1. Can I have a tour around the castle?

2. Can I go outside?

3. Can I explore the castle?

Aurora found herself staring at a screen as soon as she woke up. The big man upstairs must have been bored. Maria, the same maid from yesterday, had already opened the curtains in the room. After the night, the room had grown rather cold. The cold chilled her to the bone. She did not want to get up from the warmth of the bed. This bed was much better than the one in the Inn. It was so soft; she had sunk into its embrace willingly, not even remembering how she had fallen asleep the previous night.

Little crumb, pick an option.

Or what? She sighed and rolled over. The screen followed her. The events of the last weeks had tired her way too much. Almost being eaten alive multiple times and then kidnapped by a monster even scarier than the actual monsters had a way of draining energy and motivation. It wasn’t like she had much motivation to begin with.

Speck, you cannot ignore me.

“Lady, Aurora,” Maria said.

Reluctantly, she sat up and nodded at the older woman, smiling at her.

“The duchess calls you to join her for breakfast.”

I’ll let you off this one time.

Aurora read the message and audibly groaned. These screens were going to be the death of her. They had been the most useless and inconsistent method of conversation she had encountered. Smiling like an idiot was a better option. They also seemed to appear on a whim. Sometimes, no, most times, when she needed them, they just refused to appear. If God was so great, couldn’t he at least automate the options?

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“Is everything alright, Lady Aurora?” Maria asked.

She nodded in response once more.

She was once again dressed in layers of clothing. It was almost uncomfortable. She moved her shoulders. The layers made her feel constrained.

“Once you get some flesh on those bones, you’ll be able to wear less,” Maria said as she guided her down twisting hallways.

Learning to navigate the castle would be quite the task. One side of the hallway had doors, and the other had windows with blurred glass. As she had noticed, some rooms had windows with clear glass, while others had windows made with cloudy glass. The duke’s study had clear windows that opened onto a beautiful view of mountain peaks and woods. The difference in quality It was probably to save money. Although Aurora did not know how this world worked, it was most likely more expensive and tedious to make clear glass without modern technology.

Finally, they stopped, and Maria opened a door, “Go in, Lady Aurora.”

Aurora took a deep breath, collected her thoughts, and entered the room. The door was closed behind her- Maria did not follow her in.

The Duchess sat at a circular table by a window. The room was much larger than hers and had more windows, which opened up to a breathtaking view. The stone walls were decorated with tapestry, portraying different scenarios, almost like paintings. A large bed made from dark wood was draped with rich blue fabric—a large white fur laid near the fireplace. The duchess held a book open in her hands. The table had a plethora of food and snacks, including two sets of tableware. She curtsied. The Duchess smiled.

“Come sit, child,” the Duchess said.

She sat down on the other side, unsure of how to act or what to do with her hands. There was probably a proper way of eating, but she did not know it.

“I’ve heard from my son that you aren't much for words.”

1. I can speak

2. I don’t like to speak

3. I was cursed

Aurora considered her options. If she chose the first, not speaking later could come off as rude. The second option wasn’t as bad, but it still made it seem as if she did not speak out of her own will. The third option was the best. From what she had seen, it seemed like the world of Artha had magic and monsters, so maybe curses weren’t as unusual. She chose the third option.

“I am cursed and cannot freely speak, your Grace,” she responded.

The Duchess nodded, “life must not have been easy for you.”

“I know little of curses but will make sure to look into it,” the Duchess said.

Life had not been easy for her, and life had not been easy for Clementine. In some ways, the two of them had been similar. Aurora nodded.

“I will have a notepad prepared for you,” the Duchess smiled a warm and motherly smile.

Aurora grew up without a mother. Her own mother had died when she was still too young to remember. Her father had blamed her for the death of her mother, and her hell began from the moment she learned to walk. For a moment, she imagined having the Duchess as her mother but quickly let go of that idea. Aurora was too old for these thoughts.