Who is she?

Ashley slowly opened her eyes and found herself looking at a dark sky. She immediately sat up and looked around her. She was in the middle of a burning forest.

'Where am I? How did I get here?' she thought to herself. She stood up to look for an exit but failed to see one. The fire surrounded her while the screams and cries continued.

"Please stop!"

"Don't burn us."

"We did nothing wrong."

The screams, shout and cries of people filled the forest with fire. She couldn't see them, but she could feel their agony as the fire burned their flesh up to their bones. Ashley crouched down and covered her ears as tears fell from her closed eyes.

'Stop…' She thought to herself.

Her eyes opened again, but she saw the familiar picture of her canopy. She immediately sat up, and the wet towel on her forehead fell. Her face is full of sweat as she catches her breath in deeply.

'It was just a bad dream. But it felt so real.'

She looked around her room and found herself alone. The fluttering of the curtain on the small balcony due to the gentle blow of the wind caught her eyes. She got up from her bed and walked towards the small balcony.

A cold breeze immediately embraced her as soon as she stepped out. She then hugged herself and looked at the bright blue sky. As she gazed at the sky, she remembered her mother again, and water started to form in her eyes. Ashley stood there, reminiscing about her mother, unaware of her audience in the garden.

Owen, who was so fixated on Ashley, walked unconsciously for a closer glimpse. He knew that he might be seen while watching her from his position, yet he couldn't help but stare at this mysterious lady.

'Who might she be?' he thought to himself.

Her long ash-grey hair and silk nightdress fluttered like a flag as the wind blew. He stopped walking when she started wiping her tears and saw a glimpse of her smile. Owen's eyes suddenly widened, and he turned his back away as he covered his mouth, but it didn't take him long to look at her again.

As Ashley's tears started falling, a ray of the sun suddenly appeared as a warm breeze embraced her. It felt so familiar that she remembered her mother wiping her tears when she cried.

'Smile, my Ashley. I really love it when you smile.'

Ashley wiped her tears and smiled at the sky as if she could hear her voice. 'Mother, I miss you so much.'

As she continued to watch the sky, Owen stared at her from the garden below. Suddenly someone came out of the room carrying a white cloth. Good thing there was a shrub nearby, so he immediately hid in the shrub as he watched the young lady being assisted by a maid and a man inside the room.

Once the coast was clear, he came out from his hiding place. His eyes were still fixed on the empty balcony from the second floor. The picture of her face suddenly popped into his mind, and he couldn't help but be red.

Owen shook his head then he breathed deeply to calm himself. He then looked around to find that the maid he was about to meet still needed to be around.

"That maid is so slow. I've been here for too long. I need to return, or else they might look for me." He said as he walked away from the garden towards the mansion. As he walked to the room, Owen couldn't help but be intrigued by the lady he saw on the balcony.

'Ash-grey hair? Is she the girl from before? I thought I was drunk and had seen the wrong colour, but she has Ash-grey hair.' He thought to himself.

He continued to think about the lady he saw until he got to the room where the nobles gathered.

Meanwhile, Mary was nagging at her non-stop in Ashley's room as she and Lord Bennet let her sit in the bed.

"What are you doing out there in such thin clothes? Do you want to die? You were just sleeping a moment ago, so I thought of getting you food when you woke up. Good thing I met Lord Bennet in the hallway, so I returned."

Ashley looked at them sadly, "I just wanted to breathe some fresh air due to a bad dream and finding myself all alone."

"You should have to wear a coat or anything thick." Mary insisted as she touched Ashley's forehead. "You still have a fever. Did you cry? You're eyes are swollen."

"I was sweating when I woke up."

"Then why do-"

Lord Bennet clapped his hands, so Mary stopped her sentence. "That's enough, Mary. Don't fight with a sick person. And you, Dear, you're still sick, so don't do anything unnecessary."

Ashley and Mary apologised in unison. Then Ashley asked him, "But if you don't mind, why are you here, Lord Bennet? Are the twins with you?"

Lord Bennet frowned and said, "I left the twins in the Capital because the shop needs a hand. I am here to attend your sister's funeral, Lady Elizabeth."

Ashley's enthusiasm turned into a gloom that shocked Lord Bennet. "Dear? Are you alright? I'm sorry for bringing her up."

Baron Bennet suddenly remembered what Count Harriston said about the stress from emotional events. 'Does her stress come from the loss of her sister? Thinking that she still feels sympathy towards Lady Elizabeth after all the bad things she experienced from her and her mother. What a good heart.'

Ashley smiled at him and said, "I'm alright, Lord Bennet."

"Ah! Now that I remember, do you want to go to the Capital?" Lord Bennet changed the topic. "The twins insisted on inviting you there."

Ashley and Mary said in unison, "The Capital?"

"Yes! The Capital."

"Oh! The Capital!" Mary looked at Ashley with enthusiasm, "I have been there once. There are so many shops and stalls as we've seen in Wels town but twice the number and it is big that you can get lost. Also, there is a statue of the First Emperor at the top of the fountain in the middle of the Capital where everyone can see. Also-"

"Mary, Dear. You're too excited. You're scaring our Dear Ashley." Lord Bennet interrupted her.

"Will you take me too, my Lord?" Mary asked him with anticipating eyes that Lord Bennet sighed.

"Of course."

Mary jumped out of joy and looked at Ashley with happiness. Ashley smiled as she watched her friend's joyful smile, then suddenly remembered the Count. Her happy smile immediately changed into disappointment. "He will never allow it, though."

Lord Bennet frowned, "Who? Percival?"

She nodded slightly. "I can't even go to my hometown."

Lord Bennet smiled and said, "Don't worry. I'll be the one to convince him. I'll use my trump card."

"Trump card?"

"My sister. She is an etiquette teacher and a royal tutor. I'll convince him with you, being taught at the Capital. I'm sure he will allow it."

Ashley looked at him and asked, "But why help me? We just met twice? Why are you so kind to me? I… I'm just a child born out of wedlock. I'm not worthy of your time and effort. "

Lord Bennet smiled and said, "Being kind is not something you should base on where you came from, what you are born of, what colour is your eyes, or how many scars you have, dear. Kindness can be given to anyone and anytime without anything in return. It is up to you whether you will accept it or not."

"I know we just met not too long ago. But seeing you suffering like that, I can't help but want to help you. And the twins have taken a liking to you. Maybe because you suffered so much at a younger age, they can't help but sympathise with you."

Ashley looked at Lord Bennet and Mary, then smiled, not a sad one but a hopeful smile. "Thank you."

Lord Bennet smiled and said, "But before I took you to the Capital, I want you to promise me something."

Ashley frowned and asked, "Promise?"

"Yes. Promise me. You will get better. That you will get stronger, enough to travel to the Capital."

Ashley looked at him and then at Mary, who nodded enthusiastically. Then she nodded and smiled.

Lord Bennet then stood up, "Alright. I should go. I have to do some 'lecturing'." He smiled as he walked to the door but stopped and looked back at them. "Oh! You should eat to get well soon so I can take you to the Capital. Understand?"

She nodded again, "I understand."

"Oh! That's right! I should go now." Mary hastily left the room together with Lord Bennet and left Ashley alone in the room.

Being left alone, Ashley lay in bed as she thought about what Lord Bennet and Mary told her.

"Capital, huh… I wonder if it is a wonderful place."