**Lily's perspective**
Seated near the fountain, Tatiana and I continued our discussion about how to navigate this unfamiliar world.
"Absolutely, but we need to have money in this world, right?" Tatiana remarked, acknowledging the importance of resources.
As we conversed, I couldn't help but notice the exquisite antiques she had on herself. An idea struck me, and I suggested, "Say, Lady Tatiana, why don't you consider parting with some of your belongings, like your jewelry? They might fetch a good amount of money in this world."
She examined her jewelry for a moment, seemingly contemplating the suggestion. However, she gently shook her head in refusal. "I understand that we find ourselves in unfamiliar circumstances, but if possible, I would rather hold on to these possessions. They have sentimental value to me beyond their material worth."
I was taken aback by her response. In my world, most aristocrats were arrogant and materialistic, clinging to their riches with little regard for sentiment. Tatiana, on the other hand, displayed a level of humility and compassion that I found refreshing.
Curiosity piqued, I noticed a unique ornamental dagger she had in her possession. It had the shape of a cross and was decorated with beautiful jewels.
"What's that?" I inquired, pointing at the dagger.
Tatiana blushed slightly. "Oh, this? It's a dagger that I had back in my past life. I must admit, though, I'm a bit clumsy; I actually slipped on it before I arrived here."
"A clumsy princess with a dagger, now that's something you don't see every day," I quipped with a grin.
A ceremonial dagger with such intricate design, it held a mysterious aura. Memories of a similar dagger surfaced in my mind, one that belonged to that 'girl'. However, I pushed those thoughts away, not wanting to delve into the past at this moment.
"May I take a closer look at the dagger?" I asked politely.
"Sure, but please be careful," Tatiana said as she handed me the ornate weapon.
Examining the dagger, I recognized its ceremonial nature. It wasn't imbued with any magical properties, but its craftsmanship and the use of silver in its construction were intriguing. My thoughts drifted back to that 'girl', but I forced myself to focus on the present.
"You know," Tatiana began, "I've seen a similar dagger before, with someone I knew, Catherine. It's quite a coincidence that they look alike."
"Catherine? Your friend?" I inquired.
"Yes, my friend," Tatiana replied, choosing not to elaborate further.
There's no possible way that the world makes the same kind of dagger. Perhaps she's mistaken it? Moreover, this kind of dagger is not something you see with normal people. It raises further questions about her.
I shrugged playfully. "Well, you know what they say, Lady Tatiana, in this strange world, anything is possible, even meeting your past life's doppelgänger!"
Tatiana chuckled, appreciating my witty humor. "You may have a point there, Lily. It's certainly been a day of surprises."
As we continued to chat, I couldn't help but feel like the shadow of my past, the 'girl,' was still haunting me, even in this new world.
"My past should stay in the past," I muttered under my breath. "It has no place in this world."
Tatiana, oblivious to my internal struggle, smiled warmly at me. "Lily, could you please give the dagger back to me? It might be dangerous for you to handle it like that."
Instead of returning her dagger back, I kept it in one of my pockets. I assured her, "Don't worry; I'll take good care of it until we find a proper scabbard for it."
"Wouldn't it be dangerous?" Tatiana reasoned.
"It would be better if kept by me, and it might be dangerous if milady were to slip again."
"You're right, please, by any means, keep it safe."
She didn't complain, so I kept it for now, perhaps one day I'll get the answer.
Tatiana expressed her gratitude, and we decided to continue exploring this town together.
As we wandered through the town, I couldn't help but notice a few shady characters lurking in the crowd, trying to blend in with the townsfolk. It seemed like some sort of syndicate or group of thugs. People around us were wary of them, avoiding any confrontations.
"Lily?" Tatiana called my attention.
I seized this opportunity to determine whether Tatiana's earlier claims were true or merely an act. Keeping up the charade, I said, "I just remembered, Lady Tatiana, that the other two ladies we were with earlier are behind that building. You can reach them faster if you take a shortcut over there."
Tatiana looked appreciative of my guidance. "Thank you, Lily. But what about you?"
"I have something to attend to first," I replied, implying that I would catch up with them later.
As Tatiana followed my directions and left, one of the shady characters from earlier quickly followed her trail. It appeared my instincts were correct, and they were indeed targeting Tatiana.
While some of the thugs were warier of me than Tatiana, her innocent appearance and aristocratic aura made her a prized target. I used this to my advantage, deciding to play my role a little further.
"I should act the part," I thought, pretending to be concerned about Tatiana's well-being.
Walking in the opposite direction from Tatiana, I took a detour through the alleyways, making sure to hear the footsteps of three thugs following me at a safe distance.
Eventually, I stopped in a secluded area and turned around to face them. The surprise on their faces was evident when they realized I had known all along.
"So you knew," the apparent leader sneered.
"Of course," I replied calmly, "I can smell the stench of rats from a mile away. It's both terrible and tempting."
Their leader scoffed, thinking that even if I knew what they were planning, I couldn't possibly handle three of them alone. "What a joke; even though you knew what would happen, you would still throw your life away like that."
I smirked, amused by his arrogance. "You seem to have mistaken your position. It's your life that's in danger, not mine."
One of the other thugs, likely the second-in-command, chimed in, "Three of us against one woman; what can you do in this situation?"
With lightning speed, I kicked a piece of shattered glass on the ground, using the distraction to follow up with a high kick aimed at one of his men. The impact was swift, and the man crumpled to the floor, blood staining the alleyway red.
'It's a technique I've honed through my experiences, leveraging the environment to gain the upper hand quickly'. I thought, analyzing the effectiveness of my moves.
"What are you doing?!!" The thug who was still standing stuttered, clearly taken by surprise.
"That face!!" Another thug seemed shocked by my unexpected counterattack.
"What's the matter? It's just a woman, right?" I taunted, amused by their staggering reactions.
A sinister smile crept across my face as I watched blood spill from the fallen thug. My senses heightened, and I felt a rush of adrenaline, craving to see more blood.
I picked up the knife from the fallen man on the ground and threw it at the throat of the remaining thug. My aim was precise, hitting his nerve without causing an instant kill.
"AcKK!!" He choked, clutching at the knife protruding from his throat.
'This should neutralize him for a while,' I thought, pleased with the outcome.
However, I didn't want to cause unnecessary deaths. I approached the struggling thug cautiously, making sure not to deliver a fatal blow. Instead, I grabbed a knife from his sidearm, preventing him from causing further harm.
While he was still conscious, he hesitated to make any aggressive moves. I watched him carefully until he eventually succumbed, taking his last breath.
"There wasn't much of a fight," I mused, feeling a mix of relief and disappointment.
As I made my way back to the alley where Lady Tatiana had disappeared, my mind was still processing the encounter with the thugs. Their leader's sinister smile before his demise lingered in my thoughts. I couldn't help but wonder about the implications of his death on the organization they belonged to.
"??"
Upon reaching the alley, I was taken aback to find a body lying on the ground. The thug had already died, his face wearing an eerie smile, as if he had found peace in death.
I checked for any signs of injury, realizing that he had been stabbed. The knife was still stuck in his chest. The cause of his death remained unclear, and I couldn't determine if it was Lady Tatiana's doing or perhaps a result of something else entirely.
Deciding it was best not to meddle with the scene, I left the body and its belongings untouched. I needed to be cautious and learn more about Tatiana's power before jumping to conclusions.
As I emerged from the alley, I spotted Lady Tatiana conversing with an elderly couple across the street. The scene was a complete contrast to the earlier tension and violence. She seemed at ease talking to older people, and they appeared to enjoy her company.
"Lily, you finally arrived," she exclaimed, her happiness evident as she noticed me approaching. I couldn't help but smile in response to her warmth.
The elderly couple turned their attention to me and complimented my looks. I nodded politely, not wanting to reveal the truth about my background. The woman then teased Tatiana, saying she looked a lot like her back in the day. Tatiana playfully responded, and I could see the genuine connection she had with them.
After bidding farewell to the couple, we continued our journey through the town. I couldn't shake off the old woman's words about taking care of friends when we still had time. It struck a chord within me, and I couldn't help but wonder about my own past and the friends I had lost.
Tatiana apologized for not finding the ladies I had mentioned earlier, and her genuine concern touched me. I reassured her that it was alright and that we could keep looking. She seemed relieved by my response.
As we walked together, I couldn't help but feel a sense of camaraderie with Tatiana. Despite her aristocratic background, she had a kind and approachable demeanor. However, a part of me reminded myself not to get too close to her. My past had taught me the dangers of forming attachments.
"I spoke to them earlier, and they said there was a suitable place for us to stay for a while," Tatiana informed me, referring to the elderly couple.
"Lead the way then, Princess," I replied with a playful tone, teasing her once again. It seemed she didn't mind my teasing and even found it amusing.
As we continued on our journey, we walked towards the accommodations to rest and think. As the day almost nighttime we should awaited for tomorrow.
-Chapter 3 End-