Chapter 2 The Dukedom in the east

She can hear the sound of running horses, and the carriage is shaking because of a rocky road leading through the Dukedom in the East, it will take at least four hours to arrive. She tried to look over the window of the carriage but she can't reach it due to her height. The lady with a red fox mask giggles at her finding her amusing to watch. Achlys stare at the lady, she doesn't know how to react. She remembers her past life, and what happened to her before she got reincarnated here, she has been through a lot. Her body was frail, skinny, and full of dirt. She was surprised when the duchess insisted to ride the same carriage as her. 'Why?' she got a lot of questions in her mind. She wants to ask the duchess many things, but her voice won't cooperate. 'How troublesome'.

"Do you want to look outside?" the lady asks her. She didn't mind looking outside but she wants to know what it look like outside her prison. The duchess suddenly pick her up and made her look outside. It was dark, it was already night outside. The only thing she saw is the reflection of the moon and the shadows of the trees. "Don't worry my dear" the duchess put her down, she was surprisingly light almost as paper. "Tomorrow I'll show you everything you want" the duchess takes off her mask and look at her pitifully. Achlys was amazed by the duchess's beauty. She had red bright hair, golden eyes, and fair skin. "I almost forgot to introduce myself, My name is Carmellia Anatolius the duchess of the east, what's yours?" she said with a gentle smile on her face.

"Achlys" is the only word that she can say. 'Whoa, how beautiful, no wonder she hid her face with a mask' she thought and smiled back at the duchess. "So you also know how to smile dearie" the lady pats her head.

Hours had passed, and Achlys fell asleep in Carmellia's lap, stoking her hair while looking at the window. Finally, they arrive. The carriage stopped and one of the knights opened the door, she was greeted by the maids. "Welcome your grace!" and bow down their head. One of the maid takes Achlys in the duchess's arm and carries it inside. "It must be tiring to travel your grace" the butler greeted her. "Take the child and clean her, don't wake her up," the duchess said. The maid hurriedly prepares and washes Achlys not to try to wake her up. "Duchess the Duke of Demitria send a letter" the butler handed the tray with an envelope and paper-knife. The duchess immediately takes the envelope and opens it. The butler leaves the room, and immediately hears the duchess scream, wondering what's inside the letter.

Achlys was awoken by the warm water on her body, she opens her eyes and saw people around her, two people washing her lower part of the body, two people washing the upper part of her body, and two people washing her hands. It was a hassle for her, she feels uncomfortable getting touched by these people, as a kid who grew up in slavery, she also grew up fearing other people. She smells scented roses, smells like the duchess.

After washing her, she wore a lovely silk pajama and her hair was dried and braided by the maids. It was now a long since she never cut he hair ever since she was born. She looks at the big mirror in front of her and the maids starting to leave the room. She saw herself as different from what she imagined, the dirty little girl from earlier is look different now. She had never seen herself in a mirror before since she was isolated in her dirty cell prison.

Now from the looks of it, she had beautiful ruby eyes and pink hair, she touch the mirror gracefully as she look at herself carefully. She was amazed, then suddenly the door opened and it was an old lady wearing a different uniform. The old lady bows her head and said "Hello young miss, I am Lilith, the head maid in this mansion, I shall lead you to your room" the lady gives her hand to Achlys, and due to traumatic experience, Achlys suddenly back of and was scared to the old lady, thinking she was still inside the slavery. The old lady only gives a sympathetic look to the girl and immediately crouch down and said " don't worry young miss, I won't hurt you" hoping the girl would understand what she just said. The old lady's voice was gentle and peaceful, it makes Achlys not scared anymore, the old lady offer her hand again, and the little girl started to walk closely to Lilith and give her little hand slowly putting it in Lilith's hand. She feels Lilith's hand is rough, due to all the work she has been doing but Lithia smile at her and makes Achlys more comfortable with her.