Re: The Villainess Does It With Class

Erin lead me to the study room located on the east side of the manor. The room was big and spacious, and most of the furniture is made of polished oak and mahogany. There were bookshelves on both sides, full of countless books. A circular stairway is situated at the side that leads up where you could find another batch of shelves.

An overhead chandelier lighted up the whole room. It looked so grand it made me wonder how much did it cost. There was also a huge study table on the far corner which has a bookshelf behind it.

My eyes roamed around, marveling at how beautiful the room was. The smell of books gave a calming ambiance and reminded me of the book shop I visited in the real world.

This whole room looked like it came out from those movies I have watched, but better!

Erin excused herself after a while. She said she was going to get some snacks and tea for me. I replied with a nod and looked around the room again.

Now, where to start…

I looked through the shelf behind the table and sifted through the pages, trying to find something useful. I plucked those books which contain information about this world, this place in particular, and also picked those which contain information about the Herman family. I put it all on the table and sat down, and marveled again, at how comfortable the cushion felt.

While I was busy reading a book about the empire of Rosenthal, Erin came in pushing a cart. She then started pouring me some tea and put it at the side, leaving a plate of cookies as well.

I looked up for a moment and thanked her. She bowed down and started to retreat.

Before she could go, I called out to her which made her stop.

"Ah! Can you tell them not to disturb me while I\'m here?"

It would be really bad if someone barges in and interrupt me. After all, I am trying to learn about this world for me to come out with a perfect plan.

"As you wish, milady." She replied. After bowing for the second time, she finally left.

I sighed in relief and started reading again.

I lost track of time. I forgot how long I have been camping inside the study. Erin came in again, went in the direction of the fireplace, and started a fire to warm up the now chilly room, and left afterward.

I was studying the empire\'s spoken language when she came in again for the nth time. I asked her what time it was and she replied that it was already late in the evening.

Apparently, I had skipped most of my meals for the whole day. That must be the reason why I feel sluggish, it\'s because I\'m out of fuel.

Good thing Erin kept bringing me snacks or I might have really starved myself to death.

"Do you want to eat dinner now, milady?" She inquired and looked at me, patiently waiting for my answer.

I stretched out my tired body and groaned in bliss. My back was hurting like hell.

"Yes, I will. I\'ll just take a bath first and eat afterward." I answered.

"Then let me assist you."

I smiled at Erin in gratitude. She really is a very capable person and I am so glad I have her at my side. She had been a big help to me from the start…

Erin helped me washed up, dressed me up, and dried my hair for me. She even combed it after drying! I was getting so used to all the pamperings.

Erin equals angel. Ah, how apt.

"Your dinner milady." She then voiced out while I was busy admiring myself in the mirror.

I was gradually becoming more used to this body, but every time I see this pretty face in the mirror, I just can\'t help but admire it.

I turned around and saw her arranging dishes on the table at the balcony. The night sky looked so lovely, especially the moon tonight.

"I figured that the Miss wouldn\'t want to see anyone yet, so I brought it here. I hope milady won\'t get mad."

Blinking in surprise, I cast her a look and smiled.

"I appreciate it. Thank you, Erin."

I made my way to the balcony and Erin pulled the chair for me. I sat down and looked at the mouthwatering food on the table and began eating.

The food was delicious! I don\'t know what it was called, but there was seafood soup and some stir-fried prawns slathered in sweet and sour sauce. I felt like crying when the taste burst in my mouth and mentally thanked whoever cooked this food from heaven.

Erin cleaned up after I was done. I tried helping her but she was panicking, so I stopped. After all, I am a noble lady from a Marquis residence.

I sat down on the chair in front of the vanity table and picked up the papers I brought from the study room.

I was noting down every important information I got from the books. I also have written down the current situation I am in, and compared it to the novel\'s timeline.

So far, I had gathered a lot. The main thing that caught my attention was the accident that transpired years before.

It happened 5 years ago. A group of bandits hijacked the carriage. The carriage then fell into a ravine, killing the Marquess and her companions. Nadia, apparently, got caught up in it too and fell into a coma.

Maybe that\'s the reason why the Marquis always gives in to his daughter\'s selfish requests. She had been comatose for a month and almost died.

I saw the portrait of the late Marchioness and noticed how Nadia resembles her mother a lot. She was really lovely and has the same silvery-white hair. Her eyes were a pair of blue so I\'m guessing that the pale pink eyes came from the Marquis. I checked a family portrait to confirm it and I was right!

After seeing her face, I became emotional for some reason. My heart ached and I felt sad all of a sudden.

Maybe this body remembers her…

Nadia looked really cute and angelic in the portrait, which surprised me a bit because I assumed she was already a spoiled brat even as a child. I, therefore, concluded, that she woke up from the coma, and became a b-tch. Probably because of trauma and grief from losing one\'s mother?

I clicked my tongue. It doesn\'t mean she could have the privilege to hurt anyone. She\'s still guilty in my eyes.

"Can you help me, Erin?" I glanced up at her, who was combing my hair.

"Of course milady! How can I help you?" She answered, still doing her thing.

"I want to talk with the other maids attending me. Can you tell me their names?" I uttered and before she could open her mouth, I added.

"Ah! You could talk to me casually! You don\'t need to be so formal with me when we\'re alone. After all, we\'re friends right?"

"F-friends?" She uttered with a dumbfounded look on her face. "B-but milady is--"

"It\'s fine! Talk casually whenever we\'re alone, that\'s an order." I stated.

Erin looked like she was going to protest but after hearing what I\'ve said and seen my indulging smile, she gradually loosened up. But I could still feel her anxiety.

"Y-yes milady���"

"Hmm?"

"I-I mean, yes!"

I smiled in satisfaction after seeing her looking so embarrassed. Ah, she\'s so cuuute!

"So? Their names?"

"Y-yes! Ahm, the one with the red curly hair is called Amaryllis. She has bright green eyes which is very pretty. Marigold has bright yellow hair and she\'s the tallest among us!" She started rambling on.

I tried to suppress the smile that wanted to escape from my lips. I could see how she\'s becoming relaxed the more she talks.

"Freesia has short light purple hair and looks really pretty! The last one, she\'s named Lily. She has black hair so milady could easily distinguish her." She animatedly remarked.

I inwardly chuckle. From what I heard, I could easily discern them just by their hair color. I\'ll do just that then…

"Are you friends with them?"

"Mmm! They are all friendly and kind! I do think that they would come to like milady as well…" She muttered.

Turning around, my mouth stretched into a cheeky grin.

"Hmmm, does that mean Erin likes me?"

"! ! !"

Erin shyly looked away and shuffled in her position. She\'s so cute!

"Eh? You don\'t?" I teased.

"N-no!" She disagreed, eyes wide open. "I… I like milady…" She mumbled which made my grin, wider.

"Really? I bet you\'re only saying that to not hurt my feelings..." I said and added a sigh at the end.

I saw through my peripheral vision how she became more flustered.

"T-that\'s not true! I really like milady!"

She looks like she\'s going to cry if I pushed further so I decided to stop.

"I\'m just teasing you!" I said and laughed. "I like Erin too..." Then gave her my sweetest smile.

She was basically my first ever friend after being thrown here. That\'s why I\'m truly grateful for meeting her. I, thank God, for letting me meet, one of His angels.

I laughed inwardly at myself. I\'m such a weirdo sometimes...

We conversed for over an hour after that, and when the night went even deeper, I decided to end the conversation and call it a day. I lied there in the big luxurious bed, which feels more and more familiar, the more I wake up from it and started worrying about tomorrow\'s event.

I hope everything goes well...