Skillfully cutting a piece of cooked beef, she dipped it in sauce before placing it in her mouth, savoring the unique flavor of the beef mingling with the rich sauce.

The table was laden with predominantly Western cuisine, which, despite being somewhat unfamiliar, was quite palatable.

The dining hall was silent save for the clinking of cutlery against plates.

The baron, lost in thought, seemed to remember something. He lifted his gaze and turned to Zhang Lin beside him.

"Freya, how is your health?" he asked warmly, holding a piece of white bread.

"I have almost fully recovered," Zhang Lin replied respectfully.

"That’s good," the baron nodded, a hint of concern in his eyes. "Your constitution is stronger than most, but you must not be careless. If you need anything, tell Mary directly. The territory is a bit chaotic lately, so avoid going out unless necessary."

"Yes, Father," Zhang Lin nodded quietly, deeply moved by his concern.

The sound of a chair scraping against the floor echoed as the baron stood up, setting down his food and casually wiping his mouth with a napkin.

He lightly tapped the spot beside him.

"Bailey, come to my study after dinner."

"Yes, sir," Howard replied without a hint of surprise, as if expecting the summons.

Zhang Lin watched the baron’s retreating figure, her brow furrowing. Based on the snippets of conversation before dinner, she had already suspected that this vagrant incident was more serious than usual. The baron's demeanor only confirmed the gravity of the situation.

Her mind raced through various possibilities, but with limited information, she could only make rough guesses. Even if her guesses were accurate, she was currently in no position to offer any assistance.

The baron’s departure did not disrupt the others' meal. Shortly after, Howard also rose and left.

Finishing her meal, Zhang Lin exchanged farewells with the others and returned to her room.

She closed the door behind her and walked to her bed, letting herself fall back onto the soft, silken sheets, which enveloped her like a gentle stream.

The tension she had been holding onto since her transmigration slowly began to ease. Though she had adapted to her new identity, an underlying sense of incongruity lingered.

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In her previous life, she had been solitary, accompanied only by independence and resilience. Though she had a few friends, none were truly close. Now, she was suddenly the recipient of genuine concern from a stranger, which felt profoundly unreal, melting the stoicism she had long maintained.

The inherited memories of Freya included the baron's lifelong care and affection for his daughter, embedding themselves deeply within Zhang Lin's heart. Despite having known the baron for less than a day, the emotions felt authentic.

Though she knew this care was for the now-deceased Freya, it now belonged to her.

"What is the meaning of existence? If a person loses their memory yet retains the same body, are they still the same person? Or am I still 'Zhang Lin' with Freya's memories?"

Profound, philosophical thoughts swirled in her mind.

The ornate cruciform sword on the wall glimmered faintly in the candlelight. She closed her eyes, her mind a whirl of memories from both lives, feeling as though she occupied two bodies simultaneously.

Abruptly, she opened her eyes, her blue irises expanding. The two sets of memories seemed to merge, and in her vision, a ragged, defiant little girl and a girl in a white noble dress gradually overlapped, finally becoming her present self.

"Since I have inherited everything of yours, I am now Freya, and also 'Zhang Lin'..."

With this realization, the inexplicable tension in her heart gradually dissolved, giving way to fatigue.

Feeling as though she had run all day, the mysterious mental exhaustion caused her to curl up, pulling the covers over herself and drifting into slumber.

The morning sun pierced the mist, casting its light upon the land.

The castle slowly shed its shadows, basking in the sunlight.

In the distance, the loud, synchronized shouts of the guards reached her, thoroughly waking her.

Rubbing her sleepy eyes, Freya opened them, a slight headache causing her to frown.

She looked at her clothes, still the same as yesterday’s.

"How did I fall asleep?"

Having resolved her thoughts the previous night, Freya had suddenly felt mentally drained, succumbing to sleep without doing anything. This inexplicable fatigue puzzled her.

She rubbed her head, the slight pain sharpening her mind and thoughts.

Details she had previously overlooked now stood out clearly, as if her brain was functioning at double capacity.

Perplexed by this apparent enhancement, Freya wondered if something had happened last night...

Outside, the synchronized shouts of the guards continued.

They were doing their morning exercises!

The changes in her body seemed beneficial. After massaging her head and feeling the pain subside, she quickly changed out of her dress and into a simple hunting outfit.

The baron's disjointed words before dinner had left her thoughtful. Though her safety as the baron’s favored daughter seemed assured, she knew this world was far from the protected environment of Earth.

In this world, strength was paramount. Without sufficient power, nothing could be protected.

Freya’s memories lacked much gore, but yesterday, she had witnessed several lives being snuffed out effortlessly.

Even if those people were vagrants, deserving death in others' eyes for their intrusion, the new Freya understood that some things, once lost, could never be regained...

Opening the window, the cool morning air chased away her remaining drowsiness.

In the distance, on the castle’s large circular training ground, a squad of heavily armored guards practiced their morning run, while a few shirtless members sparred with wooden swords.

The sounds of wooden swords clashing reached even the third floor.

"It’s time to consider strengthening myself!" Freya murmured, squinting at the scene below.