That was apparently all that was needed to gain everyone’s interest. If a noble purchased a stableboy’s drawings, then perhaps they were worth a look after all. I didn’t sell them at the price he suggested, as ten silver was actually quite a lot, but I still ended up earning a rather nice amount of coin. At the very least, I did earn more silver than copper.

Florian Timberwood…

Thanks to that man and his very fantasy-sounding name, I was able to order some fresh food from a small cafe called The Little Flower, and I also a had a little bag to put all the coins I earned in now. I was going to have to do my best to remember him, just in case I ever saw him again. It would be amazing if he became a recurring customer. The owner of The Little Flower also didn’t seem too disturbed about my dirty appearance, since she’s served plenty of commoners already, which made me very happy, and I obediently listened as a waiter guided me to a corner table by a window. They had little hand wipes, which I excitedly used, my heart racing in my chest as I waited anxiously for the meal’s arrival, and I took that chance to look around.

There were flower pots resting on the window sills, filled with pansies and morning glories. Lilies could be seen growing outside. The tables even had little vases with chrysanthemums sitting atop them. It was a very cute cafe, and was definitely deserving of its name. It was such a sight after being locked up in the manor for so long, I could hardly believe I was actually here. I still haven’t even processed the fact that I successfully sold over half of my drawings.

I was practically vibrating with excitement and delight, and my chest filled with pure joy as it finally hit me that I was out of that house- however temporary it may be. The flowers, the food, the fresh air; it all smelled so good, and when my meal finally arrived… I ended up just staring at it for a while after thanking the waiter, gazing at it in complete awe.

It was just a simple meal. The cheapest things from the menu.

But it looked and smelled so good, and… a bite from the egg sandwich had made my throat tighten quite painfully, a lump forming as I choked back tears and just chewed, hunching over as I savored the very delicious meal.

I’m not sure how long it took me to finish eating, but… I felt so emotional, I had to down my drink so stop any tears from falling. I gave the waiter a few silver coins, surprising him, before thanking him and asking him to tell the cooks that the food was incredible. Then I made my way outside, patting my face and trying to calm myself down.

Everything’s okay.

Before looking for a wagon or carriage to carry me back to the manor, I took that chance to locate the clinic Dr. Hein had mentioned, wanting to know to know its exact location for any potential future scenarios. It didn’t take long for me to find it; it was quite a small building for a clinic, but now that I knew where it was I knew where to go if there’s ever an emergency. It was very conveniently placed, sitting in the middle of town and only about two blocks from the cafe I just went to.

I did have to ask around a little bit for how to hire a carriage, but the coin bag Florian Timberwood gave me had a gold coin in it, which I was able to pay the coachman to bring me close to the Ryker estate.

After that, I went hunting through the manor for jewelry.

There was a room that was stuck, and the door was quite banged up- like the maids had tried to force their way in to no avail- but when I touched the doorhandle to try and wiggle it, just to see if I could open it, it actually… clicked? The rust on the doorhandle just… fell off, and I blinked, utterly dumbfounded, as the door opened.

The room inside was unlike any of the others on this side of the manor.

Aside from the heavy amount of dust layering everything, it was actually… clean? There was no mold, only a few cracks here-and-there. It was completely untouched. No signs of purposeful damage anyway. Blue blankets, white curtains and a white sofa, a blue carpet, and overall just a… beautiful room. There were some dead plants by the window, and an empty fish bowl full of old water, but…

It was lovely.

Was this… the Baroness’ room?

Something fluttering in the corner of my vision caught my attention. Turning my head, I was surprised to see butterflies flying near the pearl-decorated vanity. Their wings were a gorgeous gold color, and while normally my instinct would be to run from flying critters I found myself drawn to these ones. They were absolutely beautiful.

How did they even get in here? Through the window?

Making my way over to them, moving slow so as to not spoke them, I watched as they landed on the vanity, almost as if… waiting. Making my way over, I squatted down and observed them, before yelping and recoiling back when they started flying again. I was quick to stand and rush over to the window, pushing the curtain aside and opening the way for them. They danced around the room for a minute, then two, before finally escaping outside, and instead of closing the window I left it open a little to air out the stuffy room.

I approached the vanity again. Running my fingers against the dust and drawing a smiley face on it, I proceeded to fiddle with the jewelry boxes resting atop it. I was stunned by the amount of jewelry and pearls inside. There were several rings, and opening the drawers I found multiple necklaces and bracelets.

Opening the bag I had with me, I mentally apologized to the Baroness for taking her things as I carefully shoved all the jewelry inside. I’m sure she would understand; I mean, I was technically her daughter, and I don’t think any mother would want to see their child suffer. Granted, for all I know, she might’ve been as bad as her husband, but… seeing the state of her room…

I don’t know. I just get this feeling that was a very beautiful person, inside and out.

Like she had a serene heart.

Gaze heavy as I stared into her room from the window after I closed it shut and locked it, I lowered my head, resting a hand on my bag heavy with the late Baroness’ jewels. I was filled with the strangest feeling standing in this room. Like… I was sad. Grieving. I didn’t know her, her daughter didn’t remember her, and yet… for some reason, I felt like her daughter. I felt like an imposter and her daughter. I felt like I should know her. I felt like she should know me.

It felt like I was missing out on something important.

“...I’m sorry.” But, despite it all, I didn’t have the strength to lift up the photo resting facedown on her nightstand, lacking the strength of heart to put a face to the title, “Mother” and “Baroness”.

Instead, I simply prepared for my next trip outside.

This time, I ended up paying with some of the rings I had found, and when I had finally gained enough money from sellings all my drawings and pawning off the jewelry in my bag, I was able to buy a typewriter for myself and was able to start writing. I had written dozens of fanfiction back when my last name was “Quince” and those always received some rather nice reviews, but I never really posted an original story. I had the perfect idea for one, however, as I’ve been working on it for years. I’ve just… never actually put it to work.

Here’s the people in this world will enjoy it as much as the people in the other one enjoyed my fanfiction…

Still, something continues to bother me.

Nibbling on my pencil, deep in thought, I furrowed my brows at the drawing of my book’s protagonist. Vestoria sounds seriously familiar. It was rather unique as a kingdom name, so I’m not really sure where I heard it from, and that isn’t even mentioning the whole bit about a faerie being Vestoria’s first queen. Is it because of the memories I gained during my time here?

It isn’t as if I was reincarnated or… I guess, more accurately, transmigrated into a novel or a game, or something like that. I think I would remember reading one that had a character, side or main, with the exact same first name and physical description as me. This was just a really weird parallel world.

Hmm…

Well, I’m sure it’s fine.

Things were going pretty well, as the months passed into years all the money I earned was really helping me put on weight. It took three years for me to make a pretty good living for myself, and by the time I was nineteen I had successfully made a name for myself as an author named Aster. My books were selling surprisingly well, though mainly among teenagers and young adults. But, hey, that’s the best audience once could get for this kind of thing, I think, since there are so many people in that age group.

I even wrote a few short-stories for fun, since I always kept coming up with more ideas, and that man Florian stopped by every few months to purchase more drawings. He said the artwork I did seemed to be giving his master some peace of mind, even if it didn’t have the full effect he was hoping for.

I felt very accomplished.

That said… I do think I was starting to go a little insane? It was so freaking lonely in the manor, and I’ve practically lost all filter after having to deal with the maids and the tutor early on. I’d kill to have a friend. I only ever had the people in the marketplace to talk to, and that wasn’t that often since most of my money came from my books.

Why couldn’t I have been this successful in my original life? It’s so unfair.

Unfortunately… with the added weight and the frequent sunlight and nutrition I was getting, my body actually began to grow… which meant I had to put more effort into my stableboy disguise. I ended up having to borrow on the late Baroness’ overbust corsets to flatten my chest, and the knowledge I had as “Eleanora Quince” from watching my older sisters get ready so much for Renaissance Fairs I knew how to lace one up by myself.

Was it easy? No. But it was doable.

Wrapping a sash around my waist to fix what the corset thinned out, I tossed a floofy button-up shirt on and tugged on some old pants, work boots, and gloves that I had cut the fingertips off of to hide my scars. Tying on some leather arm guards and a long belt to complete the look, I tucked my coin bag in the front of my corset and slipped on an old blue scarf to hide the top of my corset, making my way over to the window.

I had chosen the alias Aster since the flower had a similar to meaning to forget-me-nots, which I absolutely adored, and overtime, because my true identity was hidden, everyone just assumed Aster was a man. The publishers probably didn’t say anything because they themselves thought I was man because of the way I dressed whenever I visited. I would always have to stop by the publishing house to pick up my monthly paycheck and drop off my recent works, just so Baron Ryker couldn’t do anything to get in the way and rob me of my money.

It was tough making sure I didn’t get caught every time I snuck out, and I had to keep bribing the coachmen so they wouldn’t tattle on me.

Even now, I still had to sneak by the few knights the Barony has to make it to the stables. Thankfully… they were as pathetic and idiotic as the Baron himself. They were less knights and more just men who were paid to walk around and look intimidating, but who really spent all their time drinking and playing card games when no one was around.

Tossing some coins the coachman’s way, I climbed into the wagon being used to transport some goods and hid inside, sitting inside patiently atop some hay. Today was one of the days I needed to pick up my paycheck. I was also hoping to eat something a little meatier today, as I’ve been craving a good cheeseburger.

But, uh, well… things didn’t go exactly to plan.

No sooner had I picked up my check and walked out of the building did I see a hooded figure, one whose navy-colored cape was far too fancy with its fur and embroidery to not be a noble, being harassed by some street thugs near the alley. I froze. There was various ways this could turn out, none of them good, and to make things worse I didn’t see any knights or escorts with the hooded noble, which meant he probably did what I did and slipped out of his estate without telling anyone.

Should… Should I do something? What should I do? Those thugs are twice my size and ten times my body weight in pure muscle. They’d snap me in half, and if they found out I was actually a girl…

Nope, no, I do not want to think about it.

But I can’t just… ignore him.

Oh, this is gonna be a gamble.

Clearing my throat, ignoring the thumping of my heart, I ran full speed over to the hooded noble from behind the thugs. Boots hitting hard against the concrete, I ignored them as they pointed a dagger at the man and instead startled them when they saw me zoom past them, and I practically sent the closest thug flyling into one of his buddies with how hard I swung my messenger bag at him.

Being short sucks, but sometimes having a really long strap for your bag, one full of supplies, is super helpful.

The next thing I did was spin on my heel, snatch the hooded noble by the arm, and run for it. “Go, go, go!”

He was a smart nobleman. Whoever he was, he didn’t even let me finish saying the first “go” before he was already running with me. The man’s long legs managed to overtake my much shorter ones in no time, to where I was the one being dragged along, and looking over my shoulder I let out a terrified screech, seeing the thugs chasing after us.

“Nope, nope, nope-!” Oh gods, we’re running so fast that it’s hard to breathe and they’re still catching up to us. “Gah! F-Faster! There’s a-” I was gasping for air. “There’s stores! Up ahead! W-We can-! We can go in one and- kyah!”

The ground suddenly vanished beneath my feet as I was yanked forward, an arm slipping around my waist and hoisting me up. All I could do was screech, terrified and more than a little alarmed by what was happening, as the next thing I knew I was slung over the nobleman’s shoulder with his arms wrapped around my legs. To top it all off, he was still running… and I could see the thugs chasing us perfectly from this angle.

What… What’s happening? What going on now?

I was just trying to help him, but now…

Am I being kidnapped?

Also, what is with this insane strength!? How can he carry me and still run so fast!? Talk about one hell of a workout routine. Maybe he practiced swordsmanship; some nobles do that in old stories to purse knighthood or as a hobby. Wait, then why did I intervene? He could have saved himself! Ugh, I did something stupid, didn't I?

Now I'm in trouble for no reason...