Lady Alice’s Diary

Chapter 12: Alice’s First Goal

“In this world, nobles have the authority to execute commoners—but only if a commoner threatens a noble’s life. Yet that Count Clayton went and slaughtered ordinary villagers! It’s utterly barbaric!” Alice paused, set down her pen, and took a moment to calm her racing heart before continuing to write.

“I’ve taken care of those villagers, but losing their homes and loved ones has left them heartbroken. There’s nothing I can do for that… Oh, and there’s something else troubling me. According to the villagers, a girl named Jenny is missing. She must have gotten separated when the cavalry arrived, or perhaps she fell into the river and went unnoticed. I had Father send people to look for her, but there’s still no news. This is my fault—I just hope she’s safe.”

Alice took a sip of the now-cold milk.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Bella? Come in.”

“Miss, it’s time for bed. Also… drinking cold milk in this weather isn’t advisable. I can warm some up for you if you like,” Bella said sharply, noticing the steaming milk absent.

“Oh, sorry. I was just a bit thirsty…” Alice said, shrugging while tidying her journal.

“No excuses. No more cold milk—you’ll make the Duke and Duchess worry if you get sick,” Bella insisted.

“Okay, I’ll listen… actually, I wanted some coffee.”

“This world does have coffee, Miss, but at twelve years old, you shouldn’t be drinking it,” Bella replied.

“I was only saying…” Alice shrugged. “All right, I’m going to sleep now.”

Bella helped Alice change into her nightgown, then went over to tidy the drawings Alice had left on the table.

“Is this… Doris?” Bella glanced at a portrait of a smiling girl Alice had drawn. She looked at Alice lying in bed, sighed softly, and continued organizing.

It was September 22, Year 313 of the Empire—Reunion Festival.

The festival reminded Alice of Mid-Autumn back on Earth. On this day, families across the Norman Empire set aside work to gather for dinner, celebrating togetherness and familial joy.

Since there were no morning classes today, Alice took a carriage south of the city after breakfast to visit the villagers she had helped.

“Miss Alice! You came?”

“Kind and merciful Miss Alice, thank you for saving us and giving us warm homes and plentiful food. We praise you,” one villager exclaimed.

Alice smiled warmly at the genuine gratitude on their faces.

“Today is Reunion Festival—happy Reunion Festival! These are gifts for you,” Alice said, gesturing to some pastries her guards had brought down from the carriage.

“Gifts? Miss Alice, you’ve already done so much for us. How can we take gifts from you?” a young man stepped forward seriously.

Alice remembered his name: Danny, just over twenty.

“Danny, everyone… I know today might not feel joyous for you. Most of your families are gone. The festival might only remind you of those you’ve lost. I can’t fix that, but I can at least give you some gifts.”

The villagers fell silent, some women quietly sobbing at the memories of loved ones lost to Count Clayton’s cruelty.

Alice stood beside them quietly for a long moment, then spoke with resolve:

“My father will ensure Clayton is brought to justice. He will face the executioner, and his crimes will be exposed. You will have justice. And…”

The villagers looked at her, hope and gratitude in their eyes.

“And! Though most of your loved ones are gone, they would not want to see you in sorrow. Lift your spirits! From now on, all of you here are a family. You are relatives to one another—and I, Alice, am also part of your family!”

Seeing Alice’s eyes glisten with tears, the villagers were stunned. A noble showing such selfless care was rare in this world, where most aristocrats avoided commoners entirely. Now Alice declared herself as their kin, leaving the villagers both amazed and deeply moved.

“Miss Alice… we… we don’t know what to say. Thank you… thank you, may the God of Light bless you,” a woman, perhaps a follower of the Light, said, hands clasped and tears streaming.

Alice spent the morning helping the villagers set up their new homes, decorating them to match the festival’s celebratory mood.

When lunch came, she joined them.

“Miss Alice, you shouldn’t eat with us… it’s not that we don’t welcome you, but this food isn’t fit for you,” Danny said awkwardly.

“Not fit for me? Why not?” Alice asked, picking up a skewer of meat and eating without any concern for etiquette.

Everyone stared in disbelief at her.

“What’s wrong?” Alice asked, blushing slightly.

“Nothing…” Danny stammered, eyes wide as Alice devoured the meat.

“This is delicious! Everyone, eat up!”

Caught up in Alice’s carefree eating, the villagers relaxed and ate heartily themselves.

“Normally, Reunion Festival is celebrated at dinner, but I have to visit my grandfather tonight, so I came at noon instead,” Alice explained.

“That’s fine, Miss Alice,” they replied. Respect remained, but now there was a sense of casual warmth between them.

“And… we still haven’t heard about Jenny,” Alice said quietly, feeling a twinge of sadness.

The villagers went silent.

“Miss Alice!” Danny broke the silence.

“It’s not your fault. We didn’t notice the Duke’s Dragon-Slaying Cavalry at the time. Jenny’s getting lost had nothing to do with you. Besides, that clever girl will be fine—she must have reached a safe place,” he said encouragingly.

“I hope so…” Alice whispered, lowering her head.

“Miss Alice, we can’t just take your gifts and food! Please, let us work! We might not know much, but you’ve spent so much on us. We need to contribute—even if it’s washing horses at the Duke’s stables!” Danny said earnestly.

Alice had not expected this. She only wanted to help these people who had lost so much.

“If we can’t work, we’d rather leave and wander outside Noah City!”

Looking into their earnest eyes, Alice felt tears welling up. How could such kind people endure so much pain and still remain good-hearted?

Suddenly, Alice understood something. Earth had been a world where material abundance had twisted humanity; innocence was nearly extinct. But this world, shaped by different cultural factors, preserved rare, genuine purity.

“I understand, everyone. I know you don’t want to accept my help for free, and I know you wish to repay me. But don’t rush. After Reunion Festival, I’ll give you work—a job that will be new and exciting, perhaps even something that will enter history…”

Alice smiled inside the carriage. She had finally found her first goal in this world: to help those in need. She knew she couldn’t help everyone, but she would do everything in her power to help as much as she could.

In her previous life, Alice had loved music and wanted to attend a conservatory, but poverty forced her to work in a music shop. She had studied instruments tirelessly, but a fire destroyed the shop and her dreams. She thought she had died in the blaze—but instead, she had awoken in this strange new world.

Growing up in a different body and environment, she had drifted without purpose, performing the role of an obedient little girl. Though skilled at it, everyone around her sensed she was exceptional.

Now, with her first real goal discovered, Alice was ready to dedicate herself to bringing joy and stability to those around her.

She hadn’t yet considered… matters of the heart.