Chapter 2: The First Mistake

[Portia's POV]

"Lady, how about wearing a braid for today's breakfast?"

Diane Algebra, my personal maid who took care of me since I was very young until adulthood, is now standing behind me and brushing my hair softly. She is a kind-hearted and thoughtful woman. Never once she said rude things to me.

I love her like a child who loves their mom, but I think God loves her more than me. She died in a carriage accident looking for medicine to cure my strange illness when I was 18.

That disease made me unable to speak nor move my body for almost three months before a foreign merchant came into our house and brought a local medicine. After that, I was able to move and speak freely, but my little heart will never recover from losing my dearest nanny in a carriage accident.

A faint smile emerged on my face when I looked at the mirror and saw our reflection there. Those faces look so young, bright, and full of spirit. It seems that I am reborn again when I am 13 years old, while Diane is 20. There were still five years before that tragedy happened, and I would do anything to save her.

"Do whatever you want. It doesn't matter to me as long as you like it."

Diane blinks for a second. She probably is not expecting that kind of response from a 13-year-old girl. "S-Sure, let's wear braid hair today. Do you want me to style your dress too, Lady?"

"Yeah, that will do."

After that, I feel wonderful seeing myself in the mirror. An ethereal sight of a beautiful young lady wrapped in ocean blue knee-length dresses over white pantaloons. Diane really did a good job. This is why I am always relieved to leave the closet matter to her.

"You look beautiful, Lady Portia." She praises me.

"Thanks, that was very nice of—" I turn around and almost do a curtsey before suddenly remembering that a 13-year-old girl who never received etiquette education will look suspicious if she acts like an adult noble. It was my usual habit in the past life whenever someone gave me a compliment.

Then, I pretended to be slipped. "Ouch, it hurts."

Diane rushes to me with a pale expression. She checks my ankle condition and feels guilty. "Oh, no, what do I do. Did it get swollen, Lady?"

I shake my head slowly and draw a cute little smile on my face. "It's not hurt at all, Diane. I talk the truth, really!"

Ugh, it is so embarrassing to behave like a child when deep inside, I was a 24-year-old woman who hated acting cute in front of people. It was impossible for me after experiencing all those traumas and tragedies.

However, it is natural for her to see me as a child. For now, I will act like a child to avoid the suspicious rumour that might be spread around.

Diane's expression softened. Then, she helps me stand up and cleans my dress of dirt and dust. "You must be more careful, Lady. Walk slowly and make sure not to step on your dress."

I nod. "Uhm."

"Diane, I'm hungry. Can we go down and get some breakfast?"

"Of course, Lady Portia. Duke and Duchess must be waiting for you in the breakfast room." She walks first and opens the door.

I took a step forward while feeling nervous as I walked past the door and arrived in the long hallway of our home—the Palmerston house. The long hallway in front of me was filled with many paintings of our family members that shone brightly because of the sunlight rays from the big window.

As I walk along, an unpleasant feeling comes without permission. It attacks me and makes me feel choked by it. "Guhuk—"

"Lady Portia, are you okay?"

"U-uh? Yes, I'm okay, Diane. It's just a little bug, hehehe."

Without waiting for her reaction, I turn around and walked a little faster.

I know.

I know what I just felt.

My body still can recall the sensation when I jumped into the raging fire, giving me such a huge ominous thrill. I am never doing that again. I will live a long time, slacking off and getting old like a normal person.

In order to achieve that dream, I must change some mistakes in my past life that could lead me to an exact bad ending—death and loneliness, the worst thing a human could bear.

Now, facing the huge door with dazzling gold ornament in front of me, I convince myself that I am gonna fixed the first mistake I have made in the past. It was not a big mistake, but it still made some future impacts.

"Please open the door. Lady Portia Palmerston arrives to attend breakfast with the Duke and Duchess." Diane talks to the guard in front of the breakfast room. He nods and opens the door with his strength.

The breakfast room looks awesome, as usual. It is massive and allows the sunlight to be the natural light source through the round glass roof above. However, what makes it really awesome is not the furniture but the two people with huge influence in Palmerston Ducal and Tamerlaine Empire that sat quietly on the couch, eating their breakfast without making any sounds.

However, their attitude changed 180 degrees after seeing me.

"Good morning, Your Highness."

"Portia. You came!"

Duke Anthony and Duchess Adeline turn around. They seem happy when they see me there. "Yes, how could I skip the breakfast time when all families member are gathering here?"

Anthony blinks. He has the exact reaction as Diane's before. "Y-yes, you're right. Please take a seat, Portia. The chef has made your favourite dish."

"Sure, thanks." I walk and sit on the chair. Across my chair, I see something there.

"H-hello, sister."

"Hello, Yuri. Nice to see you here."

I give a genuine smile to her. She seems shocked for a few seconds before hiding her head and pretending to eat.

"Hmmm, the meal looks delicious. Please deliver my gratitude to the chef for putting their hardwork into this dish."

Not only Yuri, Anthony, and Adeline—my stepmother—look surprised too. They probably could not believe their eyes right now. Then, I turned my face from them and looked at the girl that sat across from me with her signature pinkish blonde hair that looked so frail yet beautiful.

Yuri Palmerston. She is my pretty younger step-sister. And, she is the first mistake that I have ever made in my past life.

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