Avy wore a simple yet beautiful white off-shoulder A-line tulle dress with butterfly designs randomly patched on the skirt part and a pair of white heels that complimented her quite well. The maids, without being asked, carefully dressed her up to make her natural beauty stand out. She figured out why, of course.

The former Avy must've wanted to look her best whenever she meets up with the Prince to impress him even in the slightest. On the other hand, she didn't care about it. She has no interest in anyone whatsoever. She was never, not even once, in her lifetime that she became attracted to the opposite sex. That doesn't mean she laid her eyes on the same gender though, she was focused on herself and her little creations most of the time and sometimes gives her attention to the people she thinks are worthy enough of her time. She somewhat thought at one point that she might be asexual, it's not that any of that matters though. She actually made up her mind to just go along with the fate that the novel has for her married life, besides who would be more powerful than the future emperor himself?

The old times forced the ladies to get married when they reach the age where they are already considered adults, and she was not sure what her future would be if she broke the engagement without any backup plan. It's not like she would actually find herself a man to her liking, and most definitely she's sure that people are just going to marry her to be able to enter their house. She might even get married to an unknown man of unknown origins, hence she decided to stay in her lane and just be the Empress. Of course, she can always run away and free herself from those responsibilities, but as of now, she's only a powerless sixteen-year-old girl who still needs the protection of her family.

In the novel, Avy only died because she was too greedy, of the position the prince can bestow her as his partner and the affection she longed for that she wanted to receive from her childhood love. She wanted the throne and at the same time, she wanted Demi gone so that she can have Zach, the male lead, for herself. She even cooperated in a coup with the villain to kick the Prince from his position and put her beloved as a replacement. She was too ambitious. And naive.

That was why she was easily manipulated.

But that's a story for another time.

She thought being married to a man who doesn't love her isn't that bad when she herself doesn't love him in the first place. That's fair, better than marrying someone who demands love that she cannot give or just marrying someone who would treat her as a 'woman', women are treated like objects that are created for men's pleasure, especially in that era dominated by men of high standing. Well, Fuck men.

Those options don't even hold a say in her choices. The best one is to marry the prince, who may not treat her lovingly but would at least treat her accordingly, and she knows fairly well that he wouldn't cheat. That man is against immoral acts. Even in the novel, he didn't say that he held affection for Demi openly, he kept it to himself, he was in fact, well aware of what his fiance would feel. He didn't initiate physical interactions and it was mostly Demi being nice and touchy to others since physical touch is how she shows affection, may it be towards friends or her family. Which can also be quite misleading, those cliche female lead behavior.

And unluckily for him, he won't be chosen at the end even though he was given almost the same attention as the first male lead. Demi will, of course, choose the first lead than the second. He should be thankful that he wouldn't be spending his life alone.

Avy knows and is confident that the prince would be a good husband that would provide her with everything as long as she doesn't sacrifice people and kill citizens for fun. She doesn't need his love and wouldn't be obliged to give him hers, that's a good deal considering she would have access to things that only the emperor can get his hands on. And she would fill her role as long as he doesn't cheat and make her a fool.

So after coming to that decision, she had to treat him nicely, or at least not be rude to him since he would probably be her lifelong partner if she won't be able to escape her fate as the Empress.

The process of her getting ready didn't take that long as she didn't protest and let the servants do the work, after all, she doesn't know much about dressing up and stuff. She rarely bought herself clothes in her past life and only gets the necessary things she sees, she had no one to impress and she herself thinks all her clothes are quite good. Well except Lucy who bugged her to buy a set of clothing even once a month, she was the only one who fills her wardrobe, even spending her own pocket money which the young nerd didn't like. She somewhat found herself shopping for clothes every now and then so that her only friend wouldn't run out of money to buy her clothes that she can afford with her allowance and the extra money that her wealthy generous parents give her.

She was finally able to leave her room when she was all finished and ready, she even complimented herself pretty, to give appreciation to the servants who worked hard to dress her up.

"Are you not hurt, sister?" as soon as she entered the drawing-room, Ciel greeted him with a concerned look on his face. He was waiting there with Ashton and Light along with a couple of servants with them and the head butler. Light was leaning on the wall in the corner, not wanting to be noticed, he may not say it out loud but he was also curious about the Lady's well being hence he decided to stay with the siblings instead of going back to bed to continue his sleep.

"I'm not," Avy answered her brother's question shortly, although the younger boy looked relieved, the hint of dejection because of his sister's lack of interest showed in his eyes for a split second, and that didn't escape Avy's gaze.

She opened her mouth once again, "Thank you... for the concern." she turned her eyes elsewhere and passed by the younger who was taken aback by her reply. She simply ignored his reaction and walked towards the couch and was about to sit in front of her older brother when he spoke.

"Are you not tired after your morning walk outside the walls?" Ashton asked bringing the rim of the teacup he was holding close to his lips as he read the papers that were handed to him by Hayward who stood on the side.

"Quite," she replied, finally sitting. She stayed silent, waiting for Ashton to give her a scolding, but he just sat there.

"And you would rather entertain your fiance than rest?" his tone was as cold as ever, but Avy looked at the bright side and appreciated the thought.

"You know the answer all too well," she said causing the older to rub the bridge of his nose in exasperation. He put down the papers and looked at her properly.

"Have you eaten?"

Avy muttered a 'no' as a response.

"His Highness is at the greenhouse, have breakfast in there."

Even after being dismissed by her brother, Avy just sat there in silence, waiting for the older to say more, which the latter took notice of almost immediately when she did not budge from her position.

"Do you need anything else?" asked Ashton.

Avy then snapped out of her thoughts and spoke, "I thought you were going to say more."

Ashton frowned, "Is that what you want?"

Hurriedly, the lady stood up. "Oh my, His Highness is waiting," she said, brushing off the non-existent crease on her dress, "I will go now."

Her reaction made the spectators, the servants including the head butler and the two lads present smile and chuckle discreetly as they watch her walk to the door to avoid any nagging from the Arkwright heir. But before she left, she stopped in front of her little brother and rested her hand on his head, ruffling his hair almost awkwardly.

"Thanks, you can rest now," she told the now wide-eyed boy as she evacuated the room with Mariel who was smiling fondly at her mistress.

When they stepped out of the room, Clerivan was waiting on the side, still quiet as ever. But his vibe was somewhat much silent than it usually was.

Avy knew why of course, she knew he was ashamed, even though it was entirely her fault that she slipped away from his watch not just once. But as a knight who takes pride in protecting their masters, the man must've been in a tough spot because of her all the time.

"I'll let you come with me next time." she nudged him with her elbow, startling him in the process, but he understood what she meant and nodded his head with a small upward arch that was almost visible on his lips.

The walk to the greenhouse was not a short one at all that it made Avy wonder how on earth a little number of maids and servants are able to keep the whole mansion of that size clean every day. She even had enough time to think of how she would interact with her fiance who she knows, based on how he was described in the novel, a man much quieter than her own brother who literally doesn't speak unless he wants to nag at her. She is not used to conversing with people no matter how small of a talk it may be or even if it was a deep one, and she obviously doesn't want them to just sit there and look at each other for the rest of their 'conversation'.

It was the hardest point of her life.

"We're going to stay here, My Lady," Mariel stated as soon as they arrived in front of their destination. Knights of the Imperial Family stood guard outside, and Avy was certain that only the Prince was inside. Oh for heaven's sake.

"Yeah. Do what you want," she replied before proceeding inside.

Even without asking, she was pretty sure that it was the former Avy who has been kicking everyone out of her sight whenever she is with the Prince, and she is not even surprised why the dumbass agreed to be alone with her. But at least he respects her unnecessary requests even though he's colder than winter when talking to the Dukedom's Princess.

She was greeted by greens when she entered, obviously, countless different flowers that are not displayed in the big garden taken care of by good old Sir Hanson, the gardener, are all stuffed inside the beautiful greenhouse that is bigger than her school's gymnasium. Sitting in the middle of the beautiful place where a table and two chairs were, was the white-haired man she was expecting to see along with a couple of maids waiting for her to arrive.

Noticing her presence, the Prince stood up from being seated motionlessly on his chair, acknowledging her presence which she didn't have any problem with when he did so.

"I apologize for the wait." she greeted when she was already close enough to him.

She was about to open her mouth to speak more when she felt dizziness taking over her due to exhaustion. She felt her legs losing their strength afterward, causing her to lose balance, earning a couple of surprised shrieks from the maids.

She was sure of it, he saw the prince move but stopped midway as if he remembered something that stopped him from helping the poor girl.

And he just stood there staring at her.

~~~