Gem under the mud

Thank you guys for reading my first fantasy novel. So, some of you might be confused about why the MC has like three names. I will explain their names.

Sylvia- the soul who possessed the body of Alice

Alice- the old name of Eleanora and was known as the illegitimate child of Marquise De Evergreen.

Eleanora- the long-lost daughter of Duke Kaleighden.

To sum it up, Sylvia's soul reincarnates into Alice's body after Alice's soul made a request for Sylvia to save her loyal maid from the clutches of Marquise De Evergreen. And if Sylvia is able to save Alice's body, then she may as well run away from the Marquise family. Eleanora is Alice's new identity after finding out that she is the long-lost daughter of the Duke from the Empire. Later in the story, I will only be using Eleanora as MC's main name and Sylvia if she's going for undercover stuff. Hope that explains that confusion.

Author

*-*-*-*-*

A month passed, and the engagement ceremony would be happening tomorrow. Alice's thin stature has gained weight in a brand new environment, changing the once was sickly figure into a healthy one.

"Ellie, can we come in?"

Alice, now Eleanor, laughed and opened her door. Three men were standing with nervous expressions on their handsome faces.

Richard, the oldest and the heir, had silver hair and amber eyes. Next to him was Marcellus, the second born and the captain of the Raven knight, under the crown prince of the empire, who had red hair and green eyes. Atlas, the youngest, had silver hair and green eyes, while she had red hair and amber eyes.

Duke Kaleighden and his wife came to her room at midnight, a day after the meeting with the King. They were excited to know that she accepted to be their adopted daughter. But Roger, Duke Kaleighden's right-hand man, proposed a DNA test because of her strong resemblance towards the Duke and the Duchess.

Two days later, Duke Kaleighden brought his family into her room, and Roger announced that she was the long-lost daughter. Clementine couldn't believe it with her ears not until the couple explained what happened to her disappearance. No wonder she could not find any resemblance towards her dead mother and the Marquis.

She accepted the fact and reality. She was then quietly moved into the residence of the Duke and recovered to the fullest of her health. Her previous appearance greatly contrasts with her current.

"What is it, elder brother?"

"Mother said dinner is ready."

"You could have just sent a maid to let me know."

Eleanor chuckled and left her bedroom with Anna, following in the back with the other maids.

"Eh, well... we wanted to let you know ourselves."

"Okay, whatever you say."

Staying in the Duke's residence was the best decision she had ever made. If she decided to run away and never accepted the offer of Duke Kaleighden, now her father, she would never know that Alice's had a real family who was still looking for her.

*-*-*-*-*

"Have you decided on what to wear tomorrow?"

"Yes, mother."

Eleanor watched her mother, the Duchess, checking her outfit thoroughly. The Duke sighed and hugged his wife.

"Sweetheart, let our daughter have some rest for tomorrow. It's time for her to sleep."

"But—"

"Mother, I am fine. I have you and father and my brothers. They promised anyway never to leave my side. Dad, bring mom to have some sleep, or she will look like a panda tomorrow at the banquet."

"See, dear? Now, come on and leave Ellie to have her sleep."

Her mother sighed and defeatedly nodded her head. She hugged Eleanor and kissed her crown, followed by her father. They bid her farewell before closing her door softly.

Eleanor lay on her side as the moonlight shone through the glass door of her balcony. She reminisces the day she woke up from her supposed death.

Sylvia was her name from the previous lifetime. She was one of the imperial knights and a commoner. Sylvia worked hard and got to her position without any tricks. Sadly, she died when the aristocrats rebelled and used her last breath. She died after protecting the crown prince, who was her childhood friend.

Sylvia could relate with Alice at some points in her life given that they were of the same age. The only difference was that Sylvia fought to live and met trusted people who became her friends. At the same time, Alice was left all alone at a very young age. Alice was exposed to toxicity throughout her life, and no one was willing to be her friend, leaving her alone to fend for herself. Not until she met and saved Anna. But it was too late.

Closing her eyes, Sylvia remembered Alice's request. To save Anna and flee from the Marquis's family. Not knowing the world that Sylvia would be thrown into, she tried to grasp the surroundings as best as possible.

It took her almost a month to get the body that she once had. Well, quite close. She still could not hold a sword, never mind run for an extended time. Right now, at best, she's at the first stage of a knight. But she found something interesting instead.

Eleanor had magic in her body. An innate talent that she received from the Duke and Duchess. Also, Sylvia's previous ability somehow made its way to Eleanor's body. The ability to converse with animals and plants.

Eleanor sat up and folded her knees before closing her eyes to check her magic. She remembered the lesson from her tutor the other day. The colour of one's magic depends on the person's capability; The cleaner and brighter they are, the stronger their magic is.

But she could not comprehend her magic. She opened her eyes and let her magic ran to her right hand before appearing like a small ball, softly floating in the air. She remembered the colours in the book but never saw a white and transparent in the whole magic book.

Sighing aloud, she laid back down and decided to look for someone who somehow works in the temple. Maybe she could get her answer about her unusual magic. That is if she's able to find a trustable person.