1 - My Fair Lady

"Mama, I am ready! How do I look?"

Milliflore swayed from left to right, flaunting her white dress to her mother. Her hair was up in a sleek bun, adorned with dove feathers. She wore no jewels for she believed simplicity is the best. Yet, her dress was laced with gold in its underbust, pushing up her sizable bosom.

"Oh yes, dear. You look the most gorgeous," Lady Jyliette remarked. "Now, I do not mean to ruin your mood but one of the horses caught some kind of illness. I must tend to make sure we have a replacement."

"Oh, is it Peony? Please don't tell me it is Peony," Milliflore froze in anticipation. Peony is her favorite horse.

Lady Jyliette rolled her eyes.

"No, it is not Peony. So just calm yourself and be pretty, are we clear?"

Milliflore nodded. She once again, stood up in the mirror to admire herself. Her face had a bright smile, looking forward to a favorable outcome later that day. But then, she suddenly remembered something.

"Oh wait, auntie."

Lady Jyliette who was already at the door looked back at her.

"Yes, dearest?"

"Where is Sereughe?" Milliflore shoulder sagged. "Surely, she will not miss my presentation to the queen, will she?"

Lady Jyliette paused.

"I'm afraid she will."

The Spring Season. The first month of this season marks the beginning of the social season, a time to mingle with the figures of high society and form connections such as business alliances and of course, profitable marriages.

Milliflore has just come of age. All her life, she had been looking forward to this moment, a chance to find her prince charming, just like what she had read in those romance novels she had been feeding on. Her dream is already within her reach, but her sister does not seem to be any bit interested in it.

"Auntie! Why? Where has she gone off this time now anyway?"

About a kilometer away from the Mericon household, Sereughe aggressively rides her horse. She arrives at the back of the house, sending her horse to her quarters. She scouts the perimeter of the house, ensuring that no one sees her. However, she had long been discovered gone.

"Sereughe Rafierre Mericon, where have you been this time?" Lady Jyliette's voice thundered.

"I was just…" Sereughe sighed. "taking a stroll through town."

Sereughe walked off first, entering the house from its grand doors. However, Lady Jyliette could not be shaken off. No matter how chill she looked, everything was not fine for her at all.

"And that involves going to taverns and endangering yourself to drunkards to get information about Nepherim?"

Sereughe was halted in her steps. She faced Lady Jyliette's concerned and enraged eyes. Her breath became heavy and she could only hold the Lady's hand to console her.

"I left again without permission and it is not a befitting behavior for a young miss like me. I am deeply sorry."

After admitting fault, Sereughe almost immediately let go of her hand and headed upstairs. Lady Jyliette's gaze remained on her beloved daughter, not pursuing the issue anymore. It was evident in Sereughe's eyes when she looked at her, that it was another failed investigation.

Sereughe walked through the halls and finally entered her room. She let herself fall on the soft mattress, savoring its comfort. Her eyes closed in exhaustion but her thoughts kept waking her up. This day was supposed to be Milliflore's but her continuous failure makes her succumb to self-pity.

It's been 15 years since Sereughe vanished from Nepherim. That day after she passed out, she woke up in a carriage with Lady Jyliette, who broke her the sudden news of the adoption. She was now the young miss of Mericon Household. She is forever grateful to Lady Jyliette for giving her everything but her past keeps haunting her. Everything happened so quickly. And she cannot just forget about her father.

Last night, she went to another tavern that travelers frequent. However, none of them have ever traveled to Nepherim. They all say the same thing— the gates are closed to foreigners unless an invitation is presented. There was one who claimed to have entered there but she almost got harassed for it. Lady Jyliette could never know about that one or else, she might never be able to get her freedom again.

The noise from the outside caught her attention. She glanced by the window and saw Lady Jyliette and Milliflore on their way to the Lavendale Palace. She would be left alone in their home, and so she thought she might go to the one place that's always kept her relaxed.

Right after they left, Sereughe quickly tip-toed her way to the horses' quarters to fetch her horse, Jelly. She quickly led Jelly to the Googham Mountains, just a few kilometers away from their home. Several steps from the foot of the mountain lies a lake that she visits every time she feels frustrated.

Sereughe took off all of her clothes and quickly dipped herself inside the lake. Its refreshing waters soothed her exhausted body and the serene atmosphere brought her mind to peace. She almost fell asleep.

Sereughe is woken up from her slumber by a rushing animal. It was a baby deer to be exact and it kept on making sounds indicative of it being in pain. It collapsed right behind her so she could clearly see what it was wailing about.

"A scratch wound? You poor thing."

Sereughe quickly rose from the waters and put her palm on the deer's wound. She put her mind into it and as expected, its tissues slowly regenerated and the wound healed, like it was never there— an ability she acquired right after the incident from her past.

Sereughe's face brightened, joyous in helping an animal. The deer quickly ran as soon as it felt fine but Sereughe had no regrets.

Sereughe figured it best to just go home so she fetched her clothes to get dressed. She was about to put on the first layer of her clothing when a voice came through her mind.

"It is not befitting of a young miss to get undressed in the woods, my fair lady."