Her Trail

2.

Looks like I cried myself to sleep in the arms of the Duke. I wake up the next morning feeling the rays of the sun in my skin. When I open my eyes, Shane, my maid is fixing the curtain.

"Good morning, my lady." She greeted me first thing in the morning. She gave me a warm smile while walking in my direction.

I sat on my bed to greet her back, "Good morning, Shane."

"My lady, you are so cute! Let's go, I'll take you for a bath, and after that, you will be joining breakfast with the Duke and young master today."

My eyes widened. In Elora's memory, it is very rare to join the two men in breakfast in the House of White Dragon, that is what the house of the Duke is called.

I'm really really nervous, and I am shy! I cried in the Duke's arms, I was so unladylike. This world is conservative so I am a bit worried and shy.

Shane guided me for a morning bath. The bathtub is full of red roses petals with a sweet floral scent. When I place myself on it, I felt like the fatigue in my body goes away.

I suddenly felt like staying here for an hour, but I cannot afford to be late in the breakfast with the two men in the House.

"Shane. What is the Duke like?"

I don't know why I asked that. There are only a few memories of Duke and my young master in my mind, Elora is just like me in some way. She loves books, she's a quiet child, and the Duke never really has time to spend with her. And her Mom, her Mom is the only one she had. She is not comfortable with other people aside from her.

But Elora is now me. I am sorry but I need to get the Duke and the young master on my side. I need them for protection. I need them to survive here because I don't think I can handle another pitiful life.

"Hmm. Let me think of it. The Duke is a well-known man. He is honorable and is respected throughout the whole kingdom of Vanzelion."

Well. That was a general description for the Duke. I can't help but heave a sigh. It will be hard to approach them.

"But my lady, your Dad, even if he is cold, distant, and scary sometimes, he helped a lot of people in our Kingdom. Most especially, the poor."

Come to think of it. How old is this body again? I tried to scan the memory of Elora once again.

E-eh?

12 years old kid? No wonder my body feels so small. I look down a bit, enough to see my chest. That's why it is not fully grown.

I am in the body of a child! Does that mean I have to act like it? Oh my goodness, no. Good thing the last owner of this body is not as child-like as other kids, she's a little bit mature, she's only carefree around her Mom.

After the bath. Shane and the other maid named Bella helped me dress up. Shane made me wear a beautiful gown with collapsed sleeves, it has low necklines, elongated V-shaped bodices, and fuller skirts.

Bella, however, help me with my hair. When I face the mirror my jaw almost drops. She's prettier up close, no! I am prettier up close. The whole Fleyr blooded part of the family has white shiny hair, mine is long and wavy. My eyes are like my mother's. It is brilliant green!

A few moments later, Bella finished styling my hair. It is parted in the middle, with curls and elaborate updos, she let me wear ornamental hats and elaborate accessories added to elevate the hairstyle.

The two of them lead me to the room where we will have breakfast. Before they open the double door for me, Bella and Shane give them notice of my arrival.

"The young miss is here."

I entered the place, the extravagant dining table and chairs welcomed me. The Duke and the young master are already here.

I held the skirt of my dress in both sides, placing one of my feet on the back of another, bending my knees slightly, and I give a little bow.

"Good morning, Father, good morning big brother."

"Come here."

I almost freeze hearing the Duke's voice. But it is immediately placed by hunger as I see all the delicious food that is served. I sat across Father, while my brother is on my side.

There are even macaroons and pudding.

"How was your sleep?"

When I look at the Duke I realized the question was for me. His dark red eyes made me shiver a bit. But of course, I need him to survive so I gave him my million-dollar smile. I made sure I will gleam as I answer him.

"I sleep well, Papa! I even dreamt of spending time with you!"

I can't help but grow deep inside. It's super cheesy! I can't still stomach the fact that he looks like my Dad in my past life except for the hair and the eye color.

"Good." The Duke takes his eyes off of me.

I turn my head on the side where big brother is sitting. He looks serious, at the same down calm. He looks like he's minding his own business, just focusing on the food.

"How about you, big brother? Did you have a good sleep? What about a dream?"

He finishes the food in his mouth before answering me.

"I sleep just the same. I didn't have a dream."

He is sooo boring. What kind of answer is that? But at least he answered in a sentence, unlike the Duke.

This is so awkward.

It's been few minutes but no one even spoke a word.

This can't go on like this. I need to have them on my side.

"Papa, what will you do after this?"

"I will work in my office."

"Really? Then what about you brother?"

"My vacation is next week. I have to prepare a lot of things for the academy."

Oh right. From Elora's memory, Memphis is already 15 years old, he is studying in the Vanzelion's Largest Academy. It is quite far from the House of White Dragon.

I only have few days to capture my big brother's heart. It can't be! He had to like me better he comes back to the academy!

When I finally decided what to do, I acted really sad.

"Big brother will leave soon. Won't you spend time with Elora?"

Oh gosh. What the heck is that. I can't believe that came from me.

Luckily, I achieved the desired reaction from big brother. He looks a bit shocked and he seems like he doesn't know what to reply.

I acted a little sadder.

He fake a cough. "T-Then, I'll spend time with you. I'll arrange my schedule."

Oh, wow. He has a schedule for his every action at that age. But I am not surprised, he is the Duke's son, the future Master of this House.

"I'm going to the palace next week." The Duke butt in.

He looks at me waiting for my reply. He looks at me as if he's going to persecute me if I give him a wrong answer.

What's with him all of sudden? He's not like this in Elora's memory, he just speaks when asked.

Ah, wait! I can't help but grin inside when I realized something.

"Papa will leave too? Elora will be sad, Papa, please spend time with me before leaving."

Please tell me this is fine.

This is normal for a twelve-year-old, right? But oh well, they seem to like it, I just need to endure a little more, and when they are finally trapped in my cuteness I can do whatever I want.

The Duke turned his eyes away from me again.

"I'll arrange that."

After breakfast, I finally felt the nervousness at ease. I can finally breathe.

My cheeks are still burning from embarrassment, I think what I did back there will haunt me even in my dream.

I walk fastly with Shane and Bella on my side. I am facing the floor because I don't want anybody to see how red my face is.

My body collided with a hard wall in the middle of walking. My eyes widened in shock as I accept the fact that I'm going to hit hard on the floor.

What a very very clumsy girl!

Surprisingly, the hard wall was a human after all. He caught me with his one arm, and because of that, I was able to see his beautiful face. Oh god, everyone in this world is this gorgeous. He held my arm guiding me to stand.

Now, I notice what he is wearing, he is obviously a knight. He is wearing a black coat with brocaded silk front rosettes with velvet-lined collar. He is also carrying his sword. He must be a little bit younger than the Duke.

"My lady, are you hurt anywhere?"

Oh gosh, why is everyone gorgeous but cold?! This House is so weird!

"N-No, Sir. I am sorry for dumping on you, I wasn't careful enough."

He shake his eye in an elegant manner.

"No. It is my fault, my lady. Please punish me."

Wait. Wait. What? Why is he so weird? Why would I punish him for a thing as simple as that?

"No! Why would you say that! It was my fault, Sir."

"Sir Betram, please accept my lady's apology."

Good thing Shane interrupted our conversation. Hmm, so he is Betram, a Knight in the House of White Dragon.

"Then. If that so, I'll accept your apology, my lady."

"Really? Thank you, Sir Betram."

That was my first encounter with Betram. I knew some of the Knights who used to accompany Elora and Mother, but maybe, he is under my big brother or the Duke that's why I haven't really seen him around.

He has a different air around him, and he is weird too. He is just like a milder version of Father.

"Shane, Bella. Let's go to the garden."

In Elora's memory, she always spends time with her mother here. I walk straight into the gazebo. Sitting in the outdoor chair, I can't help but remember Elora's wonderful time with Mother. In all her memory, she's the happiest with her. She giggles like a kid, she smiles so brightly, she laughs a lot. Unlike her normal days, reading in the library, eating, walking without her maid in the garden with no expression at all.

My little moment pops out when I heard a loud thud.

"Bella! Are you..."

It was Bella, she is sitting on the floor, touching her chest, it seems like she is having difficulty in breathing.

Wait. This is, this is simple asthma! The difficulty of breathing, tightness in the chest, and coughing.

I walk towards Bella, to my shock Shane blocked me. Why is she suppressing me from going to Bella?

"My lady, no! It normally happens to Bella. She's attacked by a monster again!"

Huh?

Monster?

"What do you mean? Don't block me, Shane! I can do something about her. That's not a doing of some monster, this is an illness."

Thankfully, even if she's confused, she let me go near Bella.

I guide her body to sit upright.

"Bella, calm yourself, okay? Breath in, breath out."

She listened to what I am saying, she inhales and exhales a few times in front of me.

"Shane. Get a warm coffee for her."

Shane immediately goes to get what I asked. I focus on Bella. Little by little, by couching stop.

When Shane arrived, she gave Bella the warm coffee. A caffeinated drink like that can slightly open an airway for 2 or 3 hours.

Thankfully, after a while, everything became fine. Bella bow in front of me repeatedly.

"Thank you, my lady! I am really grateful, thank you!"

I wave my hand and smile at her.

"No worries, Bella." I turn my attention to Shane, "Next time, if Bella had an asthma attack, call me immediately."

"Asthma? What is that young miss?"

Oh. So this world's medicine is very uncultured. They don't know a lot of things.

"It is the illness of Bella, having asthma means there is swollen and inflammation in the inside walls of the airways. There might be a secretion of excess mucus in the airway lining membrane. And because of that, Bella's narrowed airways caused her to have difficulties in breathing."

I stopped when I realized both of them didn't understand what I just said. Their mouths are both gapes, shocked by the probably weird things for them that I just said.

"My lady, you are a genius! I don't understand anything you said, but I feel like another genius is born in the Kingdom of Vanzelion! The Duke must know about it!"

I heave a sigh. I guess spouting new things here will make me a genius. Seriously? What world doesn't know about simple asthma?