Barbara sat digesting the information she got from the boy named Hans. So she, her new body which she didn't know her name, was a beggar, a poor woman, an orphan, working as a thief.
Barbara's hands trembled from how absurd the thought would sound. She just entered someone's body unknowingly. And not some prestigious family's daughter, she got in an outlaw woman with many misdeeds. The thought of being in this body seemed so dangerous and insane that she felt her heart freeze.
Barbara wreaked her head to think of the reason for this swap. Her heart thumped from terror thinking about her real body. Where could she be? Was she dead?
"What happened to me?" Barbara asked the boy with a trembling voice. Perhaps the boy knew some useful information.
"We found you fainted at the Lake's border. We brought you here immediately and treated you because you had a fever and were sleeping for three days. We have seen that crazy man's men surrounding the lake, so it must be because of him you were in this state," Hans replied.
Barbara listened carefully, pondering on the coincidence of her and this woman being in the lake at the same time. When she forced herself to remember what happened, a sharp pain burst in her head. She yelled, clutching her forehead.
"Big Sister, are you okay?" Hans asked, jumping to her side.
Barbara replied with a curt nod, she took deep breaths, and soon after, the pain vanished slowly. Whenever she thought of how she ended up falling into the lake, her head would hurt. Ignoring her curiosity, she looked at the worry in the boy's eyes and thought of something. "Who is the crazy man you spoke about?" she questioned.
"You don't know?" he asked with a hint of doubt.
"My memory is not good since I woke up. It must be from the falling in the lake," she replied, feigning a cough.
"He was a formidable and dangerous man, renowned as the master of thugs. It was said that his mere force could lay waste to an entire kingdom. I've heard that even the king of the Evoria kingdom feared him immensely," Hans recited, his eyes shimmering with fascination and trepidation.
Barbara frowned listening to the story. She had never heard of something similar. If the man was as fearless as it sound, he must be known to the entire kingdom so it must be some baseless rumours about an outlaw.
She sneered, "Why are you sounding as if he is your role model?"
"Of course he is. I will join his side when I grow up. Actually, I wanted to join him earlier, but Big Sister refused," the boy said, pouting his lips.
Barbara cheered the real owner for thinking at least about the children. "You better wipe this idea from your head," Barbara ordered, and the boy shivered.
Upon noticing Hans' fear, she raised a brow. The real owner must have a strong personality to evoke such emotion and orders despite having a petite body. Her voice carried an authority and resilience that made Barbara awed by her. If she was raised as a noble lady, she would be even stronger than her.
"But what did a dangerous man want from me?" Barbara asked taking the real owner's identity to gain more information to understand her situation better thus finding a way to return the Marquis' manor.
"I don't know." Hans shook his shoulder. "Big sister never mentioned it, but he was searching for her nonstop since we met Big Sister three years ago."
Barbara pursed her lips, her mind swirling with thoughts about the complex dynamics of their relationship. How could a man tirelessly search for a lady for so many years without experiencing any fatigue? As the two of them chatted, the tranquillity of the moment was suddenly shattered when the door burst open. Greta entered the room, her eyes locking on Hans, who stood up fast startling her.
"They are here, we need to leave, or they will find us," Hans urged, holding her hand and dragging her out.
Full of confusion, Barbara questioned, "Who is going to find us?"
"That crazy man," he replied.
As Barbara discreetly followed Hans through the labyrinthine old streets, she was struck by his remarkable familiarity with every twist and turn. His agile movements and quick decisions left her in awe but also made her head spin as they manoeuvred through the maze-like alleys. With each step, her heart raced from both exertion and anxiety.
Suddenly, the sound of approaching footsteps brought them to a halt. Barbara's heart pounded in her chest as she cautiously peered around the corner, spotting three men engaged in conversation at the end of the street. As one of them turned his gaze in her direction, she instinctively retreated, seeking cover behind a dilapidated building, her heartbeats suspended for a while.
"I saw something moving there. I will go check."
"It must be some rats."
"I will take a look, maybe Venom is there. The master will whip us this time if we let her go."
'Venom? Isn't it that well-known thief? Did she--'
The men's voices echoed through the desolate surroundings, causing Barbara to ignore the thought. She and Hans locked eyes while Greta clung to her. The sound of approaching footsteps filled Barbara with dread, as she feared the unknown intentions of those men toward her and the children.
Barbara felt a surge of relief as Hans motioned for them to take refuge in an adjacent dilapidated house. Taking Greta's hand, Barbara followed Hans into the dimly lit interior. The broken door made their entry effortless, yet the sight that greeted them was disquieting. Dust and debris covered the floor, and remnants of shattered furniture and glass lay scattered about.
"They must be inside one of those houses. Search for them inside."
Upon listening to the men, Barbara and Hans navigated the house, searching for potential hiding spots, realizing that the exposed interior could easily give them away if the men were to enter.