"Alright, the next time I'll be seeing Anartis will be at the imperial ball. Which is in how many days?" I turned to Ardeat who instantly turned her full attention to me.

"In about a week, my lady." Ardeat responded before returning back to watering the flower pot while I nodded in understanding while pressing my pen against my lower lip out of habit.

"I see- Huh?" I instantly halted in my actions realizing what Ardeat had just said as she raised a brow at me.

"In about a week." She repeated as the pen slipped out of my hand while my mouth hung agape in shock, panic washing me.

"What?! But I don't even have a dress ready yet!" I exclaimed jumping out of my seat as Ardeat dropped the water can in her hands in shock while her jaw dropped open.

"..." The room fell dead silent as the water spilled over the entire carpet yet Ardeat simply kept gazing at me in shock.

"PARDON?!"

-----

Long story short, after a whole ten minutes of panicking.

I shooed Ardeat off to the store to buy anything shiny and pretty to decorate the dress with the money I had gotten from selling the gems on my dresses.

Why? I'm going to compromise and make my own dress from all the things I know Anartis hates with the little time I have left to prepare for the ball!

'If I'm surrounded with everything he hates, then he'll eventually hate me and this engagement too!' That was the plan... But is it even possible to do all that in one week?!

It took me all the hours in my day when I first came here to remove all those gems from my other dresses and I only managed to finish about half of them in two weeks before giving up after discovering Sovine's second closet.

Back then I decided that if half of these dresses were normal and the other half wasn't but at least had fewer gems then it would be pretty balanced and then wouldn't have to worry much about future events either.

And I'm glad I did so. Thanks to that, now I didn't have to scramble and scurry around the room trying to find the fanciest dress I have and then stick more jems on it.

Though I did have to stitch the back of the dress up a bit since it was a bit too revealing for my taste. It felt as though if a kid ran over and tugged on the back then the whole dress would slip off.

Ardeat had finally returned with the shells and also brought me some synthetic pearls which seemed close to real pearls though I hadn't asked for them. Though it wasn't a bad idea either.

You began stitching the dress, adding a few laces and different clothed fabrics and attaching the pearls onto the dress as Ardeat bolted around the mansion getting you everything you asked for.

"Ardeat! Go get me a hammer!"

"Understood!"

I took more time than expected to make the dress the definition of Anartis's dislikes. But even though I had spent three days to make this dress plus two cause I had to be careful to not prick my fingers.

The result was worth it. Though it was a bit disappointing since I didn't know many of his dislikes. Or at least as many as I'd want to.

And I doubt Avis would tell me any considering all those things that he heard the other day in the duke's office. But this much should be enough to leave a horrible first meeting as fiance's.

'Hm... I feel like I'm forgetting something...' I scanned over the dress trying to figure out what it was missing, I couldn't think of anything even in the end.

'Let's think this over. What spoilers did I hear about this event from Maki?' I brought my hand up to my lower lip with a thoughtful expression on my face when the realization hit me.

"That's right! Avis didn't go to the ball at the last minute for some reason in the game!" I exclaimed as my fist hit my palm in realization.

Ardeat was already used to this kind of comments and outburst so she simply focused on carefully putting the gown I had just made away in a safe place.

But Maki had never told me the reason to why he didn't attend. And I just never cared enough to ask. Which you were now realizing was a huge mistake.

The saying "curiosity kills the cat" misled me! Now I was going to die because I wasn't curious enough! If Avis, Anartis's best friend had gone with me then Anartis would've held himself back a little more!

My whole plan was to act as a lovesick puppy and chase Anartis around everywhere with my own crazy, creepy, unnecessary over-the-top shenanigans and become the madwoman of the century!

And the only reason I thought I'd be able to carry this plan through was because I expected Anartis to hold his anger back and act with patience every time I did some shit I knew he didn't like!

At least for Avis's sake!

But now, if Avis wasn't going to be at the ball... There would be no one to hold Anartis back! He might really end up ditching me to hell!

"NO!! I CAN'T LET THAT HAPPEN!" I slammed my hands on the desk as I shot up from my seat before bolting right past Ardeat and out of my room.

I immediately made my way towards Avis's room. Though I had never asked for the reason, since Avis was a knight the most likely reason why he wasn't able to attend would be because of an injury he could have sustained during practice.

So I was going to make him pause his training for a week! And since Avis had a commitment issue, I'd probably have to force him to get back to practice after. A small price to pay in return for my life.

He probably hadn't gotten the injury yet since it was announced that he wouldn't be attending at the last minute. So that was a bit of a reassurance.

"Avis Divinus! Stop your training!" I barged into Avis's room, who had his back turned to me at the moment, and then shrieked like a little rat and jumped back the next.

This guy was really making me question if he was really a knight or not. But that's not what matters right now.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Avis yelled the next moment finally turning to face me, now it was my turn to screech, I was so shocked I even sounded like Teehee.

So much so that Vidoro came running over the next moment just as Ardeat had also arrived thinking that it was time for his training. He was much stronger and faster than he used to be now.

Courtesy of Teehee and the training.

"I swear I wasn't trying to ditch! I thought the torture- I mean, training began in the afternoon!" Vidoro spoke up to defend himself but I couldn't care less right now.

"What happened to your face?!" I dashed over to Avis in the blink of an eye, smushing his cheeks with my hands as I examined the damage done on his face.

"WHY DOES IT LOOK LIKE YOU'VE BEEN ROLLING IN MUD AND SHIT?!!" I immediately pulled my hands away from his face shuddering in disgust at the condition his pores were in.

"ARDEAT! BRING MY CLEANSER AND DEEP PORE CLEANER SCRUB OVER RIGHT NOW!" I demanded dragging Avis over to the bathroom, first to wash my hands, and second to wash his face.

"Oi, oi, oi! What are you doing?!" Avis yelled in caution as I shoved him into the bathroom before calling out to Vidoro. "Vidoro! Get in here too!"

"Eh?! Why me too?!" Vidoro exclaimed though he was already making his way to the bathroom anyway.

"Cause the apple never falls far from the tree!" He was walking too slowly so I also grabbed his arm and yanked him into the bathroom.

-----

I figured out soon enough, that the reason Avis hadn't been able to come to the imperial ball and had to drop out last minute was probably because of the state his skin was in. He probably got an acne attack.

And there's no way in hell Luden would ever let him show his face in public like that sonce it would taint the family's reputation. Let alone an imperial ball. However, even if that wasn't the case.

There's no possible way in the nuclear universe I could have ever let this slide, not as a proud Korean citizen. Never. So I now have yet another reason to be glad that skincare still exists in this world.

Though I should've honestly expected it. It's not like anyone would go so in detail to change all the names and skincare products in this game, they wouldn't even have to in the first place.

"Honestly... Why are you doing this...?" Avis let out an exasperated sigh as I continued to apply the mud mask I had just had Ardeat bring over to his face.

Avis was currently being forced to sit on a chair in the middle of the room with a skincare headband with a bow holding his bangs back as I applied the mud mask to his face.

He looked ridiculous but at the same time hilarious.

"Because. Despite your shitty, petty, absolutely trashy personality. You've got an awfully pretty face that I can't allow to be destroyed over this." I responded as a knock was heard from the door.

"Ardeat. Whoever it is, tell them to get out." I ordered as Ardeat showed no hesitance as she made her way to the door, though she seemed a bit hesitant once she had seen who it was.

"My lady... You might want to see who this is-" "I don't care if it's the emporer himself. Tell them to get lost." I cut Ardeat off making it clear that I simply did not care.

"Understood." Ardeat responded gently shutting the door behind her as she proceeded to carry out my order as I turned to Vidoro to apply the mud mask on his face as well.

"Why must I go through this as well?" Vidoro questioned with a heavy frown on his face, along with a big fat pout. He was also currently in the same position as Avis.

"Stop pouting. You'll thank me for this later." I grabbed his cheeks and yanked on them to get him to stop pouting before poking his temple with the back of my brush to get his brows to relax.

"Relax your facial muscles." I instructed before applying the mud mask to his face while he groaned but obeyed anyway as I heard a click from the door, indicating that Arceat was back.

"Ardeat. Get me turmeric, honey, and yogurt. His skin is so good and bad that I can already see the ache starting while it's trying to hold them back." I instructed as Ardeat opened her mouth to speak.

"Ah... Right away." Ardeat responded trotting out the room while you layed cucumbers on the two brothers' eyes, guess she had decided not to. Or simply forgotten.

Soon enough, Ardeat returned with the items and I had both the brothers wash their faces again to remove the mud mask with a hydrating cleanser.

"Remember! Use your knuckles and GENTLY massage your skin in circular motions!" I reminded them while I made another face mask from the ingredients making sure to emphasize on the word "gently".

"Pat Avis! Pat!" I reminded seeing that Avis was once again violently rubbing his face with the towel.

"Sovine-... What have you done to them...?" Luden suddenly entered the room but then immediately halted in his steps seeing the orange paste on the other two brothers' faces.

"I am reviving their skin. This is basically surgery, so shut up." I responded while Avis blinked "sos" to Luden in morse code, though there was no way for me to know he was doing so.

"Stop blinking." I flicked Avis as I finished applying the paste to his face before turning to Vidoro, only to realize that he was already springing to the door.

"You've been doing this till afternoon, lady! Enough! It's time for my training!" Vidoro grabbed onto the hem of Ardeat's skirt before teleporting away with her.

'Hm? He can use magic again, huh? That's good.' I sighed in relief, at this rate, I might really be able to save Vidoro. And perhaps even return back to my world.

"Well, I guess it can't be helped. But where do you think you're going?" I clutched onto Avis's arm just as he had managed to sneak past me and yanked him right back into the chair.

"Get out, Luden. Stop giving the poor dude false hope that he'll be able to get out of this." I stated as I gestured to him in a shooing motion basically telling him to get lost.

"... Fine." Luden eventually decided to betray Avis and leave in the end, he had already forgotten the reason as to why he had come here in the first place.

"Now we'll wait fifteen minutes and go to the bathroom to wash your face again." I instructed as a deep groan of exhaustion and pain escaped Avis's lips.

It was his own fault for not taking care of his skin. Or so I liked to believe. Well, either way, doing too much skincare in one day also wasn't the best for the skin either so I'd have to wrap this up soon.

"Okay, go wash your face. Then we can apply toner, moisturizer, and sunscreen and I guess call it a day." I instructed as Avis immediately hopped out of his seat and darted to the bathroom.

I knew it was a bit much since I had become this midday and was only wrapping it up now. But with the imperial ball being only two days away, I didn't have much of a choice.

'At least now I don't have to worry about Anartis. Well, kinda.'  Avis once again stepped out of the garden, patting his face instead of rubbing it for once.

"Alright. Now let's get this hell over with." Avis grumbled under his breath as if he was preparing for war while I had to instruct him on how to apply the rest of the products.

It was like teaching a kid how to eat. But the results in the end were great, his face was hydrated, exfoliated, fresh, bright, smooth, and overall thriving.

"Congrats. I have officially saved your face, you're welcome." I spoke up as I grabbed all of my products before proceeding to leave the room.

But just as I had stepped outside, familiar strands of blue tint came into my view causing me to glance at the figure leaning on the wall beside the door as my heart instantly dropped to my stomach.

'ANARTIS????' I immediately stepped back into the room slamming the door shut behind me as I leaned against the door clenching my chest as my heartbeat rose in terror.

'WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?! I WAS SUPPOSED TO MEET HIM AGAIN AT THE BALL! WHAT IS HE DOING HERE?!' I slumped to the floor holding my head as I drowned into despair. Again.

"What the hell are you doing now?" Avis questioned not at all surprised to see me mopping around the floor.

'WHY DIDN'T ANYONE TELL ME ABOUT THIS?!' I ignored Avis's existence with no hesitation as I continued to internally sob at this turn of events.

"... Right. He can't possibly stay here all night." I realized as I turned my attention back to Avis, I felt a bit bad for making him continue doing all this but my life was more important right now.

"Avis, show me your hands." I demanded as it instantly clicked to Avis what I was going to do, stall time.

"WHAT?! NO!" Avis screeched before running into the bathroom and locking himself in there.

Not that I had a problem with that, I could just wait around inside the room until midnight and ditch him.

And so I did while Avis kept his existence locked away in the bathroom.

"My lady." Ardeat knocked on the door, I had asked her to do so when Anartis had finally left, and since she had just done so, it must've meant that the danger had passed.

"Alright. I'll be back tomorrow, Avis." I hopped off the bed before making my way to the door as I heard the sound of a bunch of colliding objects or something from the bathroom.

"Don't worry, I won't come again after tomorrow since that's the day of the ball!" I reassured him as I shut the door to his room behind me.

I had already prepared a plan to have whatever was left of my reputation hit rock bottom, and hopefully break off this engagement.

But meeting Anartis today had somewhat interfered with those plans.

'Though I don't think this really counts as first impressions... Well, I suppose nothing would've considering how long Avis and Anartis have been friends.'

Still, even if Sovine and Anartis must have already seen each other a dozen of times. I doubt it ever ended in a proper conversation.

And in one way or another, this meeting might help me creep Anartis out even more and have him despise this engagement.

Even if I just ran back into the room and slammed the door after seeing him.

I could still continue the act of a madwoman who's gone wild from love for her fiance if I tried.

"Yes... That will do..." A chilled giggle escaped my lips as I imagined the look of pure disgust that would be painted on Anartis's face every time he sees me after the night of the imperial ball.

"My lady, you're scaring me."

To be continued...

I'M BACK FROM MY EXAMS 🎉🎉

I know you all expected some drama and Sovine doing some crazy shit in this chapter but I have that all planned in the next chapter so bare with me

Anyway, did you like the chapter?? 🧆🧆