The next morning, Yulianna found herself before the full-length mirror yet again, her eyes drinking in her own image. Satisfaction curled within her as she observed her reflection with playful amusement.
The body she now inhabited in her second life breathed perfection—every line and curve flawless. Yet to Yulianna, it was deeply unsettling. She had spent most of the night awake, making changes. By change, she didn't simply mean dyeing her hair a striking red. She also planned to take the scissors to it, trimming away a good length.
But a sudden, piercing scream behind her made Yulianna flinch.
"F-Forgive my recklessness, my lady. I didn't mean to intrude…" the maid stammered, eyes wide in shock as if they might leap from their sockets.
Seriously? I didn't even do anything, yet she looks ready to faint.
"If you've got work to do, I suggest you get on with it," Yulianna remarked, meeting the maid's wide-eyed stare without flinching. "As you can see, I'm busy."
Still pale as parchment, the maid seemed to finally remember why she had come. "I… I came to change the beddings, my lady. I thought you were at the villa and didn't think to inform you beforehand. Please forgive my intrusion."
"Villa?" Yulianna echoed, her voice tinged with confusion.
I didn't know there was a villa connected to this mansion. Did the real Yulianna go there often?
"Yes, my lady," the maid replied hesitantly. "The villa is your favorite place… because it's where the river runs."
Yulianna gave a small nod. "I don't recall much about it… but the river is where I nearly drowned, isn't it?"
The maid's eyes widened, her knuckles tightening around the fresh linens. "Y–yes, my lady. You… you don't remember that either?"
"Does it matter? Just finish your work so I can have my space," She said flatly.
She had no desire to discuss whatever happened at that river. The memory wasn't hers to begin with—it belonged to the real Yulianna, not her.
Wait… I'm her now. That means it's my business too.
"You there," she called suddenly, making the maid flinch. "I have a question."
"W-what is it, my lady?"
"Were you with me at the villa when the incident happened?" Yulianna's voice was as serious as the expression on her face.
The recent change to her hair—now a deep shade of red—seemed to sharpen her features even more. Yet it did nothing to diminish her beauty. The once-alluring, gentle face of Yulianna McGregor had transformed into something striking, almost intimidating. No wonder the maid stared at her in surprise.
She watched the maid's face lose all color, her frail demeanor almost pitiful. The sight only irritated Yulianna, twisting her expression into a scornful smirk. She hadn't even done anything—yet the girl trembled as she fumbled for an answer.
"I–"
A sudden knock at the door cut her off. Yulianna blinked, the sound snapping her back to herself. Perhaps she had gone too far, pressing the maid as though she were an enemy. Her intuition had clouded her judgment, and she had forgotten the role she was supposed to play—gentle, composed, untouchable.
"If you're finished with the bed, you may go." She sighed, waving her hand in dismissal.
Yulianna sank back into her seat, her gaze catching on her reflection in the mirror. Only then did she notice the way her brows had drawn into a sharp arch.
Damn it… why can't I just let it go? There's something more to that incident at the river—I know it.
At that moment, her personal maid, Mira, slipped into the room, her expression tinged with discreet disbelief.
"I thought you'd be finished admiring your reflection by now, my lady," she said with practiced patience. "But it seems I was mistaken. Shall I prepare something to complete your… new look?"
A playful smile curved Yulianna's lips as she turned her back to the mirror.
"I don't think so, Mira. But… will this be enough to please the duke?"
Mira sighed and forced a polite smile.
"Why, my lady… you've outdone yourself so well that I can already hear his grace's voice thundering through the entire mansion."
Yulianna narrowed her eyes, still smiling.
"I caught that sarcasm, Mira. So, you're not impressed with my new look?"
"My lady… I'm more than happy to see you willing to change," Mira replied softly. Then her expression soured. "But doing this just to provoke his grace… that's not like you."
"I know, I know." Yulianna's smile widened into something mischievous. "So be glad I haven't gone far enough to truly piss him off."
"Why are you here, though? I was planning to trim the ends of my hair, but it looks like you arrived just in time to sabotage my plan," Yulianna said, narrowing her eyes in mock accusation.
Mira sighed deeply, shaking her head. "You need to get changed, my lady. You wouldn't want to face the empire's most famous designer wearing only a nightgown, would you?"
Yulianna's eyes widened, her voice bursting with excitement before she could stop herself. "You mean… Vein is here?!"
"In this very mansion, my lady. He's been waiting for you in the guest room for about five minutes now," her maid replied in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Alright, I get it—no need to sound so obvious." Yulianna waved her off with a smirk. "Let me grab a dress and we'll get there before his patience runs out."
Speechless, the maid could only watch as Yulianna went about her business. It still felt odd, seeing the once-fragile lady transformed into someone so unpredictable—all because of that accident in the river.
She didn't fully understand this change yet, but she was glad to see her smiling again. Still, part of her couldn't shake the strangeness of it. This was the same lady who once couldn't defend herself—a mere puppet at the mercy of others. Yet now, it felt as though the Yulianna she had known since setting foot in the McGregor household was gone, replaced by someone entirely different.