Chapter 7

The engagement is in two days.

Since Isabel is getting married in two weeks. We had to go so Isabella could take some final bridal lessons and see if she could fit in the custom made dress that had been ordered.

I do not see the point.

She will be wearing the dress for just a day.

Why does is it such a big deal? And if my plan becomes a success, she might never have to wear that.

We were supposed to meet with Jonathan Darwin at seven at Lady Swar's party that she arranged for the would-be-bride and groom.

Lady Swan seemed to be the best friend of old hag.

So I already was hating her.

There was a long list prepared.

Every one seemed busy.

But I was told to just focus on not to sit like a bat.

Even Fred the freak was made to do manual labour like the peasant he is.

He did well, sorting out the suitcases and all.

Darwin Lady already wanted Isabel to move into prepare their resident, so she could better for the marriage ceremony.

I sobbed at a corner on the thought of her leaving the house.

Will Isabel Come back if I get sick?

"Are you still in pain?," Fred asked me in a small voice.

I supposed he was still blaming himself for starting my 'monthly'.

Of course I was also blaming him for starting my ' monthly'

"I am sorry, I should have known you are built different," Fred apologised, "But I did not know you were a girl."

"Then what did you think I was?," I was so baffled that I forgot my sorrow for Isabella's departure.

"Something that climbs tree, Something like the mayor's son who wears skirts," he replied, he sounded so honest that I felt insulted.

"I am just too lazy to act like a girl , alright ?"

Now, I was put into a skirt.

While aunt helped me into a coat, she asked," Anne, aren't go you going to be fifteen tomorrow?"

My heart dropped.

This ....-is not happening.

I still feel like a ten years old kid. I was am growing up too fast.

"That is disappointing," Lady Darwing had creeped into my bedroom again. I yelped crossing my arms to cover myself, "She still does not look appealing at all, give her some breast pad!"

Who the hell would be looking at chest ? Why does it matter, anyway?

By the time, we were on carriage, making our way I was too cold way since my shoulders were uncovered, also too uncomfortable due to excessive fabrics on my skirt & the suffocating breast-pads.

Frederick was spared of such tortured.

I was disappointed at my family.

Didn't they also find the need to make him appealing?

As if the tortures were not enough. They made me wear heels.

HEELS!

But then I am used to tip toe my way around the house to steal snacks and put cockroach in Fred's shoes.

Maybe I will get accustomed to heels sooner than I think.

"Miss Flores ,"the hag came to sit with me in the carriage, the dirty pervert could not just help to be away from me," You need to behave in the gathering. I asked Raphael to accompany you. You must always he be om your feet so you do not ruin his dignity or yours."

Oh look. The she even had her son to keep an eye on me so I don't mix with other boyd, so she can keep me all for herself.

The thought of spending my day with the Grim reaper had my stomach growl in agony. "What is it?," Isabel noticed face, "Are you nauseous?"

"I feeling like puking ," I told her, "I must be haveing morning sickness being pregnant for spending too much time with the mayor's son "

Isabella made a face like she was going to throw me out of the window.

But this served her good since she had been blocking me each time I tried to go out to meet Gratel since yesterday, saying it is time I grow up and stop ruining our reputation.

"Miss Flores. We can not get pregnant for spending time together ,"the hag rolled her eyes, she might be jealous of how close Gratel and I were ,

"I think that it is time time we teach you some basic female biology."

"We thought that religious study was more important," aunt sad nervously, "You are well aware, you highness, that how certain education can corrupt young souls. We refrained from exposing her from that .

Another lie.. I had been handling. George's books since I was seven . Now thanks to Isabella I have learned all I can about female biology for the last few days . Still it is fun to make some jokes that will make everyone feel like that have just smelled Fred's fart.

"True, a woman will know all she needs to know, after marriage about this,"the old hag agrees, "But she needs to be careful of her mouth, a woman who speaks much brings ill fortune everywhere she goes."

There was a silence - long enough for me to make a face and mimick her words to the window.

"She is unique among her peers," aunt was trying hard. "Unlike Isabella or Lady Rietta, but each one has there own charm."

"Rietta was made and moulded and adorned by my own two hands," the hag said proudly,"Since she was nine she just played with Raphael and noone Other. What a loyal wife ."

I wondered what could they have played.

Probably 'Kill kill'

Rietta runs, Raphael kills.

I was not wrong about the hag being obssessed with little girls, anyway.

Riet seems be her early victim.

Now that she is a little bit older the Darwin Lady is letting her son to kill my poor friend.

How old was Riet, anyway?

"It breaks my heart everytime I think about little lady," aunt did not seem heartbroken at all, , "Being sick at such a young age?"

"Yes," Lady Darwin nodded,"I have assumed that she would carry Darwin's blood before giving up, but now we need to polish another gem."

I found her staring at me.

Like , I would agree to marry her just because Riet is sick.

I went back pretending to be a deaf, until Isabel kicked my shin.

How very lady-like snot!

"Miss Flores, you must be excited, I have found out that it is the first time ever you would attending a ball ," the hag told me, her eyes are squinted so much that she could have cut apples with her sharp gaze.

"How very exciting ,"I replied, not excited at all .

"I am not worried" aunt looked very much worried ," She is Isabel's cousin ,after all. She will shine like our Isabella."

I wanted to ask aunt if she had taken alcohol to keep herself calm about it.

I am worried for her mental health.

Since the last time I had got some public exposure, it had ended up with an exorcism ,one

year therapy & priest consultation at the church.

Did the Darwins know that?

After sitting for ages, when I had grown old enough to have wrinkles, the carriage stopped.

The sky had gone purple. I could hear the music farway .

"let's get prepared before the party starts," the hag said .

And I was dragged into another room.

This was the first time, I met some other maids who stayed preparing us for the balls .

Isabel's freckles were carefully covered. Aunt wore a wig. I was begged by my family who knelt before me to not cause any kind of ruckus.

"I will pay you,"aunt whispered in my ears with trembling voice," With frogs . I will give you your own frog so you never have to steal them from George again .I have asked the cook to catch some frogs for you?"

"Toads," I disapproved, scowling.

"Toads it is then," aunt nodded.

• And Grasshoppers."

Well I must say.

I was turned into something Annabelle Adelle Robin had never been her entire life.

A princess !

I very in a much looked like a princess in flowing lavender skirt.

I even had my own tiny tiara in my small bun.

I could not wait to show them off to Fred.

As soon as I was done, I ran out the door. I could already hear aunt chanting holy book praying so that I could go through the party without making any kind of trouble.

Isabel would be late, any way. As Lady Darwin had mentioned, the protagonist always had to appear at last .

But she never mentioned anything about villains.

So I could go about my way, eat delicious things and try to not cause ruckus.

My toads were on the line, after all.

The corridors were empty, except servants.

They stretched with large windows of glass that stared at the evening sky. The fire works were starting with scattering blue lights on all the marbles and glasses of the corridors.

If Gratel was with me, then we could have pretended that the corridor was a fairy land.

"Fred! ,"I called my cousing in excitement when I saw him standing at a window wearing a little green suit and white trousers.

I had been going gone through so many turns to finally find the freaky Fred looking so stupid as he stared at the fireworks, almost as if he had been bewitched by them.

But I could not let him be mesmerizing just by them.

"Look at me! ,"I twirled in my flowery skirt.

I had to pick up some, fabric to give my legs space to do the trick, "Remember this scene! Remember what, beautiful girl I am!"

Fred stared back at me, unimpressed,"Yeah, I get it."

"No! What a disgraceful attitude, you are meeting the Godders of seven continents!"

And I heard the laughter.

Who dared!

I and Fred walked till the corridor took a turn.

There stood three men.

Among them, one was the nemesis of my life .

I could not just believe I have just embarassed myself infront of the sole reason that had me plan a murder .

"Good evening O' Goddess of Seven Continents ,"Jonathan Godrick Darwin smiled at me, "May I have the honor to escort you to your destination ?"