Chapter 2: Laura Stuart
The voice was light and pleasant, filled with youthful cheerfulness and sweetness. As Roy, who had been seriously studying the grimoire, relaxed his facial muscles and revealed a gentle smile, he recognized that the voice belonged to his sister. He had been hearing this lovely sound for over ten years now.
Whenever he was with his sister, Roy made an effort to hide any traces of distress or worry, instead presenting his happiest and most carefree self. As a responsible older brother, it was his duty to shield his cute and vulnerable sister from any concerns.
This was Roy's nature—he strived to perfectly fulfill his role. As an older brother, he would be the best he could be, without any slack.
The old door creaked open, and a bright light filled Roy's vision through the narrow gap. Standing in the doorway was a beautifully innocent young girl.
She had long, straight golden hair that reached her ankles, shimmering like fine sand on the beach. Even in the dim and worn-out apartment, her presence brought a radiant glow, lighting up Roy's troubled heart with hope.
"Laura, you're back," Roy said warmly.
Roy quickly walked to the door and took the basket from Laura's hands. As his fingers brushed against her silky golden hair, he noticed a faint layer of dust and said gently, "You should clean your hair first."
Early 20th-century London was like a black factory, a true fog city. People walking the streets quickly became coated in a layer of grimy haze, and the buildings required regular cleaning to remove the thick dust that accumulated on the exteriors.
"Don't worry about my hair. As long as the food is clean, that's enough," Laura replied.
Laura carefully lifted the white cloth covering the basket, which was also dusted. Underneath, the bread and fruit were clean and warm. Relieved, Laura patted her slightly rounded belly and exhaled softly.
Roy reached out to smooth the stray, sweaty strands of hair from Laura's forehead, bringing out her sweet, innocent smile.
Laura Crowley, Roy's twin sister, had been his only support after their irresponsible father left and their mother died from illness. The siblings had supported each other through life in London, growing up like two flames that embraced and nurtured each other.
Roy gazed at his sister. Her features were like a beautiful painting—her face like a blossoming flower, with red lips and sapphire-blue eyes that radiated innocence and shyness. Her gradually maturing features were enchanting.
Unlike many Western women, Laura's features were not as sharply defined; instead, they were softer and more reminiscent of Eastern women. Her porcelain-like skin was flawless and lightly tinted pink, delicate and smooth to the touch.
Under Roy's gaze, the fifteen-year-old girl's cheeks gradually flushed with a soft red. She shyly turned her head, avoiding his eyes, and clutched the worn, simple dress she had washed. She said quietly, "Mrs. Mary from next door gave me some extra fruit today."
"Hmm, Mrs. Mary has been very kind to us. I've only helped her with a few insignificant letters, and her husband should be returning from the front lines soon. We shouldn't trouble them too much," Roy replied.
Mrs. Mary, their neighbor, was very generous. She often shared some of the fruit she bought with Laura to improve the siblings' meager diet.
Roy and Laura had not grown up in an orphanage. Their deceased mother had left them some money, which was likely provided by their father, Aleister. As an adult who had already graduated from university, Roy managed their finances carefully, using that money to support their childhood.
After that, Roy used his past and present knowledge to take up small jobs writing letters for others, barely making ends meet. In this era, child labor was still common.
Despite being a transmigrator, Roy did not attempt to alter history or make grand changes, unlike other transmigrators he knew. His identity as Aleister's son was more of a curse than a blessing in this era. As long as he didn't want to risk being hunted by magicians, he had no choice but to live quietly.
"The fruit should be enough. I'll make some jam. Today, let's indulge a bit and have jam with our bread," Roy said, trying to bring a bit of cheer to their modest dinner.
Seeing Roy lost in thought, Laura assumed he was staring at her. She hurriedly grabbed the basket and turned away, her pale face flushed with embarrassment as she quickly moved out of his line of sight, like a gust of wind.
Roy gave a resigned smile as he watched her retreating figure. However, as Laura's golden hair, shimmering like an intricate painting, came into view, Roy's smile slowly faded.
On Laura's hair was a pattern reminiscent of an abstract Picasso painting, resembling an endless starry sky—deep and heavy. Within that 'mural' on her hair, Roy could clearly see the face of a demon taking shape.
In medieval times, it was believed that women's hair harbored demons, and now, Laura's hair truly seemed to harbor a frightening one.
"Laura…" Roy couldn't help but call out to his sister.
"What's wrong, brother?" Laura paused, slightly tilting her head as she asked.
Despite her shyness, she didn't want to ignore Roy. They had grown up together, experiencing life's ups and downs. To Laura, her brother was her only family, her everything. Even with her heart burning with embarrassment, she would do anything to meet his requests and not let him down.
Roy said nothing but walked up to Laura, embracing her from behind. Given their height difference, he bent down and gently kissed her beautiful golden hair.
Then, as if testing something, Roy softly spoke her name, "...Laura Crowley."
Suddenly, a heavy, oppressive aura emanated from Laura's delicate figure. Her once innocent blue eyes darkened, displaying a gloom that was incongruous for a fifteen-year-old girl. Even her sweet smile twisted into a sinister, dark expression.
"I don't like that name, brother… I'll say it again: I want you to call me Laura Stuart!"
With that, Laura turned and walked with heavy steps into the narrow kitchen, carrying the basket.
Roy's eyes narrowed as he bit his lip, then turned abruptly to the empty air behind him and asked, "...How can I save her?"
Behind Roy, a figure began to materialize, glowing with a celestial light. It was an angel.