—Several days later, Hallway—
'The feeling I experience during the tea party never happened since then.'
"Good day, Lady Velora." a passing maid by greets me with a smile.
I wave at her with an awkward smile.
"Are you on your way to the Library?" Kel passes by carrying sheets.
"Yes."
"Okay, I'll tell Erisa."
'I'm finally accustomed with the Rosethorne household and being Lady Velora.'
'But my schedule has been full recently.'
—Library—
Whenever I'm at the library, Rey starts looking for me and joins me when I read books.
'He loves reading huh. I thought he prefers children's book and swinging his sword.'
'I realize he always wanted to be a writer'
"Woah. Rey you have good hand-writing."
Rey looks flustered.
"Really? haha, I always wanted to write like this on a book." A strained smile forms on his lips.
"Oh."
'This kid seems to have no choice, being the son of Rosethorne.'
'Rumors might spread after all' I scoff.
'In this world, any writing-related work is seen as unfit for nobility or a commoner's job.'
I pat his head out of blue and let out a gentle smile.
"E—" Rey stutters, staring directly at me.
'Ah, I did it without thinking.'
Before letting go Rey left out a soft amused smile.
'I keep forgetting I'm Velora but he reminded me the kid I helped back then.' I scratch the back of my head.
—Velora's room—
I throw myself onto the bed, my body heavy from nonstop dancing and relentless lessons on proper etiquette.
'After learning etiquette in the morning, I have time to relax in my room at least,
—that's what I believe.'
—bam—
"Vel, I heard there's new shop opening today, let's go there now!" Lady Elie boasted.
'AAAAAA let me rest.' as I cry under the pillow.
—Next day, Library—
"Velly!" Rey smiles at me waving.
—Hallway—
"Vel!" Lady Elie suddenly pops out of nowhere.
—Next day—
"Lady Velora, You must learn which ones of these utensils is used for." as the famous teacher they say, hands me a book.
"Read this under an hour and we'll have a question and answer afterwards."
'Who in their right mind thinks a kid can do this in limited time!?'
—Few hours later—
"You did well, Lady Velora."
'Did well my butt, if this was Velora she would've died more early.' as I put my head against the table.
—Next day, Hallway—
As soon as I went out suddenly someone starts to call out my name.
"Velly!" a red-headed son of a—
'LEAVE ME ALONE'
—Garden, Velora hiding beside a tall bush—
"Vel?"
—Hallway, Velora hiding beside a statue—
"Velly?"
—Velora's room, inside the closet—
"Lady Velora, your teacher is looking for you?" Kel shouts.
—Few minutes later—
"Huh? Velly didn't attend her lesson?" Rey ask in confusion.
—Meawhile, Hallway—
I sneakily walk around the hallway avoiding to get caught.
—East Garden—
I look around sneakily while slowly running to reach a hiding spot.
'I realize this is my first time in the Eastgate.'
'I heard this is where Erisa, Kel and the other servants in Rosethorne stays but since its morning most of them would be inside the duchy right?'
I wander a bit more, taking quiet pleasure in the cool cement beneath my steps, the soft murmur of the fountain at the center, and the small swing resting gently beside it.
'A swing? I wonder why there's one.'
I settle onto the swing and gently sway back and forth, letting the fresh air brush against my skin.
The scent of flowers lingers sweetly around me, and the sun blazes softly as I close my eyes, savoring the quiet moment.
'This makes me sleepy.'
"Lady Velora." a sudden husky voice can be heard from a distance.
'Who?'
A young boy, well-built and composed, makes his way toward me, his presence almost that of a knight.
'I don't know who this is.'
He approaches me quite close, too close for someone to be considered just a mere knight of the duchy.
"You are?"
"Ah, we haven't met in years, I'm your personal guard, Ethan." Ethan smiles brightly.
'He acts like Rey.'
He has dark green hair and amber eyes, as he holds a sword at his side.
'He's tall, slightly taller than Rey, likely around 167 cm.'
"Ah... I see."
'Huh, Velora has a personal guard? I didn't know that.'
A heavy silence settles over the surroundings.
Broken only by the soft splash of the fountain, the rustling of flowers stirred by the wind, and the faint creak of the swing swaying gently in place.
'Now what... Why's he just standing there?'
'Will he leave...'
'Was I suppose to say something? Don't tell me they're childhood friends.'
—Few minutes later—
'I'm starting to sweat.' as I was about to stand up, he reaches his hand out.
I grab his hand without noticing.
'What the F—.'
'I'm becoming more lady-like, their technique of teaching is scary.'
"Thank you." as I look at him, he starts to blush.
'Ah, I forgot Velora never says thanks.'
'Ah youth. Lucky him, I always wanted to be like that, muscle build.'
I left and went inside.
—Hallway—
Sneakily heading straight to my room.
Voice echoes through the halls.
'Ah, it's Erisa and Rey.'
"Lady Velora? I haven't seen her young master."
"Where did she go again..." Rey scratches his head.
As I'm about to go on my previous direction, Lady Elie's figure slowly appears.
'I have no choice so I hid on a different room.'
—click—
The smell of lavender sinks in, without knowing, I'm once again inside the late duchess's room.
'Ah.'
I look around and slowly move forward closer to the side of the bed.
'It's still the same as ever huh.'
'Plushies, said to be for the Late duchess.'
'Or is it for Lady Velora and her.'
—In Saki's mind—
Velora and the Duchess laugh as they delightly play with plush toys strewn across the floor and bed. Laughter fills the room as the gentle breeze drifts in through the open window, carrying with it the warmth of a carefree afternoon.
—Late Duchess's room, balcony—
I step closer to the balcony railing, resting my arms upon it as I enjoy the breeze.
"Mom?"
Confused I look from below of the 2nd floor.
Duke Lucien can be seen staring at me open wide.
'Oh crap.' I turn around and left.
"Who might be that young lady, Duke Lucien?" a noble man asks, with brown eyes and brown hair, his expression calm yet curious.
"Must be my little sister, Lord Caelrion."
—click—
I made my way out of the room and made my way back to mine.
'Why did I go there...' I sit down, face in regret.
Suddenly somebody slams the door, it was Lady Elie.
"Ah! Vel!!!"
"A!!!" I scream in shock.
Lady Elie shouts.
"The Lord! Is here!!! Young Lord Caelrion Viremont!!"
'Huh the Duke? Wait Young Lord? Is he not the Duke yet?'
'Wait that isn't the point, THE MALE LEAD IS HERE!?!'
'Does that mean this is the time Velora met him!?!'
'What if the story forces me to fall inlove with the duke!'
"AAAAAAAAAA!!!!" I scream in agony, as I clasp my hands.
'I don't want the story to drag me to my doom!!!'
'I'm a guy!!!'
"AAAAAAAAAA!?!??!?!" Lady Elie screams in excitement and holds my hands.
—Few minutes later—
I lay on the bed weeping in tears.
"Are you that excited Velly?" Lady Elie beams excitedly.
"He's the well-known, Earth element, Young Lord Caelrion after all~."
"no..."
"Ehh... but you always wanted to meet him right ever since?" Lady Elie seats beside me.
'Wait what? So Lady Velora's unrequired love with the Du- I mean, her love for the young lord is longer than ever before.
I stare at Lady Elie in confusion.
Suddenly Lady Elie holds my hand.
"Don't worry Vel, I'll be sure to be the cupid for you two!"
I'm now staring at Lady Elie with pure shock and disgust with her conclusion.
'I'm not gay!'
'Wait I'm Velora now— what am I?"
My gaze drops to my hands, as confusion settles deep in my chest.
'What do I call myself then...If I start liking a man—does that make me…?'
A sudden chill went all over my body in disgust.
'Then if I fall for a woman… but I'm a woman now, wouldn't that still sound gay?
'No no no... AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA'
'But I'm not gay, I'm a man inside a girls body!!!'
—Few minutes later—
"Ehh.. It seems like the Duke hasn't call, does that mean Young lord came only for business?"
'She assumes too much... This romance genre...'
"Didn't you say you wanted to go somewhere Elie?"
"Elie!?! Vel!!! You called me Elie!!! I'm so happy!!" Lady Elie starts hugging me.
"Call me Big sister next time!"
"Anyway let's ask Rey we'll be going out."
—Few minutes later—
"Ah, sure let's go I'll tell them to ready the carriage."
As we're about to leave, we met Young lord Caelrion beside Lu in the hallway.
'Ah-'