Reborn As A Maid's Daughter

It's been about two months now since I've started being called 'Ava' and I've gotten used to it. As a baby, life isn't very hard. I sleep, eat, watch, then sleep some more. I've also recently reached 7 months and started to kind of speak. I've also come to learn more about my mother.

Her name is Martha Simmons. She's the personal servant of Ducchess Ysabelle, the Duke of Archom's beloved wife. That had struck a good couple of bells in my mind as that was Ophelia's father's AND mother's names, even though they were barely mentioned in the novels. Which meant I had somehow been born into the world of 'Dears Of Yesterday' extremely early before the main cast was even born. Martha, my mother, hadn't been mentioned at all in the books but I loved her very much.

It'd be strange if I didn't love my mother. If she'd been in the book she might've been my favorite character instead though.

My mother, Martha, would coo and talk to me in the early mornings even when I was asleep. Then she'd take a blanket and wrap it around me snugly and then herself, making a baby carrier for when she'd be working. I'd be on her back and as I passed other maids, they'd coo and wiggle their fingers at me. They're like secondary mothers I guess.

My mother is still the very best though! No one can take her place!

Martha had silvery purple hair and beautiful blue eyes with pale skin. She was obviously very beautiful, which means I could at least be an average looking baby. All the maids and mom said I was the most adorable baby they'd ever seen though. Even Lady Ysabelle liked to hold me and pinch my cheeks, me, a maid's child! Which actually got me thinking. Where in the world is my father? I guess questions like that could be put on hold until I could actually ask them.

At the moment, Mother was serving Ducchess Ysabelle her afternoon tea and I was on her back. I had actually been asleep for a good portion of the morning so I wasn't awake when she wrapped me up. Looking at Lady Ysabelle, she was pretty too. Not as pretty as my mother in my opinion but pretty. She truly did look like Ophelia. Long and silky black hair with slanted, cat-like yellow eyes. If she was in the modern-day, she could've played the seductress in a drama.

"Martha?" Ducchess Ysabelle suddenly asked, putting her teacup down. I could only assume that as I heard the clinking of china.

"Yes, Miss?"

"Could I hold Ava again?"

Mom giggled softly and started to unwrap me from my bundle. I was a bit grumpy since it was so warm and cozy in my bundle but I could endure.

"Miss, you must really love Ava to do such a thing."

"What? I'm just gaining experience for my first child!" Even as Ducchess Ysabelle said that she held me so tenderly and started to coo.

What a tsundere she is. Even towards a baby.

I didn't make a fuss and started to wave my hands at her excitedly, just like a cute baby would. This seemed to work wonders on her ask she snuggled me up to her face. I could hear mother laughing again at the display. This was actually working perfectly towards my plans.

In the book, Ophelia is the firstborn and only daughter of the Dubannes family. She turned to the villainess mindset when she was ignored by her nanny and personal maid and Prince Floyd was the only person to show such affection to her in many years. I would change such a thing by becoming her personal maid when she was born and of age for one. Ophelia would have my undivided attention!

I'm sorry Lady Ysabelle, but your love is my ticket to your daughter surviving! You'll thank me in the future!

As expected, tea time passed by easily and I was returned to my Mother's warm back and my snug blanket wrap. After that, I fell into a deep sleep.

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When I came to, it looked like we were walking through the mansion gardens. Mother never did it by herself so she must be escorting Lady Ysabelle. It was a nice sunny day so it was perfect for being in the garden. Here and there, Mother would say the name of a flower quiet enough for me to hear and get close so I could see it. I guess it was to help with my childhood development.

"This is a rose, Ava."

"Rwww."

"This is a lilly."

"Li."

"These are buttercups."

"Bu...bu."

I still couldn't speak fully, but I was getting ready to say my first words. I knew before anything that they would be 'Mommy' or 'Mummy' as she said it. I'm sure that it'll make Mother extremely happy. Until I can say anything though, I'll be just fine with these little games she plays with me and our one-sided conversations.

These will be my treasured memories. Mother, I hope that even when I get separated from you when I become Ophelia's servant that I can see you once in a while. That would make both of us happy, right?

Without my permission, my body lulled into a deep sleep once again. This time, to my mother's soothing voice.

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Today, I said my first official words. Not only was Mother around to hear it, my favorite two aunties, Isadora and May, were there too. All of them were pleasantly surprised.

I was sat in my crib in the servants quarters after another long day of work for Mother. She was getting ready for bed and so were Isadora and May who shared the room with her. It had been a good month since our garden walk and we had many more with Lady Ysabelle while the weather was good. At this point, I was hungry and no one was paying attention so I began to babble.

"Aaaaa.....aba!" No response.

Isadora, I love you but please stop talking. I need to eat before lights out!

Time to try again.

"Aba. Maba."

This was the one that caught Mother's attention. She turned to look at me with a look of surprise and awe on her face. So I kept pushing myself to say it.

"Maba! Mabba!"

"Goodness! Ava, are you trying to say 'Mommy'? Could you say 'Mommy' for me?"

At this point, all three of them had crowded around my crib. It was time for me to secure my late dinner. I raised my arms up in grabby hands and finally let the words everyone was waiting for out of my tiny mouth.

"Ma..ma! Mama!"

Got them. All at once all three of them were squealing and Mother picked me up and spun me around chanting, "Mama! She said Mama!"

Apparently, it was such an achievement that May snuck to the kitchen and got me a cookie. I had recently begun to teething and a few of my baby teeth had come in. They were painful and I did let my baby self cry every now and then because of it.

I didn't exactly want a cookie, but it's never unwelcome in this mouth! This is why May is one of my favorites!

I knew at this point everyone would want me to start saying their names too, so I laid down after finishing my cookie and pretended to go to sleep. Thing is, I did end up falling asleep anyways. I guess being reborn as a maid's daughter isn't half bad as a baby. I'll start worrying about work when I get old enough to do it.

Though if I could do anything... I'd like to be able to call someone 'Papa'. I wonder where that person could be...

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As the months went by, I got bigger and bigger. Mother would introduce me to new words and soon I was beginning to learn about maid work too. I was still too young to do any of it but I was told what I'd be able to do. Laundry, ingredient cleaning, dusting, and some other quiet work.

It was also at this time that Mother stopped carrying me on her back, I learned to walk, and she began to start telling me about magic. In the final book of the series, Ophelia used her powerful nature magic to try and kill Carole. This was another thing for me to worry about.

Everyone was born with an attribute to some type of magic and occasionally given a special ability depending on how powerful their magic could get. Some people could receive a good mind, learning things at a quick pace. Some people could be born with excellent good looks. It seems I was born with superior senses. I could see things that were extremely far away, smell when the chef was making dinner and what, and I could hear many conversations going on all around the house at once.

At first, I was overwhelmed and ended up crying from my ability, and Mother was sent into a panic, wrapping bandages around my ear to soften the noise until I could handle it. Mother also progressively tried to find out my attributes without my knowledge. At least that's probably what she thought she was doing. It was pretty obvious to me though. Mother would watch me wash my hands to see if I did anything with the water, watch me when I played in the grass outside during break time, even toss me in the air and catch me to see if I'd react with the wind. Nope, nothing.

I knew for a fact she was avoiding the possibility I'd have a fire or lightning attribute though. Then again, a fire wasn't good for toddlers and lightning wasn't either. It was dangerous and caused burns and the like but it felt like Mother was avoiding the very possibility I had a fire or lightning attribute altogether. She had an air attribute, manipulation of the wind and all that. Yet I had no idea what my father might've had or who he is.

Recently, I've also got a good look in the mirror of my toddler self and I must say, I see why everyone finds me so adorable. I had wispy silvery purple hair like Mother's but my eyes were a soft pink color and were wide and curved in the cutest way possible. It looked like I was either constantly in awe. Plus I had peachy baby skin. Adorable.

Not to be vain or anything, but I'd pinch my own cheeks. No need for grandmas or weird aunties here!

These pink eyes obviously weren't from Mother, so they must've been from whoever my dad was. Luckily, no guy in the main plot that I could remember had pink eyes so I was fine in that regard. Then again, I was kind of afraid to ask since Mother had never mentioned him. So until she was comfortable enough to tell me, my curiosity would stay that way. Simply curiosity.

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A year soon passed. Turns out that Mother didn't have to worry about my attributes being dangerous because just like her, it turned out to be air. We both found this out during an outdoors teatime when all of a sudden, I started floating into the air. It had sent Lady Ysabelle into a bit of a panic, thinking someone else was using their magic to put me in danger but Mother was overjoyed. She took me into her arms and I stopped trying to float. I guess this was the experience Mother had when she found out her attribute as well.

After Mother found out about my attribute, she began to subtly train me in using it, despite me being a two-year-old going onto three years old. She'd let me pick up wooden spoons with my wind and into her hand or float pillows around the wind. If we weren't outside, she'd even let me float myself!

Mother's the best! This is the best thing ever! But not being able to float outside is kind of annoying.

Today Isadora told my Mother she wanted to teach me how to sew. It was obvious that she was a bit apprehensive about letting me near needles, but she agreed after I gave her some puppy-dog eyes. So I spent the morning and afternoon with Isadora, learning how to put the thread through the needle and into the fabric. Isadora was a plain-looking woman with blonde hair and grey eyes, but her face was almost constantly at a default resting bitch face. It may sound rude but it was true.

Isadora is still one of my favorites though! Even if her face scared me at first...

"Ava, not like that." She chided me. "Undo that stitch and try again."

I pouted a bit but undid the stitch and continued. Isadora must've been satisfied because she didn't say anything else. By the end of our time together, I had partially sewn together a placemat and when I finished that, Isadora and I could try embroidery. Isadora did the mending of things in the mansion so I guess she was doing her job while teaching me.

When Mother came to pick me up, she was all smiles. I wasn't sure why until it was time for bed and she was telling me about her day before putting me to bed. At first, it was the basics. Teatime, some people came to visit Lady Ysabelle, yadda yadda yadda. Then she dropped a bombshell on me.

"Guess what, Ava? The doctor said that Lady Ysabelle is pregnant!" Mother smiled all wide. "I guess you won't be the only child in the house anymore."

My face tightened a bit. I almost forgot about what world this was. In nine months time, Ophelia would be born into this world and the story would start its build-up.

"Nother baby?"

"Yes, Ava. There'll be another baby."

"Gwirl or boy? I want a gwirl."

Mother laughed at my slurred words and pat my head. It was after that she placed me in my crib and blew out the candles. While she was probably going to sleep soundly, my mind was racing.

It'll be time soon! I have to keep getting closer to Lady Ysabelle to secure my place in the future as Ophelia's maid!

[ Another chapter finished. I'd just like to remind you guys that a vote or comment is always appreciated to encourage me to keep writing! Thanks so much. ]