One More Step

While Anna dazedly sat on the chair and nibbled the cookies, Kyra's soul had a huge fight with as it seems delighted angel.

''I am so glad you accepted this body. The child died because it wanted to be with grandmother and mother, but the problem was... it was not time to die yet. On the other side, you as well suppose to live quite a long life but was cut down. So we gave you this body. Enjoy!''

''Enjoy? ENJOY??? Is haven some kind of train station or market? Are you all crazy? You gave me the body of a girl that lives in some kind of concubine-pested country. Hey!!! I am a 21st-century woman. This child died because that stupid fool of her father had outside affair with foreign women and brought back home. Not only that, I could understand if it was slip off, nooooo. He actually has numerous concubines even tho his wife looks like a goddess. And you want me to live there? Ok...fineeee. I will. Give me some power.''

The angel got stunned. ''Umh power? What are you talking about?''

Kyra got furious again. ''Well it was your fault not giving me time to live properly. Now you need to repay me with something. Any kind of power. Quick plant growth, or maybe space where I can hide. Or some kind of medicinal knowledge. Anything that I could use later on to survive.''

Angel looked at her with confusion. ''I have no idea what you are talking about. Seriously. You got that at least. New chance to live and a young body. That child doesn't look bad as well. I have no idea what else can heavens give you. Not even us, angels, have those powers you spoke about. Sigh, just live with what you have. Go now, I have no more time for you. Soon a bunch of perverts will be dragged in the gray zone and I need to send them to hell's door.''

Kyra stood there in a daze. ''No space, no abilities, no special treatment. Just malnourished body of a child and that's it?''

Angel sighed. ''I wish I had powers as you spoke about. Then I would choose the power of soul healing or body healing. Like that, I could save many people. But there is no such thing. All we can do is help you make the right choices. Even archangels struggle, and I am just the lowest kind of angel in this place. I hope in a couple of millennials I will be able to be a guard. But I need to learn so much.''

Kyra sighed listening to angels lament. Yes, in the old world or this world it is the same. If angels could save people, why would be there so many bad people and deaths? She nodded.

Angel patted her head. ''Listen, I lived for so long time that I saw all kinds of people. Good and bad, Your lifetime in my eyes is just blink of an eye, but you will have a long life. Just live it fully, isn't that your wish?''

Kyra nodded and smiled at the angel. ''Don't worry, I just need to set my footing somewhere stable and then I will start enjoying what I always wanted. It will be just rough at the beginning as this body is just a small child.''

Angel was about to leave but then turned around. ''I have to give you small advice. In that world you are sent, the rules of living are not the same as in your place. Many things are really different and you might get in trouble. Before acting open mouth and ask. Annnddd... there is some dirty stuff going on not far from your home. Don't walk too far...''

Angel sighed, this is all I can do for you.

Kyra slowly opened eyes and g.r.o.a.n.e.d. ''For heaven's sake, I shall comply. But please, if it's possible, help me out sometimes. Isn't that what heavens should do and not only be stewards to souls.''

Anna nodded off but hearing her words her back became cold. ''Miss, who are you talking with?''

Kyra looked at the baldachin over her bed and tried to stan up. ''With those in next echelon. Who else? I am not angry at them. Even tho I live like this, but my life is not horrendous as some peoples outside. Even tho Lady is angry because of my existence, she doesn't have other choices. She has to live with a man who has multiple women and has to share him with them. And on top of all, I come that has nothing to do with even the same race, and join the party. I think I would be furious as well.''

But Anna decisively shook her head. ''Maybe you and I are different than them, but it's not like we have a choice as well. I was born here. So living here was considered fine. Until one day my parents were killed and I was sold to slavery. Luckily, the Lord saved me on time, or who knows what would have happened to me. I have no sister or brother. My parents dead, no place to go. Let me stay by your side. Even if life becomes hard, it won't be too bad if we stick together.''

Kyra smiled and nodded. ''Come here and sit with me.''

Anna sat next to her and patted her hand. She lowered her head and couple drops of tears glistened on her face as one single drop fell on the back of Kyra's hand.

Kyra held her body tightly and patted her shaking back as she could hear her low whimpers.

''Anna, let's be sisters. This family will never accept me no matter what it is. father is one of the Emperor's ministers. So he probably will try to hide that fact. Let's live a nice little life together. Lord Jung will give me some Land and money. We can start with little and later just enjoy the fruits of our labor. Why bothering about these messy matters here? No need for that.''

Anna looked at her with strains of tears on her face. ''You... Are you sure? Even if you are just an illegitimate child of his, you still have some noble background. Why not try to stay here and enjoy it.''

Kyra scoffed. '' Anna don't be a fool. You just said yourself that you were born here. I am sure you already know what is right and whatnot. Living here would be like closing myself in the cage, only to survive. What is the point if I can do it outside. We can make our own choices freely.''

Anna looked at her and started cleaning her face with her sleeves. ''You are right. The Lord gave me some money before so it's not like I am going to live off you. We can put money together and just enjoy life as we want too. ''

Kyra nodded her head and the two of them smiled at each other and started to make plans for their future while a shadow next to their door soundlessly walked down the stairs.

''Speak... I can see your face being so serious. Is that child planning something? '' Lady asked while her eyes shook.

''Indeed they are planning something Myledy.'' said her main maid slowly bowing.

''Speak. Why are you so slow? Are they planning to harm this family? Or maybe my children for fortune and fame?'' She jumped up and started to shake her maid.

But the maid just shook her head. ''Nothing like that Mylady. Please sit down so I can explain it to you. Don't be anxious.''

Lady wanted to hit her but slowly breathed in and sat elegantly on her chair. She waved her hand to let her speak.

The maid bowed one more time as she recounted what was spoken in teh room. On the end, all the maids looked at each other and the room became even more silent.

''Sigh. Now I understand why you had such expression.'' Lady held her head with one of her hands and tried to massage it.

Maid nodded. ''For such small child to think that way is quite rare. Not even my children would be willing to go to live outside manor even tho tehy are just lowly servants. But those two children really are away too realistic. Our country accepted foreigners centuries ago but was never implemented in our society. Luckily most of them have their own way of living.''

Lady nodded and thought of something. ''Didn't she say she asked the husband for a piece of land. You know that near the capital there are many places that foreigners live. Maybe we can find some nice place for teh two of them. That servant of hers had parents that were translators. They lived quite a good life, but strangely they were killed and their child was lucky to be saved by Lord. Sigh. Those two children are meant to meet as it seems.''

Maids all nodded. They felt sympathy for the two cute children. That girl was just unlucky meeting one of Lady's brothers that went furious and wanted to take a child's life for his sister's sake.

''My brother went too far and I feel apologetic towards that child. Even tho I hate the woman I can't hate the child. Go and see if the husband has a few moments free for me. We need to talk.'' She waved her hand to one of the servants near the door and this one quickly bowed and went out.

''She want to talk to me? I will take my time for her, of course.'' He stood up while rubbing his eyes.''Let's go.'' He walked to the open door and his stride became steadier as he walked towards her room.

The doors suddenly opened up and he was greeted by the bowing maids and Lady. He quickly walked towards her and sighed. ''Didn't I tell you million times not to bow to me. We are already a couple that will stay together until our hair is gray and our grandchildren or even great-grandchildren play around us. Bowing is only for those unrelated. ''

She smiled brightly at him showing two small dimples near her mouth. ''I need to think about those elders of yours that always somehow mysteriously appear out nowhere. I can't have them on my neck for being ungraceful. Please bear with me.''

''Fine, fine. I will bear with you. Those people are really sometimes unreasonable. My aunt would just appear out nowhere and just trouble you. I am sorry, my dear.'' He felt sorry for this bride of his. Since her father fell down in the eyes of the emperor, his family started acting unreasonable, sending him every now and then new women.

Even if he never went to them, he knew that they are a sore point in his wife's eyes. Some of them got sent out or even wedded to some of his people. But those that stayed were quite unreasonable. Not even money could move them. So he let them stay in another wing of the home and forbid them to enter the main room without his permission. But his aunt was set on changing the main wife that she made him get headaches almost every few days.

This bride of his was actually quite reasonable as she was raised in a noble and scholarly family. She was raised as a pearl and was the most beautiful woman he ever met in his life. But now she has to endure such hardship. It makes his heart hurt. Unfortunately, they had two girls and no inheritor yet so the ''wild chase'' on him started.

It was enough hard for him to take care of all the stuff in palace, he comes home and gets treated like a breeding stallion. Even when he thinks of that bitterness appear in his heart. Those elders of his just use this chance because his mother is seriously ill and recuperating in a far place.

But if he let them set their foot in his house, it will be hard to get them out ever again. Since father died he took over all the responsibility for the clan so big weight laid on his back. If mother were here it would be a different story, but he can't ask her to come back yet. She needs to get to her health before coming back home. He will just nee dto prevail. Right?