I woke up to find Cree by my side, his grip on my hand tight. Helplessly, I sighed, imagining how he must have felt when he saw me lying motionless, lifeless. Yet, his tight grip also warmed my heart, a testament to his fear of losing me. I decided to wait patiently for him to wake up on his own, scanning my surroundings as I did so. The room was simple and plain, with a mud bed and a clay pot of water nearby. I quietly searched for the quilt, intending to tuck Cree into bed. However, my emotions wavered as I came across a ragged piece of coarse cloth with numerous patches, clearly showing signs of long-term use. Closing the door quietly behind me, I headed out for a walk, where I encountered Uncle Jiang.
" I will go out for a walk, Uncle Jiang," I informed him.
He nodded, arranging the stacked wood beside the kitchen made of stones.
" Be careful, Bellona. I'll have your older brother call you when I finish cooking," he cautioned.
As I walked, I observed my surroundings. It truly felt as though I had been transported back to prehistoric times, with brick houses, deep wells, and endless fields and mountains. According to the memories of this body, the mainland country we were in was called " The Great Land of Pallova." I couldn't recall hearing such a name in my history class.
Lost in my thoughts, I dozed off momentarily, reminiscing about my past life. I had once been a secret trained officer in an organization during the late 18th century. We were individuals who operated in the shadows, performing tasks such as assassinations, espionage, and gathering information. We carried out actions that the police couldn't undertake in broad daylight due to laws and restrictions, yet the government tacitly approved of our actions. It was akin to having a license to do things that were not meant to be done. I had been coerced into joining the organization after my parents, who were doctors from a long line of medical practitioners, were convicted of medical malpractice when I was fifteen. We lost everything.
During my time in the organization, I endured unimaginable hardships. Only the strong were deemed worthy of survival. We were subjected to relentless training day and night until our bodies surpassed their limits. After five grueling years, my high IQ led to an opportunity. I was given a choice: serve as a foot soldier for twenty years or become a mercenary for five years to shorten my time with the organization. I opted to join a mercenary group as their strategist and doctor. Following my training and accepting missions, I tried to locate my parents, with whom I had never been close, even as a child. They were always preoccupied with their careers, but it was bearable because I had my grandfather by my side. I was never coddled, but I was never neglected either, as I was taught from a young age to rely on myself for survival.
I was uncertain about how I ended up in this body, but since I had been given a chance to live again, I resolved to live life on my own terms. I peered into the water, catching a glimpse of my reflection. Astonished, I gasped, noting the resemblance to my previous face.
"Sister, it's time to eat!" Cree shouted, making his way toward me, though he was still unsure if I could hear him. I chuckled, finding his concern endearing. We entered the house, and I helped him wash his hands before sitting beside Seeley to eat. Life was undeniably challenging; the table was adorned with dried rations made from coarse powder and corn porridge.
Big Brother Allardy kindly handed me a piece of roasted sweet potato, and I was deeply touched by his gesture. I knew that it was the last piece we had, and he had intentionally saved it for me.
"Cree, let's split it in half," I suggested.
"No, Elder sister. You should eat it all. You need to strengthen yourself," he protested, though I could see him eyeing the piece with longing from time to time.
"No, you take this half. Children need to eat more," I insisterted, stuffing the remaining portion into his mouth.
"Euno, what happened to you yesterday?" I was taken aback by the question.
"I was poisoned," I revealed. Indeed, this body had been tainted with toxins known as " more subita." After consuming the poison, it would remain in the body for at least a month, leading to sudden and unexplainable death.
"WHAT?!" they all exclaimed in shock.
"I'm fine now. I managed to detoxify myself," I reassured them calmly.
"How... How did that happen?"
"I... I don't know. All I can remember is that I was poisoned a month ago," I admitted, despite having received the memories of this body.
"Those bastards!" Seeley slammed the table in anger.
According to the memories of this body, we hailed from a prominent family in the Capital, the Noble Marquis Moore Residence. Both our parents were forced out of their own homes by their paternal relatives. In those memories, I witnessed a loving and warm family. This body's father, or rather, my father, was the second child of the Noble Marquis and held a prominent position in the court. However, my paternal family was filled with unscrupulous individuals who shamelessly seized our properties. If it hadn't been for Uncle Jiang's intervention, we might have met a tragic end, buried in an unmarked grave.
" Second Young Master, please calm your anger," Uncle Jiang tried to pacify him.
" I truly owe you my gratitude, Uncle Jiang. If you hadn't saved us, we would have perished," I expressed sincerely.
" I don't deserve your thanks, Young Miss. It is my duty as your servant," Uncle Jiang humbly replied, immediately bowing down on his knees.
" Uncle Jiang, there's no need for formalities with us," Big Brother Allardy interjected, helping him to rise and sit. Uncle Jiang, the head steward of the family, could have fled and left us behind, but he chose to protect us, even at the cost of grave injuries that left him reliant on a crutch to walk.
" Big Brother... Uncle Jiang..." I gazed into their eyes with utmost seriousness. " This time, we must let go of our roles as mistress and master. We are no longer part of Marquis Moore Residence." Their expressions turned to shock. I knew they all yearned to restore our former glory, even in our current dire circumstances. I paused, allowing my words to sink in, and calmly awaited their response.
" Euno is right, Big Brother. Those who harmed us are not family," Seeley reasoned with them.
" Hmm," Eldest Brother nodded slightly. " Once those bastards find out we survived, they will undoubtedly send someone to finish us."
" What we need is to live, not cling to a noble title," Seeley affirmed.
" But... What about Master and Mistress?" Uncle Jiang inquired weakly.
" I didn't mean that we would cease searching for them. We just need to gather our strength first. Quietly, we must build our forces so that we can defend ourselves against them," I explained determinedly.