mine. Damm. Although I've always dreamed of having a father figure in my life, I'll never pray to have someone like him as my father. Never!
Minister Zhao lifted his head and saw this unrecognizable daughter of his. A sigh escaped from his mouth once more, before he then waved in dismissal towards the maids, "Take the young lady out of the house."
The maids instantly complied with his order and brought me outside of the gate.
In front of the gate, a carriage has been stationed there. The horse was busy grazing over the little grasses in the soil. Hearing the messy footsteps, its ears perked up and it stared in the direction of the manor gate.
Before climbing into the carriage, I looked backward at the residence behind me and let out another sigh. Just how many times have I heaved a sigh today? I wasn't sure if I had any lingering feelings left with this house. Except for the cute girl, I don't think there's anything to reminisce about with the one day I've stayed here.
Well, since it isn't quite sure whether I'm in the afterlife or not, I'll just go along with the flow. Possibly, I might be able to find someone who knows the solution to my problem. Shifting my head away, I lifted my foot and climbed into the carriage seat, ready to venture into an unknown land I've no idea about.
The horse began to move after a pull from the handler.