Her Trail

4.

The next days, I spent it getting the attention of Father and older brother. Everyone on the House is gossiping about how I changed, the way I am acting towards others. Of course, I felt so awkward doing something like that but survival is my only solution in this world. I am not even sure where I am, and why am I here. But one thing is for sure, I was reborn to live my life for my own this time.

"My lady, you are spacing out," Bella said while doing my hairstyle for today.

I immediately lift my lips for a bright smile, just like a real twelve years old girl.

"You're lovely!" both Shane and Bella exclaimed after they saw how they dress me up today.

I giggled in reply, after that I told them to come with me going to the office of my Father Duke. They let him know my entrance before letting me in, and when the Duke replied and said yes, they open the double door for me.

I ready my face and my smile as I enter the room.

"Papa!" I exclaimed while running towards him but oh gosh, luck is never on my side.

Just before I reach him, I stumble upon a compilation of books on the floor. My face fell first and it hurts a lot! Like someone stole my macaroons kind of feeling!

My voice immediately cracked as I started to sob while feeling the ache on my face.

Why am I even crying...

Perhaps I really did become a child.

My Father Duke goes after me fastly when he saw how my eyes moist and how I started to sob a little louder.

"P-Papa..."

He carried me in his arms as he looks at me with the eyes of someone who is scared for my sake. And it suddenly made me stop crying because it was... it was new... that kind of stare.

"Are you alright?" his voice is cold but oddly, I can feel the warmth.

Is this the side effect of my sudden revival, because having these kinds of emotions is really new that it's scaring me again. As if I'm scared for another coming heartache.

"I'm fine, Papa."

I place my head on his shoulder.

"You look like a toad when crying, you should stop doing that."

Wait, what?

A toad?

A freaking disgusting toad?

Did this man compare me to that?

My dumbfounded face showed up again, good thing he can't see my face right now.

I grab a pile of his hair and grab it slightly, I wanted to pull it really hard but I remember that I am trying to get his love.

"Are you massaging my head? It's effective," he said while he is walking towards his chair, still carrying me.

I didn't answer, instead, I continued the slight grab on his hair. I suddenly enjoyed it since his hair is straight and it is very soft and smooth. When I tried to smell it, it smells so good!

But minutes later, I changed my position so that I can see what he is doing. He looked so stressed out about it so I tried to read what is written on the papers.

It looks like a report on something.

But the context is familiar. There must be ongoing conflicts between empires.

"Papa, can you tell me about that?" I asked pointing to the papers.

He pinches the bridge of his nose and closes his eyes before saying anything.

"There is a conflict over a kingdom, the empire next to us is trying to use the land of the kingdom we own. The Emperor is very strict about the lands of the kingdoms under his empire. And we are about to go on war because we can't let them feel the superiority, the winner will have the crown."

Oh. I am not very familiar with history, and I am not sure what can I say about these things. I wanted to help to show off a bit but I don't know what to say so I tried to ask a question that will help me with the conversation.

"Then, Papa, do our empire holds a strong military?"

He nodded his head saying it's a yes.

"Our knights are our empire's pride. They won a lot of wars."

Yay! I knew it, militarism is very common in this world!

Before world war one happened, some countries are making sure they have a strong military. But some countries are really after having a war because it will show their superiority.

"Papa, I don't think there is a need to be engulfed into a war over this matter."

I saw how his eyebrows furrow, curious about what I am about to say.

"I mean, look, they are only trying to do something on our land, but is there a necessity to pursue the war? I don't think so, Papa. Think of it, if you push on that instead of having a meeting between nations of passing a law about the issue, it will just cause blood to shred and many children like me will lose our parents and love ones. That is really sad..." my last sentence became a soft whisper but I knew he heard that.

I felt how his big hand caress my long hair. I place my head on his chest after the image of the death of my mother resurfaces.

Why is that showing all over again? I am not talking about that on anyone even Papa and older brother, but I constantly dream about her and her death. It was heartbreaking, and it's waking me up a couple of days from the day I was reborn here again.

"I'm going to open that discussion when I meet the Emperor."

I nodded, feeling the sudden tiredness to reply.

I heard Papa heave a sigh, I immediately change my posture to a better one while I am sitting on his lap. I faked a smile while facing him, afraid that he won't like seeing me like this.

But his face showed how he didn't like what I did.

"What are you doing? Don't smile, you look ugly."

My face crumbled right away. He chuckled when he witness my reaction to what I just said.

If only I can trash talk with him right now, I am not the type to do that but I am willing to try right now because of this Duke!

How dare he constantly say I am ugly when the fact is, I, myself am continuously falling all over again for the face I have now? And we look like each other so he is ugly as well!

Our attention was caught when someone knocks at the door.

"Come in," Father said a little louder.

The person came into the room, he is tall, handsome, and he is the knight I bump into!

Wow, he looks beautiful up close. My eyes are probably shining now.

I saw how the knight's eyes landed on me and I created a cute expression to capture his heart, but he reverts his gazes away from me and that made me pout my lips. I can't help but sulk on my father's lap.

"Your grace, you told me that we have a meeting at this hour, it seems like you forgot."

Father looks at the watch on his wrist. He looked a bit shock that what Betram said is really true, he must be already late. From my memory, he was never late for his appointments.

"You to the library and wait for your tutor."

I can't help but pout but I have no choice since he still has a lot of works to do. I hug Papa a bit and bid goodbye to them.

Now, I have to meet Sir Adalius Ellsworth, my tutor. I still have a lot of questions to ask him, I can't wait to know more about this world.

I scratch my cheeks as I walk around the hallway alone, father told Shane and Bella to rest a while ago so they aren't waiting for me in front of his office's door.

My cheeks hurt from smiling too much. Gosh, if only I can be like what Elora used to be, but of course, I am done being cold and distant just like Father, I need their love, and that means, having their protection.

Oh gosh, I think I'm lost. The House is too huge for a small human like me, and even though I have Elora's memories, she is not that active to roam around the house.

I tried to look room by room to look for a person.

But when I opened one, it was the kitchen. They were doing a lot of things, and only a few noticed my presence.

One chubby woman from the crowd widened her eyes because of shock, it seems like she recognized me.

"Lady Elora! You came here!" she happily walks towards me.

And because of her loud voice, the others noticed me finally.

I was about to greet them when a man from the crowd of kitchen staff suddenly sat on the floor holding his chest as if something is aching, he is also holding his abdomen, it's obvious that he is experiencing pain there.

I immediately go near him thinking that he might be having a heart attack.

All of them are panicking so I shushed them down.

"Calm down everyone! Go away from him. Call a healer as fast as you can!"

I let him sit comfortably, letting his body rest.

"Try to calm down okay? Try to rest your body while the healer is not here."

I noticed that his clothes are tight so I shouted.

"Give me scissors!"

"W-what? Lady—"

They are hesitating to give me what I wanted so I shout a little louder.

"Give me the scissors!" I repeated.

One of the kitchen staff gave it to so I cut the man's clothes right away because it is important to loosen tight clothing when someone is having a heart attack.

I can feel on his skin his cold sweat, and he is having trouble breathing.

This is not good. There is no aspirin in this world, there are too outdated to have something! If he stops breathing, I need to perform CPR right away.

Good thing, a healer wearing a white hooded cloak came in, and she goes to the patient as fast as she can.

"Is this a doing of a monster again?"

"Perhaps, look at him, so pitiful."

I can't help but to cringed hearing them say that. I mean, I can't still believe there are really monsters, but can they really cause this kind of illness? I don't think so, they are just unknowledgeable about a lot of things, especially in the field of medicine.

"Is this the first time that this happened? I can feel his heart and it is weak. Two or more healers can heal him completely, but I don't think I can do it alone. I can tend his pain, though."

Wait... what?

They can cure him in just one go? No need for medications? Or surgery?

Woah. This world never stopped amusing me.

"My lady! We are looking for you all over the house!" Shane barged in looking so tired, it looks like she and Bella run around the house to look for me.

I smiled and run towards them.

"I'm sorry Shane, Bella! I got lost, please forgive me..." I made sure I am wearing my disgusting puppy eyes.

Well, it is always making me have whatever I want so I will use my charm as long as I can, in any way I want.

Shane sighed and hugged me.

"I was scared thinking you were heart, don't repeat that, my lady, alright?"

I nodded while pouting.

"I understand, Shane, Bella, I'm sorry for worrying you both."

They both nodded, still panting. They did not even notice the ruckus going on inside the room.

"Let's go, Sir Adalius is already waiting for you."

Oh.

Oh...

I AM LATE FOR MY FIRST CLASS!

I run as fast as I can with Bella and Shane guiding me and when we arrived in the library, we saw Sir Adalius reading a book in the corner.

I gulp remembering my terror professor back then giving the same vibes he gives right now.

He placed his book and close it on the table and his gaze went to me. I gulp.

"You must be very busy, Lady Elora," he smiled.

Creepy...

I bow down to greet him and I sit in front of him fastly.

My smile is very shallow and fake that it almost looks like I'm about to poop. I can really picture myself in my head.

Sir Adalius looks playful but I guess he doesn't want tardiness in his class. Just like the strict professors I have back then.

He discussed the palace of the Emperor in the Lion City, it was the richest city in the whole empire.

He talked about many things revolving around the Vanzelion Empire, and about the Emperor leading it. Elora had knowledge about that but Sir Adalius made my knowledge even deeper.

He also talks about the knights and the military power. There is a discussion about healers they are just like what Bella told me.

Lastly, he introduced me to things about the wizards, but at the same time, he warned me.

"Those wizards are wicked and they are the huge support to the aristocrat faction that opposes the Emperor, be careful with them when you meet even one."