A/N: Since i didn't update yesterday, i made this chapter slightly longer. ____________________________

As she felt her consciousness return to her, Angelina felt someone hold her. She opened her eyes and realized she was laying on someone's lap.

Noticing Angelina's movements, Marie smiled and said, "Awake miss?" Angelina looked up and stared at her, slightly confused.

"Marie? How did..." she end up on Marie's lap? Wasn't Marie the one sleeping on her lap...? Angelina slowly got up and asked Marie, "When did you wake up..?"

"I woke up as soon as miss fell asleep. I was so moved from what miss did! I never knew Miss cared so much of this lovely, cute, helpful, and amazing maid.." Marie sighed and did a dramatic gesture. She started off sounding humble...but it seems she couldn't help but praise herself.

'...is it that hard to say something humble, Marie...? You were so close...' Angelina sighed and shook her head. But, she actually didn't mind Marie acting like this. Angelina used to, and perhaps still is an arrogant person. So having Marie who held a lot of pride as well, made her feel more comfortable in some way. Angelina knew, if she does something wrong to upset Marie, Marie wouldn't hesitate to scold her and put her in her place.

And...she sort of needs that. If not...she'll probably return to her overly arrogant self.

Marie let out a small yawn and rubbed her tired eyes.

"Marie, you should get more rest. It's clear your exhausted." Angelina stood up, walked over to her vanity table, and brushed her slightly messy hair.

"It's alright miss. If it's not me, then who will take care of miss?" Marie walked up to Angelina, took the brush from her hand, and carefully brushed the long silver hair.

"Then I'll just ask father to assign other maids to serve me." Angeline jokingly manner, but she was serious. She had been thinking about this for quite a while. Marie was the only maid serving her, but according to the rules of the mansion, she still needed to help the other servant with other tasks if she wasn't occupied with the ones Angelina assigned.

Marie was able to manage at first, due to her being quite the energetic person. But ever since the shop had massively grown in popularity, and Marie had to keep visiting and collecting the earnings. She became more tired and busy.

"....?" Angelina turned her head slightly after she heard the brush fall from Marie's hand. She sighed and stated, "I'm not replacing you, Marie. If I do obtain new maids, they'll only help you. Not completely take over your job."

Hearing Angelina's reassuring words, Marie's expression recovered from a distressed one to one of ease. She smiled and hugged Angelina from the back. "Thank you miss..." she hummed.

Angelina smiled and patted Marie's hands embracing her.

****************************

During lunch, Angelina decided to bring up the topic in mind.

"Father, My first rank maid, Marie is too overworked. I'm worried for her. If I may, but could this daughter request for father to assign me two more maids?" Angelina sat down her spoon and politely asked the duke.

"Hm? Alright then. If you have any specific maids in mind, feel free to tell me" The Duke nodded in agreement.

Angelina was quite surprised. She didn't expect for the duke to agree so easily. She suspects that it might be to her rise in reputation among the nobles. She's confident that the duke would just ignore her request if she didn't have an excellent reputation in the noble circle.

"Thank you, father." Angelina smiled and wiped her mouth gently with a handkerchief.

"But father, Eve only has one maid as well! If you allow Angelina to have more personal maids, then Eve should get more too!" Alex suddenly stood up and protested. He couldn't accept it if Angelina receives even a little bit of better treatment than his 'precious sister'.

"Brother! You shouldn't disagree with father! I only need Carol anyway...!" Evelina tried to make Alex sit back down by pulling his arm. Alex reluctantly sat down and finally kept his mouth shut.

'Thanks for keeping the dog's mouth shut, Evelina. I felt like cutting my ear off...' Angelina rolled her eyes.

**************************

After lunch, the duke introduced Angelina to two maids that will be her new personal maids.

The two young women were the two maids that served her during the morning of her debut. Serina and Lia. Lia was a 16 year old girl, while Serina was 18 years old.

"I'll be in your care from now on." Angelina smiled and greeted them warmly.

"We look forward to serving you with the best of our abilities, miss!" The two bowed and spoke in unison.

*******************

The Casspan mansion became more and more busy as they approached the day of the engagement party.

The party was to be held in the Casspan family's ballroom, so the servants didn't dare slack off. After all, it was their young master's engagement party! Everything had to be perfect!

But...their young master didn't seem bothered or nervous at all. In fact, he even seemed to be dreading it.

They really couldn't understand nobles. How could anyone be dreading to get engaged to a beautiful and kind young lady like Evelina!?

The male servants sighed in their heart. They would give anything to marry a beautiful and rich young lady like Evelina!

******************** Days turned to weeks, and winter has finally ended. The day of the engagement party had finally arrived.

"Miss, which eating will you be wearing?" Serina respectfully asked, as she held up a chest filled with all types of luxurious earings, while her head was lowered.

"Since my gown is colored green. I'll be wearing the emerald earings." Angelina responded. Not turning her head to glance at the multiple pairs of earings.

"Of course miss. Forgive this servant for being mindless." Serina retreated and placed the chest down on the vanity table, and grabbed the emerald earings.

"Woah...." Lia couldn't help but gasp in awe. Angelina was truly blessed to be born in a powerful, wealthy family, and being born with a exquisite face.

Lia couldn't help but steal a few more glances of the grand, beautiful gown and jewelery.

"Miss indeed looks beautiful." Marie stated with pride. Marie couldn't help but compliment Angelina.

'Hah! No one is as beautiful as my miss! It must be because of how excellent of maid I am!' Marie exclaimed with pride in her heart. Angelina stared at the smug faced woman in the mirror, as if she heard everything Marie was thinking.

Meanwhile, Evelina's room was even more crowded and busy. It was only an engagement party, but the maids serving her treated it like she was getting married today.

They walked back and fourth in her room. They checked her gown more than three times. Even her shoes and jewelery were not spared...

************************

Angelina and the other members of the Skyler household used the family's carriage, while Evelina was escorted to the Casspan estate by Chase.

She put much effort to looking bashful and shy, but in truth, she felt disgusted. Remembering Chase disfigured face from the past life, Evelina had to force herself not to gag.

If she could, she would break the engagement with him and find a better suitor. But she couldn't.

The first reason is that she couldn't break the engagement for no reason, and the most important reason is that there was no better suitor.

She didn't want downgrade. The Casspan family was one of the 5 most influential families. Who else could be better?

The crown prince? But he was only interested in studying. Not women.

She tried to attract the attention of the Balloria family's son, but she failed, due to her horrible relationship with his elder twin sister, Rienne.

The Chandler family's son already has a fiance. Which only leaves the Bailey family's son, but her family and the Baileys have been in odds for generations.

She had completely run out of suitable men. She will not accept marrying a man of lower status!

She had no other choices. Chase was the only one left.

"Is something wrong, lady Evelina?" Chase asked. He could tell Evelina's hidden frustration and loathing.

"Oh! nothing...I'm merely quite nervous..." Evelina smiled and shrugged off her previous thoughts. She was truly gifted with acting. If Chase didn't recount his past life's memories, he would not notice Evelina's disgust.

"Is that so?" Chase spoke in a pleasant tone, and smiled.

***********************

Angelina looked out the carriage window and quietly sighed. The carriage was crowded by the three other people. Beside her was Alex, she could feel his hostile glare that was directed at her.

Through the window, Angelina could see the flowers blooming, and the sky was only slightly cloudy. It was the perfect day, yet Angelina felt like the world was ending.

The sounds of hoofs tapping the ground were heard, to Angelina they were the sounds of clocks ticking, counting down the seconds that has passed, as they were getting closer and closer to their destination.

But there was nothing she could do but clench her fists and wait as they approached the Casspan estate.

************************ The Skyler family arrived earlier than Evelina and Chase, but they were not the stars of the show. Some still went up to greet them, but the reaction to their arrival, to Chase and Evelina's arrival could not be compared.

As everyone cheered and congratulated Chase and Evelina, Angelina stood in corner of the ballroom.

All she could do was sigh a few times and stare blankly at the floor.

The halls were filled with the sound of laughter and cheers. Yet in her heart, it was quiet and silent. Her body felt numb from standing in the same position for so long. But she didn't have the strength to move.

Angelina just silently watched the two being surrounded by the other nobles and leaned against the wall.

In her hand, a glass filed with her favorite fruit juice. But when she tasted it, instead of the beloved flavor she expected, she tasted ash.

She was adorned in dark green. Her emerald earings shimmered in the bright light. Her silver hair contrasted elegantly to her dark attire.

Her golden eyes, which were previously brimmed with the fiery flame of vengeance, was now hollow and empty.

During her past life, she was unable to attend Chase and Evelina's engagement party. Since they forbid her from attending. Well...at least that's what it felt like they were doing. Evelina, however said it was an act of kindness and benevolence. As Evelina puts it, 'they didn't invite her so she wouldn't be too sad'.

But now... she would rather not be invited.

She believed she was over Chase. But something still hurts. Deep in her heart, she doubted herself when she claims she had moved on.

Blinded by that strange feeling, she unknowingly ignored the man who was approaching her.

His footsteps stopped into a halt as soon as he saw her depressed eyes. A sense of sorrow crept into his heart. He had definetly seen those eyes before.

He remembered, on a certain rainy day, the emerald eyed girl stared out the window with despair. That day, her beloved fiancee rejected the offer to visit her. She was greatly disappointed. Her eyes were filled with despair just like this exact moment.

And he, again, was in the background. Unnoticed.