An Owl's Rise

Evelyn collapsed onto her bed and let out a deep sigh. She had just finished a long hellish training session with Lucia.

"I never want to hear another song, dance another step, or worry about proper party etiquette again." Evelyn muttered, her eyes devoid of any light.

Lucia had trained her nearly nonstop for the last couple of days. The only time she was not receiving instruction was during meals. Even sleep had been cut out.

Truthfully Evelyn longed for the simple days out in the wilds of the world. There all she had to worry about was securing food and basic shelter for herself.

However, her resolve to see her goals through gave her the motivation to continue. Not only was she here to get her revenge, but it was also to eliminate those that threatened her and her companions' lives.

For as long as she was around the Tyrannis Union would be after her. She could attempt to hide from them forever, but they had found her once before and she had no doubt that they could do it again. It was simply a matter of time.

So instead of waiting, Evelyn felt it was better to bring the fight to her enemies.

"We've just got to get through this stuffy party and wait until the contract with Maeve expires. Then we'll be able to investigate the Miris Sect and look for a weak point to exploit." Evelyn murmured, before closing her eyes and falling asleep.

…

The start of the next day was hectic as everyone prepared for the party.

Josephine came early in the morning and began assisting Evelyn and Lucia with their clothing, hair, and makeup.

"You two really are quite stunning. I'm sure that along with the young mistress, you three will steal everyone's gazes." Josephine said with a refined giggle.

"Oh, I believe that you are selling yourself short. You and Amelia are beautiful as well. It will be the five of us that people will be unable to look away from." Lucia said flatteringly.

Josephine thanked her for her kind words but said that few would be interested in a pair of servants. While they were attending the party along with Maeve, their dresses would be in accordance with other attendants.

"No, the young mistress will be the star of today's show with you two accompanying her. I understand this is not exactly the type of work you are used to, but I thank you for continuing to protect her. Not all the threats to the young mistress will come in the form of violence."

Lucia assured Josephine that they would do everything in their power to keep Maeve safe from whatever dangers may come her way.

After that Josephine continued to devote herself to assisting Evelyn and Lucia and soon enough, they were dressed up for the coming party.

"Yes, those dresses suit you two very well. A ruby and a sapphire to join the golden young mistress."

Evelyn had been put into a dazzling blue dress, while Lucia was wearing a gleaming red dress.

Both dresses were incredibly lavish and made with the best materials available. Evelyn could even feel that the fabric conducted magical energy with ease and had some magic inscriptions embroidered into it.

'Should I really be wearing something like this?' Evelyn thought.

The dress was far fancier than anything she had ever worn before. Looking into the mirror she almost did not recognize herself.

Before her was a beautiful woman that looked like a fairytale princess about to go to a ball.

'Except, I'm not even human anymore. In this world I was reborn as an owl. A beast.'

Still, as much as she felt something wrong with her current attire, a part of her was happy.

Thanks to her situation at home during her first life, she had practically no chances to get dressed up or put on makeup. Even when she did want to wear beautiful clothes or enhance her features with makeup, she was too busy just trying to survive.

The one time she attempted to go out in nice clothes with makeup on, her father gave her one of the fiercest beatings she had ever received.

If not for already having come to terms with what had happened during her first life, Evelyn likely would have been unable to stand being put into the current dress she was wearing.

'That is all behind me now. There are far worse things here to worry about than my old father.' Evelyn thought, before casting the bitter memories back into the depths of her mind.

Now that she and Lucia were ready to go, Josephine brought them down to the parlor near the mansion's entrance.

There the three of them waited for a bit less than a quarter of an hour before Maeve arrived with Emelia walking behind her.

The young mistress of the Taidale family was wearing an existed golden dress that seemed to glow as she walked.

In terms of allure, it stood out even more than the already elegant dresses that Evelyn and Lucia were wearing. Naturally as the guest of honor for tonight's party, it was necessary that she stood out more than those accompanying her.

Lucia and Evelyn stood up and greeted Maeve, who was doing her best to hide her nervousness.

The three of them each complimented each other on what they were wearing before heading out towards the carriage waiting for them.

It was only a short five-minute drive to Vivienne's estate where the party was being held.

As the second highest ranking figure in the Miris Sect, her domain was just as grand as her status.

Even the manor that Maeve had been given paled in comparison to what her grandaunt possessed. Honestly Evelyn thought that it looked more like a small town rather than a single person's property.

When they finally arrived at the building that would serve as the venue for the party, several hundred carriages had already arrived.

Nevertheless, their driver did not line them up with the rest of the arriving guests but instead brought them towards the back where only a few select individuals were allowed.

"Please come with me Lady Maeve. Lay Vivienne is waiting for you inside."

A well-dressed man with slicked back blonde hair came to greet Maeve and promptly brought her to where her grandaunt was.

Wearing a dark purple dress that accentuated her beauty, Vivienne gracefully walked over to Maeve and gave her a quick onceover.

"My, don't you just look lovely Maeve. They won't be able to take their eyes off you. After your debut tonight, you'll be the talk of the Sect for months." Vivienne said proudly.

"Thank you, grandaunt. Or I suppose that after tonight, I will need to call you master."

"Oh, there is no need to worry about such formalities when we are in private. I will first and foremost be your family before anything else."

Vivienne looked at her grandniece lovingly. While the two of them had not spent a great deal of time together, there was no doubt that among the members of her family, Vivienne cared for Maeve the most.

"Now, it is almost time for your grand entrance. I will go and get things ready in the great hall. Then after a few minutes, Gervasio will lead you in along with your guests. The three of you will certainly captivate everyone."