Chapter 28: Pleasant Surprise
Rosalie looked at the dress brought in by Richard spread carefully on the bed – a sowhat plain sumr dress with no underskirt, made of sky-blue silk, ornanted with white flowers and silver thread embroidery, with a finishing touch of an in-sewn fabric corset, fastened from behind with a long silk ribbon.
’It is definitely one of the dresses I have already worn... This is the dress retrieved from the Ashter residence.’
When Richard inford Lady Ashter that His Grace had returned and invited her to join him for dinner, along with bringing her an older dress, Rosalie was taken aback. While she felt a sense of happiness, knowing she would have an alternative to her current attire, she couldn’t help but feel burdened by the fact that Damien had gone through the trouble of visiting the Ashter manor solely for her convenience.
’Truthfully, I would rather be shaless enough to simply wear one of his shirts every day than have him visit that Hell hole for my sake... I will have to thank him and apologize for all this trouble.’
One of the duke’s maids, who had been sent to Rosalie’s bedroom, stood behind her and inquired if she was ready to change. Suddenly, a dreadful realization struck her like an earthquake—had she known that Damien would visit her family, she would have asked him to bring back Aurora with him!
"I was so preoccupied with my own selfish thoughts that I completely forgot about the only person who has shown kindness to both
and the original Rosalie. I don’t think Damien would want to return there just for one maid. I’ll have to figure this out on my own!"
***
As Rosalie walked down the hall on the second floor of the Dio mansion, a strange wave of sadness overca her, tightening her chest. The overwhelming beauty of the interior surrounding her seed to exert almost tangible pressure, and she could not shake the feeling of being out of place.
"Rosalie is breathtakingly beautiful, and Damien’s maid did an excellent job preparing , yet I still feel like I do not belong in this grandeur. Even the velvet upholstery on the couches looks more elegant than my dress."
The thought of appearing inferior to the furniture was disheartening, but it did not waver her determination. After all, one’s worth was not determined by their clothing alone, and gaining Damien’s favor was evidence of that.
Lady Ashter stood before the entrance to the dining hall, taking a deep breath in an attempt to calm her lingering anxiety. There was still a faint unease that settled within her whenever she had to face the people gathered in this place. Perhaps it stemd from her introverted nature or the lasting effects of the abuse she had endured, causing her heart to flutter at the re thought of social interaction.
With a final exhale, she nodded faintly to Richard, who responded with a kind smile and opened the tall white door, extending an invitation for her to enter. Clutching the soft folds of her dress between her thin fingers, she lowered her head slightly, ntally preparing herself to greet the duke with the appropriate level of courtesy.
"Good evening, Your Grace. Thank you for inviting
to dinner."
The girl raised her head to complent her modest greeting with a grateful smile when her entire body froze as if she saw a ghost, her eyes big and round.
"Aurora?!"
Aurora was definitely the last person Rosalie expected to see that evening, but it was, without a doubt, the most precious surprise.
The maid nearly jumped on her lady, wrapping her arms tightly around her shoulders, embracing the girl in a familiar warm and affectionate hug, and whispered, her voice on the verge of breaking,
"Thank you! Thank you, My Lady! Thank you for rescuing
from there! I will never forget your kindness."
Aurora kept quietly expressing her gratitude, while Rosalie widened her eyes once again and cast a bewildered look at Damien, who had been observing that heartwarming scene this whole ti.
Overco with uncontrollable emotions, Lady Ashter smiled and mouthed a silent "thank you
Reviews
All reviews (0)