As evening settled in, the grand double doors of Ariana's quarters creaked open, and Duke Lucius Rencise entered with an air of authority. His cold eyes surveyed the room briefly before they landed on Ariana. Rather than offering love or concern for his daughter who had just recovered from a mysterious illness, he sat opposite her with an impassive expression.

"Ariana," he said curtly, "how is your health?"

Aisha, trapped in Ariana’s body, felt her heart sink. The lack of warmth from the man who was supposed to be her father stung, and she couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness. In her previous life, she had never experienced parental love. A thought crossed her mind: *If I change my image, will he finally show some affection towards me? Will he see me as a daughter?*

Lucius continued, his tone unchanged, "Your younger sister, Selene, is well known across the empire for her remarkable abilities and her contributions, especially after assisting the Crown Prince in the recent monster outbreak. You, on the other hand, should focus on recovering." He paused, eyeing her carefully. "Since you have little else to occupy your time, I will begin looking for a suitable partner. You are of the right age for marriage."

Aisha’s heart skipped a beat. *This is it,* she realized. *This is the part of the novel where the female lead meets the male lead for the first time. I'm at the very beginning... which means I have about a year left until I’m married off to that tyrant prince.*

Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice Lucius' gaze harden.

“Ariana, I’m speaking to you.”

His voice pulled her back to the present. Panic surged through her. She had to act—quickly. Without thinking, she slid off her seat and knelt before him, her eyes welling up with tears. "Father, I’ve wronged you. My sincerest apologies for all the trouble I’ve caused." Her voice trembled, the emotions spilling from her were genuine—partly because of Ariana’s guilt, and partly because of Aisha’s own longing for a family. "But I don’t want to be married yet. Since waking up, I’ve realized I’ve done nothing good to repay you for this life you’ve given me. Please, Father, give me a chance to prove myself first."

Duke Lucius’ expression faltered for a moment, surprise flickering in his cold eyes. He straightened up slightly. “Ariana, stand. We are nobles; kneeling like this is unbecoming of you. You will eat and rest. We can discuss this matter another time.”

Aisha stood slowly, her legs trembling. Lucius cast her one final, unreadable glance before leaving the room without further words. Relief washed over her as the doors closed behind him, but fear still gnawed at the back of her mind. *What if he finds out I’m not really Ariana?*

As she sat back down, she noticed that her movements were becoming more fluid. The awkwardness she had felt in Ariana’s body earlier was fading. It seemed her unfamiliarity was being replaced by growing comfort.

Rose, who had been quietly observing, stepped forward. “Miss,” she said gently, “you look troubled. Perhaps a walk in the garden might lift your spirits.”

 Personal maid, Rose (18)

Aisha glanced at Rose. Despite the servant’s formal tone, there was genuine concern in her eyes. Over the past day, Aisha had grown attached to Rose. She had a way of reading the room that impressed Aisha—quick and intuitive, never missing the subtle shifts in mood.

“She really knows how to sense things,” Aisha thought. “She’s sharp.”

According to the novel, Rose was the only person Ariana had been close to. An orphan Ariana had taken in from the streets, Rose had somehow caught her attention, and over time, she had become Ariana’s trusted maid. When Ariana was eventually married off to the tyrant prince, Rose had gone with her, leaving behind the rest of the Rencise family.

With a small nod, Aisha agreed. “A walk sounds nice. I need to clear my head.”

Together, they ventured into the sprawling garden of the Rencise estate. The evening sky was painted with hues of deep indigo and violet, with the first stars beginning to twinkle. The cool air carried the scent of blooming flowers, and the soft rustle of leaves filled the peaceful night. For the first time since she had woken up in this world, Aisha felt her mind relax.

She wandered aimlessly, taking in the beauty of her surroundings. *This place is stunning,* she thought as she gazed up at the sky. *The night view is unparalleled.* She found a stone bench near a bed of roses and sat down, soaking in the stillness of the moment.

Time passed quietly, and Aisha let her thoughts drift. She reminded herself of the dangers lurking in the novel's plot. *I need to stay away from Selene. She’s the heroine of this story, and Ariana is destined to become her enemy. The less I get involved, the better.*

The night air grew cooler, and a soft sneeze escaped her. Almost instantly, Rose was by her side, concern etched on her face.

“Miss, the breeze is getting cold. We should head inside,” Rose said gently, offering her a hand.

Aisha smiled as she accepted the help, grateful for Rose’s attentiveness. There was something comforting about having Rose around—someone who, despite everything, cared for Ariana deeply.

As they walked back, Aisha glanced at Rose, noticing the small smile on her face. It was faint but genuine, as if she were relieved to see her young lady smile after so long.