The Encounter

I waited patiently on the last stairs of the building for my 'called carriage' to arrive. I have never been in one so I didn't know what to expect. My emotions were bemingled with surprise and excitement.

Too many things ran through my mind as I stood there. What should I say when I meet him? What if I don't meet him? What if I am too late and Eleonora already has him? These questions ran through my head like the wheels of a spinning clock that never stopped.

I heard light footsteps behind me, I turned and was astonished to see Lenora running towards me with a medium size wooden chest in her hands.

"My lady, I am so glad that I caught up with you!" She said whilst catching her breath, clutching the wooden chest tighter.

I stared at it, pondering on what might be inside.

"Your Father wanted you to have this." She handed it to me.

Hesitating a bit, I accepted it. Slowly, I opened it and was amazed to see so many leather pouches. I stared at her for an explanation.

She let out a breath and began "Inside each pouch contains two hundred gold coins!" My eyes widened at the amount.

'Did she just say Two Hundred Gold coins!?' I thought. I have never dreamed of seeing this amount ever in my life and here it was right in front of me. It was in my hands.

"There are about twenty pouches in there, so that means the total amount of gold coins are…."

"...Four thousand gold coins!" I said still reeling in shock.

"Yes, that's the amount he gave you. He said that you should use it and buy anything you want in the capital. He also stated that if the money was not enough, you can always ask for more!" She stated.

I took in the deepest breath that I have ever taken since I arrived in this world. To think that I have the liberty to spend as much as I want, was just too much to take in.

"Well I am super grateful for this but I don't think that it will be necessary, can you please…" I paused when I noticed her shocked expression.

"My lady, this is just quarter of your weekly allowance!" She said,

"Weekly?" it felt like a huge bomb landed on my head.

She nodded "My lady, you can use it to buy the latest items of the season. Like new gowns for instance!" She suggested.

I stared at her, like she had a screw loosed in her head "I do not need new gowns. I have a closet full of beautiful, classy gowns!".

She let out a laugh, taking me by surprise. "Those gowns are last season my lady, you will need to replace them every once in a while!".

I sighed. It seems that I had no choice but to use the money and it might come in handy for my mission.

"Why don't you come with me Lenora?" I asked whilst a white carriage rode towards us.

Her face lit up in delight. "Really My lady?".

I nodded affirmatively.

"Sure, you can buy the latest items of the season!" I mimicked her words, she laughed at it. "While I will do other important things!".

The carriage halted in front of us, the door was pushed open and a knight stepped out of it looking regal.

"Your carriage awaits my lady!" He said in a state of a bow.

I felt like a Princess as he extended his hand to help me, gently, I placed mine in his and he helped me into it. Lenora hopped in behind me followed by the guard.

As soon as we were all seated, the horses strutted the Carriage out of the estate.

The ride to the capital was not as comfortable as I thought it would be. It was difficult to seat contently with every bounce of the carriage. The worse case scenario was when there was a bump in the road, I bounced along with the carriage as we rode above it. The ride was the most uncomfortable and longest ride that I have ever been on. It was during that moment that I missed the cars and smooth roads of my world, nothing like a bump in the road to make you bounce to your future.

I was so glad when we finally reached the capital, I happily stepped on the cobblestone road. I haven't felt so glad to be able to stand again.

"Lady Rosalind, where should we go to first?" Lenora asked excitedly. It seemed that it was her first time leaving the estate, she looked so happy and delighted to be in the capital.

I had to get rid of her. No offense Lenora, I feel like you might hold me back on my task, so I need to send you away for sometime.

"Here why don't you take this money…" I took out a pouch from the chest and handed it to her "...and buy whatever fancy cloth or snack you desire!".

She gasped, staring at the pouch in her hands "Are you sure my lady?".

I nodded "Yeah, we will meet back in the carriage in an hour or two!" I said, shoving her to the direction of one of the shops before she could protest.

Once she was out of sight I turned to the other direction and began walking towards anywhere that seemed mysterious and dangerous.

"Where are we going, my lady?" The knight asked, after what seemed to be like ten minutes of walking.

"Just follow me and do not say a word!" I ordered.

"Yes my lady!" He replied.

I looked around my surrounding. The houses looked shabby and forgotten. Yep! I was definitely in the poor section. Now was the hard part, finding Sir Roderick Porter.

The sound of a whip in the air drew my attention. I turned to see, a fat pot-bellied man in Noble clothing screaming at what seemed to be a young man. His clothes were torn and dirty. His skin was stained with dirt, he looked so fragile and friable.

The sight made my blood boil without much thought I walked towards the screaming Nobleman.

"Why can't you do anything right?" The man yelled, using the whip to torture the poor young man who cowered on the road.

"Haven't you heard of the word called 'humanity'?" I yelled.

The Nobleman turned to look at me with disgust worn all over his face.

"Who do you think you are little girl?" He asked. His voice was as worse than a frog that croaked at night.

"Well at least I am sensible enough to know that this is horribly wrong!" I responded.

He walked towards me, with a strange look in his eyes. I stood my ground and stared him down. His eyes traveled from my head down to my shoes and landed back to my face.

"You look like someone from a decent family better leave now little girl before things get ugly!" He reached out to touch my face but my knight stepped in front of me, coming between us.

The man scoffed "You even got a little knight with you why don't you two scurry out of here while I am being nice or else!" He turned to look at me, grinning. I shivered with disgust just by staring at the ugly lesser being.

"Or else what?" I asked.

"Or else you might end up being my next toy!" He said with a dirty smirk.

Toy! Did he just say 'Toy'?. I felt my temper spark as my fury sprang to life.

"My lady, I will…" My knight paused when he saw me. His face whitened as he stared at me.

The power I felt a few days ago re-emerged, but it was stronger than ever. The flame I felt within was more alive than it was before.

I watched the Noble man quiver as he stared at me. With every step I took he drew backward.

"A toy? How dare you?" I yelled, the flame within me grew stronger "Your status is nowhere close to mine. I am Lady Rosalind Everhart. The daughter of Duke Everhart and you had the audacity to speak to me like that!".

"Everhart?" He asked, shock flashed in his eyes, he knew what real terror was as he looked at me. His face grew paler every second.

I could feel the stares of everyone around me but I didn't bother. Putting this dimwit in his place mattered most.

He fell to the ground as I approached him. I placed my foot on his overweight stomach, increasing the pressure in it, steam could be seen seeping out from beneath it. He yelped for help as he tried to break free from it.

A dark smile escaped my lips as I watched him become so helpless. Now he knows how it feels to be humiliated and tortured by a person of higher status.

"I am so sorry! I will do anything! Anything that you want Lady Rosalind!" He pleaded, tears rolled down his cheeks.

I looked at him like the way Nobles stared at filth. He was definitely not worth wasting my powers on.

I let go of him, taking a deep breath I felt the power ebb away as I calmed down.

"Anything?" I asked with a smirk.

He gulped, slowly nodding his head.

"I want him!" I pointed at the slave on the ground.

The Nobleman gasped. "I-I bought him Lady Rosalind for a huge price!".

"What ever the price is? I will double it!" I said. Hoping deep down that it did not exceed the money I came with.

"I bought him for A hundred gold coins, My lady!" He said slowly.

I snapped my finger at the knight, gesturing for him to do the needful. He brought out the chest. I opened it and took out two pouches.

I threw it at the Noble, who caught it in mid air.

"One pouch contains, two hundred gold coins. So I think I have paid more than double, no?" I stared at him expectantly.

He nodded his head repeatedly in shock.

"He is all yours!" He said, turned on his heel and ran away gleefully.

I turned to look at the slave I just bought. His head was hung low, he looked frightened, my heart poured out to him.

Kneeling beside him, I reached out and touched his face, tilting it upwards for a better view of him. I let out a gasp when I realized who he was. Sir Roderick Porter.

His brown hair was messy, he looked lean and weak but his emerald eyes captivated me. When he looked at me, It felt like I could feel the emotions within him.

I couldn't help but smile, to think that I actually found him before Lady Eleonora did.

"Can you stand?" I asked in a concerned tone.

He nodded, slowly gathering his energy to stand on his feet. I wrapped his hand around my neck and helped him up. My knight did the same at the other side. The excitement I felt as we walked back was undescribable.

"We are going back to the estate!" I said.

"Yes my lady!" My knight replied.

I was glad that my mission was over. All I have to do was become strong enough to stand up for myself, make Sir Roderick the strongest knight in the Empire and not take part in the main plot of the novel.

That will be a piece of cake to me. Just thinking about my plans felt comforting.

* * * *

As she walked away with her knight and a new companion, she didn't only capture the attention of everyone present in the streets but unknown to Lady Rosalind there were six pairs of eyes that followed her every movement, captivated by her.

"What an interesting young lady don't you think, Ronald?" His gaze never left the woman with flames in her hair. Her power enthralled him not only that, her aura was something that enticed him. It was fiery and terrifying, something that he doesn't see in every woman.

"She is interesting, Your Majesty!" The middle aged man replied, dragging the lifeless body into the darker edges of the street.

"She is definitely interesting!" Prince Cedric said with a lopsided grin.

>>>>> "Who would have thought that my dear friend would have such a daring lady as his sister." He took a sip of his tea, a sly smile smoldered on his lips.

>>>>> He stared out the window. The power she exuded was definitely something he has not seen before, the way her hair blazed like flames tinged with the fury within her, fascinated him, her eyes glowed as she spoke to the Nobleman. It was extraordinary. She was extraordinary.

"Lady Rosalind! You seem to have piqued my interest!" He said whilst watching her.