Third person POV

The next day had finally made its appearance. It was a busy day starting very early in the morning for just about everyone. The maids were rushing to make finishing touches when cleaning and decorating, the guards were finalizing their stations, and the chefs were busily preparing.

'Here I am... Awake since the crack of dawn!' Akuma groaned, exhausted from having to be forced awake by a squad of soldier maids.

"It has been three hours and the tea party starts in an hour... I feel too worn out to go..." Akuma roughly let out a sigh, slipping on a couple of layers of underclothing and a petticoat.

"Miss, please raise your arms."

Reluctantly doing as she was told, Akuma finally worn the beautiful piece over her body. The soft red silk and the delicate lace and layers complimented her gorgeous features. The ruby and deep red color made her feel nostalgic, but empowered. She never knew that she would ever come to love this color. She gave her thanks to Ryu in her thoughts.

"Switch that hair piece for a more brighter color and bring me the new lip paint!"

"Make sure to blend the eye shadow well to make her look natural! Her features are sharp enough! Focus more around her eyes to lift them!"

'Why? Because I have a resting b**ch face?' Akarui's brow twitched ever so slightly in annoyance of the thought that she would have to act like a proper noble lady.

"We need more pins for her hair!"

'How... How noisy...' Akuma sweat dropped as she was forced to sit still in the center of chaos.

After the another full hour later, Akuma was finished getting ready right on time as the noble and guests gathered out into the garden. Akuma was left alone in the room for a bit, waiting for Obi as her escort.

Akuma walked over to the large full body mirror in the room and stared in wonder and awe of the unfamiliar girl that stared back at her. She leaned forward and touched her face, her jaw dropping.

"I... I never knew I could feel so beautiful... To think a day like this would ever have arrive..." Akuma awkwardly scratched her cheek, her cheeks pink in the unknown feeling within her guts.

The slim yet slightly volume dress gave Akuma different dimensions to fashionably enjoy looking at. The red silk glistened and folded in an elegant way that made the laces and ruffles stand out. The pearls and jewels shined and fancied Akuma to a lady worth her noble name that was lost in uncertainty. Her natural and light makeup made an illusion of her airy presence of that of an angel.

'I've never worn such dress or accessories... The last time I wore a dress so elegant was before that tragic fate on my third birthday...'

"I sound ridiculous." Akuma laughed quite mockingly at herself, shaking her head.

"You really do." Obi snickered, covering his mouth with a gloved hand.

"O-Obi! Knock will you?!" Akuma roared, immediately throwing a pillow from the couch nearby.

"I thought about it, but I didn't." Obi laughed. "Are you ready?" Obi extended his hand.

"I am ready to be thrown into a den of stuck up nobles." Akuma shrugged her shoulders, taking Obi's hand and out the room.

"Haha. Don't end up flipping a table or much worse, flipping a noble onto a table." Obi snickered.

"What about flipping off a noble instead." Akuma coldly scoffed. "Aside from the jokes, I do not plan on being stupid to gander unneeded attention." Akuma sighed, pinching Obi's arm.

"Ouch, quite the pinch." Obi bitterly laughed. "Say, would you like to take a small detour?" Obi raised a brow, his grin cunning.

"And where would that detour be? The tea party has already started." Akuma raised a brow back at Obi, her stare skeptical.

"To your lover of course!" Obi laughed, smiling. "I'm sure you want him to see you in this attire!" Obi grinned teasingly.

"Should I throw you into the sea?" Akuma scoffed, her face flushed and matches the color of her dress.

"Please don't." Obi laughed brokenly.

"... I don't wish to bother him as of the moment. He told me yesterday that he would be involved with a very important project in creating a new and effective tonic with the herbalists." Akuma excused, urging Obi to walk slower to lessen the amount of time needed at the social survival.

"I don't think he will think of you as a bother. Rather, this is a golden opportunity since parties and attires such as this are hard to come around." Obi persuaded.

"W-well! I'll see him then! Not because of the rarity of the situation but to waste time away from that damned party! Lead the way!" Akuma crossed her arms and lifted her chin, her cheeks still flushed bright red.

"Haha, whatever you say my ever so noble lady." Obi laughed lightheartedly and gestured for Akarui to take his arm.

"Don't address me so mockingly." Akarui scoffed, taking his arm while secretly stomping onto his foot with the help of the cover of her long gown. "It would have been fine if you had just humored me with my lady. Respect this maiden."

"Ah... And so the abuse continues." Obi sighed, a single crocodile tear rolling down his face. "As my lady wishes." Obi laughed.

"Never mind. I take that back. I cannot see you as a knight." Akarui clicked her tongue.

"You should be careful with your ways of word at the party."

"Oh please. As if they could dare ridicule me. Now shut up and hurry and lead me to where Ryu is!"

"Yes yes, miss eager."

"Just stay silent will you?!"

A/N

I was looking over the chapters, and I think this chapter was cut? The full chapter is no longer existent now, and I don't remember what I had previously written in this chapter. I apologize for the short chapter, but I looked at the next chapter and it still aligns with this chapter. 

Maybe it didn't corrupt(???), but I hate writing 900-word chapters for stories I am more invested in XD