For the next two months, Lyra immersed herself in the unfamiliar world she found herself in.
She delved into the intricacies of culture, etiquette, history, and more, gradually piecing together the puzzle of her new environment.
She also diligently learned the roles of her new job, absorbing information with remarkable speed. It wasn't surprising, given her previous training that demanded quick memory retention for mission success.
Before long, Lyra found herself accompanying and overseeing several of Giselle's performances, though Mr. Rowan's watchful eyes still lingered on her every movement.
But it was under the cover of night that she truly came alive. Night after night, she would slip through the town gates and make her way to the forest, pushing her fragile body to its limits while training her snake to hunt.
Tonight was no different.
"Five minutes!" she panted, collapsing onto her back and gazing up at the night sky, which was dotted with countless stars. The clarity of the sky, unmarred by pollution, took her breath away. The moon, in all its brilliance, cast a gentle glow over the towering trees of the forest.
It wasn't overly dangerous as long as she remained cautious and stayed close to the town. Besides, any danger she encountered would likely be from wild animals, not monstrous creatures.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly. 'This is progress', she thought, a small smile tugging at her lips. 'Five minutes of planking—it's hard to believe.'
She remembered how helpless she'd felt when she first inhabited this body, unable to stand for more than ten minutes, let alone engage in any form of exercise. A chuckle escaped her as she reflected on those early days.
'I've spent countless hours building my strength, yet my stamina and endurance still have a long way to go,' she mused, wiping the sweat from her brow.
She took a deep breath, glancing at the sky. "Hmm... What time is it?" she murmured to herself, the damp cloak she'd discarded earlier now calling to her from a nearby rock. She rose, the cool night air soothing her heated skin as she donned the cloak.
With purposeful steps, she approached a nearby tree where her snake coiled contentedly after its recent meal. "Come on, little one," she coaxed gently, extending her hand.
The snake slithered onto her palm, curling around her hand. '...It's actually not little anymore,' she thought, observing its slightly longer body and the darker, ash-colored scales. 'When we first met, you were just a newborn.'
"Ah, I've just realized that you don't have a name yet."
Meeting eyes with the snake, Lyra thought for a while before saying, "Ash could be good. What do you think?"
The snake seemed to understand, slithering to her shoulder with what looked like delight.
"Okay then, Ash. Let's go back," she said before tucking the snake safely into her pouch.
* * *
Lyra halted her horse at the familiar spot and walked through the large gate into the sleeping town. Moving stealthily, she returned to her quarters.
Unlike the guest bedroom she had initially used, her current room was located in the staff wing at the back of the house.
After a quick wash, she changed into her work uniform and made her way to the library, ensuring to lock the window and door of her room.
That was a must since Ash would be staying in her room while she worked. At first, it refused to stay and secretly followed her through a tiny hole in the window, causing a commotion among the staff. Thankfully, Lyra was able to quietly hide it back and act as if she had managed to chase the snake away.
The soft click of her shoes echoed through the hall as she walked in silence, the early morning stillness surrounding her. She glanced at the clock in the corner—it was still around five in the morning, and the house remained hushed.
Lyra slowly opened the library door, revealing a small but cozy room lined with several bookshelves. 'What should I read today?' she wondered, her gaze sweeping over the neatly arranged books.
Her reading and writing skills flowed into her brain as if she had been using them since childhood, just like her communication ability that felt naturally fluent despite her certainty that it was the first time she had heard this foreign language.
Lyra approached one of the shelves and selected a book, carrying it to the table in the center of the room. She settled in and began reading quietly, savoring the peaceful early morning hours.
*Click*
The door creaked open, revealing the librarian, her large glasses perched on her nose. "Morning, Lyra. Starting your daily routine already?"
"Yeah," Lyra replied, closing the book and returning it to its place on the shelf. "Is the kitchen already working?"
The librarian nodded thoughtfully. "Hmm... Yes, they are. Today's your departure, right?" She walked closer to her desk, rummaging through a pile of papers.
"It's not much, but take this," she said, handing Lyra a small slip of paper. "Here, take this."
Lyra tilted her head in confusion, accepting the paper. "What is this?"
With a proud smile, the librarian adjusted her glasses. "It's a free access pass to the grand library in the capital. I think you might need it."
Lyra laughed awkwardly, tucking the paper into her uniform pocket. "Haha, we're only staying in the capital for three days, but of course, thanks." She offered a polite nod before heading to the door. "Okay then, have a good day."
As she closed the door behind her, Lyra sighed, the sound soft in the quiet hallway. The brief conversation with the librarian, like so many others she'd had recently, reminded her of how much she still had to learn.
Adapting to this world wasn't just about learning new skills; it was about understanding people in a way that was entirely new to her.
The hardest part was learning how to communicate—not just speaking the language, which she had picked up quickly, but grasping the subtleties of how people talked and connected with each other.
Here, emotions were openly shared, almost like they were on display for everyone to see. Trust was something people seemed to give easily, without much thought. It was the opposite of what she was used to.
In her previous life, she had been taught to be cautious around people, to assume that they might deceive her. She learned to hide her feelings, to keep her emotions in check because showing them could be dangerous.
Every friendly gesture was something to be questioned, every kind word could have a hidden motive. Trust wasn't something you gave freely; it had to be earned.
That was the world she knew, one where she had to be on guard at all times, careful not to let anyone too close.
But now, in this new life as the personal maid of the renowned artist, she was being asked to let go of those old habits and learn new ways to be around people. It was exhausting, trying to navigate a world where the rules were different and where she was expected to trust and be open.
The weight of this realization pressed down on her, making her feel tired in a way that had nothing to do with the physical training she did. The protective walls she had built over the years felt heavy, but letting them down was just as scary.
'Huh, It's still morning, yet... How tiring...' she thought, feeling the strain of how much she still had to learn and unlearn.