103 Morning After(2/2)
"Disgusting. Don't use those eyes in public. Ever."
"Ack, okay okay. Ow ow ow, my cheekssse"
"Still disgusting. Never. Do not show this ever to mankind."
Ouch, harsh much?
Maybe I should request for a mirror? After getting rid of these pesky spying guards that is. I have a very advantageous face given this body's genetics. But I have to find its most effective charming points. What a waste it would be not to be able to use this weapon just because of the mismatching soul and villainous persona.
Right right, lets practice the perfect smiles and puppy dog pouts when I get the chance. Let's not pout my failure too hard for today.
Still, can't this awful man be a little gentler with a maiden's self-confidence? I'm still physically your daughter you know? Calling my best wide-eyed 'beseeching' look disgusting is a little much. That was my free dinner face you know?
You know, the kind where you turn down the other guy's offer to pay for you. Take out your wallet, put on a little cute struggle, and then actually not pay? Yes that one, the harder to master than it looks classic!
Ah I ate so well with that face! So many companies deals sealed.
So what if it was disgusting to those in the know? It works! Funny enough I remember how a certainly displeased brat kept saying something very similar to father just now... stupid Jung-Joon.
It may have been an imitation but it was well based on angels in another world's most renowned classical paintings. It's art! A good mix of simple timeless elegance and innocent slightly tragic beauty. An imitation is better than nothing, work what you got! I really felt like that sort of expression would be effective.
Is it because I relied too much on my experience with my old face?
Right right, they're different faces. I just need more practice with this one.
Afterall I was never so potentially beautiful! Will work on a more convincing begging puppy dog eye. On many expressions. After all this is the face of...a villainess! Of course it's beautiful. Rich villainess usually are. Ohho ho ho ho!
Ah I'm just complaining about the frustrations of my heart because nothing is going my way today.
"Remember never to turn such eyes to other men. Especially in public."
"Yes, father."
"This applies to brats as well. None. All males. Do you hear me? None of this upturned kitten eyes nonsense. I shudder at the thought of the disgrace."
"Yes, father. I understand. I will work on it. I beseech you to release my face."
My poor cheeks. I'm going to need a face mask tonight, a soothing one. Father is always awful around lessons. It's good that he stayed in to do his paperwork today but personally I think I like him better when he's being gaga over vegetables or waterwheels. Easier to control. Ow.
"The risk factor is too high, given the very short history of your life. Behave and we shall see if a reduction of guards is a luxury we can afford. The hidden and public guardsmen stay, no matter how many you hear may or may not be there....Damn brats."
I monotonously let out another sound of agreement, not missing the scathed out-breath at the end. Ah, father really isn't too happy about the secret guards being found out that easy. I hope their punishment isn't too bad. Specially trained or not they're still just Ventrella employees on the payroll.
I wonder how many there are at this point in time?
"Yes father."
Father picks my truly defeated form up, limp in his hold as he walks me outside the room. I'm simply too small and weak to get my way. Escape is still so far it's practically impossible. Ah, life is cruel but today is particularly crueler.
"Darling!!! I missed you~" comes a frail sickly sweet voice.
All of the sudden strength returns to my body and I quickly clutch to my father's jacket, trying to burrow my way into the opening. In return, father's hold of me gets even tighter, as if he equally agrees the only safe place for me to go is in in in and out of sight.
"Maria? Love? You're up?" he inquires, playing cool as we still hide in the abbey way.
From the peeks I get, the courtyard has been prepared with a too large luncheon table. My mother hardly dressed sits slumped with her hair scandalously left undone. If I look closer I can see the dark circles of a hangover and the fact that she's barefoot.
Oh the horror.
"Darling, oh boo hoo hoo. I'm not as young as I used to be. I don't bounce back quite as well as I did back then. Did I make too awful of a mess last night? Oh I just know I did. Boo hoo hoo. Gable always warned me not to mix my liquors oh but how do you say no to toasts?! Oh I do so hope that lovely couple made up! Can't plan a wedding without a couple to be wed." she whines, delicately sipping a goblet of red.
I will assume that it is my beloved orange juice and not anything.
"Yes dear. I'm sure they did. They were found....quite contented. Are you sure you're feeling....well enough to be up and out? Shall I call for anything?" inches my father, as if he could make it just out the now isolated courtyard.
Seriously where did everyone go? Where are all the servants? Did they just set up the table, which is looking more brunch than lunch, and run off to safety? They must have, that's the only explanation.
"Oh darling, I can't remember right anything after the 14th toast. I must have been awful. Did I cry too much again? You must find me very disgusting at that and this current point?"
"Oh no my love, I thought the way you held your liquor was quite commendable. "
"I remember crying! Oh but not about what? Oh my head, I'm fading darling. I'm losing my youth healthy and beauty, boo hoo hoo. You didn't come to bed last night? Was I really so deplorable?"
"Not at all. You could never. You were ill from too much to drink and I would never forgive myself for harming you. Now stay there and rest up Maria, let's fetch you....a shawl... or coat. "
So close, so close to freedom. I don't know what hungover mother is like and I don't want to really find out. Go go go father, get me out of here!
"Oh but Frederick daaaaaarrrrrlllling. I don't want a coat. Not unless it's yourrrrs~....Darling. Darling where are you going? Frederick. Don't you dare walk be thinking of running away from me again?"
"Of couse not dear, just...dropping something off. Then I'll be right back to see to your ever fine whim."
"Frederick...take off your coat. Frederick, what are you hiding in there?"
NO! So close!!!! I was so close!!!!