After crying in a somewhat pathetic fashion, Amber stood up, and dusted herself off; quite literally. She couldn't believe how dusty and nasty this room was. She would have to make her new home more hospitable, after she took an inventory of her belongings.
Her room was minimalistic, featuring just a bed, a vanity, and a wooden chest tucked away in the corner. She approached the battered chest, leaned over, and opened the lid. Inside, she found ten wrap dresses in various colors, all looking rather plain and worn, clearly hand-me-downs. This didn't surprise her; she recalled that in the story, Arabella was despised by her parents. They couldn't bear to look at her due to the persistent red blemish on her face, which they viewed as a blow to their pride. This resonated deeply with Amber, who had also been yearning for her parents' affection.
Arabella Amber's strained relationship with her parents was the catalyst for her first encounter with the protagonist. She had caught wind of the fact that Cray Silver, the daughter of the renowned medical genius, would be present at the royal tea party. It was common knowledge that Cray was on a relentless quest for a cultivation manual to enhance her lightning magic, which was widely regarded as weak and disconnected from her impressive medical skills.
Wherever there is talent and achievement, envy is sure to follow. Many took pleasure in gossiping about Cray's magical shortcomings, claiming her abilities were akin to delivering a mere static shock—something anyone could manage. This constant chatter fueled Cray's desperation to overcome what she viewed as a significant flaw, driven by an almost obsessive need to attain her version of perfection.
Upon hearing the swirling rumors about Cray, Arabella devised a scheme. Having been left to her own devices from a young age, she often found herself exploring her family's storehouse out of sheer boredom. This pastime was made possible by her father's gambling addiction, which led to the dismissal of the guards who once watched over the storehouse.
The first time she dashed into the storehouse, she had low expectations, and her instincts proved correct. The place was made up of two spacious rooms, with a door at the back of the first leading to the second. Both rooms featured large, empty shelves and wide aisles. She wasn't searching for hidden gems; her goal was to find a refuge from her father's drunken fury.
It all started when her mother overheard a maid boasting about an affair with the Baron. After her mother dismissed the maid, her father noticed her absence and flew into a rage. Arabella was in the room when his furious gaze fell upon her, prompting her to flee. She bolted from the main house and into the storehouse, quickly slipping into the back room and hiding behind a bottom shelf. She had learned early on that when her father was in a rage, it was safest to keep her distance.
She curled her knees up to her chin, focusing on her breath. Her father's furious voice echoed as he called her name, but she remained silent, hoping he would eventually tire and give up. After a couple of hours, fatigue began to creep in. She decided to lie down and noticed a small, unassuming brown book beside her. The cover read 'Know Your Heart.' As she picked it up and blew off the dust, the title transformed into her beloved bedtime story. Settling onto the bottom shelf, she immersed herself in the tale and drifted off to sleep. For the first time in ages, she felt a sense of safety, and in the weeks that followed, she found solace in that spot. Each time she opened the book, it morphed into whatever story she longed to read.
A few weeks into her secret visits to the storehouse, her father discovered her hiding place. Just as he bent down to reach for her, she quickly tucked the little book into her dress and wrapped her small arms around herself. Memories of her life surged through Amber, overwhelming her, and tears streamed down her face.
Just underneath the dresses, she saw the little brown book in her memories that said 'Know Your Heart' on the cover. She bit her lower lip while reaching out with shaking hands and gently picked the ancient book up. As she blew on the cover, the words swirled around as if they had been caught in a whirlpool. The letters straightened out and the lines changed their shape to rearrange themselves into the title 'Duchess Dash'. Amber's eyes widened and she gasped. She flipped it open and began to read.
According to the book, she was supposed to meet the protagonist at the royal tea party in two weeks time. There she was planning on presenting the magical book to Cray and allow her to borrow it so that she could cultivate. In return, she wanted Cray to heal her face so that her parents wouldn't hate her anymore. This way she would be able to make friends and perhaps her fiancé would look at her with more than disgust. She was currently seventeen and soon she would have her debut ceremony. Although she had been engaged from birth, it was still important to her to look her best.
"Pfft!" Amber snickered as she closed the ancient artifact and hid it back underneath her dresses. There's no way she's going to give up this great treasure to that spoiled little brat who ends up using her as a stepping stool, but she will meet her. Perhaps she'll just use this opportunity to step on her head instead.
A great shift took place in her heart at that moment when the two lives' memories converged into one. All of that pain and longing had broken her and she emerged a different person.
"Pfft, let's see if they try to push me around anymore. Let's see them use me or try to murder me. I will make this reality bend to my will and everyone can either bend with it or be crushed into dust." Her eyes glistened with determination and a smirk formed on her beautiful lips.