Chapter 80 pt.2
767 Words
CHAPTER 80 pt.2
“Really? I thought you wouldn’t like getting your clothes dirty.” Noah commented.
Tatiana was confused for a second, but she then understood what he meant. She chuckled.
“Is that how I seemed, your highness?” she said in a joking manner.
Noah was taken aback by how beautiful she looked while laughing, but he later came to his senses and shook his head.
He averted his gaze and looked at the view in front instead.
“Not really. I just thought noble ladies would care so much about things like getting your clothes dirty,” he said.
Tatiana glanced at the view as well.
As His Highness stated, the people in this world are very concerned about their image. Nobles, in particular, would do whatever means to maintain a good reputation. They would spend a lot of money on beauty products, high-end clothing, and rare pieces of jewelry in order to appear flawless and beautiful. In public, they would act graceful and kind just to seem ideal. And it's all because they believe imperfection is a weakness and having a weakness meant undeserving of being a noble.
That is why noble families have extremely strict rules, especially regarding their children's education. They must master everything from dancing to socializing, starting from a young age until they enter high society. Because once you're in high society, you are already expected to be perfect.
“Hmm… I guess you have a point, your highness," she answered. "Etiquette, elegance…perfection—nobles are expected of those things. If they find a speck of dirt on your clothes, people would immediately call you filthy. If you make a mistake, they would call you a disgrace. So yes, we do care about things like getting our clothes dirty. But, it's not our fault we are like that. We are not finicky, it's just that society expects us to be perfect all the time.”
Tatiana said those words casually, but it was what she really thought.
Discrimination and stereotypes about women are worse in this world. The people here think that women are only capable of bearing children and being housewives. They are considered a man's trophy, hence they are expected to be perfect and beautiful all the time.
Aside from that, the higher you are, the more people will expect from you. And if you couldn't meet their expectations, people will blame you for being incompetent and judge you for being weak.
But, isn’t it the same as in the world where she used to live?
If she thinks about it, it was because of this that Jane suffered from the harsh treatment of her stepfamily.
She was considered a stain on Dela Vega’s perfect reputation as an illegitimate daughter. Because of that, her family tried everything they could to get rid of her, and when they couldn't, they bullied her and made her life a living hell.
Tatiana sighed.
It was all about social pressure in the end.
Noah turned to look at Tatiana again.
He didn't expect Tatiana would think about it like that, but what she said wasn't wrong.
I guess you've matured, Tatiana.
“Tatiana…” he called. Tatiana looked at him. “You’ve changed,”
Tatiana was stunned for a moment as she stared at Noah’s eyes.
Before, she would usually find his red eyes intimidating because they always looked cold and emotionless. But at that moment, his eyes were filled with emotions that she couldn’t break away from them.
Tatiana could hear her fast heartbeat. And it was then that she realized they were sitting so close to each other that she could clearly see his flawless skin, his deep eyes, pointed nose…and pinkish lips.
Why do his lips seem so...tempting? She thought as she stared at Noah's lips.
However, a strong wind blew after a few seconds, bringing Tatiana back to reality.
What was I thinking?! Tatiana couldn’t believe she had those thoughts just now. She mentally slapped herself. No, I have to calm down. I shouldn’t have this kind of feeling. This is wrong, Tatiana!
Tatiana cleared her throat and returned her gaze at the view in front.
“I guess…I did.” She muttered while trying to calm herself down again.
They were silent for a while that only the sound of the wind could be heard between them. Then, after a couple of minutes, Noah spoke again, breaking the silence.
“Can I ask you something, Tatiana?”
“Hmm?”
Noah turned to look at her.
“Why…did you change?” he asked.
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reyankleyr
- Writer
