Ophelia Noella Kaides
[@SilverPaw][@OwO]
[hr]

The water was warm.

How long had it been since she had last had a bath like this? Far too long. Ophelia relaxed, letting out a deep breath as the warm bath water ran over her body. She had sent Margaret out, wanting to be entirely alone for the moment. She wasn't sure how long she could keep a straight face for, let alone how she was going to react to see Isana and Estelle again. She sighed, shaking her head. It was something useless to think about, but how could she not?

She'd stand, getting out of the bath as she'd take a look at her body. No scars. No blemishes. Muscles that would tire at just a brisk walk. All her years of training and hard work, reduced to nothing. Well, mostly, but what use were such skills with a body as frail as hers? She'd frown. Perhaps she'd need to start actively training harder, sooner.

Once she was done with the bath, she'd find herself sitting in front of her vanity, Margaret fixing up her hair and applying the light makeup she used to wear. It was rather tiring, honestly. Had it always been this tiring? After spending so many years on the battlefield, putting her everything into training -

"There we go! You look lovely, my lady. A pretty little snowflake."

"Snow...flake?"

"I know people outside of the family talk about it, but they just don't get how pretty you actually are! Look," Margaret pointed to her reflection in the mirror. It was something she had seen hundreds of times, but it was always something she never liked lingering on. She didn't hate her appearance, per say, but she did wish she didn't look quite so...dour all the time. Not that she could help it, really. She barely had the energy to maintain proper decorum and etiquette most of the time.

"More like a ghost," Ophelia responded as Margaret finished the final touches on her dress and hair. "Maybe I'll actually start doing something about those who talk too much this time..." She never really did much to dissuade such rumors or problems in her apparent past life...and After Estelle and Isana left, she simply let her anger and frustration get her into far too many fights and misunderstandings.

How did she act before then? It was all too fuzzy.

"This time...my lady? Well, it doesn't matter if you are a ghost! You'll be the cutest ghost!" Ophelia couldn't help but to laugh lightly at the statement. How absurd. "Ah! Almost forgot! Breakfast is being made for your mother and your sisters."

"Breakfast? What's the occasion?" She couldn't remember there being a breakfast gathering during Orientation.

"Eh? I thought you'd be happy. Apparently Lady Isana requested it. Oh, but uhm, if you're not feeling well I'm sure they'll understand."

"...Isana requested it?" This definitely didn't happen last time, as far as she could remember. Perhaps she had just forgotten. Considering how ill she was previously it wasn't a stretch to say she had. "No, no, its fine. I feel...well, honestly kind of terrible but I'll go."

After sending Margaret away and spending a few minutes psyching herself up for this and trying to get her tone of voice and body language right, she'd head off to the dining area with a fast step. Once she arrived, the smell of food and the light chatter of the servants felt so...nostalgic. She missed it.

Perhaps she was feeling a little happy about being back, after so long.

She'd slow her pace to a walk, before stopping just at the door to the dining room. Okay, she could do this. She could do this-

"Ah. Isana. Mother...!" Just her luck, she'd arrive at the dining room just as her Mother and Sister did. Her breath caught slightly as she looked at her mother. The last time she had seen her...Ophelia couldn't meet her mothers gaze. Thankfully, that was something that wasn't unusual for her in the past. "We're...ahem, having breakfast together? Is Estelle feeling well enough to join us?"