《Vices of the Pages》 Prelude ¡°In my original universe, I died in a tragic car accident. But when I awoke, I discovered I was incarnated into a character from my favorite romance novel. I had become the villainess that was destined to die! To avoid my predetermined death, I must change the plot and live a peaceful life away from the original novel!¡± The opening line for a novel should give a window to the world that you would like to build, giving a general direction to the narrative to attract the target audience, set it apart from other stories, and give some substance to the pretty cover that drew the clicks in. So why have I seen this exact line countless times already? Whether it¡¯s their second, first, or hundredth life, why is it that these main characters seem to be the same person? As an avid reader of this over-saturated trope, how am I supposed to track which indescribable beauty is which? How am I to remember the different filler plots of each vile villain (in name only) as their goals of a quiet life are postponed? Not to mention remembering the mass of side characters and male leads on top of everything else. I learned that if you¡¯ve read one, you¡¯ve read them all about 10,000 combined chapters ago. If I were to read it with my eyes closed, I bet my life that I could guess everything about one of these trope type novels with absolute accuracy. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. The sky shines an ordinary gradient between navy and gold just after sunset, most everyone within the city preferred to watch the blue light of their phone screens. A moderately sized group waits patiently for the signal to flip at the crosswalk. The unsuspecting prick of our focus joins them, pulling out their phone to scroll through the list of villainess webtoons they despise so much. It happened in such an odd fashion that the SUV hit them before the reality of the situation did. This is why being on your phone near a busy intersection is a bad idea, this idiot didn¡¯t even know how it happened, yet they were now losing consciousness on the pavement at a rapid pace. ¡°So my addiction to these cheap isekaisdid become the death of me.¡± You Only Live Twice A snowy mountain range guards a valley dukedom. Spring flowers glitter like gems in the unbroken dew, the colorful landscape contrasts the elegant, gray bricks of a castle. Early morning sun shines through the tall windows, awakening the masses to a pleasant morning. Despite the breathtaking scenery, the vibes are being severely harshed by the brooding of our choleric character. It was quite a shock to be awoken to a circumstance they couldn¡¯t afford, but rather than being greeted with a hospital bill, it was luxurious bedding and a silky nightgown. With veteran level expertise regarding this genre, they looked for identifying features on their person and found striking locks of red hair that ruined their day. The hair, as one of the few features that sometimes set female leads apart, matches the protagonist of The Mage Villain Wants to Live Passively perfectly, which is the webtoon that they had dropped right before their untimely demise. Enlightenment has since hit them with force equal to the car they were totaled by. Their morning has since been spent reflecting on the sins they have committed to deserve such a fate. ¡°I should mention that I never thought transmigration was actually possible.¡± How unlucky is it that I ended up transmigrating into a webtoon I didn¡¯t just drop, but that I didn¡¯t even finish one chapter of? The science and reasoning are beyond my layman¡¯s knowledge of quantum physics or whatever spirituality could land me in such a position. Could this be a personal hell? Besides all that, what are the odds? I¡¯ve read hundreds of webtoons and I¡¯m dropped in one I can barely remember the unremarkable title of? There¡¯s only one conclusion I could come to: spiteful divine intervention. This unfortunate soul reaches the stage of acceptance rather quickly and begins to assess their current state. They go through an assessment of their physical and mental state. As expected, their new body has soft skin, shiny hair, and from what they can feel, delicate features, but their body surprisingly sturdy for a noblewoman. Although, the longer they spend in their head like this, a sense of dread creeps in on them. After doing another run-over of the current situation, the timeline from phone screen to unfamiliar luxury, they begin to grasp their position. Divine revelation closes in on them and their words from their past life ring in through their ears. Down to the letter, they bet their life on pattern recognition and ego. With no memories from the body they now inhabit and no substantial memories of webcomic they decided wasn¡¯t worthy of their grace, they couldn¡¯t introduce themself by name at the moment. Without missing a beat, the plot continues relentlessly. A meek knock breaks the silence, bringing attention to the fact that they now exist as a fraud in an unforgiving, spiteful world. They couldn¡¯t help but notice that the doors look much more absurd in real life though, quite extravagant and they could only assume that ashy rose wood was quite heavy. The beautiful craftsmanship of the door can wait, since there is a much more important issue at hand. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°Our apologies Lady Verina, it¡¯s time to get ready.¡± An entirely new, separate dread washes over the person that is now named Verina. A horror akin to being handed a test you did not remember nor study for, but just the same, you have to take it and there¡¯s no backing out now. Well since the absolute horror has been established, there¡¯s actually quite a few thing that start the plot on the wrong foot. Notably, that the main character always acts OOC for no good reason! I never understood how the people around them didn¡¯t accuse these second-rate actors of witchcraft if they¡¯re ¡®oh so hated and villainous.¡¯ Not a single explanation for their switch up half the time either and the people around them let it slide without question. The least I can do is pay respect to the original inhabitant of this vessel by holding true to their character to the best of my ability. Verina mustered up an appropriately cold tone in her reply, ¡°You may enter.¡± The door opens with caution before the trio of maids walks in to meet their lady¡¯s cold gaze. Visibly nervous, a braver girl stammered. ¡°Is Lady Verina feeling unwell? My apologies! Should we come back later?¡± Seems like Verina used to strike fear into the hearts of her servants, I may be sympathetic towards them but I shouldn¡¯t show it right now. Plausible cause for change is my current goal and currently, I don¡¯t have any information about myself, let alone anything to work with. Although, her villainy seems pretty typical to me, based on the timid behavior of the servants, I¡¯m guessing she was the irritable and explosive type. Indulging in her past behavior won¡¯t do me any favors in the long term though, I should hurry along the character development. She responds like an annoyed girlfriend, a hint of a scowl creasing her brow, ¡°I¡¯m fine, it¡¯s nothing.¡± Moving toward the edge of her mattress, she clarified. ¡°Continue your work.¡± I¡¯ve always been quite curious of the routines of these pampered nobles, I¡¯m a little excited to experience this for myself. Despite their visible unease, the three maids were remarkably efficient and organized while working. The morning started with a bath, which was mildly uncomfortable for everyone involved. Despite the discomfort of being waited on in such a setting, Verina made sure to stay composed, as it would be odd for a noble to be uncomfortable during such an ordinary activity. After that was done, Verina dressed for the day and sat to do her hair. While the frame of the vanity mirror is intricate and stunning, with floral detailing and delicate patterns, it is put to shame by the face reflected in the center. This is the face of a villain? Verina was considered so evil she deserved death with this face card? What in the hell did she do? Was she kicking baby seals regularly or something? During this whole ordeal, Verina¡¯s internal monologue never once shut up. Through countless sarcastic remarks, overthinking spells, and general scheming, she finally settled on a plan to change the direction of her future. The maids, which Verina had since learned the names of, had just wrapped up their tasks and were desperate to leave. As they were dismissing themselves and halfway out the door, Verina had donned a pensive expression once again before opening her mouth to speak. ¡°Amber, I¡¯d like to have a conversation with you. The rest of you are dismissed.¡± Plausible Deniability While I do feel pity for Amber, I need to have someone to walk me through this until the fog clears. I did single her out like that on purpose, but even I¡¯m surprised at just how terrified she is. She¡¯s shaking so much you¡¯d think she¡¯s having tea with death itself! The two ladies are sat across each other in a suffocating blanket of silence, the aroma of a pleasant green tea contrasting the tense atmosphere. The cold gaze of her young lady remains still, adding fuel to the burning fear she had towards the young lady. Trembling hands tend to the steeping leaves, her mind convinced she had met certain doom. The lid clattered against the pot breaking the silence as adrenaline clouded Amber¡¯s mind further. Amber was treating Verina like a time bomb that could explode at any sudden movement. The maids had quite obviously noticed her oddly passive behavior, the only conclusion they could reasonably come to is that this was the calm before the storm! With a feeble clatter and a strangled gasp, Amber set the cup of tea in front of Verina. ¡°Pour yourself a cup and sit down.¡± Maybe that lead character wasn¡¯t overreacting when they said the original inhabitant was a villain, just what did she do? Amber started tearing up after I gave her that order as if I threatened her life. Perhaps I underestimated just how evil the original soul was, am I actually doomed? Like I¡¯d accept that. I have common sense and critical thought, I can obviously create a solution to this problem. I have no clue who I am and context clues aren¡¯t enough, I need someone to give me a tutorial on being Verina and I need a reason to act insane for a while. Amber is quite apparently scared out of her wits because of me, but this gal is a perfect fit for my right-hand man. I need to fill the plot holes and get the story back on track, and I must get this person on my side to do so. Verina takes a sip from her teacup while composing herself further. She looks up from her ceramic glass and meets the wide, teary eyes of the young lady across from her. She takes a deep breath, releases some tension, and finally starts speaking. ¡°I want to speak to you as another woman, not as the young lady you serve. Please hear me out.¡± I think she¡¯s still just as scared, yet ten times more confused. I suppose she¡¯s gone from flighty to completely frozen. Apologies to this innocent soul, but I do not have the time to let her process. Knowing the usual set up in these tropes, this anxiety I¡¯m feeling is completely irrational, there¡¯s no use in dwelling on potential failures. Right now, I need to garner as much sympathy as possible. She¡¯s more guarded than I could have expected, this will be more difficult than I had hoped. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ¡°I had quite an upsetting dream last night. I have no desire to share the details, but it left me with some worrisome thoughts.¡± Her brows furrowed as her gaze drifted back down towards her half empty glass, a fabricated sorrow was cast onto her face. After a tasteful pause, Verina glanced upwards to assess the girl across from her. She was met by a pair of startled brown eyes. Yet, it seems as if they¡¯ve softened slightly. Verina only needs a split second to create an opportunity out of this. ¡°Truly, I want nothing more than to be loved. I fear that I may have been blinded by my own emotions and¡­¡± She averts her gaze meekly, constructing a pitiful expression to hide her rising doubt. ¡°Please tell me honestly, does he love me back?¡± Amber has yet to recollect herself before being thrown into the worst possible outcome she may have foreseen: her boss¡¯s relationship problems. Although she obviously isn¡¯t calm and collected, the weak expression Verina wears implores her to try her best. The raven haired girl begins to stammer out a passable response. ¡°Well¡­ I don¡¯t- I mean, is this about the rumors? I¡¯m sure his highness would never be anything but faithful to our beautiful lady! There¡¯s no better fit for the empress¡¯s shoes than you!¡± She¡¯s obviously not being honest to spare my feelings which went against everything I asked of her¡­but how lucky am I? I was worried that I had misunderstood my situation at first, but Amber, the angel she is, babbled everything I needed to know right now. This is going much better already. ¡°I appreciate your reassurance, really, but I don¡¯t want to be self-absorbed right now.¡± She finishes her glass, revealing a floral pattern of red anemone painted at the center of the ceramic. ¡°Because I have realized that I cannot make someone love me, pushing this feeling any further would hurt everyone involved¡­I want to find true love. I want to be loved in return. Please tell me, do you think my feelings will get through to him?¡± Her troubled words ring through the room, shaking the maid¡¯s heart. Amber¡¯s inner conflict is more apparent than ever as she stutters short of a coherent sentence. Taking sip from her previously untouched drink, she finally dares to speak her mind. ¡°If the crown prince hasn¡¯t fallen for Lady Verina yet, then¡­ Well in my opinion, he¡¯s not the person who will cherish my lady properly.¡± After sharing these thoughts, she cannot bring herself to meet Verina¡¯s eyes, but she cannot bring herself to look away out of sheer politeness. She settles with squeezing her eyes shut in anticipation. ¡°Thank you, I appreciate your honesty.¡± Verina meets her eyes as she faces her fear of her boss, ¡°I needed to hear that, yet¡­¡± Predictably, Verina puts on a woeful display to gain another shred of sympathy. The tears that fall are intentionally manipulative. Even so, this is the most honest she has been. To both Amber and herself. ¡°I have some reflection to do, you are dismissed.¡± Assigned Reading That was quite the show. It seems like Amber¡¯s feelings have become more sympathetic towards me as well. She¡¯s being quite helpful, but contrary to popular belief, rewriting the past doesn¡¯t happen in one chapter. I think she¡¯s ordered the others to give me space, since she¡¯s been carrying everything into my room herself. Luckily, my time alone increased just a little while she¡¯s working so hard. I still have no information about who or where I am, never mind when, so I really need to start investigating. Amber just left to get breakfast for me, so I have around 7.5 minutes to look around for any important items. With that mental note, she was racing to every drawer she could find, making a mental goal of finding dates, names, and places. She makes a b-line for the desk. The desk is quite organized, a sign of a sick and calculating mind (in Verina¡¯s personal opinion.) She made sure to put everything in its rightful place before moving on. With bookshelves scanned in minutes and basic hiding places searched at convenience, the room was back in order with 10 seconds to spare. Of course no big secrets were revealed in such a rush, but this room told me quite a bit about the person I was yesterday. The most useful at the moment being her extensive collection of romance novels. ¡°My Lady, I¡¯ve brought your breakfast!¡± With that announcement, Amber opened the door and made her way towards Verina with an inspired energy about her, although still appropriately nervous. ¡°Much appreciated.¡± Woah, this is just as appetizing as it looked on the screen! The two ladies sat across from each other in a comfortable quiet as Verina finished the platter. Amber¡¯s new giddy demeanor was reassuring to see for someone who needs things done. Verina finished her plate and looked at Amber, sharing a weak smile with her before making the request. ¡°Thank you, I¡¯m feeling a bit better now. I know I¡¯m asking for quite a lot, but could you accompany me to the library? I have a request.¡± Her reply was fervent, ¡°Of course!¡± She stood swiftly to hold the door open for her. They walked together through the corridor, passing many workers. Whispers and stares followed Verina as she feigned a troubled expression. Amber made no move to defend Verina from this treatment, but there were no signs that she had been the one to leak any information about her predicament. Verina followed behind her as they turned toward a large door that appeared to be significant. Verina¡¯s assumption was confirmed when Amber held open the door, revealing a private, yet extensive library. ¡°Please leave it to me, my lady.¡± Accepting the invitation, Verina walked through the entrance, silently assessing the room. The shelves towered over their surroundings, dwarfing the two women whose strides slowed toward the base of the nearest shelf. Verina glances toward the plate marking the shelf next to her, making sense of the organization system before making her move. ¡°Thank you for your company. I feel like reading after all of that.¡± She looks toward a section toward the west corner before continuing, ¡°Although, I want to read one specific book. I¡¯ve long forgotten the title, but it was a romantic tragedy that left an impression upon me. The protagonist passed at the end and her love was married to another, but I forgot most everything else, could you help me find it?¡± I¡¯ve been giving my best attempt at the foot-in-the-door method, yet this might be too big of an ask. Although, my sorry expression has quite the effect on her. I hope this- ¡°Anything to put a smile back on your face, my lady! Don¡¯t lift a finger, I¡¯ll certainly find it.¡± She was rushing towards the romance section before Verina could open her mouth to speak.¡± My judgment was correct, she¡¯s perfect. Verina took out the scratch paper and charcoal pencil she brought and raced to a nearby section. Scanning the titles, she found three titles that she jotted down before moving onto another section. This process was repeated numerous times, scanning the shelves, writing down the books that she deemed suitable, and racing to the next non-fiction isle. She had time to scan the higher zones as well in the time she scheduled for Amber to finish. Her list was soon crowded on the small piece of paper, but before returning to the place Amber had left her, she took a book from the arts & culture section to review while Amber was away. It took less than 45 minutes for her to return with a stack of five books, where she found Verina sitting in a nearby armchair, reading an informative on letter writing. She made her way to the young lady¡¯s side and set the stack on the chair¡¯s accompanying coffee table. ¡°I found five novels that matched the description, but I¡¯m sure that this is the novel you were thinking of.¡± She picks up one of the thinner books with a red cover, the flowers detailing the spine are red anemones, the title reads The Day I Saw Sea Foam. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. ¡°You raved on about this when you were younger before you had met- my apologies, I meant¡­ Oh! I remember you asked for a tea set to be made in its image! Its been quite a few years but I¡¯m certain that this is the one you seek.¡± Amber hid her cowering expression behind the cover as she faced an unpredictable authority. I gave her a specifically vague task just to keep her occupied for a set time, but I got quite a lot out of this. She completed this so diligently too. ¡°Yes, this is the one I was thinking of. In these few hours you have aided me well, I don¡¯t think I could have gotten anything done without you.¡± Verina accepted the book, lowering it to meet her brown eyes with a warm smile. ¡°I¡¯ll be settled here for quite a while, there¡¯s nothing more to worry about on my end. Please, return to your usual.¡± Deciding against flustered stuttering, she nodded with enthusiasm and took off toward the exit. A moment after the door closed, Verina stood up, took out her list, and began to revisit their sections. She returned to her armchair with the five most appropriate books for her situation. Although it was just a fraction of her list, it is quite enough for her to complete today¡¯s agenda. In reading order, the titles were: A Complete History of the Vauquelin Empire, The History of Montagne, Montagne Family Record, and Magic Processes Book I. Sitting back in her chair, she picked up the guide to letter writing to start. In the budgeted time, she estimated completing these in the late afternoon. The task was immersive, these textbooks read like captivating fantasy novels to someone whose previous life was spent in a tedious, text-heavy profession. The studying proceeded swiftly, without breaking focus once, Verina was able to finish on time. As the sunlight began to shine brightly through the tops of the windows, she was beginning to return them to their original places. The exception to this was the stack of novels Amber had chosen for her, which she carried back to her room. Retracing the steps alone, she avoided eye contact with the few people who passed her. Reentering her room, she sat at her desk to do a more in-depth search. The most alluring task was going through the letters that collected in the bottom drawer, getting to know the people close to her is deemed important by someone taking over her identity. She opened the drawer and began reading the envelope when- ¡°My lady, you¡¯re back! I¡¯ve brought you food now that you have time. What are you working on? Rest is very important today.¡± She was right behind Verina before she could even set down the letter. A chill ran up her spine as she felt Amber reading the paper she was holding, ¡°Lady Verina, why are you reading the letters he sent you?¡± Damn, am I screwed? I should have been more aware of my surroundings. Another thing, why does she move so quietly? She was also way too fast, how did she cover that much ground before I could react? Does this body have poor senses? Shit, I haven¡¯t said anything yet, I need to do something to save face! ¡°I mean- I just¡­¡± Wow so articulate. Amber pulled a move that Verina didn¡¯t expect, she was running toward the balcony, letter in hand as Verina was right behind her. ¡°My Lady, you can¡¯t! It¡¯s for your own good! You have to move on for your own happiness!!!¡± She slowed for a split second to open the door when Verina grabbed her. NO!!! ¡°Please wait! It¡¯s not like that, I swear!¡± I couldn¡¯t think of anything more convincing??? ¡°Please slow down for one moment, I¡¯ll prove it to you!¡± Amber seemed to pause for a moment before turning back towards the desperate lady. If I lose this letter I won¡¯t have all the dates in order! Plus I have no clue what my fiance is like and this is the most recent letter, it is vital information. ¡°I really wasn¡¯t thinking about it that way, believe me. You can watch me, just don¡¯t do anything rash right now.¡± As Amber softened, Verina snatched the letter back and sat back at the desk. Shit. I really needed to do some in depth analysis around her relationship, but that¡¯s going to be interrupted. She opened the letter and the two read over it. The subject was Verina¡¯s 17th birthday. The prince¡¯s correspondence was limited, the subject line of, ¡°Happy Birthday,¡± was over before the end of the first line. Yet the letter continued with responses to letters that she assumed Verina had sent before. He answered coldly, writing something along the lines of: stop asking when the wedding is, showing up uninvited to my residence is annoying, and stop being so clingy. After the list of grievances disguised in well wishes, it was gracefully signed Alaric Vauquelin. ¡°¡­My apologies, My Lady clearly knows what she¡¯s doing.¡± That was much more jarring than I expected. The only other letters signed from him are birthday wishes, but it seems that Verina was quite forthcoming when it came to writing and impromptu visits. This unintentionally raised my pity points with Amber, but I¡¯m not quite happy about the image it creates for me. ¡°Of course.¡± Verina returned the letter to its place in chronological order, ¡°Amber, what¡¯s the date?¡± She had already begun to reach for parchment and an envelope. ¡°It¡¯s the second of April. Is this¡­¡± She trailed off as she watched her begin writing. ¡°Thank you. It¡¯s time I repair my mistakes.¡± I can¡¯t believe she allowed herself to be humiliated like this. I suppose this was going to happen sooner or later, so there¡¯s no harm in proclaiming this during my first day as Verina. Her hand glided across the paper swiftly and with purpose. Amber could only watch in panic as her lady was making such a seemingly rash decision. Verina was signing it before the ink could dry completely, it read: To everyone it may concern, I have come to the realization that I have not been honest with myself, I long for a relationship that is built on mutual feelings. I held hope for my future with Alaric, yet my heart has refused to get used to the same pain. It is clear that this path has no room for my dreams of true love and I cannot continue this further. I¡¯m sure that my past behavior has painted this message as good riddance, so I do not expect any resistance on your end. I am annulling my engagement to Alaric. Signed, Verina Montagne. She encased the message with a seal before presenting it to Amber, ¡°Send this to the Crown Prince with haste.¡± ¡°I¡­yes, My Lady.¡± A Hosts Preparations No romance. No love triangle. Absolutely no harem. I¡¯m dead serious about this, I will leave absolutely no room for any nonsense. I¡¯ve been witness to too many novels derailed by romance routes and fanservice that distracts everyone from the actual plot. So many tragedies have come from introducing the male lead to soon, leaving no room to get anything done. Chasing some random duke is unbecoming, since there is no possibility that this story is for anyone other than me. I mean I could list all of the wasted potential I¡¯m STILL livid over like ¡®The- ¡°My Lady, I¡¯ve brought some afternoon tea!¡± Obviously a little startled, Verina choked on her reply ¡°I see. Thank you, I needed a break.¡± ¡°Is that really fun for you? You¡¯ve hardly ever touched a cover outside the romance section.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t been able to see that genre the same these days, so I¡¯ve stepped outside my usual.¡± ¡°Ah- This is good though! It¡¯s always good to branch out¡­ and that¡¯s such a popular memoir! It¡¯s totally interesting for us non-mages to learn more about¡­¡± Hard to not act OOC when you don¡¯t know anything about the ¡®C¡¯¡­ I kind of expected the original soul to be more studious given how she writes. Despite this, I¡¯ve got quite the convenient cover-up. I¡¯ve gotten through about half of my current reading list thanks to Amber¡¯s enthusiasm. ¡°Don¡¯t worry so much, there¡¯s no need to walk on eggshells around me. Is there anything else you need?¡± Amber quickly quit babbling and started fidgeting with her apron, there was really only one topic this could be about. Verina took initiative to break the silence. ¡°Did my letter get a reply?¡± She took out a letter with that familiar, troublesome seal, handing it to her hesitantly. ¡°Thank you.¡± She opened it for the two of them to read with her cup in hand. As expected, it¡¯s a rejection to the annulment. He wishes to meet tomorrow morning for negotiations. Probably due to something like political alliances or family pressure. The reply was very quick, it seems getting this out of the way as soon as possible is ideal for both parties moving forward. ¡°It seems I must prepare for tomorrow¡¯s guest. Please accompany me out, I have shopping to do.¡± The carriage was prepared rather swiftly, as if it was assumed that after a letter with an imperial seal arrives, an outing must occur. All the more convenient, her schedule was tight for this day and the next. Amber and Verina were on their way to the city within the hour after the letter was received. The ride was spent in some idle conversation about the weather and ideas for the outing, mending this relationship has been going quite well, but may as well lay it on thick to be safe. ¡°Thank you for your presence. Didn¡¯t you say you grew up in the city?¡± ¡°I did, I¡¯m quite familiar with everything in the area. Would you like some recommendations? I have a few dress shops I believe you would like-¡± ¡°Actually, I was interested in antique furniture today. Do you know any places that restore and sell that?¡± Verina interrupted. ¡°Oh, of course. I just assumed¡­ I- Yes, I know a place! Their selection is top notch for this side of the city.¡± I am certain that Amber is the only person who wouldn¡¯t question me about this, I will definitely get her salary raised. ¡°Please lead the way there, then.¡± It was a busy time of day, mid-afternoon shopping is an activity loved by everyone regardless of class after all, but the view was quite new to her. The variety of stores within the square was astounding, nothing like the strip malls of urban America. Although she had her priorities, she was awarded the view of colorful store-fronts and unique selections, even if she couldn¡¯t express her fascination. ¡°Here we are, this should have what you¡¯re looking for. Do you have anything specific in mind?¡± With the ring of a bell, Amber opened the door to reveal the cluttered interior of Rhodes Antiques. The selection was as Amber had said, with the amount of furnishing in the space it was almost certain that there was at least ten options for everything she needed and plenty else to make searching for it a pain. From floor to ceiling, there was stacks of tables, dressers, drawers, and cabinets full of skillfully organized trinkets, everything attached to a yellow price tag. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Walking in, they let the door close behind them to be fully engulfed in the atmosphere. The window display was just as crowded as the rest, leaving few beams of sunlight aside from the stained glass window of its door. The rest of the establishment was illuminated by a few chandeliers, none matching in design and all with yellow tags hanging in view. ¡°This is exactly what I was thinking of, thank you.¡± She said as she observed the towers of furniture looming over them, ¡°Well then, could you do me a favor?¡± ¡°Anything you ask, my lady.¡± ¡°Could you find a complete tea set? Preferably with gold detailing.¡± I need at least ten¡­no fifteen minutes, so accounting for clutter and travel time this should be enough if I hurry. ¡°Of course, my lady!¡± Amber replied, already starting the treacherous journey to the other side of the room. As soon as she was out of sight, Verina raced to the front of the store, trying her best not to knock anything over. Making it in record time (only getting lost twice), she rang a bell to catch the attention of whoever should be attending the desk. Everything that wasn¡¯t bolted to the floor was for sale here, including the collection of the bells behind the sign ¡®Ring for Service¡¯. Service was on its way, as there was the audible noise of footsteps and perhaps climbing? She couldn¡¯t be too sure, but if the backroom was anything like the main area then it was a possibility. And soon enough, a peculiarly scrawny man stumbled through the backdoor. ¡°How may I assist you this fine afternoon?¡± he said in a monotone inflection, yet to look up properly. ¡°Good afternoon, I have a question.¡± she paused, examining the shopkeeper. ¡°Do you happen to have a discount for damaged appliances?¡± ¡°What need would you have for that?¡± Examining Verina right back, Mr. Rhodes retorted rather bluntly. ¡°Surely you can afford any of our quality pieces, why would you need the discount?¡± I forgot who I was for a second, this was quite an oversight. Damn, I¡¯m being hardcore judged for this. ¡°Discount aside, can I purchase any of your damaged furniture?¡± ¡°Why would you want it?¡± Because it would be a shame to break a perfectly good table when I throw one at you. ¡°Do you have any or not?¡± ¡°Our usual repairs person has been out, so I suppose you could look at the backroom.¡± He gave her another side-eye before leading the way. The backroom was even more cramped than the main area and offered some explanation to how this store wasn¡¯t collapsing. Rhodes began shifting a few of the lighter objects through levitation to bring a nice selection forward. The demonstration was quite ordinary, but let¡¯s mind that Verina had never seen any mage at work before. ¡°Thank you for your accommodation. You have quite the talent for organization, this must be why you can run such a successful business.¡± What a practical use of magic! I read that levitation usually takes four years of formal education to perform. Put this man on Tetris ASAP! ¡°Sure. Anyways, here¡¯s all I¡¯ll offer. The rest should go to more grateful hands.¡± You know nothing about me or my ingrate hands however right you may be. ¡°That is quite alright.¡± She began examining the selection, going from piece to piece, assessing the level of damage, quality, craftsmanship, and weight. It went quite a bit slower than Mr. Rhodes would have preferred, given there were only six things set out. What a businessman, I never could have guessed by his attitude. He has managed to select pieces that would have been costly to repair without much return on investment, although I notice that some pieces are from luxury brands. I have to admit that he has me beat. ¡°I will purchase the left love seat, the occasional side table, and the coffee table.¡± ¡°Refined taste. Would you like to pay up front?¡± ¡°Later, I¡¯ll browse while you set your prices.¡± A total of 13 minutes have passed, there is a good chance Amber is looking for me. Verina left the backroom swiftly before walking around two corners. Within two minutes she was greeted by a proud servant holding a beautiful white and gold tea set on a silver platter. ¡°I found one! I hope it is to your liking.¡± I have to know, is she extremely lucky or extremely skilled? ¡°This is exactly what I was looking for, thank you. I have found everything else as well, we should go to check out.¡± Verina led the way to the desk with the fastest route. By the time they arrived, Mr. Rhodes had rung up the three items. The two ladies examined the prices and total, which were surprisingly decent for someone who had just been criticizing her for being a cheapskate. Everything that could be carried on the ride was wrapped neatly and carried by the two, with the rest to be picked up in the late afternoon. The drive back was filled with idle chatter about beautiful teacups, fancy display cases, and potential room layouts with the new furniture. Upon arrival, everything was promptly emptied from the carriage and another was sent out for the remaining antiques. Notably, most onlookers were shocked to find that no dresses were purchased that day. This afternoon was the busiest Verina had to deal with so far, the Crown Prince was visiting after all. A light menu, rearranging the drawing room, directing servants, and planning what to wear was not the easiest task on such short notice. When the rest of the antiques arrived, she familiarized herself with the layout and the position of each item. This, in total from the afternoon arrival to the final set-up, took three and a half hours. Just about 7 pm. I have some time to think this over still, and I¡¯ve prepared for a few scenarios. I know what Crown Princes are typically like, but I don¡¯t know Alaric outside of the gossip and his letters, I can only hope he¡¯s as cold as I think he is. Best case scenario, he sees reason and we mutually agree to be rid of each other¡­who am I kidding, when has my life ever been that easy? This has to end in a breakup one way or another and I don¡¯t care who I have to hurt to get that. Although, I suppose how he acts is going to be a turning point for how my plans will unfold. Satisfied with the final touches, Verina leaves the drawing room. In a brisk stride, she makes the way to her bedroom, as she shouldn¡¯t keep Amber waiting when they had made such important plans. The tea hadn¡¯t been poured yet when she arrived. ¡°Welcome back, my lady,¡± she pulled out a chair with her free hand, ¡°please sit down. You said there was a matter you wanted to discuss with me?¡± ¡°Yes, regarding tomorrow.¡± Footsteps filled the brief silence, as she continued only when she was seated. ¡°I am concerned that the Crown Prince and I may not see eye-to-eye on the annulment. As much as I wish this could end amicably, I want to prepare for if things turn sour.¡± The tea was poured right as the clock reached 7:15 pm, and thus the two ladies were seated in their usual spot. ¡°What would you like me to do, my lady?¡± Although I trust Amber the most out of everyone in this world, I¡¯m not so naive as to think that I can rely on her to follow me blindly. She¡¯s clever, and I respect her input on this, no matter how important these plans are to me. I already ask quite a lot of her, but I still hope she will agree to this. ¡°I need you to completely trust me for two minutes tomorrow.¡± It was clear how shocked Amber was at this request. The air was heavy with the implications of what she was asking, the feeling of her conviction wavering was deafening. ¡°Please do not give me an answer tonight, I will allow you to consider this overnight. We can speak tomorrow morning whenever you are ready.¡± ¡°¡­As you wish, my lady.¡± The two finished their tea in silent contemplation. The tension was relaxed before the cups went cold, and they readied for sleep like any other night. Idle chatter between friends is quite relaxing, they both knew the next day held too much stress to allow them to stew in it overnight. Thus, they said their routine goodnights and goodbyes before allowing their minds to contemplate what they should do the next day. Thinking is much more efficient without the interference of emotions such as anxiety, and everyone knew how important clear thought is in this circumstance. Drowsiness befell the two right on schedule, preparing them for the next morning.