Living a Glamorous Life as Lady Barberini

Back in Claudia's room, the soft rustle of the velvet curtains gently swaying in the breeze was the only sound that broke the stillness.

Evangeline, with a quiet nod, led Claudia into the bathroom. Claudia's eyes widened, taking in the opulence surrounding her.

The large, marble tub sat at the center, its surface gleaming under the soft light, the air filled with the delicate scent of lavender.

The maids scurried around, their soft footsteps barely audible on the plush rug beneath them. It was nothing like the cold, regular bathrooms she had known.

As the warm water was poured into the tub, Claudia could feel the heat of the water rising, the steam wrapping around her like a thick, comforting embrace.

She stood there for a moment, absorbing the scene, her mind racing. 'Oh my goodness!!!'

'Maid servants at my service, being the daughter of a rich duke, a pretty face, and now... luxurious clothes, a soft bed, and bath. Food? I'm sure it'll be just as extravagant. I never had this back in my past. No wonder Claudia was always envied...'

A flash of her old self—standing on a pool deck, medals glinting in the sun—flickered in her mind before dissolving into the cold memory of hospital beds and silence. A dull ache tightened her chest.

' I was a swimming champion back then, you know... before the injury. Before I lost everything. And what did my parents do? Nothing. They didn't care. I was alone then, too.' She clenched her fists slightly.

The maids, who had begun undressing her and carefully preparing her for the bath, were unaware that Claudia could hear every word they thought.

'She's so beautiful,' one of the maids mused silently as she helped Claudia step into the tub. 'Her skin is flawless, like porcelain... the way the water makes her glow. Just like a goddess...'

Another maid, her thoughts running like a gentle stream. 'She has that natural elegance, like someone born to stand among the stars. And her hair... it's like golden silk itself. No wonder the young lord, his lordship and her ladyship dotes on her so much.'

Their thoughts, all brimming with admiration for Claudia's beauty, made her uneasy. She stiffened as the maids moved around her, their fingers soft as they bathed her with gentle care. ' It seems no one knows Claudia's true abilities, and she was foolish enough to tell Emilio first? Instead of her own family? What was she thinking?'

'Luckily, it doesn't seem like Emilio knows right now.' She relaxed into the water.

'Claudia is lucky, they all care about her a lot,' Claudia thought. 'Well, I guess that's no surprise. Claudia was never meant to be a villainess... she only went down that path to impress Emilio. And that desire? It was short-lived.'

When the bath was finished, the maids helped Claudia out and wrapped her in a plush, white towel. They led her to her wardrobe chamber and the door was opened. Claudia stood frozen in the doorway, her mouth hanging open in awe.

The room was vast, every inch of it gleaming with gold trim and opulent design. Rows upon rows of gowns were displayed in perfect order, each more stunning than the last.

Fabrics of every color, from deep emeralds to the richest purples, hung from the racks.There were dresses designed with embroidery, gowns so delicate they seemed as though they could float off their hangers.

Even the accessories were carefully organized, each piece shimmering with a kind of silent elegance.

Claudia's gaze swept across the room, her heart beating faster as she took it all in.

'This...' Her mind stuttered for a moment, trying to find words for the overwhelming beauty. 'This is the life!' She could hardly breathe.

Every inch of the space seemed to scream luxury, elegance, and excess. It was a world that felt so far from her own reality, yet here she was, standing in the heart of it. Her fingers brushed the rich fabrics, her fingertips tingling as they grazed against the smooth, cool silk.

The maids exchanged puzzled glances as they watched her stare in awe. One thought, 'Why does it seem like she's seeing this for the first time?'

Another nodded slowly, her expression softening with concern as she thought, 'She must be under so much stress. Poor lady, she's not even able to mask her emotions anymore.'

Claudia blinked, her earlier amazement replaced by a flat stare. Her lips parted slightly, a retort forming, but she swallowed it as she thought. 'Seriously? How did they jump to that conclusion?'

Her gaze shifted between the maids, who were now nodding in unison as if they'd solved a great mystery. 'Do they rehearse this?'

Claudia shook her head slightly, pressing her lips together to keep from groaning aloud but she decided it was best to drop the matter.

'It's my fault for gawking like this,' she thought bitterly. 'But honestly, who wouldn't?'

The maids began bustling about, selecting a gown for Claudia to wear. They moved swiftly as though handling a precious relic.

One maid held up a soft sky-blue gown adorned with intricate silver embroidery that shimmered under the chandelier light.

Another presented a white dress with golden accents, its fabric catching the light like spun starlight. Both gowns seemed to be made to complement Claudia's features.

"Perhaps this one, my lady," a maid said softly, holding up the sky-blue dress, her gaze flickering between the gown and Claudia.

Claudia stood silently, her blue eyes like shards of ice as they scanned the choices. 'They're trying to match my eyes, I see... but I think I want something more dramatic.' She stepped forward, her fingers brushing against a gown of deep midnight blue velvet with cascading silver embellishments, reminiscent of the night sky.

"This one," she said firmly, her voice steady yet soft, like a gentle command.

The maids exchanged glances before nodding eagerly. "Of course, my lady. A perfect choice." Their thoughts mirrored their words. 'She'll look like a goddess descended from the heavens in this dress.'

As they began dressing her, Claudia allowed herself to relax, leaning into the sensation of being pampered. The velvet felt heavenly against her skin, and the maids' hands were gentle as they fastened the dress in place. The gown hugged her figure in all the right places

Once dressed, Claudia turned to the full-length mirror. The reflection that greeted her took her breath away. Her hair cascaded down her back in soft waves. The rich blue of the gown made her eyes appear even more vivid.

'Oh my god,' Claudia thought, her heart skipping a beat. 'I look… amazing.' A flicker of guilt passed through her as she remembered her past life—a girl who'd never had anything remotely close to this, who had worn cheap knock-offs and envied others from afar. 'I was so freaking cheap!' She clenched her jaw.

The maids stepped back, admiration sparkling in their eyes. One thought with awe, 'She doesn't just wear the gown—she commands it.'

Another nodded slightly, her expression soft. 'Lord Emilio will surely be smitten when he sees her.'

'Ugh, him,' Claudia thought as she rolled her eyes.

"Shall we fix her hair, ladies?" one maid asked, already reaching for a silver brush.

"Yes," Claudia agreed, her voice calm but decisive. "Let's go with something elegant."

The maids immediately set to work, their deft fingers weaving her golden locks into an intricate braid that encircled her head like a crown. A few delicate curls were left to fall gently around her face.

Once they finished, Claudia took another look in the mirror. She tilted her head slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips. 'Damn! Who is this girl?' she thought, her fingers brushing against the cool fabric of her dress. 'This is Claudia now, huh? Not the awkward swimmer who wore hoodies and sweats every day...'

"Thank you," she said, turning to the maids with a nod.

They bowed slightly, their thoughts filled with pride and admiration. One even mused, 'Her smile alone could stop wars.'

Claudia froze, a brief laugh escaping her lips as she thought, 'That's a bit much!'

One of the maids, an older woman with gentle eyes, stepped forward and placed a delicate necklace around her neck. The silver chain glinted softly, and at its center hung a pendant—a pale blue gem that matched her eyes perfectly aling with matching earings.

"It suits you, my lady," the woman said aloud, her tone warm.

Claudia's fingers lingered on the pendant for a moment longer, tracing its smooth surface, before her gaze shifted back to the mirror.

She exhaled slowly, her expression softening as she admired the image before her.

The maids, ever watchful, stood silently in the background. Their soft, reverent gazes were a silent reminder of the world she had entered—a world she didn't quite belong to.

Claudia straightened her posture, the gown flowing around her like a second skin.

"Thank you, you may leave now," she said, her voice no longer timid but firm, carrying a subtle authority that even she hadn't expected.

The maids exchanged quiet, respectful nods and filed out, leaving Claudia alone in the grand chamber.

Once the door clicked shut, a sudden rush of excitement surged through her veins. She stepped away from the mirror, moving with a confidence as her fingers brushed the edge of the fabric. A mischievous grin tugged at the corner of her lips.

She began to experiment with her stance, turning slightly to the left, then to the right, lifting her chin just so, letting the fabric of the gown swirl around her.

She lifted her arms, experimenting with different poses as if preparing for a photo shoot.

"I wish there was a camera here," she murmured to herself, the thought drifting into her mind as she twisted gracefully, the gown following her like a wave. She caught her reflection, a smirk pulling at her lips as she struck another dramatic pose.

A laugh escaped her lips, and she twirled once more, the fabric of her gown swishing gracefully around her.

"I'm going to flip the damn script of this tragic, dark, incomplete novel," she thought, her eyes gleaming with a new resolve. "And give it a befitting ending."

With a final, fluid motion, she lowered into a graceful bow, the gown spreading out around her. Her head tilted slightly.

She raised head slowly, she met her reflection in the mirror, a faint, knowing smile curling on her lips.

"That is a promise to the readers who might still be reading this novel and to myself who is living in it," she declared, and with that she turned and left.