Too Pretty To Die Young

Genevieve froze, her brows furrowing in displeasure at the blatant disrespect, but when she reminded herself of the unfamiliar territory she was in and how she had no idea how things worked here, she decided to relax and simply follow instructions, even if it came from someone who seemed to hate her for no reason.

She rose to her feet and looked at the two doors that were positioned side by side in one part of the room, far from the one that looked like it led out of the room.

‘’Which of them is the bath—’’ she started to ask, but was cut off almost immediately.

‘’The one on the right,’’ Penelope stated. She pointed at a pile of clothes on one corner of the queen sized bed and said, ‘’Wear that when you are done in the bathroom. I will be waiting here for you.’’

Half an hour later, Genevieve stood in front of the mirror, her head tilted sligtly as she studied herself in the mirror. Pale skin from incessant scrubbing for the past half hour, messy red hair pulled into a ponytail, blue eyes dull from the events of the previous day, and an oversized white dress that looked like it was from the late 20th century.

Her somewhat skinny appearance, coupled with the dress, made her look like a ghost.

‘’Will you stand in front of the mirror forever or come with me now?’’

Not bothering to reply to the snarky maid, Genevieve turned away from the mirror and padded across the room to the door where the former was standing.

‘’I’m ready,’’ she said, smoothing the surface of her dress nervously.

Without another word, both mistress and maid stepped out onto the hallway and started the long and arduous journey through the mansion.

‘’Here in the east wing where your room is situated, is also where the Don’s daughter and niece’s rooms are. In short, this wing is where the noble women of the family stay. And since you will be staying in the late mistress’s room—heaven knows why—I guess you can also be categorized as one of the noble women,’’ Penelope started. She gesticulated wildly, pointing out each rooms as they passed by it, ‘’The other rooms here are the drawing room, music room, and tea room, but since you are not expected to entertain any visitors, you should not be found in any of those rooms."

Genevieve nodded, and Penny continued, ‘’The Don’s daughter doesn’t like to see people, so do not attempt to even visit her room except you want your face permanently scarred. As for his niece, if you see her going left, turn right. If she’s going right, turn left. And if she calls out to you, run as fast as you can. Not to her, but away from her.’’

"Why is that?" Genevieve asked, genuine curiosity evident in her tone. It was worse enough that she had to be wary of the men in this house since they were dangerous mafia men, but she had to be wary of the women too?!

"Don't ask questions!" Penelope snapped.

"But—"

Penelope stopped dead in her tracks, turning abruptly to face Genevieve.

"Now you're talking back?" she asked, raising a challenging brow.

"What are you—"

Penelope chuckled dryly.

"Look at that. Listen up, Young lady, just because the Don brought you home last night and proclaimed you his woman doesn't mean you are in a higher position than I am. I have been his bed mate for decades now, and young blood or not, you are not capable enough to take that position away from me!"

Genevieve stared at her for several seconds, unblinking. What the hell?! Did this woman think she would fight her for the opportunity to sleep beside an old man over seventy years of age?

Unable to control herself, she was about to voice out her thoughts when a flurry of whispers started to approach her from behind.

"Is that the late mistress’s dress she's wearing?" a feminine voice whispered.

"Why do some people love to court death?" someone else asked.

"What do you mean court death? Didn’t the master announce her as the new mistress last night; surely she can get away with wearing the late mistress’s dress?"

"Get away? Hah! The master almost killed his own blood sister for trying on the late mistress dress just months ago, and you think he will spare some young lady?"

"Shit, she's too pretty to die young."

Genevieve turned to see it was a group of maids carrying cleaning buckets and mops. They went quiet immediately they felt her eyes on them, and scurried past her, stopping only to bow to Penelope before they continued on their way.

"What are they talking about?" she asked.

"None of your business," Penelope hissed. Grabbing Genevieve by her hand, she began to pull her down the hall until they got to a point where the east, north, south, and west wings of the mansion met, and a flight of spiral stairs led down to a lower floor. "It's almost time for breakfast. We will continue the tour after..." she continued to pull Genevieve, skipping multiple steps as if what they risked arriving late at was much worse than breakfast.

As soon as they got to the last step, she pushed Genevieve forward and concluded her sentence, "We will continue the tour after... if you survive breakfast."

Genevieve, on the other hand, heard the words but was unable to ask any questions as she was now the centre of attention of five pairs of shocked, seemingly angry eyes.

"What the fuck are you wearing?!"