Chapter 2: Unidentified Man

Unidentified Man

"Lady Wescott, a blessed birthday to you."

"Happy birthday Lady Wescott."

Once I reached the ground, my parents gave me short words of encouragement as I dance my way among the crowd.

I might not be able to do strenuous matters as of today but that doesn't mean that I will do nothing and just be a good girl.

Well, this age is perfect for forming connections with these young lords and ladies who will soon attain bigger things in the future. So I think it would be better to make friends with these kids.

"Lady Wescott, I'm Feinrir the son of Count Delaware. It was nice meeting you, can I ask a you a dance later?"

"Lady Wescott, I also wanted to ask the same thing."

I was overwhelmed with several dance propositions that my head got dizzy so I decided to just smile and nod at them so there wouldn't be any problems later on. I could just pick them up now and discard those which would not be useful anyway.

"Lady Wescott, you're so beautiful today."

"We're having a small tea party the next day, will you attend it too?"

"You also have a wonderful dress! Which store did you bought it from? I'm going to ask my mother to buy one from it too."

Oh right, as expected from noble ladies, they really have this materialistic side. I bet they would be either surprised or disgusted with what I'm going to say.

"Actually, it was my mother's old dress and I got mesmerized when I first saw it so I ask mother that I would be wearing it instead. I didn't expect her to transform it into a beautiful one." I proudly said as I covertly watched their reactions.

Only two or three of them were surprised but most of them got a What-a-Cheap-dress-I'm-out-of-here look on their faces.

"Oh well that's… That's wonderful. By the way I think my father is calling me. But yes, happy birthday Lady Wescott."

Then a lot of them used that as an excuse to escape a cheap noble like me. I was actually surprised to see that only got left and they were the ones who were surprised when I revealed the fact about my dress.

"L-lady Wescott, y-your dress is magnificent, no matter what anyone says! I mean it actually."

"Thank you Lady Belgrave."

That's a well-scripted thing to hear from you young lady. It seems like your parents had a good way of raising you. I commend you for being courageous but it's people like you I should be more careful about. The tendency of being back-stabbed is highly possible.

"Well, I'm sorry to say this Lady Wescott but I agree with what those young ladies said about your dress. It's your first time to be introduced in the society and yet your parents made you wear and old-fashioned dress."

"Oh Lady Partridge, I'm so sorry to disappoint you but is my dress really that bad?"

That's when her cheeks turned red. Oh my would you look at that?

"What? No! That's not what I meant but yeah whatever. Think whatever suits you."

On the other note, this blunt lady beside me might have a low percentage of betraying me but I will have to prepare my lifeline for it will be greatly diminished if I interact with this one.

That's where our so-called friendship started. A daughter of a Viscount and a Baron. Well it's not that bad, I prefer having friends from lower statuses although I will have to be careful from not being too attached with them.

"Milady, I apologize for disturbing you but your first dance is about to start. The Count is already calling for you young miss."

I bid my farewell to my two prospective "friends" then let the butler guide the way towards my parents, especially my father who's very eager to dance with me and my brothers who were probably having a silent war as to who between the two of them will dance with me first.

Then I glanced among the crowd and spotted a familiar color of hair. It's the unusual color of dark green hair that's only exclusive to the royal family, however there has not been a royal children born as of late. So it has to be the only son of Duke Kingsley. His face was like he was just pulled and forced to attend the birthday of the lowly Count's only daughter.

His eyes met with mine and he got surprised for a moment. It was as if he saw an angel descended from a sky, well that was freaking cringe.

I creased eyebrow and took my eyes off of him. It's better not to get involved with him anyway. I don't have any intention of being involved in power struggles now that I have been avoiding any death flags.

"Father."

"Oh my pretty Lily. Will you grant this handsome father of yours to have your first dance?"

"Yes father, although you have to remove the 'handsome' part because it kinds of ruin the atmosphere."

He just laughed it off and assisted me towards the center of the hall. Dancing with my father in this life filled my heart with joy and made me wonder whether I was able to dance with him in my previous life. Was I?

"Lily."

"Yes father."

Now that I look at him carefully, I really am my father's daughter because I really looked like him, especially the amber-colored eyes except for my hair color which I got from my mother.

"I'm sorry for this party will put a lot of burden on your shoulders. You know that many boys and even girls would reach out to you now that you have been presented to the society."

He sighed first then continued speaking but I already know where this is going.

"Now even if we're just a lowly house, you can do whatever you want, buy, see and learn whatever you want, we have quite a lot of financial resources for that."

"Yes father I will keep that in mind."

"And although we're just like this, you can befriend whoever you wanted to be, and tell me if someone bothers you, I will let your brothers handle them. However, marriage proposals are still not allowed, you're still a 10-year old kid and you will yet to have your coming of age in the next 6 years so just stay still for now and enjoy being my daughter. Will that be hard for me to ask, Lily?"

I sweetly smiled at my father and shook my head. I agree with him however I will start growing and attaining all those four important things for me right now.

"Yes father, and I'm glad that I'm your daughter."

I also received the same remarks from my two crazy brothers and it was fun seeing the people confused with them because I was the only one who could distinguish which is Adler and Archer.

"The three of them really looked a like don't they?"

"Yes it seems like they are twins!"

Well yeah, I also looked a lot like them although I don't want to admit it. But just cut my hair short then dress up like them then we would probably be triplets.

"Lily can't you not dance with those boys out there?"

"Just tell them that your feet aches from too much dancing."

"But I'm not even wearing heels so why would I?"

"Just…just use any excuse. I don't want them taking advantage of my ugly little sister."

"Well they can't helped but get attracted with your little ugly sister."

Well am I really that ugly?

They say I look like my brothers right, my brothers are handsome even if they're only 13 year old kids so I assume that I also am beautiful. But do they also think the same?

"Am I really that ugly?"

I unconsciously spouted some nonsense when I went into the veranda to cool of some heat. I kicked my feet to remove my shoes but I heard an "Aw" somewhere.

"Oh I'm sorry. I didn't know there was a person in there."

It was already dark outside so I didn't notice that someone was on the veranda.

"Hey, did that really hit you--"

My eyes widened when I saw a young boy hold onto the railings of the veranda and went closer to me.

"What? What were you doing there? This terrace is really high…"

I went closer to the railings and saw that there was a small extension attached to it so anyone could sit-- but was really used for sitting.

"Oh my shoes…"

As if a genie, he extended his hands and gave me my shoe. That's when I took a proper look at him. A dark blue hair and golden-like eyes. It was utterly familiar. I've read such unusual characteristics from a history book I've finished yesterday. Unfortunately, my memory seems failing me today, what a thing that a 10-year old kid would say.

"I apologize for my harsh behavior but would you just please let it pass for the sake of this ignorant 10-year old kid."

I tried my best to be as formal as possible. I even bowed my head like all noble ladies would do. I don't know him yet and he may be someone who will become an important person in the future so I should be as courteous as I can so as not to be on his bad side.

"It's okay, you can lift your head."

So I did as what I was told. Then he just looked at me like I'm one of those figurines displayed in the mansion.

"My lord?"

I tried to break the silence by calling him formally for I do not know yet his name and it seems like he has no plan on telling me. Well, what could be that of use to tell me who is he right?

But I can't helped but get mesmerized by his face. It was something unusual…pretty…handsome? So I think it would be hard to forget his face.

"You're handsome--"

"You're not ugly.."

I immediately covered this sinful mouth of mine. What?

"I'm handsome?"

"I'm not ugly you say?"

There was a minute of silence before we both bursted out laughing.

"Well thank you for the compliment I get that sometimes. This eye color is pretty unusual they say." He said as a matter of fact. Well he's kind of proud with his handsomeness but he's right though.

"Well me too. I get that quite a lot."

"That you're pretty?"

I got shocked for a moment when he said that as if he was used to complimenting girls of my age. Well come to think of it, he's maybe 3-4 years older than me.

"No, it's actually the opposite, you know I get compared with my brothers sometimes and they tease me saying that I'm ugly so I thought well maybe that's the reality that you know being ordinary is ugly.."

He creased his forehead as if I have said something wrong.

"What? No, y-you're actually the opposite of it. Y-you're actually b-beautiful."

He exclaimed then shyly turned his eyes away from me. Well that's the first time I heard it. Although sometime I understand that my brothers were just teasing me. I can't help but feel insecure that maybe it's true that's why they're doing it.

"Well t-thank you for the compliment."

The atmosphere got awkward after that and a deafening silence reigned between us.

"Young miss!"

I nearly jumped out of my seat when I heard one of the maids calling me.

"Oh Evely. I'm sorry I just wanted to relax because my feet aches."

"Oh it's alright, only that the Master and the Madamme is looking for you. You should not be out of sight for you're the host of this party."

"Okay, just give me a minute."I said then looked at the young man beside me.

Evely gave me a shy look at nodded as if she understood what was happening. Although it was kind of wrong because I still don't know this suspicious handsome man, still I didn't want to waste my energy in correcting her ideas.

She left us for a moment and closed the door of the veranda so I focused my attention in this unknown young man and smiled.

"So you're the daughter of Count Wescott. Lady Emily Wescott."

Okay I got caught. I smiled at him as if I have been caught. I have no intention of revealing myself to a man who has not even introduced himself to me like how a gentleman would do. But why do I feel some pupas ravaging inside my stomach. Like am I feeling hungry right now?

"Yes I'm Lady Emily Wescott, but I don't even know where this handsome young man came from, isn't it a bit unfair?"

I jokingly said hoping that I would not insult him or what. But he just laughed at me.

"I'm just a nobody Lady Emily, or would you rather Lady Wescott?"

"Lady Wescott is fine I think."

I implied drawing a line between us. I don't intend to befriend a stranger but I also don't intend to insult someone I don't know but will turn out an important person someday.

"So Lady Emily Wescott, I wish you a happy birthday." He said and turned his eyes on my hand.

I instinctively knew what he's going to do. So I extended my hand and he gracefully reached my hand and gently kissed it like a knight I've read in romance novels. Well the atmosphere is romantic enough especially for a 10-year old kid like me. But I'm old enough mentally so this ain't going to work.

"It was nice meeting you Lady Emily Wescott. Hoping to see you again especially in your coming of age."

Yeah, hoping not to see you again, Mr. Suspicious-creepy-noble-guy.

I'm going to review my history book again to see and verify this young man's identity.