The moment when the stars fell over the count's estate (1)
It was a calm day, when I was gradually getting used to life under the same roof with Lucas. For the first time in a long time, Violet arrived at the count's mansion with a large suitcase.
- Paula! I missed you so much.
As soon as I came into her sight, she immediately hugged me and whispered that she was sorry for the long separation. Then she patted my cheeks, and I felt awkward. This was the first time this had happened to me, so I didn’t know how to react. “Is this a normal greeting for you?” – I thought. My body tensed and my arms twirled in the air, lost.
Lucas, without taking his eyes off us, came closer.
- Sister.
- Oh. Lucas?
Violet blinked and looked at Lucas. It seemed to me that this reaction was caused by Violet's ignorance of his presence here.
“Oh my God, I was wondering where you were all this time.”
– I still owe a debt.
“But didn’t he refuse you earlier?” This is too much.
Violet tilted her head to look at Vincent standing behind Lucas. Vincent felt her gaze on him and turned to the side, pretending not to notice anything. Violet puffed out her cheeks, but didn't complain anymore. She looked at Lucas instead. He shrugged and returned to Vincent.
“Ethan is busy, so it’s been hard to meet him lately.” Everyone is so detached. I only have Paula.
– This is a great honor for me.
Violet hugged me tightly again. I smelled a sweet scent as I leaned into her shoulder. Smells like a real lady. My cheeks burned at the smell of a scent so different from mine.
- Hmmm... I'll stay here too! Violet shouted over my shoulder to the two men.
- Why?
- Sister, what happened?
The men reacted simultaneously. And both were confused. I looked back at them in bewilderment and tried to warn them with gestures that such a reaction was inappropriate, but Vincent, naturally, could not see it, and Lucas just blinked. Meanwhile, Violet's cheeks puffed out even more.
“Did you really think that I came here for you?” I'm here to see Paula!
- What? I?
- Yeah! Paula, let's go.
Violet immediately pulled me up the stairs. Behind her slender body lay enormous strength. I looked back at the two men in confusion, but it looked like they weren’t going to help. On the contrary, they turned away, expressing reluctance to interfere. This time it was me who pouted.
* * *
The appearance of another person caused a stir in the mansion.
Isabella headed here immediately after learning of the arrival of a new guest. Violet greeted her, settling into the room next to mine. The reason was her desire to be close to me. I even had to promise that we would sleep together at night. Unlike Violet, who was happy to chat, I only focused on Isabella's face. Luckily, Isabella didn't object and ordered me to keep order in Violet's room.
Judging by the amount of luggage she brought, Violet planned to stay here for a long time. Last time she sent people to get the dress, but this time she seemed to be prepared for anything.
- Ta-dam! Paula, how about this?
Violet pulled out a pink dress and showed it to me while I cleaned up the room. The expensiveness of the design was indicated by several layers of lace on the shoulder line and the lower part of the sleeves, and in addition to lace, the skirt was also covered with frills. There was a pink ribbon at the waist that could be cinched to give the figure a sophisticated look. When I looked closely at these details, I realized how expensive the dress was, made of quality materials and embroidered with roses.
“It suits her perfectly.”
- Beautiful dress.
- Yes? I think it would look great on Paula.
What? My hands stopped touching the dress. I met Violet's gaze and saw a smile on her face. At the same time, there was a sense of threat in her. Sensing danger, I instinctively stepped back and waved my arms.
– I prepared this dress for you, Paula.
– I appreciate your concern.
“Then you will accept it.”
However, it was too expensive. One might, of course, think that this was too much, since I had previously accepted a hair ribbon as a gift, but that was not the case. I refused because I didn't want to accept something so expensive, but Violet didn't react. She just walked towards me, holding the dress tightly.
- V-Violet.
- Come on, Paula. Do it.
- What?
- Take off your clothes.
I was speechless. Violet continued to smile. Taking advantage of my confusion, she rushed at me.
Then came my screams. Violet's uncontrollable hands tried to tear off my apron and dress. Driven by fear, I desperately resisted, but despite this, she managed to easily pull off my clothes. In the blink of an eye I found myself in only my underwear.
I sat down on the floor and covered myself with my hands. It was the first time I had experienced something like this, and tears welled up in my eyes. It was like I was robbed.
I looked in confusion at the still smiling Violet, who immediately threw my things to the side. My eyes followed the abandoned clothes. At that moment she handed me something. It was a corset.
- Why?..
“Because if you’re going to be beautiful, you need to do everything perfectly.”
-Please have mercy on me.
I prayed, but it didn't help. In the end, I had to wear a corset. I winced as Violet tightened the laces behind my back. Having secured everything securely, she rejoiced at how beautiful it looked, but I only felt discomfort because it was my first time wearing something like this. However, the lacing pressure became less suffocating after a while. I was able to breathe a sigh of relief.
In the corset, my figure looked slimmer, and my breasts, which were not there, became more visible. It looked good. As I admired the ribbon on my chest, Violet handed me white stockings. This time I accepted the gift without resistance. I calmly put them on, and Violet then handed me new underwear. It became clear to me that Violet had been planning all this from the very beginning.
I put on the dress and shoes offered. Violet walked around me, studying my image. Her gaze was quite focused. After a few rounds, she smiled and clapped her hands in satisfaction.
– These days, skirts that are too frilly are bad taste. This is okay. You're thin, so I decided it would be better to show off your body a little rather than show it off. But as expected, you look great!
- Thank you.
I smiled awkwardly and fiddled with my skirt. The texture of the gloves I put on for the first time was unfamiliar to me. Violet glanced in my direction again, as if appraising her, and reached for my head. Raising my hand in fear, I stopped her.
- What's happened? You need to do your hair and put on makeup.
- My hair is fine. And I’m fine without makeup.
- Oh, God. What's the point of dressing up if you leave your hair untouched?
When she approached me, I protested desperately and retreated. There was nothing to talk about - I just hated my hair. Despite Violet's insistence, I tried to take off the dress, saying that I shouldn't have worn it.
My behavior puzzled her. She tried to stop me. I insisted on taking off my dress. A real struggle for leadership ensued when Violet began to persistently interfere with me. In the midst of the struggle, we both lost our balance and fell to the floor.
When I fell, my bangs immediately flew apart. Trying to get up, Violet looked at my face and opened her eyes wide. I quickly covered it with my hand, moving back, and extended my other hand, preventing her from getting closer.
– Paula.
- Don’t come, there’s no need. Sorry.
- Why are you asking for forgiveness?
- Because I'm ugly.
Violet blinked.
-You're not ugly.
“You don’t need to encourage me.” Everything is fine.
– Paula, I'm serious.
- Sorry.
Apologizing, I shifted in place. Violet tilted her head.
“You’re a little simple-minded, but I don’t think that’s worth apologizing for.”
- Sorry.
– Paula.
When Violet leaned over and tried to approach me, I quickly retreated. I didn't care if the dress got dirty. Violet started to approach, but stopped. Her outstretched hand also froze in the air.
- Sorry.
– Paula.
- Sorry. Sorry.
-...
Violet said nothing more. All I did was repeat how sorry I was. I couldn't lift my head. It was scary to see Violet's face, full of a mixture of disappointment and contempt. All my life I listened to how people criticized me: accusations that I was ugly and useless, that I only pushed people away from me, and that it would be unimaginable to live with such a face. This criticism has always suffocated me.
“I’m sorry... I didn’t choose how to be born,” I said, shaking my head and trying to get rid of the memories that appeared in my head, but they were lodged too deep.
“You look so terrible,” my peer once said. Unlike other children, he was kind and friendly, he even played with me. He might get teased about it, but he didn't care. I was grateful to him. It seemed to me that he secretly liked me.
But it turned out that he is in love with Alicia. That's why he became friends with me. He used me, but despite this, he did not miss the opportunity to throw dirt at me. I'm ugly, and the value of girls in this country is determined only by their appearance. Someone once said that I was lucky to be born ugly, otherwise my father would have sold me.
But is this really so? Is this luck? Would it be right to be grateful just because I have suffered less in my life than someone else? I'm not sure anymore...
- Sorry. I'm so sorry...
– Paula. Look at me.
My torment was interrupted by a calm voice. I lowered my head and Violet called me again.
“Paula,” she said with warmth in her voice. I stopped asking for forgiveness and took a deep breath. As I hesitantly raised my head, Violet sat down across from me and looked straight at me.
– Paula, listen. I don't care what you look like. Whether you are beautiful or not, it doesn't matter. For me you are Paula. I like you. I like the friendly Paula who gives sincere advice, supports me and accepts even my stubbornness. I think this is where your true beauty lies. Appearance is completely unimportant.
Violet smiled sweetly. Her unwavering violet eyes were full of warmth. I felt the sincerity expressed in her confident and relaxed tone.
“I love all of this about you, no matter what you look like.”
-...
- Don't apologize. What should you apologize for? You didn't do anything wrong.
- But...
- Oh my God, Paula. Do you like me because I'm beautiful? Would you hate me if I was ugly?
I immediately shook my head. Violet laughed, and her clear voice echoed throughout the room. I couldn't take my eyes off that bright smile.