Chapter I

Carthian 1837

I woke up with a start. It had been a while since I had last had a nightmare like that. So long that I almost thought that I outgrew them. How foolish of me. However, as much as that nightmare chilled and unsettled me to the bone, I didn't have time to put great thought into it. Well, I often found myself not having time for anything these days. Nothing but the plan. Sighing softly, I began to get ready for my day just like I had always done. After making some final adjustments, I began to walk out of my door and head over to the dining hall when I suddenly saw a familiar face. A face that I wished I never had to see. Time to put on an act again, I thought to myself.

"Papa!" I said excitedly beaming with delight, " I'm so happy to see you again! Did you miss me?" And, although I tried my best to act pitiful and harmless, I didn't touch him. I wouldn't dare. Years ago, after I made that mistake, I still found myself being careful not to make it again. As usual, instead of answering, he just looked at me in disgust before shoving past me as if I wasn't even there. At least this proved that my performance was working. That disgusting creature really thinks that I harbour feelings of love for him.

But alas, there's simply no time to be wallowing in hatred. Not when today was such an important day. It's not everyday a girl has her debutante after all. Especially a girl like me who was supposed to have hers almost 2 years ago. Skipping off to breakfast like always, I couldn't help but feel a sensation of joy and excitement at the prospects that were currently laid in front of me. So filled with euphoria I was that I couldn't help but chuckle softly and twirl about. A couple of servants who were working around the house stopped to stare at me with disbelief before turning back to their work whilst tutting and shaking their heads. Loopy Yuli, Loopy Yuli that's what they all thought. Well, let them think that all they want. Before this wretched house is damned and the House of Wryit is no more.

As I sat down to breakfast ten minutes late like I normally was, the air was tense and fraught. For a group of people who claimed to be family and related by the unbreakable bonds of blood, there was nothing familial about us. Petty rivalry, bloodshed and cursing behind backs was something that I had grown accustomed to in my time of living here. It was something that I had to learn the hard way. So unsurprisingly, as I began to eat, I was unbothered about the taunting whispers that I could hear all around me as well as the cold glares of hatred one in particular that was more regular that the rest, disapproving and disappointed as always. Just then, I heard the clinking of a glass and knew that my father had a speech prepared(most likely about my debut).

"As everyone is probably well aware, " he began, "Today is the debut of Yulianna and as such all those present shall conduct themselves in a manner befitting to this household..."

I found myself not even listening in after he mentioned that. Especially since he had mentioned it a week ago and yesterday. After he finished his speech, there were soft murmurs of acknowledgement before people started to get up. And, by people, I mean me. When I first began to behave in this manner, there were always other members of the family and even the servants who would protest and try to stop me from leaving. I'm thankful that somewhere along the line they got the message I was trying to get across and stopped doing it. After getting out of that god-awful environment and returning back to my safe haven, I couldn't help but gasp in relief. In a few hours, I would be expected to go to another side of the house entirely in order to get prepared for a night full of faux manners and congratulations. And so, I figured that I might as well have some time to myself before I had to become Loopy Yuli. For now, I was just Yulianna Wryit (who also happened to be planning the downfall of my own family).

After drawing my windows and blocking my doorknob, I got my notepad out from a secret corner that had a slight crack inside(as stealing and blackmail were also commonplace here) and flipped it to the penultimate page. As of now, Stage two of my plan was about to be put in order. The most important piece. If this part of the plot failed, my chances of victory were going to become significantly lower. Not impossible of course. I've risked too much for my plan to become impossible by the lack of one stage. Anyhow, even though there were people who were going to make sure that I was ready tonight, it didn't hurt to be extra prepared or rather it was better that way. And so, after collecting the scarce number of accessories that I still owned, I changed out of my current clothing and put something much more appropriate for now. The only dresses that I owned were in bright pastel colours which looked horrible on me but since they added onto my image of being a naïve, stupid girl, I just tolerated it. Well, it's not that I've got that much longer now. In about five years, my plan will be over and forgotten about. A much shorter time period than the ten odd years that I've spent concocting it and beginning to put it in motion.

Nevertheless… since I still had some time to burn, I figured that I would take a walk out by the garden and pay a visit to one of the only people in this household that I find myself being able to tolerate. After looking around for a moment, I figured that there's no harm in taking a parasol to help against the scorching hot sun. Disgustingly pink of course to match my outfit. And, then I walked. Luckily, it didn't take too long to reach to reach the garden and I was fortunate enough not to cross paths with anyone due to my room being the furthest away from the rest of the family. After I reached the mid section of the garden, it took an even shorter amount of time to find the man that I was looking for. Francis Acker. One of the gardeners of our manor who has worked here devotedly since before I was even born as well as one of the only people here that treats me like a human being. And as usual, it seems like his eyes have never failed as he managed to spot and approach me before I did to him. I walked briskly into the pavilion that he was standing in and, after a quick tip of the head, he wasted no time in piling tons of information on me at once like he always has.

"Good day, my lady!" he said excitedly, " What brings you to the gardens on this fine day? At first, I assumed it might have been because you wanted to look at the flowers but since it's your debutante today I figured that you probably have more important things on your mind than aimlessly sniffing flowers! Oh! I almost forgot to say congratulations for that, my sincerest apologies! It does feel awfully reminiscent though, wouldn't you agree? I remember when you were-"

"Good day to you as well Francis, " I interrupted making sure to plaster my typical happy go lucky smile, " Thanks a ton for the congratulations although there is something that I have been meaning to ask you."

"And that is, my lady?" he asked curiously.

"What is your honest, genuine opinion about me?" I questioned.

"Is there any reason in particular that you wish to know that?" he said, " I mean, I think that you're lovely! You're always so polite and kind to me and-"

"Well..." I deliberated making sure to squirm about and giggle quietly to myself, " For quite some time now... there's actually been someone who I have found myself quite smitten with! And... I just wanted to be the kind of woman that he would want to court!"

"How surprising! I feel nothing but happiness and pride for you my lady! Congratulations again! So what's the plan?" he questioned with a glint in his eyes so vibrant I almost felt bad for lying to him.

"The thing is Fran, I don't really have a plan. To be completely honest with you, all I wish is that at my ball tonight, we at least have a conversation and maybe even a dance if I'm lucky!" I squealed. Francis nodded in agreement and looked as though he was about to say something else when another one of the garden workers called him over quite angrily due to the fact that he was just standing about and talking idly with me instead of doing his job.

After briefly saying our farewells, as brief as one can be with someone like Francis, I skipped cheerfully back to my room knowing that the foundations of stage two of my plan had been laid down and that my hard work was finally starting to work. And, almost as if by magic, I heard the rustling of skirts and spotted some dark blue fabric slinking away. Perfect. Now I have not one but two loudmouths who happened to hear about my "admiration". And now, the final part of the beginning of stage two was the writing of that letter. Well, all in all, I've had a pretty good day today. Now then, off to my debutante.