One More Step

Kyra slowly opened eyes. What greeted her was too strange so she closed her eyes again quickly.

'' Impossible. Afterlife is like this? You gotta be kidding me."

Her mumbling woke up the person that slept as it seems next to her. She could hear slowly approaching steps and suddenly big warm hand covered her forehead.

" Kyra, my child, are you finally awake?" The raspy voice belongs as it seems to a man. But, she never heard such a voice before.

She slowly opened her eyes and in front of her appeared good looking man in his forties. Her eyebrows scrunched as she whispered with a dry voice. " Who are you? And where am I?"

Suddenly she stopped talking. Why is her voice sounding like a small child? One thought crossed her mind. Reincarnation? Transmigration? She heard of such things when she traveled with the army. Some of her fellow female soldiers would comment on some novels that had such an idea.

At that time she reprimanded them. They should better think about their missions than some stuff that is impossible. But now looking at her own situation, she sighed.

She looked at the man that sat there and looked at her in the grievance. He looked actually very good. But that beard looked just too ugly on his face.

He rose his hand and stroked her forehead slightly. She could see long fingers approaching her and his soft hand again stopped there. Her eyes looked at calluses inside his hand, but there was not even one. It seems this man doesn't work hard jobs.

He stood up and went to the door. ''Come in and help her put clothes on. Quickly.''

Girl of age 11-12 came in and smiled brightly at her. ''Miss, you are finally awake. I really thought you will die. Ahhhh...'' As she bawled her eyes out she walked fast to her and started undressing her as her father quickly closed the door.

''Don't take me wrong, but who are you, who am I and where are we actually?'' Kyra looked around the room and even she had to admit that such lavish old-style furniture never saw even in the old man's house. She laid on huge bed covered with silk. The big windows were open and she could see that she had a fireplace, a multitude of small white cabinets, a huge mirror and a beautiful white seating set. On the small table stood tea set and next to it plate full of cookies. Wow, the cookies looked...inedible. Why do they look so gray and ugly?

The girl was stunned and stared at her with open mouth. But she quickly gathered herself and nodded like she realized something. ''No wonder you don't remember anything. After being hit so hard by the main madam, it was the wonder you even survived. Sigh...''

Kyra scrunched her eyebrows and had a bad feeling about the story that it seems comes from third rate novels. What, maybe bad stepmother? Or harem full of nasty wives that hated each other guts? But the truth was even worse...

While taking her clothes off the small girl started explaining. ''Where should I even start? Well, let's start with you. Your name is Kyra Jong and you are concubine born from outside. Your father brought you here after he found out about your existence. But to tell you the truth, maybe you would have lived a better life outside than in this hell house.''

Kyra looked at her dazedly as she realized why her father's features looked a bit...Asian. 'Did I transmigrate into a novel? Or am I getting crazy? What is this?'

The little girl saw her face and started laughing. ''Your mother died by birth and your garndmother took care of you. Unfortunately, she became very ill and noticed the Lord about you. As it seems she promised your mother to send you to this place only if there is really no other option. Your mother actually wanted you to stay out here and live a simple but happy life.''

'God have mercy with me... I am in one of those stories with a bad main wife that hates her stepchildren and want them dead.' She sighed.

While she still dazedly let the little girl put a set of clothes on her she still listened to her story. '' Your father Lord Jong has been by Emporrors side since they were children. The main wife is actually one of his cousins. But, her line of the family is lately becoming outrageous and as it seems many bad things will happen to this family. Let us hope we all survive.''

''What is your name? And how many women does my father have? And why do you keep putting more clothes on me, I am gonna turn into a pumpkin if you continue doing this...'' She saw that the girl started pulling out more clothes out of the cabinets.

''I am Anna and your personal maid. Lord Jong saved me from slavery and let me have a nice little life, but I felt that is unfair and asked him to pay off my debts by serving him. Then he appointed me to you two days ago. When I think about that day I put a lot of clothes on you as well and probably saved your life when she flogged you. Better put again more. Just in case someone gets again the idea to hit you. Don't worry, I will help you when you walk.'' She looked at the clothes in her hands and considered padding the back of her mistress that already now looked like a scarecrow.

Kyra shook her head and started laughing as she saw her reflection in the mirror. It seems she was the same age as the little girl but her features were kind of like her fathers. No wonder he took her in, she had the same eyes like he did. The only difference was that his eyes and hair were black but her eyes were just like in the past life color of brown with thinge of gold. Peopel in past called her eyes bernstein. Even Alec Alence was wondering how she got such a strange color as her parents had just brown eyes.

Her hair was light brown with few lighter strains. It was slightly curly but it looked cute on her. But at this moment she didn't look cute at all. The mountain of clothes made her look like a walking wardrobe. She shook her head. ''This can't do. Now my father is aware of my condition. No one would dare to hurt me again. At least no more today. Tak of these clothes. In case someone tries to get us I can at least run away faster and hide. Better than been caught and beaten into mincemeat.''

Anna stopped for moment and a bright smile appeared on her face. ''Yes miss. It's indeed better to run fast. No matter how we look, those from the main house wouldn't dare to make trouble now as Lord has put you under his care.''

She took out a simple pink dress and sighed. ''Miss... These clothes are so simple. That main mistress is really mean. She let you have worn clothes from her maids. You are after all one of his daughters as well. How can you wear such stuff? This won't do. I will ask Lord to make new clothes for you.''

''No you won't. These simple clothes might be better protection than even fathers back. If I was brought from outside mistress, she must have deep grudges against me. And to tell you this, I understand her. Not only she has to share her husband with multiple other women, now out nowhere I appear and stab her heart even more. Don't even mention those females, as it seems my father had more outside. She must feel stifled and vented her anger on me. I understand her. The clothes are clean and have no holes. Look the shoes and socks look fine as well. As long we don't invite trouble and live just quietly maybe her anger will cease. So don't ask father anything. Do you understand?''

Anna nodded but went sad looking at the ugly dress. ''Miss really want to live a simple life?''

Kyra wanted to have her own family already while ago so she wanted to quit the military life and just enjoy simple days with her husband and children. She learned very quickly si it was an easy task for her to learn to prepare all kinds of delicious food. She wanted to be a real housewife and mother. Fighting was never her choice, she just had to. Now she has a new life and she will live it simply.

Looking at her appearance, for now, she looked cute but not pretty. The only beautiful thing on her face were those bright golden eyes. She smiled at herself and two small dimples appeared on her cheeks.

''Well I am maybe not pretty, but not ugly at least. I think?'' Who knows what beauty standards this world had. ''Let us talk to father. And I need to talk to the main wife as well. Let's hope she will let me live after my words.''

She could feel pain by every step she made but her decision to clear this damnable situation made her bear with it. Anna supported her as she held her under one of arms and walked slowly with her considering every step.

When they came almost to the door Kyra already felt faint and sweaty. But she didn't want to give up. Her perseverance gave more strength even to Anna that could see small beads of sweat appearing on Kyra's forehead. ''Maybe some other day, miss. You just woke up after being beaten up. Please, you don't have to do this today. Tomorrow is a day as well.''

Kyra shook her head and stiffly smiled. ''Even if it hurt as hell, I must end this today. I still have their attention. They will both feel somewhat stifled with my appearance and will probably more open to listening to my words. Even she will let me speak. As a noblewoman to have lost control and beaten up a child almost to death, she probably has a slight regret. I can use it only today. With this broken body of mine, she will listen. Trust me. If I heal and go look for her I will be just even bigger torn in her eyes, and the second time she might even kill me. Now is good, now is good...''

As they passed the long corridor, teh servant that she met looked at her with sympathy in their eyes. 'This is good. After seeing me like this they might let me be for a while.'

She was not interested in all those novels, but she had ears and could hear her companions talking about the happenings in those kinds of households. Maybe, just maybe she could be left to grow up normally and then she will find a simple man and marry and live a simple life. What is wrong with that?

Her heart and steps were heavy and painful, but she knew she had to use this chance or this new life will be gone soon. Very soon...