The Lord Returns

Unlike the usual quiet mornings, Hina woke up to the loud chattering maids and a noisy household. With the news of the Merchant's arrival later in the daytime, everyone was extra busy with their duties. The gardeners were catering to the gardens, the maids were cleaning everything in sight and the cooks were preparing the Merchant's favourite meals. The estates were always well kept but it was extraordinarily clean today. 

"The lord hasn't seen lady Hina in over a month, so my lady has to be the most beautiful thing in his sight today"

Hina's maids had awakened her earlier than usual. Her face was first cleaned with warm water and a face towel and she was served some soothing tea to help warm her up. A calming process that was part of her daily morning routine. However, rather than her usual bathing process, they first prepared a homemade honey face mask and a special body scrub just for today. They also made Hina bath with rose-scented water to give her a nicer natural scent.

Her makeup and dressing process was longer and more hectic than any other thing she had had to do in her life.

"This is worse than preparing for SAT or GED"

While her maids ransacked through her closets for the perfect dress, Hina grumpily sat on the chair like a stressed-out civil servant.

[Someone save me! They're all against me. Why are they trying to dress me up so nicely when I'd rather look like a hobo?! I don't want to attract his attention any more than I already am but it'll sound suspicious if I say that]

"Can't I just wear something I've already worn before? My lord was barely around, so it'll still be new to him" Hina pouted as the maids still searched through her dresses. She took a sip from her new cup of freshly made hibiscus tea.

"No, my lady! Although you are already more beautiful than the flowers, you have to look even more beautiful today!"

"Yes, lady Hina. Besides that, you can't repeat an old outfit on a day like today. Since we've already seen it, we can just pretend like the lord has seen it too"

"Lady Hina has to put miss Tanaka to shame!"

The girls became even more fired up at the mention of Tanaka.

Aside from her recent business meetings with Rebecca and trying to plan ways to survive in this world, Hina had also spent the past weeks trying to get close to Tanaka. Not as a mother figure but more like a friend or sister. Despite the mutual dislike for each other, Hina tried to see things from Tanaka's perspective and understand why she did the things she did.

At the end of the day, Tanaka was just a child who needed someone's attention so Hina wanted to be that person. From Hina's observation, she noticed that Tanaka's behaviour towards her was out of jealousy. She was envious of the newcomer who had come into their home to steal her father's attention away from her. Also, with the unknown issues leading to Tanaka's mother's expulsion from the merchant's estates, she could only imagine how sad it must have been for the child.

Hina would often visit Tanaka's quarters, bringing along some accessories or desserts she had gotten from Rebecca to share with her but was often met with insults. Sometimes, Tanaka would have her maids serve Hina something spoilt or they would spill the tea on Hina to ruin her dress. Other times, the maids would brazenly lie about Tanaka's whereabouts just to get rid of Hina. Despite having a childlike body, Hina was an adult deep within, so she decided to be the bigger one. She also felt it would be to her advantage to get Tanaka on her side as an ally. However, Tanaka's constant cold behaviour and actions had gotten too much to handle and Hina was tired of all the pranks. She also had more important things to take care of so she eventually put her plans of getting close to Tanaka to a halt and stopped visiting her altogether.

Several people in the estates had also noticed Tanaka's nasty behaviour towards Hina and weren't pleased, especially Hina's maids. They would routinely complain and nitpick about anything involving Tanaka. It was almost as if a cold war had broken out between the two ladies' quarters.

Aoi eventually found a dress that she believed would make Hina stand out even more and the others agreed with her.

Hina was strapped into a baby purple sequined tulle fabric dress. The tea-length dress was designed to look like a corset and it also had unique tulle puffy sleeves and an embroidered lace at the top. The dress was perfectly designed with a 3d butterfly art design embellished on the bodice and a dark purple velvet ribbon waistband. Hina's glimmering golden-brown hair was brushed down her waist and it had a wavy look from the previous night's braiding. Her makeup was done elegantly minimum and paired with a simple butterfly-shaped gold earring.

"Lady Hina! You're so beautiful!"

"Oh my! It's like an angel just fell from the skies!"

In all honesty, Hina Kudo's physical description in the novel made it hard to focus on any other character, as she stood out in terms of uniqueness and beauty. Sadly, her abrasive personality, especially towards the female lead, was what made people treat her otherwise. 

Hina was stunned by her reflection in the mirror. Although her maids' compliments were usually over the top, as they were like her personal fan club, Hina could not refute their words today. She truly looked like an angel. More like a fairy out of a fairytale. As beautiful as she looked, Hina was not in the least bit happy about the outcome, as this would only attract the merchant even more.

[I know it sounds absurd to say this but how can someone be so beautiful? This isn't helping me at all. Can't I be slightly less pretty?]

Hina felt so obnoxious as she sat in front of the mirror with such stupid thoughts. She blocked out the girls' sweet words, feeling a bit anxious as the day was filled with so much uncertainty.

"It's time to head downstairs, my lady" one of the maids tapped on her shoulder to get her attention.

The day had already gone by and the merchant could arrive any minute now, so Hina made her way downstairs to one of the family's living rooms. It was no surprise that everyone stopped to stare and admire the charming lady of the house.

"Welcome, stepmother" Tanaka's sweet voice was heavy with sarcasm and her greeting irked Hina.

"Dear Tanaka, you're here early" she smiled brightly at her.

"You look good today" Tanaka added, eyeing Hina from head to toe. She always had her guard up whenever she was around Hina.

"You look even more stunning, Tanaka"

Tanaka was wearing a pink tulle dress with a bow ribbon. Her brown hair had been packed into two buns with pink ribbons, giving her a cute appearance befitting her age.

Hina sat next to Tanaka on the same chair, knowing fully well she'd be displeased.

[That's what you get for trying to irritate me on this already dreadful day]

She knew that Tanaka would not dare stand up or change seats. Not in the presence of everyone, especially as her reputation had fallen below Hina's. She knew it would only make her look spiteful and make Hina appear like a caring stepmother.

[You'll only seem like a villainess at this rate]

Hina smiled at her brief childish victory as she watched Tanaka's fake smile crumble. While the two sat there in awkward silence, Hina could hear the familiar footsteps of the head maid drawing closer. She instinctively knew that the woman was coming with news she didn't want to hear and mentally prepared herself for it.

"The Lord has arrived"