"You brat! How dare you!" The woman shouted with rage as she pulled Arianna's hair.

"Mother! What is it!?" Arianna was startled. What did she do wrong...?

"You work for Angel!? Your being praised as a young genius!? Haha! Very good! B*tch! You don't deserve it!" Marchioness Chandler screamed hysterically and pulled Arianna's hair with greater strength.

After a while Arianna was finally able to push her stepmother away.

She thought it would make her stepmother and father proud. Shouldn't it have brought honor to her family?

Her father was proud.... He even spared some time from his busy schedule to spend time with her...

So... Why is her stepmother not happy? She thought they were close...

But there was so much hatred in those eyes....

"Little b*tch! You should have died with your stupid mother!" The Marchioness started running towards Arianna with great speed.

With just a slight movement, Arianna dodged and the marchioness lunged onto the air, then she fell on the floor. Face first.

Arianna didn't even cast her stepmother a glace as she left the room...and locked the door.

"You! How dare you!" The Marchioness screamed from the inside.

"Don't worry mother. Someone will unlock the door.... Eventually.."

***********

A sigh escaped Arianna's lips as she sat down in an empty parlor.

She never knew her mother could say such things to her. She had never seen her mother act like that before...

She thought she knew everything. She thought her stepmother was sincere. But again... It's all fake.

"Young lady...?" Arianna's first rank maid entered the parlor.

"I'm alright. Just shocked..." Arianna rubbed her eyes. She suddenly felt a strange sense of overwhelming emotion. But no matter what... She can't cry.

"If miss say so... What shall we do about her grace?" Her maid asked. Arianna's maid heard everything. She was just outside the room.

"Leave her there for a while. I don't want to see her for now..." Arianna subconsciously reached out her hand to grab a teacup. But there was no tea...

"...." She sighed once more.

Drinking tea has always been a way to calm herself. It was a habit she developed from her biological mother.

"How about miss visits lady Angelina?" Her maid smiled and knelt beside Arianna.

"Hm? Why so suddenly?" Arianna asked.

"Miss seems like miss needs someone to talk to, and miss always seems to be having a pleasant time when around that young lady."

"Hmm. Alright then. Prepare a carriage! I do hope lady Angelina doesn't find me troublesome for coming unannounced..." Arianna stood up and helped her maid up.

***********

"Lady Arianna? Why have you come?" Angelina blinked her eyes innocently, looking clueless.

"Could I speak to lady Angelina?" Arianna asked.

"Of course. Please, follow me." Angelina smiled and led Arianna to get drawing room.

When they arrived, Angelina immediately asked Arianna if she would like to be served tea. But Arianna refused.

"This seems to be quite serious..." Angelina sat down.

"Yes... Indeed..." Arianna sighed once more. "It's about my mother- um my stepmother..."

"Please tell me m'lady's worries." Angelina stood up and moved to sit beside Arianna.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

It is not hidden that my blood-related mother committed suicide. But no one knows exactly what happened exept for the people inside my family's mansion.

Unfortunately... I had the 'pleasure' to witness everything.

Because...I was there...

My mother hanged herself right in front of me.

My mother was strong hearted woman compared to the rumors circulating her. She would rather die than live as my father's wife.

She would try to avoid him by any means. She was a sad woman, who was tired life..

That night after my parents had a heated argument, I decided to sleep with my mother. We changed into our night gowns and turned of the lights.

Aside from the faint light provided by the moon, it was completely dark.

Though it was years ago, I still remember that night clearly...

I got on the bed and was prepared to go to sleep. But my mother seemed to be in a daze...

She walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed and screamed. Her screams were not too loud. It sounded like cries... But she shed no tears.

Her words will remain stuck in my mind forever...

"You think I want to do this!? You think I want to be here!? I never wanted to be here! You think I wanted to be your wife!? Do you really think I wanted to marry a man I have never met!? You think I wanted to be a mother!? "

Those words seemed not for me... But for my father.

"I don't want to live like this! I don't want to slowly wither away in this mansion! I'm wasting my life here for this family, and yet I don't feel any bit of satisfaction! I'm never happy!"

It was not only till called out to her, did she stop.

"Huh...? Sorry dear... Mommy frightened you." She laid down on the bed and helped cover me with the blanket.

"Go to sleep okay?" My mother said. Her tone made it sound like she was pleading.

"Mommy was just a little frustrated." She watched as I nodded.

"I love you mommy." I said.

"..... I love you too sweetheart. Good night..."

Then I fell asleep...

I woke up to the sound of screaming...

When I opened my eyes... There she was... My mother hanging...

She was right in front of the bed.

The person who screamed was my mother's personal maid, who came to check on us. Her scream successfully caused everyone to awoke.

My brother was able to recover quickly from that accident. But I couldn't. After all, he wasn't the one who witnessed everything.

When my stepmother appeared, I wasn't too happy. But she was always kind to me, so I started warming up to her.

But I never learned to like her daughter. She would always try to prevent my father from spending time with me.

But my stepmother would always be there to comfort me. I thought I could trust her...

But today she....

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

" I see... No wonder lady Arianna looked so gloomy when I saw you." Angelina patted the back of Arianna's hand.

"Thank you for listening lady Angelina. I do feel better after speaking about my past grievances." Lady Arianna smiled. She smiled.

Angelina was shocked. She had never seen Arianna smile before...

"Lady Angelina...?"

"Oh, my apologies. Lady Arianna's smile was too beautiful that it stunned me. Lady Arianna should smile more." Angelina said.

"R-really...?" Arianna's face flushed scarlet.

"Of course. Lady Arianna is one of the most beautiful women I have ever laid my eyes on." Angelina smiled encouragingly.

"Lady Angelina, your mouth is smeared with honey" Arianna chuckled.

(A/N: "mouth smeared with honey" basically means the person is good at spouting praises.)

***************

In the carriage, Arianna curved the corners of her lips upward and smiled once more.

"Does miss feel better?" Her maid asked, smiling.

"Indeed. Thank you for proposing this idea to me." Arianna fiddled with her fingers.

"This servant merely cares about my lady." Her maid smiled.

As soon as the carriage arrived back in he Chandler estate, Arianna's maid excused herself and headed straight to the maid's quarters.

There she fell to her knees suddenly and looked around confusingly.

"...!?"

How did she get here? Wasn't she in front of her lady's room?

*************

A wave of relief overwhelmed Angelina as she fell down to the sofa. Finally they left...

She felt as if she was about to collapse at any moment. Controlling Arianna's maid's body for so long really took a lot of her energy...

Of course she was the one who proposed that Arianna come talk to her.

Although she did like Arianna, she did have ulterior motives. If Arianna were to spill out her grievances to her, it would make their friendship stronger.

But she truly did feel sorry for Arianna.

"Miss is so tired. What should I do?" Marie exclaimed worriedly as she peeked in through the crack of the door.

"I don't know. Let her rest?" Eric said. His tone sounded sarcastic.

"Mmm. You naughty child, dare to act rude to my miss's most beautiful and loved maid!?" Marie glared at the boy beside her.

"Most beautiful and loved? My lady Angelina has spoiled you too much. The best way to describe your appearence is... Dull." Eric said as he kept on a straight, yet stubborn face.

"Dull!? lady Angelina!? Who are you calling your's!?" Marie felt as if her head was about to explode from anger.

"...." Eric blushed slightly, seeming to be embarrassed, before running off with a funny and mocking expression.

"Y-you!" Marie immediately ran after him.

Angelina sighed. Did they think she was deaf?

Come to think of it.... Angelina hasn't seen Evelina after the royal event recently held.

She locked herself in her room, and wouldn't go out unless it was for a trip to the bathroom. Just like the duchess.

What happened?

"Hm." Angelina stood up and made her way to the head maid's room.

*************

Standing in front of the head maid's room, Angelina stood there in silence for a few seconds before knocking.

The head maid opened the door shortly.

Seeing Angelina, the maid maid was shocked and instantly became stiff as wood.

"Youngest lady...? What do you need me for...?" The head maid asked.

"Nothing. I just need you to keep quiet." Angelina sneered.

"What?" Then the head maid shook.

Her eyes turned empty for a moment, then turned normal again. She straightened her posture and walked pass Angelina.

Angelina was already tired, so she could barely control two bodies at once.

She guided Angelina's body inside the head maid's room and closed the door, before locking it.

Just by wearing the head maid's body, Angelina already felt disgusted.

The head maid's hand reached down her pocket and took out a ring of keys.

The master key.

Only three people has it. The duke, the head maid, and the butler.

Angelina, in the head maid's body, walked towards the duchess's room.

When she arrived, she heard the sound of glass breaking and screams.

She could hear the faint sound of the duke's loud voice.

"B*tch! Why don't you just keep quiet and stay obedient! You actually dare mention it!" The duke shouted furiously.

Hearing him, Angelina gritted her teeth and paid attention.

"You think you can get away!? Your family doesn't even want you anymore! Where will you go? You have nowhere to go but here!"

"I'm sorry...." The duchess's trembling cries stabbed Angelina's heart. It sounded so desperate and hurt.

" If you dare mention this matter again... It would be a shame if the body of duchess Skyler, Beatrice goes missing..." The duke threatened.