"Ms. Mazekien, will you be needing my assistance in there?" Her maid asked from outside her bathroom door.

"Uhm, no. I'm fine, I'll be out in a minute." She hesitated saying her name as she struggled to remember what it was. All she knew was that it started with a B. Either way, she couldn't let Maid B see her in her current state. The extra puffiness made her eyes look baggy and her pores were as deep as they were clear.

No one can see me like this. She thought.

"Please take out my primer and foundation and leave it by the door." After hearing an obedient, "Yes ma'am." She went back to examining the mess in the mirror.

Even after showering she couldn't hide the lack of sleep in her bloodshot eyes. The dread of returning to school after what happened at the party haunting her nighttime rest. Maid B knocked to confirm that the make-up was there and Maze snatched it with her hair hanging over her face.

Once she was sure she was alone she started work on her natural beauty style make-up, hiding the parts of herself that she deemed imperfect. She, of course, saw the irony in applying make-up.

She was going to spend the entire day putting on an act of perfection for everyone to see. And there she was sitting in front of a mirror putting on her mask for this grand play, to hide just how much of a reck she was.

"Are you okay, Ms. Mazekien?" Her Maid asked, peeking in her bathroom with a worried look on her face. Maze giggled at her worry.

"What do you mean by that? Can't you see?" She turned to her maid; her make-up only half done. "I'm perfectly fine." Of course, her smile was forced, but forcing smiles was something she was already used to. As always, the maid believed her.

"Now please, allow me my privacy so I can finish." Maid B shivered, knowing that she had just disobeyed orders.

"Apologies Ms. Mazekien, I just noticed your rather sluggish movement and was afraid it would be a sickness?" Maze gave her a reassuring nod, making sure she dropped the subject. She did feel sick, but not because of flu.

"What shall you be having today for breakfast, Ms. Mazekien?" She asked.

"Just make me cereal, I'm not in the mood for a big breakfast." Maid B turned to leave and once the door closed Maze sighed to herself.

I keep forgetting her name, I should ask for it next time I get the chance. She had finished her make-up and walked over to her bed to wear her uniform. Everything was washed and ironed, ready for her to wear at any time. She couldn't imagine a life without her maids. She could barely cook for herself, let alone clean her own clothes.

All she could do for them was try her best not to dirty anything. A painful memory of her last maid chewing her out for playing in the mud made her want to avoid that same fate with her new one, but the memory didn't sting because of the scalding. It was the memory that it was tied to that made it hurt. She shook her head, deciding not to add to the stress of her already stressful situation.

Once fully dressed she began making her way to the lounge, her footsteps echoing in the empty hallway and down the stairs until she finally reached the bottom floor. She kept her head down walking through the hall with all their family pictures and portraits. All her late relatives, her Grandparents, Uncles, Aunts... her brother. She could feel their gaze judging her from beyond the grave.

It wasn't over yet, she could still redeem herself within the eyes of her fellow students. What Bastien and Tiffany did hurt, but it wouldn't be impossible to spin the narrative on them and take advantage of the sympathy she'd gain. All she needed to do was tell a good story.

Why did they do this to me? We got to the top together, so why turn your backs on me now? She wondered, having to contend with the same question that kept her up at night. A question she still had no answer to.

Entering the lounge another unexpected encounter greeted her.

"Sit down with me Mazekien." Her father called sitting on the sofa with a tablet in his hand. He wore his usual navy-blue suit pants and blazer. Under it a black waistcoat and white shirt. He wore a pair of Brogues on his feet with the family insignia on their sides. An illustration of the skull of an Ox boar, which represented strength and resilience.

"I'm just a little surprised father; it is not often you come join me for breakfast." Maze made her way to sit on the chair across from her father on the dining table, hearing the grumbles he whispered.

She studied her father's demeanor. His thumb and index pinched the bridge of his nose. His back slumped over with his elbow acting as support on the table. Seeing all of this made her grow anxious as she tried to guess the reasons why he would be in such a mood.

"Is something the matter, father?" He sighed before sliding the tablet on the table towards her. Taking out a cigar and putting it on his lips before lighting it.

"Please explain what that is?" He took a big pull from his cigar, the head glowing in a blue flame as Maze watched what was on the tablet. Her eyes widened in shock as she witnessed in full HD the events of her party.

Everything from the copious amounts of alcohol and weed, to the illegal drug trades. From the joyous and excentric dancing to the fight with an investor. And to top it off, not only did they film her drinking with Tiffany, but they also filmed Bastien kissing Tiffany in front of her in 8k.

Her heart felt just like it did the night it all happened. Ripped out by the very people she trusted.

"So, what now? Former Head Girl of Rosemary." Her father teased, but there was nothing funny about his statement.

"Former?" Her voice nearly came out as a whisper as she didn't realize she was holding her breath.

"Vander sent me that video, so obviously once you go to school you will be stripped of your position. Luckily, he said that the video hasn't spread and that he'd be doing everything in his power to keep it that way." His tone was calm, but she guessed that was just the affect the Cigar had on him.

"I thought you were better than this Mazekien. You know what something like this could do to us." His tone was as disappointed as the glare he shot her.

"But Dad, this isn't... I didn't... I made sure I got everyone's phone before they entered. I had security ensuring that something like this wouldn't happen." She explained, her expression being a mixed bag of shock and horror.

"As we can see there were obvious holes in your security. This video makes you a threat to our brand Mazekien. I can't trust you with the family inheritance should something like this reach the public." Maze felt a frozen stake run through her chest.

"Father that isn't fair. I've worked my ass of just to get a shot at receiving it, you can't take that from me. You can't blame me for something like this." Maze had to grip her skirt to hold back from raising her voice, knowing that doing so would only hurt her chances.

"It doesn't matter where the fault lies, the fact of the matter is that this video exists and because of your negligence, it is tied to our name."

No, this can't be it. Someone did this, but who? Her thoughts traveled back to mysterious note she found in her locker, the name Marionette sticking to her.

"Where did you get this from!?" She asked, hoping that the origin could point her to the culprit.

"I see the shock of it all has rendered you deaf, I won't be repeating myself." Maze flinched at her father's retort, the growl in his voice evidence of his shortening temper. Her breakfast was served to her, simple milk and cereal with some added strawberries.

She stared at the cereal as she wondered who the culprit could be.

"The school is investigating the case as we speak, but knowing that bastard Vander, he has already cut you off as Head girl, which means he's bound to use the position as a bargaining chip for my favor. If worse comes to worst, we'll be forced to remove you from Rosemary." As if the shock of the video wasn't enough, the man laid on another bombshell as he casually pulled from his cigar with the head maid serving him a glass of golden scotch.

"No, we can't." Maze retorted. "Rosemary was Brother's school, I can't just leave!" Her voice began cracking. She could feel the tears wanting to come out, but she fought them back. Breaking down at that time would not help her case against her dad, even though it sounded like his mind was made up.

"Marcus is dead Mazekien, so what use is keeping you at that school when you obviously can't live up to his legacy?" Maze's mouth was left open in shock, she willed herself up and excused herself before the tears could fall. She stormed out of that room, her heart heavy in her chest.

"Ms. Mazekien, are we ready to leave?" Her driver asked, standing attentively on the other side of the door.

"Y-Yes..." She breathed rubbing off the few tears that had escaped. "Yes please, let us depart." She answered after fixing her face and pasting on that fake smile. Her expression remained as if nothing happened.