"Who is she…?" She whispered, as the lady in his eyes was a stranger she never laid her eyes on.
"Huh?" Lewis furrowed his eyes and blinked.
But, the second he did, she urged. "Don't blink!"
Confused, Lewis let her stare into his eyes. Devon was never this aggressive.
If he was asked, he liked her nonchalance and her attitude for minding her own business. Even after sharing the same bed with her, they didn't build any deep relationship.
He paid her to purely sleep with him and Devon just does that. No questions asked. A typical employer-employee relationship.
But now, she's just different. Not just the way she speak, but her demeanor as well.
If he could believe such nonsense as being possessed, he would. But, he doesn't believe in those things.
When she snapped, Devon let him go and brushed her hair over her shoulder.
"It's black…" She whispered. "Mirror! Do you have a mirror?"
She requested, panicking. She used to have golden hair with naturally large curls. Never once she had black straight hair!
She couldn't believe it. How could she have a change of appearance overnight?
"Mirror?" Lewis repeated and she nodded without a second hesitation.
Lewis stared at her panicking expression before letting out a sigh.
"Sure." He said.
And with that, Lewis requested a mirror from the medical staffs outside which they brought immediately. When they handed the mirror, everyone stayed in the room without a word.
Doctor Shen along with the others stood on the side, watching their patient stare at herself through the hand mirror.
Meanwhile, Lewis went back to his seat. His temple resting on his knuckles, watching Devon study herself in front the mirror.
"Hah…" Devon let out a short chuckle, pinching her cheek.
Was she blessed? How come she looked like a stranger in her eyes?
Unlike her who had originally cerulean eyes and golden hair, her reflection had hazel orbs paired with straight black hair.
Devon had small, narrow nose. Her facial features were delicate. Like of a cat which suit either nonchalance or wild.
'A new face…' She whispered internally.
Suddenly, Devon raised her eyes towards Doctor Shen. The latter nearly jolt.
"You, I grant you permission to state my name." She ordered, excitement brimming her eyes.
Doctor Shen glanced at Lewis helplessly. The latter shrugged, gesturing him to do her request.
"Your surname is Lin, Miss Lin Devon." Doctor Shen awkwardly stated while the latter let out a short chuckle.
"Hah," In a happy disbelief, Devon suppressed the urge to laugh loudly.
With a new face and a new name, she might be able to live freely now. No one would come after her because they won't recognize her.
Was she dreaming? Was this the afterlife? Devon was unsure. What she was certain about was it didn't matter.
Devon bit her lower lip, her eyes started welling up. Tears tempted to break free from the corner of her eyes and succeeded.
Again, she raised the hand mirror and stared at herself. She touched the tears rolling down her cheek. The second she did, she felt the warm liquid on her finger.
Her tears… they felt real to the touch.
"I'm free…" She whispered under her breath.
At last, she was free from her cruel life. All the absurdity and question hovering over her head didn't matter at the moment.
All she cared right now was this new identity. Even if this was the work of the witches, she could finally feel freedom.
Even if it was fleeting, she'd have a taste of it.
A life she craved which never happened back when she was a princess.
Meanwhile, Lewis never left his eyes on her. His jaw resting on his knuckles, he blinked his eyes ever so slowly.
'Why does she look so happy?' He wondered, arching his right brow.
Although she was crying, Lewis could tell they were happy tears. Still, being with her for months made him wonder.
Devon… she was the type who had zero care in the world. She was the kind of woman who only cared about anything that could benefit her.
In fact, at one point, he wondered if she had other emotions aside from her nonchalance and constant outburst.
Nothing interesting, really. At least, for him.
But now, after the incident last night, this Devon was crying and smiling? Not to mention, her strange behavior akin to those historical movie characters.
"Miss Lin, we have to check your condition and run some tests to see…"
"Alright." Before Doctor Shen could finish his sentence, Devon raised her gaze and agreed.
She then extended her arm, twisting her arm to show her wrist.
"You can check my pulse."
"Uh…" Doctor Shen cleared his throat, darting his eyes on her wrist and then to her.
In the Doctor's eyes, there's definitely something wrong with her. Also, the way she was asking him to check her pulse for a check up was quite the old way of medical practice.
"Why are you fretting?" asked Devon, arching her brow.
"Because checking your pulse is an old medical practice, my lady." Lewis explained, humoring her in the end.
"Then, what are the new?" Devon asked, turning her attention to the man she was still unaware her relation to him.
Lewis stared at her brimming eyes filled with curiosity. By the looks of it, she wasn't pretending.
"You'll know if you… grant them permission to examine you." He shrugged.
Devon nodded in understanding. "Alright."
Lewis cast Doctor Shen a knowing look which the latter understood. With a bow, Doctor Shen carefully proceeded to his check up which should be done since an hour ago.
Devon found everything a bit odd. From flashing light in her eye, placing the stethoscope on her back and upper chest, and so on.
But, she behaved throughout the procedure. She resisted the urge to question them.
When they were done, Doctor Shen sported a relieved smile.
"Miss Lin is fine and her vitals had stabilized. But, we still had to run a few test. So, she had to stay for a few more days."
Doctor Shen professionally darted his eyes from his patient to her guardian, Lewis. The latter nodded in understanding, not minding the longer stay.
"Mister Qin, may I have a moment with you, please?" After he said the good news, Doctor Shen shot Lewis a solemn look.
Lewis nodded. "I'll walk you out."
With that being said, Doctor Shen and his team beckoned a slight bow towards Devon. And they left while Lewis stood from his seat.
Before he left the room, he cocked his head to her direction. "I'll be back."
"Alright. Take care on your journey." Devon nodded, holding her hands on her lap.
"Heh," Upon hearing her reply, Lewis let out a short chuckle before shaking his head and left.
Once Devon was left alone, she traveled her eyes around. Everything she had set her eyes on were new to her. Some may be appear similar like those vases and settee, but crafted and finished as a peculiar end product.
Also, those strange castle that seemed they were touching the clouds. She wondered if the king in this land owned them.
"He must be very wealthy." She muttered, staring at the towering buildings.
Devon had figured she wasn't in the kingdom she came from. But, she could not ask for more.
Being away from that kingdom was the only thing she had ever wanted. She loathed that place more than she had ever loathed being born as a woman.
"Lin Devon…" She whispered as the corner of her lips curled into a smile.
"That's my name now. Lin Devon… I like it."
Devon heaved a sigh of relief, ready to embrace this new life bestowed upon her.