New Dress for the Ball!

She wondered if her mother would ask her to back down and not attend. No, that didn't sound like her. If the person in front of her was her brother, then she was sure that he would ask her to not attend.

Plus, she would get to hear an earful of insults about her tarnishing the family's honour again.

The duchess smiled. "This is a wonderful opportunity for you. The royal ball is the perfect place to reintroduce yourself to society."

Selena raised an eyebrow. "Reintroduce myself?" Just what was the old Selena doing?

Her mother's smile faltered slightly. "You've been... Distant from social events lately. This is your chance to show everyone that you're still a force to be reckoned with."

She never heard of this... The old Selena would never disappear from society like that. As much as the noblewoman hated her, she had her own clique and people were dying to be a part of it!

She realised she inadvertently became Regina from Mean Girls.

"I'm not sure it's a good idea," Selena said carefully. "I'm not exactly popular among the nobility."

The duchess's expression softened. "That's precisely why you should go. You can't let their opinions dictate your actions. You're a Whitlock, Selena. You have every right to hold your head high."

Other than her family name she had nothing to be proud of! Maybe... Perhaps, her beauty. Selena did take great pride in it and her own nighttime regime to maintain her appearance.

Selena appreciated her mother's confidence, even if it felt misplaced. But she also knew that refusing the invitation outright would only cause more problems.

"Fine," Selena said after a moment. "I'll attend. But I'm not going to put on a show for anyone."

The duchess's smile returned, brighter than before. "That's my girl."

Before she knew it, she was being sent to buy a new dress for herself! Selena would say that it wasn't necessary but after one look at her wardrobe, she decided that it was. To highlight her silver hair, Selena would wear mostly black...

She looked like she was going to a funeral! At every event, she would wear black! This even offended some. She would wear black to a birthday celebration as well! It looked like she was cursing the host!

Selena shook her head in utter defeat. She was going to change up her entire wardrobe!

Selena picked up a black gown with intricate silver embroidery and held it up to the light. It was beautiful, but it was yet another black dress.

She sighed and tossed it onto the growing pile of rejected outfits. Her maids, who stood awkwardly in the corner, exchanged nervous glances.

"I need a new dress," Selena declared finally, turning to them.

The maids were relieved that she hadn't unleashed a tirade, nodded eagerly. "Shall we summon a seamstress to the estate, my lady?" one of them asked timidly.

"No," Selena said, shaking her head. "I'll go to a boutique myself. It's high time I see what the capital has to offer."

She wanted to familiarise herself with this world. In her previous life she was struggling, she made enough to survive though. As much as she liked travelling she couldn't afford it.

This place should be very different from her world. This counted as travelling. She shrugged and decided to go out to buy a dress.

The maids looked at her in surprise. The old Selena rarely ventured out unless it was to make an appearance or cause trouble. But this new Selena had no interest in drama- at least, not the kind she couldn't control.

The carriage ride into the city was uneventful, but Selena found herself reflecting on her decision to attend the ball.

The royal invitation had forced her hand, and now she was determined to present herself as someone entirely different from the girl they remembered. A new dress seemed like a fitting place to start.

This wouldn't undo the damage she did but at least she would look pretty. She had a pretty face and a pretty body, might as well dress up nice~

The boutique she chose was one of the finest in the capital, renowned for its exclusive clientele and exquisite designs. She was also a regular, the seamstress would come over and she would select the designs. 

This was the first time Selena went to the physical store. The daughter of a Duke... No, her father was already dead. So, the sister of the Duke. The despised sister of the Duke. She chuckled at herself.

The situation was just that absurd. She spent her entire past life trying to make people like her... Going out of her way, and most of the time at her expense... Just to make people like her... And now, she was a villainess hated by everyone.

It was sad that it took her death to realise that it didn't matter if others liked her, it only mattered if she liked herself. She shouldn't live her life catering to unimportant people. Only one person was important and that is yourself.

Selena stepped inside, and immediately, all eyes turned to her. The shop was filled with noblewomen browsing fabrics and dresses, their chatter ceasing as they noticed the infamous Selena Whitlock entering their domain.

This was unusual, she usually liked to brag about how she made them come to her, and she felt it was beneath her to go and shop for herself.

Selena ignored the stares, walking with confidence to the front counter. The boutique owner, a shrewd-looking woman with sharp eyes, recognised her immediately and hurried over, bowing deeply.

"My lady, it is an honour to have you here," The owner said, her tone pleasant. However rude she was, she was one of their highest paying clients.

Selena offered a small smile. "I'm in need of a gown for the royal ball. Something unique."

"Of course, my lady. Please, allow me to show you our finest selections."