Chapter 8

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Madam Ameece's plan never sounded good and that still stood true. I had no intention to deceive Miss Rose. She was always kind to me and cared about all her maids' wellbeing. I have to admit that recently she looked more confident than before and I admired her change. But, what I was about to do made me feel horrible. I would be grateful, if Miss Rose even talked to me after this.

> Ameece Eskater (The lady of the duchy/ wife/mother)

My plan was perfect. Sure, I was the wild card of my family when my sister inherited the count title but when I laid eyes on Leo, (the duke) I knew that we were meant to be together. Am I drama queen? Over the top, yes. Actually, I wasn't very sane till a year ago when I realized that Lily was gone and that I should have focused on our adopted daughter Rose more.

The first day she came to the duchy, she was very petite and meek but had a vicious temper like a certain someone I knew * chuckle*. Rose looked bizarrely similar to Lily with the same face cut. Only her hair differentiates her from our Lily.

We actually had adopted her three weeks before the big incident when Lily got lost. We wanted Lily to have a friend her age but before we even brought Rose to the estate, Lily suddenly went missing.

Guess what happened next? Chaos. People started to think Rose was a replacement. Especially the estate maids. I was not in a condition to correct anything. And Leo, I believe, didn't know. When my sister finally, snapped me out of my façade last year, Rose was already living an independent life with only her three maids.

What finally struck my conscience was the day when Rose fell in to a lake. Richard had saved her in time and she was still alive at the time but she had remembered nothing. She looked in the mirror like she had seen  a ghost. I felt so guilty then. The doctor prescribed her with a condition called 'amnesia' though I felt like there was more to it.

But, it was amazing how she adapted so fast. I always knew she went out to the forest cliffs as I got a report which I diligently, neglected everyday but no more. I will try to be a good mother for her but first, I wanted to check if she trusted me. How will she trust me when I had ignored her? That I didn't figure out still.

I know that I don't have the right to test her after all these years but I couldn't help my self. So, I carved up this plan last night and called one of her servants called Joyce. She hesitated a million times but I persuaded her.

Afterwards, I called out to my sister (Countess Floria, who was also only taller by 2 inches only second to being freakily similar to me in all other dimensions) and asked her to pretend to be me and comment about Joyce in front of Rose. If she trusted me, she should know that I was against violence (Was I going too far in my head? Nah) but thoughts like, 'what if she hates me, since I haven't been a good mother' ran through my mind. I decided to push my luck a little.

I stood at the corner, where a shadow off the wall blocks my presence. Rose sprang out in to the room. Oh, this was going to get juicy!!!

"What are you doing? What right do you have to slap my maid?" She was a badass (similar to me *wink *)

"Milady, I am the head maid. And Joyce had forgotten to brush the madam's windows this morning." Gisella replied, a little alarmed at Rose's entrance.

"So, violence is your answer?" She asked. (Wow, that line and face was top girl crush material)

"Of course it is, wrongdoings must be punished." My sister stepped in for view. Now, the real game started. I wondered what Rose's reaction would be. Would she think it was me?

>

This estate is so silly. Who would slap someone who just forgot to brush a mere window. That's a load of ---. My thought was interrupted from my left.

A woman with a bright red gown and curled chestnut hair ( freakily similar to Lady Ameece) stepped in front. She looked like the Duchess but I could swear it wasn't. How do I put it? She didn't have the same aura as her. I knew that the duchess had the attribute of water which hauntingly is the same attribute that I or Rose had had.

The twist was that Rose never practiced with her attribute. She was more in line with her physical skills which, ironically, she had tried so hard to hide. It suddenly dawned on me if I could use her water attribute but that thought can wait.

The lady in front of me. She was someone else, I was sure.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"Oh sweetie, it's me, your mother. I think your amnesia is adding up again." The lady replied (Or, should I just call her a faker now?!)

"Ha?! Did you know that you are good at lying and pretty bold enough to take the face of the lady of the house???" I asked in threatening tone. I already had enough. The woman could have used an illusion to end up with the same face as Lady Ameece. Joyce was sniffling with bright red cheeks and Catelin was still crying.

It was tiring to see the 2nd prince materializing everywhere I go, the twins being more interested in my life busy meddling it and now a crazy lady pretending to be lady Ameece or my supposed mother appears before me.

"I knew it! My child is smarter. She knows me!" Another feminine figure came from behind me and hugged me, a little too tightly that caused my breath to hitch. I guessed it was the real lady Ameece, from her high-pitched voice.

"U-um, you are choking me..." I let out a shaky sentence.

"Oh, I'm sorry. But, Rose, I am really glad that you knew it wasn't me. I'm really sorry for neglecting you all this time. I won't ask you to forgive me but I want to be there for you! If you allow me." She let out her whole mind in a rapid pace that made my brain spin 180 degrees trying to comprehend. It was too fast for me to process everything.

To get my sanity back, I pointed at the fake duchess and raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, I'm Floria. Ameece's sister. It's nice to finally meet you, Lady Rose. I must proclaim, you are very wise for your age. We had played this trick, which was Ameece's plan, on our parents too and still they had no idea." She laughed.

"Countess Floria Ernmore?! Lady Carlisa's mother?" I asked, bluntly and quickly slapped my mouth.

"Oh, you know me. why, thank you and yes, I am. I should send my daughter out to meet you in the near future. She would love your detective skills for sure." She replied. All of a sudden, my mind ran through a string of thoughts that I should have noted before.

Why had Carlisa never appeared in the novel? She must be an important character if the crown prince had a crush on her. The novel explained that the crown prince got through some heartbreak with the aid of Lily but if his secretary was right by his side, why would he be heartbroken?? Unless, Carlisa died?! No no don't go there yet, mind! I shook my head sideways. I'd have to untangle this later and take care of the situation in front of me first.

"Well now, I have to take my daughter back so that we can have a little family talk, in the least." Lady Ameece (or my 'mother', I still can't get that word around my head.) grabbed my arm and strided towards the huge door of the maid's quarters. She spoke my mind for me!

Abruptly, my mind ran through a few horror thoughts. Especially where she would dress me in crazy outfits and make me have tea. Oh no, you will not make me wear that. No way in hell am I dressing that?!

The last bit of my thoughts must have slipped out since Lady Ameece exclaimed that she also hates frilly outfits. I breathed a sigh of relief and she giggled. A violent knock on the door made us all gasp in surprise.

Gisella stepped towards the door.

"Who's there?"

"There is visitor. U-um, he's important." The sound came from the other side.

"Who is it?" Lady Ameece asked suspiciously.

"It's the Second Prince!"

Hello,

I'm back!!! Sorry that I took so long. But here we go again.

Do you think Rose will form a good relationship with Lady Ameece? If so, what would happen to her escape plan?

Thank you for reading! As always, feel free to comment your views and vote for this story. See you in the next chapter!