Chapter 5: Come Back

The Rothnor mansion seemed to shine in an area when dawn shone on the multicolored glass windows and bright white walls. This structure was built in the Baroque* style, which was popular for the design of churches and monumental theaters. The characteristic of Baroque architecture was that it showed off the strength and power of the owner of the building. The image of the mansion made a strong impression with its brilliance and strong feelings due to the details, colors, and light when facing and enjoying it. 

From the outside gate to along the paths in the courtyard of the mansion, there were trees and flowers, enough to know that the owner of this place loved nature very much. Prominent in the middle of the garden was a transparent greenhouse with lots of flowers, dahlias, and an extremely eye-catching small aquarium.

Gentle rays of sunlight penetrated the thin white curtain. The small figure was still curled up in a warm, thick blanket, lying on the large bed like a princess. The long white hair fluttered like it was shining brightly when the rays of the morning sun touched it. The little girl's beautiful pink and white doll-like face lying on the bed was a little uncomfortable. The two eyebrows were furrowed, the forehead was gradually covered with thin layers of sweat, the slightly pale lips made a sound of sobbing, as if she wanted to say something:

“Don’t... Please don’t leave me alone...please mom...”

The faint sound gradually became clearer and turned into a pitiful cry.

“Ah...don’t kill her! NO DON’T!”

Alice let out a scream and got up. Her big eyes opened wide to let the tears roll down. She was breathing heavily after that dream.

“Hah...hah...hah...”

Someone outside heard a scream and rushed in.

“Oh my god! My lady Alice! What’s happened? Why are you crying? Are you hurt anywhere?"

Alice panicked and gasped. Tears have left her eyes blurry, and she was unable to regain focus.

The maid saw this and patted her gently to reassure her, helping her to calm down.

After being confused for a while, Alice looked around again. She was stunned to see the scene of her bedroom so familiar.

The familiar window frame had a view overlooking the large garden and her favorite tall sunflower pots. The large vanity table had a sophisticated design, on which were still displayed expensive cosmetics and a few pieces of jewelry that she had not yet stored in the closet. The table and chairs in the middle of the room were soft, and there were still a few books she had not finished reading for a while. Even the stain on the glass of water that she had accidentally let the paint on was still there.

'Am I still dreaming? Why do I see these scenes? Am I not already dead? It can't be real...'

Alice shook her head vigorously, took a deep breath, and staggered out of bed. She looked at her bare, clean legs and then brought her hands up to examine them. They were perfectly smooth and without a single scar. When Alice tried to walk towards the mirror table, her body seemed to be drained of all strength, causing her to almost fall. Fortunately, the maid caught her.

“Careful my lady. What's wrong with you, Miss? If there's something unwell, let me go and call a doctor for you right away."

“No, wait… I'm still fine. I just...want to look at myself in the mirror for a bit.”

The image of a beautiful doll-like girl reflected in the mirror made Alice both happy and scared. She ran a hand through her long white hair, then brought her hand to cup her face. She pinched hard.

“Agh...It’s hurt...really...”

This pain really made her more certain.

Look, her checks were already red.  

Then Alice pinched herself all over her arms and legs, the red marks accompanied by a sharp pain made Alice extremely excited.

“Miss, please stop. Don't scare me. Don't pinch yourself like that again please. What if you get bruised?"

Alice turned to look at the maid who was worried about her. Alice asked:

“Which day is this today?”

The maid pondered for a moment and then replied:

"Today is June 15, only a month to go until your seventeenth birthday, my lady."

The seventeenth birthday? She’s been not seventeen years old?  

This herself felt absurd, but it had happened. Alice she actually came back to life two years before the tragedy struck her mother and her. And this was also the close time, before the crazy things in the previous life gradually came. If she's not mistaken, the Earl of Sirent had brought his lover and his daughter here for a month. And ironically, her mother never knew of their presence in this house.

Thinking of this, Alice grabbed the maid's shoulder and hurriedly asked:

“Where is my mom right now?”

The maid replied right away:

“Miss, Madam Irene is reading a book in the library.”

When Alice heard that, she rushed out of the room and ran straight to the library. When the maid saw this, she eagerly chased after Alice, saying non-stop:

“Miss! You haven't changed your clothes yet! Don't run barefoot like that, Miss! Wait for me please!!”

Alice paused in front of the library door, panting, not from fatigue but from trembling and nervousness. Alice seemed to have forgotten the rule to knock on the door, so she turned the doorknob and pushed it in. She just wanted to see her mother right now.

The image of a woman so noble and relaxed was slowly turning the pages of a book. Suddenly, being disturbed caused her displeasure to raise her head.

Seeing her little daughter with uncombed hair, unchanged clothes, and bare feet was standing in front of the door made her soft. However, she still asked sternly:

"Alice, you have to knock and speak up before entering the room, have you forgotten?"

Alice slowly walked closer, tears falling from her eyes again. Madam Irene saw this and put down the book, stood up and walked towards Alice. As soon as she opened her arms, Alice swooped in and hugged her tightly. She cried loudly like a baby.

“Whuah!! Mommy! It’s you! I’m not dreaming! Whuah!!”

Irene did not understand why Alice burst into tears like that, she patted her head and comforted her little girl.

“Alice, my baby girl. Why are you crying? Are you having nightmares?”

Alice did not answer, her head buried in her mother's chest, sobbing. Her hand held her mother tightly, not wanting to let go. To be hugged by her mother with peace of mind, to see her pleasant fragrance, to hear the beat of her mother's heart, especially when she hears her mother's voice.

She thought to herself, if this was a dream, she vowed to be forever immersed in this beautiful dream.

“Alice, darling. Are you okay?”

Alice let go of her mother, and she raised her hand to caress her mother's rosy, beautiful face. Looking at her mother's gentle eyes and loving smile, Alice cried again with happiness. She didn't even dare to blink for fear that her mother would disappear again in the blink of an eye.

Thinking of the emaciated, pale image of her mother before, even the image of her lying motionless in a pool of blood made Alice shiver. She was so scared that it would happen and she didn't want it to happen again.

“Mommy. You have to promise me. Please don’t leave me alone again, okay?”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Baroque* is derived from the Portuguese word "Barroco", the Spanish word "Barrueco", meaning irregular or irregularly shaped gems, which are "anything that doesn't conform to standards" standards of proportion, but to the whimsical temperament of the artist". (source: angcovat.vn)