I Am (not) The Real One

I slowly opened my eyes when I felt something dazzling, and immediately pulled back the soft fleece blanket to cover my face when I felt the sunlight directly hit my face.

Why is there sunlight coming in? Can't you just let me sleep a little longer on this big soft bed?

"My Lady, let's get up! Master and Young Masters are waiting for you for breakfast."

I opened the blanket and saw a middle-aged woman wearing a black and white uniform standing not far from my bed holding her hands together.

It seemed that the middle-aged woman was the culprit who allowed the sunlight to enter the room. Next time, I have to reprimand her not to wake me up again!

By the way, what did that middle-aged woman call me?

My Lady?

I've never been called that in my life, but it feels… it's not that bad. I even liked it a little. It felt right for me.

Not long after, the door to my room, which had been closed, opened and four women wearing the same uniform as the middle-aged woman walked in, making me wake up and stare at them in confusion.

Turns out, those four people will help me.

Some replaced my very soft nightgown, some ruffled my hair, and some wiped my body, which by the way, is really embarrassing because I have to be naked in front of these strangers.

I originally wanted to refuse and said I wanted to take a shower, but the middle-aged woman insisted that I was already waited by Master and Young Masters, the owners of this luxurious villa, for breakfast.

Don't those Master and Young Masters have a problem with their patience? Can't they just wait for a woman to take a shower first?

In the end, I let the maids doll me up because I have to keep my attitude.

Well… I'm also a little hungry and can't wait to see the breakfast menu later.

"Wow, My Lady looks really pretty! Really similar to Master," praised one of the maids who prepared me.

I then walked to a large mirror placed at the edge of my bedroom. It took me a few steps to get there because my room was very spacious.

I was stunned when I saw my reflection.

Jeans paired with a three-quarter sleeve white shirt, made my loose red hair look even more flaming. A jewelry necklace worn around my neck made it even more perfect.

Is this really… me?

I don't know anymore. This feels very foreign to me, who usually only wears shabby clothes and looks dirty.

Right. This is the first time for me to be and look beautiful like this.

Before I was just a poor woman living on the streets. My life is very difficult. Just to survive, I sometimes have to steal and deceive other people.

At first, I didn't like my red hair. It reminds me of the woman who has the same hair color, the person I call mother, and the same person who dumped me and abandoned me!

Makes me have to live on the streets without anyone!

My red hair also makes me stand out, making me easily recognizable when I steal food or trick other people, adding to the reason why I hate my hair. So, I set aside some of the money I'd collected to buy black hair dye, so I wouldn't stand out and look normal.

However, I didn't expect that red hair, which I hate so much, would lead me to this mansion and I'd be treated like a lady. I am grateful to have met that old man, the one who brought me to this place.

When I first heard what the old man said, I was a little suspicious and unsure, but like he said, everything would be fine. He will do his part, and I just have to do mine.

Seeing that I haven't been sent to prison, or worse yet, killed. Looks like the old man did a good job.

I, who was walking to the dining room, stopped when I saw a large photo hanging in the living room of the mansion.

In the photo there is a young red-haired man in a suit who is standing smiling behind a black-haired woman who is sitting with an enlarged stomach, while on the left side there is a man who is about 4 years old smiling adorable, his face looks similar to a woman's, and even his hair is similar to that woman's. While on her right side, there is a man who is six years old looking stiff smiling, as if showing he is not comfortable with the suit he is wearing, his face looks similar to the man behind them, the difference is that the little man has the same hair as the woman.

"Back then… Master often smiled."

I turned my head when I heard what the middle-aged woman who came with me to the dining room said. Her eyes glazed over as she stared at the family portrait.

"What really happened? Can you tell me?" I asked curiously.

The old man who brought me here didn't tell me much about the owner of this mansion. So, I guess it's a good time to get some information without making her suspicious.

"I… don't have much memory of my… my mother," I continued quietly. Pretend to be sad.

It's been a long time since I called a woman mother. Was that 12 years ago? This felt strange, and even more so because the woman I called mother wasn't actually my mother.

The old woman took a deep breath, looking hesitant to speak, before finally opening her mouth.

From Mrs. Gareth, that middle-aged woman, name. That woman… ahem, I mean my mother is a cheerful and kind woman. She always took care of each of the servants and even remembered every name of them.

Even though her marriage to a man who has the same hair as me was an arranged marriage, it's not like other arranged marriages. The two of them fell in love with each other.

Mrs. Gareth looks teary eyed when telling how the birth of their first child is a boy, this mansion is filled with laughter and love everyday. The birth of their second child, who is also a boy, made the atmosphere happier.

When that woman.. ahem, my mother was pregnant again and after being examined by the doctor the result was a girl. The happiness of the family becomes more complete. Every day, the red-haired man always smiled and showed his love for the woman.

"However… that happiness didn't last that long…"