The next day, Elisha awoke to the warm sunlight filtering through her bedroom's sheer curtains. Her limbs felt heavy, exhaustion still weighing her down from the day before. Even though she had slept, her mind had been restless. The encounter with Luna, the talk of the banquet, and the realization of the political game she was now part of all swirled in her thoughts.
A soft knock at the door pulled her from her drowsiness. Moments later, her maids entered, moving with practiced efficiency as they prepared her morning routine.
"Good morning, my lady," one of them greeted.
Elisha sat up, stretching slightly. "Morning."
As they assisted her in dressing, one of the younger maids, a girl named Nia, hesitated before speaking. "Your father has left a reward for you, my lady."
Elisha blinked, caught off guard. "A reward?"
"Yes," another maid confirmed. "A sum of gold coins. Quite generous, if I may say so."
Elisha's breath hitched as she glanced at the ornate box now placed on her vanity. With cautious fingers, she opened it, revealing more money than she had ever seen in her entire life—far more than she had ever handled before. Her past self, scraping by in a previous life, would have marveled at this fortune. Even now, she could hardly believe it.
Her father… had truly rewarded her. Seems all that rambling about ports really did pay off, huh?
As she ran her fingers over the coins, another figure entered the room, but without the knocking. This time, it was her second eldest brother, Leonard. His disheveled hair, fluttered as he leaned against the doorframe with arms crossed, his annoyed gaze assessing her reaction.
"Father asked me to accompany you today," he said. "You're free to spend as you wish." He said, as if regretting the very words he's saying.
Elisha straightened, closing the box carefully. "That's… unexpected." But welcomed of course. The last part she didn't say, but the excitement was bursting out of her.
"He wants you to enjoy yourself," Leonard said, though his tone was indifferent.
A test, then? Figures.
Still, Elisha wouldn't waste the opportunity. She nodded. "Then let's not waste time."
...
The marketplace bustled with energy as merchants called out their wares, the scent of fresh bread and spices filling the air. Elisha found herself drawn to the vibrant displays of fabrics, her fingers brushing over silks and velvets. She had never had the luxury of choosing such expensive clothes before.
Leonard walked beside her, clearly uninterested in the shopping but keeping a protective distance nonetheless. Elisha here and now, gazed at him. He seemed so quiet now. At Least he knows he has a public image, Elisha mused to herself, but it was short lived, as she indulged herself, selecting dresses in deep purples, blues, and elegant whites; taking up her entire focus. She chose heels that were sturdy yet refined and even picked accessories she would have never considered before. It felt… nice. But she easily deduced that this is how every royalty felt.
Just as she was admiring a delicate hairpin, a commotion broke out nearby.
Shouts. Murmurs. A crowd forming.
Elisha's fingers tightened around the pin as she turned toward the source. Her feet moved before she could think, curiosity pulling her forward.
"Elisha," Leonard warned, but she ignored him.
As she pushed through the gathering crowd, the scene before her made her breath hitch.
A public execution.
A man, bound and kneeling, his face bloodied, awaited his fate. An executioner stood beside him, axe in hand, expression unreadable. The crowd whispered among themselves, some grim, others indifferent.
Elisha's stomach turned, and before she could stop herself, a gasp escaped her lips.
Leonard, now standing beside her, remained utterly unfazed. "You should look away if it bothers you."
Elisha's fingers clenched. "Why is this happening? What did he do?"
Leonard's gaze flicked toward the condemned man. "Treason. He spoke against the kingdom's rule. They don't tolerate such things."
Elisha felt her body go cold.
This wasn't just some abstract cruelty from a history book or a distant story. It was real, brutal, and happening right in front of her. The reality of this world—the one she had been reborn into—settled heavily in her chest.
People lived under constant fear. Dissent was met with death. And those like Leonard… they didn't even flinch, as they are used to seeing such things.
She swallowed hard, her hands trembling as the executioner raised his blade.
She had thought she was beginning to understand this world. But now?
She wasn't sure she ever truly would be able to live in such a backwards society.