I Reincarnated as the Villainess and I Refuse to Follow the Plot

Alora wandered in the moment the sun cleared the mountain range. I turned away from the window after bidding her entrance and paused when I saw the strange look plastered on her face. Her expression was blank and her eyes looked more glazed than they had been last time I saw her.

"Time to ready." Alora walked over, an elaborate dress with a lily pattern draped over her arms. "Time to read."

"I heard you the first time." I snapped, grabbing the dress.

I held it out, and sighed. It was worse than I thought. Frills and bows lined nearly every inch of it – choking off the faint pinkish-red base color. Madam Poshlyn would have never made something so horrendous. "Alora, what is this hideous outfit?" I thrust it back at her, annoyed when she didn't attempt to even grab it.

"A dress," She tilted her head. "A dress of flowers?"

"Is that a question or did they fry the last of your brain cells recently?"

"Fry? Like eggs?" She giggled, pushing the dress back at me.

"Forget it." I released the fabric. It fell between us and she frowned. "Get me something different."

"But this was the outfit." Alora bent down, lifting it back up. "For your tea party with Lady Blaine."

"Tea party?" I arched my brow, blinking a few times. "Is it not more tormenting lessons?"

"Tes parties are lessons, my lady." Alora said, pitching her voice low. "Lady Blaine will teach you well and you-"

"Alora." I slapped my hands on her shoulders, bending over so we were eye level. "Get me another dress or you're wearing that."

"I can't wear this," Alora smiled. "It's above my station. I will get you a different dress!"

She pulled away and ran from the room, almost skipping.

Holy. Shit. I rubbed my forehead, feeling a headache coming on. I don't know which is worse, the outfit or her. I need to undo whatever they did to her. I owe her at least that.

A few minutes later, she returned with a powder blue dress. "This should be better, my lady." She placed it on the bed and walked over, aggressively tugging on my nightgown.

"Stop it." I slapped her hand, taking a step back. "I can undress and dress myself, wait outside."

"But...what about your...hair?" She tapped her chin. "I can do your hair, my lady."

"No," I pointed to the door. "Get out."

She didn't move at first, as though she wasn't grasping the words. A minute or two later she grinned, showing almost all her teeth, and turned. "I will be outside waiting."

"Yeah, you do that." I muttered, pulling off the gown once the door closed.

I dressed quickly, in fear she would return despite her words. I fixed my hair into a low braid, slipped on a pair of slippers she left near the door at some point, and opened the door.

The overly pungent scent of the Casa Blanca Lilies slammed into my sinuses. I gagged, covering my nose and mouth – attempting to breathe. The smell alone was appalling but the nausea that came with it almost made me vomit. Why is the scent so strong? Last night the smell was barely filling the halls.

I looked over to see Alora waiting, seemingly unaffected. She smiled motioning for me to follow behind her. Reluctantly, I walked after her and glanced around as we passed other servants. The dopey look that was on her face was mirrored on everyone. Some would glance at me and offer a hello, while others seemed lost in thought – or the absence of it.

The further we walked, the more unsettling and twilight zone everything became. The smell, where it rarely lingered, was just as heavy as back near my chamber. What in the hell is... A sudden thought reverberated around my head – stopping me in my tracks. Herbal or Magical, Cassius's words whispered through my mind. Good question, but how do I find out?

The chances of being able to figure out the exact distinction seemed impossible. Martin may have mentioned in passing it was Matilda's desire for the flowers, but was she using magical means to brainwash everyone or was she doing some herblore with other plants? With how strong the scent itself is, it can cover up nearly everything else.

"My lady?" Alora slowed to a stop, glancing over her shoulder. "You can't be late for tea with Lady Blaine."

Right, because that's something I need to worry about right now. I wanted to turn around and start investigating as soon as possible, but I would have to wait until nighttime when everyone was asleep. I pinched my nose tighter and walked up to her. She grinned then began to continue walking.

"Does smiling like that hurt your face?" I asked, keeping pace with her.

"Whatever do you mean, my lady?" She glanced over, eyebrows pulled tight. "Does smiling like that hurt your face?"

"Does it look like I'm smiling?" I shot her a glare.

"No, I don't think so." Alora shook her head, stopping before the same room I always had lessons in with Matilda. "Please enjoy your tea-time." She opened the doors, bowed, and walked briskly away.

"Enjoy being a brainwashed minion." I mumbled under my breath, walking inside.

The first thing that struck me wasn't the six circular white and blue laced tables, but the smell of the flowers was minimal inside. How odd. Does the smell get to her or is there another reason?

I unplugged my nose and selected the table furthest away from the door. I sat down, eyeing the various desserts that sat on the three-tier opaque stands. My stomach grumbled begging for a taste.

If I did that she would somehow know and throw a fit. Besides with the smell of the lilies burned into my nostrils I didn't trust my ability to eat.

I leaned back, crossing my arms, debating on if I should have sat down or not. In a normal function, noble women would wait to sit or stand once the host arrives. Unfortunately, Matilda was wildly unclear with what she wanted. It honestly didn't matter which choice I made – she found everything and anything I did or didn't do a problem.

Several minutes went by before I heard the sound of her obnoxiously high heeled shoes clicking down the hall. Her voice, curt and pre-aggravated, floated through the air. The maids following her, both dazed and vacant, responded halfheartedly to her words. One of them must have answered her in a way she didn't like – and earned a slap from Matilda's fan.

"Honestly, finding help that isn't useless is impossible." She snapped, walking into the room. She stopped a few feet away from the tables, narrowing her eyes at me. "What do you think you're doing, girl?" She snapped, slapping her closed fan against her palm. "Do you not listen to anything I teach you?"

"I'm merely sitting at a table." I shrugged. "I didn't know when you would arriv-"

"Does a guest sit at a table before the one hosting the party?" She snapped, walking to a different table and sitting. "To think, I was planning to show you how a married woman behaves. Of course you, you silly foolish child, can't grasp a thing. Maid," She waved one of the women forward. "Get my ruler."

"All hail the glorious King Atticus Helios. Long may he reign." Both maids said, dropping to the floor.

I choked back a laugh, and coughed when Matilda shot me a dirty look. She stood up and slapped both maids across the head, turning red. "I said my ruler. Not the King of our land, you fools."

"Crown Prince Cassi-"

"Get out of here." She sat back down, huffing. "Both of you return to the headmaid for punishment."

"Yes, Lady Blaine." They said together and fled the room.

"Get over here." Matilda snapped at me, crooking a finger. "You are lucky today. I do not have to waste going back to my rooms." She paused when I stood, evidently too slowly. "What are you waiting for? Get over here this instant."

"Yes, Lady Blaine." I moved even slower, measuring my steps.

She glared at me, saying nothing until I sat. "I'll be speaking to my son about your ignorance and blatant defiance. He has horrible taste in women and you're clearly the worst of his past wives."

Thanks for the compliment. I bit back a smile, waiting to see what other nonsense would come out of her mouth.

It didn't take long for her to launch into a lecture about my "poor and pathetic" social skills, how I was nothing more than a trophy display, and that I "didn't deserve to even be in the manor." Everything she said was idiotic, to say the least, but I did agree with her on one point – I did not deserve to be in this monstrous home.

Eventually, she must have grown bored of her tirade and started informing me how a woman who was married had to act at events. More than once I wondered why she was the one drilling this in and not Greston, but I didn't have the energy or the desire to say anything.

By the time she finished, I was more than ready to leave. She dismissed me with a threatening warning to "do better" and left in a hurry. I shrugged and snatched one of the cupcakes, chewing it. The flavor was dry and lackluster, but I didn't care too much.

Once I finished I stood, leaving the room and her lessons behind.

I hope I can get answers tonight. I thought, walking through the halls. Before I end up like the rest of the household.