Erick was preparing to leave. He heard a voice calling him from behind, and when he turned around, he saw a man approaching him.
The man struggled to regain his breath and shouted, "Oh! Hah! I thought I couldn't catch up to you, man! You walk fast."
Erick raised an eyebrow and put his hands in his pockets while turning to face the gasping man.
Lieutenant Nickolas Tan, I hope it's something essential that you have to run over me, you can just call me and walk properly as a soldier, and what's with the haste, remarked Erick in a monotone voice.
General Erickson Warton's right-hand man, Lieutenant Nickolas Tan, is one of the top military professionals on the scene. Since they have known each other since high school, he is also Erick's best buddy. Unlike Erick, who was the son of the late Chief Marshal of the nation, Nickolas Tan was born into a middle-class military family.
With one breath, he uttered, "Yeah, I have something essential to say. I'm not here as your subordinate but as your friend Erick, I will come right to the point. Please annul your engagement to the Eldest Daughter of La Roche."
Erick was astonished by what his friend had said. "I didn't know you had this sort of thoughts for me, Nick, but I just view you as a friend, so forget it," he joked and slapped his friend on the shoulder before continuing to walk.
"Stop it Erick I'm not here to pull your legs, and what's with your absurd nonsense about liking you, you know that I'm more attractive than you, and I prefer ladies with large breasts," he snarled as he followed Erick's lead.
As he continued to snicker, Erick asked, "And where did you obtain this information? About my engagement. Don't tell me the old man told you about it?"
Nick vigorously nodded. He scratches the back of his head and says, "Your old guy enthusiastically informed me before, and he even says that I should find my wife as well."
"But that's not the issue here, Erick, have you ever looked into the background of your fiancée, or even looked at her on social media? Whilst I must say she's a filthy rich heiress, there's more to her tale, do you even know that?" he said.
It's not like I've been engaged to a criminal, Erick said, laughing off the remark, "Why do I need to examine my fiancée when I can see her, myself, and what's with your tone?"
Nick simply shook his head in disappointment, feeling that his smart pants friend has a low EQ and that he is too hopeless in situations like this because he still seems to be living in the stone age. Yet if his friend spends all of his time and energy working, who is to blame?
He spoke to Erick in a somber tone. Do you know what most people name that woman, Erick? "Listen to me, that woman is Evil."
Erick gazed at Nick, wondering what his friend was trying to communicate. "And what about it?"
"She was called... the Wicked Heiress of La Roche, they say she has done many nasty schemes to the people, she doesn't like," murmured Nick after carefully surveying his surroundings.
An egotistical woman with a formidable personality, or, as they called her, a true villainess. Even I experienced shivers when I heard it. As your buddy, I told you to terminate your engagement because I don't want you to be affiliated with such a horrible woman," he said, looking dejectedly at his friend.
Erick was not the type of person who just listened and accepted what others were saying, especially when it comes to the people within his circle, without him finding out the truth himself. He had heard many rumors about his fiancée being a spoiled brat and arrogant heiress of La Roche, among other things, but he ignored them all.
As opposed to this, Erick simply grinned at his friend, saying, "You know there's a saying: that nobody is a villain in their story, and we're all the heroes of our life. So, maybe she has her reasons why she did all of that. Father always told me that there is no such thing as a person who is born evil, maybe... they just have a hard life."
Nick was astonished; how could he dispute the answers given by his friend? And that's why I'm concerned about you—your morality is unsuitable for a vicious woman.
Erick, on the other hand, simply smirked at his serious-looking friend. "I'm not a child Nick, and I appreciate your concern, but I'll be fine," Erick said as he patted his friend's shoulder.
Erick had a thought. 'More than that, I trust my father's assessment of my fiancee.'
"Well, I already knew I couldn't change your mind unless you saw it for yourself," Nick said, shaking his head in defeat. "So, you're leaving now, are you going to your family villa?" Nick asked.
"No, I'm staying in my Westfield apartment, then I'll go to the La Roche Mansion; Elder Thomas La Roche invited me for dinner and to meet his granddaughter,"
Nick nodded to his friend, "Since you won't listen to me, just be careful man! There's no smoke without fire, and there's a reason that woman was nicknamed the evil heiress."
Erick simply shook his head at his friend's persistence.
"I'll be the judge."
*********************
La Roche Mansion
At the La Roche Mansion, Thea arrived. One of the first Victorian fountains with an angel statue dripping water into the pond and four large white pillars in front of a neoclassical palace-styled residence. Thea follows Anne's lead and casts a glance into the Mansion.
It's wonderful to be back, she said.
She had previously ignored the privileges she had received from those around her, particularly as the granddaughter of a well-known businessman in the country. All she felt now was gratitude for being given a second chance at life, and having the opportunity to experience this luxurious lifestyle was something she was ready for and grateful for, as opposed to the way she was living prior to her regression, which was worse than a rat living in a dirty mud hole.
'I wasted everything because I was greedy. But now, I will change my future, and I will be happy in this lifetime,' she promised herself.
The butler's warm smile greeted her in the hallway, along with some other servants of the house.
"Welcome Back, Young Miss," the butler said as he bowed his head in front of Thea, to which she replied with a courtesy smile.
The butler follows Thea as she approaches the spiral staircase of the mansion, continuing to update Thea.
Before saying anything, the butler clears his throat. "Young Miss, Madam, and Master have left a message; they won't be able to attend your fiancée meeting tomorrow; there is an important matter with your sister abroad," the butler explained.
The butler closes his eyes and drops his head in front of Thea, expecting the worst from his young miss, which is common in the mansion, particularly when it comes to the young miss's parents. The little miss's tendency to become frustrated and jealous of her step-sister, especially when her parents show her step-sister a lot of affection, is no secret to the servants.
In contrast to their expectations, Thea simply bobbed her head and smiled as she ascended the staircase, ignoring the stunned looks of the butler and the other servants.
Thea groans quietly. He informed me of my parents' unexpected trip to see my sister in another country in the same manner as in the past. I yelled at them before they could respond and left the room for the corridor. I recall how jealousy made me act irrationally. I was really pitiful back then.
But since my parents always worry about my sister, who was traveling alone abroad, today is different, therefore I shouldn't take it personally. In retrospect, I could have shown more compassion. I hope to meet them soon so that I can improve our relationship.
She laughed inside as if she were an adolescent in love, "Now I only need to focus on the most important thing, and that is to win the heart of my husband Erick."
Thea wasn't aware that anyone was already noticing her strange conduct because she was lost in her own thoughts.
The butler, who was perplexed by his Young Miss' behavior, knitted an eyebrow in disbelief. He hadn't anticipated that the Young Miss would relax and act as if she didn't care at all. Not what she typically does.
He follows Thea and clears his throat to get her attention, which Thea notices immediately as she stops moving and looks at the sweating butler. "Young Miss, are you okay with that? Tomorrow is a big day in your life, and they're not here to support you?"
Thea observed the man's annoyed expression and his impatient speech to her. Nonetheless, she ignores the negative emotions because he cared for their family for almost ten years. Alfred Kurt, their butler, has dark skin, black hair, grey eyes, and a scar under his right brow. He has a stern and enigmatic appearance.
He was the person Thea trusted most in the mansion in her previous life since he always informed Thea of her father and stepmother's whereabouts. As a result, she always knew that they would spend more time with her stepsister, which makes her furious.
Thea thought, "Come to think of it, I didn't know what happened to him after I left the Mansion," as she continued to study the Butler's face. Did he work at La Roche his entire life? '
Thea responded after a lengthy pause, "It's okay Butler Alfred even if they can't make it, grandfather is here to support and greet the guest, so I won't mind at all. Please tell them to focus on my sister's issues, I can handle myself well.
Butler Alfred simply nodded before changing the subject to cover up his expression of disbelief. When he was calm enough to speak, he said, "Master Thomas wanted you to come to his office."
Thea murmured softly. "Alright, then tell grandfather that I'll come to his office once I'll make myself presentable." leaving Butler in the hallway, speechless.