Veron's eyes shed tears as she was trying to control them. "I don't know how it feels like when you married him for your sister's sake."

Sister's sake, what?

Victoria raised her eyebrow in confusion. She went over the bedside and lifted up the dress Veronica showed up. "I can't be..."

"You have to. Please Victoria!" Veronica held her arm gently as she plead. "I don't want to marry the Duke of Italy." Italy was one of the famous countries in Europe and it's famous for fashion, pizza, and the historical backstage of Catholicism. Yeah who wants Pizza? She don't think pizza was invented this era nor Carbonara pasta. Victoria shook her head, she didn't know what will happen if she or Lexander got involved in some romantic relationship with the Victorian people.

Veronica sat on the bed, her face was dimmed with worry. What's the Duke looked like? Old fifties with grey beard and wrinkled face? Or a young twenties with proud tongue and fussy lips? "I will do it for both of you but you must act like me, your maid."

"You do?" She beamed, a little shade of happiness streamed across her face. Victoria hurried herself to the changing room and quickly wore the dress. The silk dress was lovely to look at with her dangling red locks and pale freckled skin. Her old peasant's dress dropped a little folded paper from its pocket. She opened it and read the small passage.

Act like her, love like him
When two did love
But don't pursue it
Fix those hearts
But it will die
One will wed
And one will be dead

Shocked, she crumbled the paper and peeped it inside her cleavege. She could feel the sharp little pain bristled on her chest. Victoria strode out from the small room and showed Veronica. She was impressed with her. "Now where's your peasant clothes?"

"At your changing room." Victoria pointed to her small room. Veronica rushed in and wore Victoria's dirty and dull clothes. She stepped out of the changing room and faced at her. Their green eyes stare at each other like mirrored beauty of these women.

Act like her, love like him...

"Let's do this!" They cheered in chorus. Both of them giggled and hugged each other with embrace. A knock on the door separates them. It came Abigail smiling at Victoria and spoke. "Miss Veronica, you've been called by your grandmother."

Victoria nodded at Veronica and walked towards Abigail. She tilted her head over her shoulder, looking at her and went to the hall. As they arrived, lord Barrimore was talking to a old lady with a silver tiara on her head. They both amazed by Victoria's appearance as she stepped into the Hall.

"My darling Veronica, you're so beautiful but you didn't wear any hairstyle?" Lalia tugged her lips into a fake smile. Victoria widened her eyes. She forgot to mend her red curls up!

"I was in a hurry, Grand...." She bit her lip and her eyes were searching for Veronica who was standing by the door. She mouthed, saying a word 'grandma'.
"Grandma." Victoria repeated, clutching her fingers stronger with nervousness.

"Tomorrow morning, the Duke of Italy will be arrive at eight so we will have a tea party and..." Barrimore cut off as the Dowager interrupted.

"Family Bachelorette." Lalia looked at her son and walked off to the butler. "Is the dinner ready?"

Jude the butler nodded and rang the bell. "The food is ready!" He called out. His voice echoes through the Hall.
"Could you please shut up!" Lalia snapped at him.

Veronica quickly ran towards Victoria and led her to the dinning room. "Old Grumpy Lady." She hissed making Victoria chuckled softly. "Don't worry, I'll guide you to learn more about the Manor and Dukedom."

Victoria gave her a tiny smile and sat down on Veronica's dinning seat. Barrimore sat at the edge of the table across Lalia. Then a lady in regency gown walked slowly as she was guided by Abigail. She also has red hair but straight and pale skin but not freckled. She also had green eyes but mixed up with brown and a bit of blue. She smiled at Victoria and sat on her seat. After then, Victoria smiled back, weaker than usual. Veronica was in her servant's clothes, standing behind Victoria as if she was her lady-in-waiting. Nobody seems to notice the difference between them because they're completely identical.

The lady in front of her was Vivorie. As she dived into her meal of vegetables and grilled chicken. She looked at Vivorie, slowly examine her physique. She's not the same as the lady on the painting which was hung up on the wall at the Manor. What happened to the history? Why some people claims that Vivorie was her grandmother? Victoria stabbed the sliced chicken with her fork and shoved it into her mouth. Mentally cursing for those fellow historians who studied with her and falsely claimed to who was her great-grandmother. ,

Silence poured out as the nobles ate their dinner. Veronica was waiting for any command from them. Her knees went sore and her heels went numb for standing up in almost fifteen minutes. She wasn't used to stand up for an hour. Veronica bent her knee a little to feel relaxed. Her servant's clothes was so tight. Her innocent white apron was wrinkled normally. Turning her head around, the Head Maid Paula signals her to come over. Veronica approached her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "What do you want, miss..."

"Paula. I'm the Head Maid." She corrected like what first time maiden do. "Victoria, you will have to guide Lady Veronica. " She instructed without any idea of what happened to these girls. She had grown grey hair but much younger than Lalia.

Veronica nodded. She looked at Victoria as she was engaging in a conversation with her twin sister Vivorie. Vivorie's sweet face was slowly getting more yellower. Veronica felt guilty about using Veronica as herself to follow her grandmother's secret command. Since her mother's death, her grandmother is the one who controls her father's inheritance. Lalia thought that she will have the authority to have his inheritance if Veronica will continue to marry the Duke.

One by one, Victoria ate everything that was laid on her plate while listening to Vivorie. On the other hand, Vivorie was talking about everything she haven't heard. Of course, she's not Vivorie's sister. "I love your green dress."

"You can have it!" Victoria enthusiastically offered her dress. Lalia was surprised to hear her offer. But Vivorie's eyes grew wide.

"I'm sorry if I can't because I wouldn't live a little longer." Vivorie's gaze went down on her plate as her self-esteem faded. Her skin that was yellowish became more than usual.

"That's ridiculous! Vivorie, your sister was giving you something good before cutting off your breath!" Lalia yelled at her. Victoria jolted and saw Vivorie winced in pain.

"GRANDMA! IF SHE DOESN'T WANT TO THEN FINE!" Victoria was furious and stood up from her seat. Everyone's gaze switched to her, an unexpected decision was an awful surprise.

"Victoria is right!" Barrimore defend her. "Everyone's have the right to say no."

"But son, it frustrates Victoria—"

"I don't mind if she said no." This redhead Victoria said it emotionless with a glare. She pulled her skirt a little and walked off. "Excuse me. Grandma."

As she stepped out of the doorway. Vivorie closed her eyes,  feeling the dizziness spiralling. She clutches her collar rim with her fist and breathe harder. "Bring Abigail here!" Lord Barrimore yelled at Jude as everyone began to panic. Victoria ran back towards Vivorie in fear but Lalia grabbed her arm swiftly.

"THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT, VERONICA!"

Abigail rushed in with Veronica at her side. She kneeled beside Vivorie and checked her heartbeat. "Calm down, m'lady. Everything's alright."

Victoria swung her arm from Lalia's grip harshly. "It's not me but it's YOU!" She pointed at her with her index finger. "All you want is to be pleased!"

Vivorie slowly getting relaxed and breathe normally. She held Abigail's hand and spoke weakly. "Let's go to my chamber."

As Vivorie was assisted. Veronica stood silently by the doorway, looking at Victoria yelling against her grandmother Lalia. Victoria was more passive, blunt, and harsh than her. She ramped her courage to speak against her.

__________
Enjoy!
Questions? Please comment below.