2

Days flowed by within the opulent walls of Vancroft Manor, and Aurora (now whispering the name to herself inwardly) began to fill with a strange sense of acceptance. No matter how hard she tried, no clear memory of her own past surfaced in her mind. Faced with Lord Vancroft and the servants' insistence on seeing her as Aurora, she slowly began to give up. Perhaps... perhaps she truly was Aurora Vancroft. Maybe that terrible event she vaguely recalled had opened the doors to a completely different life. Although she couldn't fully grasp the truth yet, she understood that denying it was futile. For now, she would keep this secret within herself and focus on unraveling the mysteries of this new world.

One morning, while quietly eating her breakfast, she turned to Martha, the elderly servant. Martha was like a shadow, always standing silently by her side, wordlessly fulfilling her every request.

"Martha," Aurora said, her voice still foreign to her own ears but now sounding more resolute, "I want to go outside today. I'd like to see the surroundings of the manor a little."

Martha, setting down the silver teapot she held, looked at Aurora in surprise. "Outside, my Lady? The weather doesn't seem very good..." She gestured to the slightly hazy light filtering through the window.

"It doesn't matter," Aurora replied firmly. "I just want to walk a bit. Will you come with me? I know nothing about this place."

Martha hesitated. She didn't know Lord Vancroft's thoughts on his daughter going outside. However, seeing the determination in Aurora's eyes, she didn't object. "Of course, my Lady. I'll accompany you."

A short while later, Aurora, wearing a dark, simple yet quality dress and a thin hat on her head, left the manor with Martha. The air outside was cool, and there was a slight dampness. Vancroft Manor, with its vast and magnificent structure, dominated the surrounding land. In the expansive gardens, colorful flowers had faded, and the melancholic beauty of autumn permeated everything.

As they stepped outside the manor grounds, Aurora looked around in admiration. She had never seen such a sight before. Tall stone houses with pointed roofs, narrow cobblestone streets, the sound of horse-drawn carriage wheels... Everything was so different from her own world.

"Where is this place, Martha?" Aurora asked, looking around curiously.

Martha, walking slowly beside her, began to explain. "This is the town of Silverwood, my Lady. Our manor is a little outside the town." The elderly woman calmly provided information about the general characteristics of the town, important buildings, and sources of livelihood.

As they continued walking, Aurora didn't hesitate to ask the biggest question on her mind. "Martha... in this world... is there such a thing as magic?"

Martha paused for a moment, an ambiguous expression on her face. Then, she slowly nodded. "Yes, my Lady. Magic... is a part of this world. Some people are born with magical abilities. Others can gain this power through special training."

Aurora's eyes lit up. "Really? Could I... could I also have magical powers?"

Martha smiled gently. "As far as I know, no, my Lady. There has never been anyone with magical abilities in the Vancroft family." There was a definite tone in the old woman's voice, but Aurora felt a glimmer of hope within her. Perhaps Martha was wrong. Perhaps there was a power waiting to be discovered within her.

As they walked towards the town's main street, the ostentatious shops and well-dressed people caught their attention. Aurora stopped in front of a luxurious clothing store. Inside, elegant dresses, valuable jewelry, and delicate hats were displayed.

"Can we go in here, Martha?" Aurora asked, looking inside curiously.

Martha hesitated before nodding. "Of course, my Lady."

When they entered the store, the conversations of all the ladies inside suddenly ceased. Everyone turned to Aurora as if frozen. There was a strange mixture of surprise, fear, and respect on their faces. After a few seconds of silence, the ladies quickly began to curtsy.

"Lady Vancroft," some of them whispered in trembling voices.

Aurora was surprised by these sudden reactions. Why was everyone so afraid of her?

"Martha, what's going on?" Aurora asked, whispering. "Why does everyone seem scared of me?"

Martha sighed deeply. "My Lady... you didn't have a very good relationship with the people here in the past."

Aurora frowned. "What do you mean?"

Martha slowly began to explain. "You... you used your father's wealth and your own position to treat many people here very badly, especially those of lower classes. You humiliated them, you bullied them... Unfortunately, my Lady, you left deep wounds in the hearts of the people here."

Aurora was horrified by what she heard. This... this was terrible. She felt awful at that moment. The fear and hatred these beautiful people felt towards her was actually because of this cruel girl whose body she now inhabited.

"Let's get out of here immediately, Martha," Aurora said, her voice trembling. "I... I don't belong here."

They quickly left the store and continued walking down the crowded street. Aurora's mind was in turmoil. Being in the body of someone who had done so much evil weighed heavily on her. She felt unforgivable.

As they left the main street and turned into a more secluded alley, they heard a painful scream. Aurora and Martha ran towards the sound. The sight that greeted them froze Aurora's blood.

In a deserted alley, two burly, dirty-looking men were brutally beating a small child kneeling on the ground and crying. The child's face was covered in blood, and his sobs echoed throughout the alley.

Aurora didn't hesitate for a moment. The feeling of anger and compassion within her propelled her into action. Grabbing a broken piece of wood lying nearby, she ran towards the thugs.

"Hey! What are you doing?" Aurora shouted, her voice trembling with anger.

The thugs turned around, surprised to see an angry girl with a stick running towards them. Without hesitation, Aurora began to swing the stick. She had never fought before, but the sense of justice within her gave her strength. The stick hit the thugs' legs and backs hard. The thugs cried out in pain and cursed as they began to retreat.

"Get out of here!" Aurora yelled, her voice resolute. "Don't you ever come near this child again!"

The thugs exchanged fearful and angry glances and then quickly fled down the alley.

Aurora dropped the stick and immediately knelt beside the child. The child was sobbing uncontrollably. She tried to wipe the blood from his face.

"Are you alright, little one?" Aurora asked, her voice full of compassion.

The child looked at Aurora with a mixture of fear and confusion. He recognized her as Lady Vancroft, but this angry and helpful woman looked nothing like the cruel Aurora he knew.

Just then, a young, handsome man on horseback appeared at the entrance of the alley. He wore flamboyant clothes peculiar to distant lands. The man's dark eyes had watched in amazement as Aurora had subdued the thugs and cursed at them. This wild and courageous girl had aroused a deep curiosity within him.

After calming the child, Aurora turned to Martha. "Let's get this child something to eat immediately."

Martha, shaking off her surprise, nodded. Together, they entered a nearby tavern and ordered a warm meal for the child. Throughout the meal, Aurora spoke gently to the child, asked his name, and promised him that he would be treated well.

After the child had eaten his fill, Aurora and Martha left. As they walked back towards the manor, Aurora's mind was still filled with the image of that young royal. Who was this mysterious stranger? And why had he witnessed her in that moment of anger? Perhaps this new world would offer her not only pain and evil, but also unexpected encounters and new beginnings.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***