This Grace that everyone talked about sat across from her. He was a sight for sore eyes, alright. The man had dark, tanned skin, a straight Roman nose, and full lips. A face as beautiful as a Greek statue was what people would say, but she had never seen a Greek statue. Had Aurora ever seen anyone as beautiful? She wondered. They said there were women whose beauty had started wars. He was the equivalent of that, but in male form, Aurora thought. His hair was long and white, cascading loosely down his shoulders to his lower back. He wore a long black robe.

Mages wore robes in animes, movies, and the sort with magic. This man was probably a mage. Or, she scrunched her eyebrows, the lesser option, a priest. Were all priests celibate? A man of God, the idea made her cringe, especially with her most recent interaction with God. Even in her old life, she had a complicated relationship with the big man in the sky. At times, she had even wanted to believe, it would have made many things much easier in her life. The will of God, she would have told herself about the endless misfortunes from her past life, but she had never been naive enough to believe. Maybe that was why now he was treating her so roughly.

But still, Aurora hoped that it was the first of two options and had to remind herself that she was actually in a fourteen-year-old body. Leering at the man was not only uncomfortable but also immoral.

Why was I reborn as a child? Aurora let out an inward cry. Had she not suffered enough in her past life? Still, she took a moment to take him in with her eyes.

The Duke cleared his throat and awkwardly looked away.

She scrambled up and took a curtsey. Or at least attempted to take one. It was something she had seen in the memories of Clementine.

He acknowledged her with a nod, and she stood silently, feeling like a child about to earn an earful from their parents. An awkward silence that made her want to crawl out of her skin. Silence had always bothered her. Silence brought many uncomfortable emotions to her, wondering if the person across from her disliked her or if he was already judging her. Aurora had always been socially awake, which earned her a lot of criticism in the past.

If only she could speak to him, it would have been easier to get through the silence. Instead, she smiled, waiting for the man to interact with her.

"My name is Lucias Drelgon, the Duke of the Northern Territory of Solvita," he said.

A screen did not pop up. A cold sweat covered her forehead as she stood before the Duke, smiling like an idiot. Aurora opted to tilt her head. Where are you, you stupid screen? She inwardly yelled. In her mind's eye, she shook a fist up at the sky, struggling to keep herself from imagining two middle fingers pointed up just in case the big man could read her mind.

"What is your name, child?" Lucias asked.

Finally, the blue screen popped up.

1. Clementine

2. Aurora

3. None of your business, you pompous asshole

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Once more, Aurora stared at the last option in awe. She shook her head and chose the second option. If she were to now live in this world, in this body, she would rather go by her own name instead. She was not Clementine, and she never would be. What remained of Clementine were just fragmented memories. The girl's only family had tried to kill her. No one would look for Clementine.

"My name is Aurora, Your Grace," she finally spoke.

It was almost a relief to hear her own voice. After moments of prolonged silence or periods of not interacting with anyone, she would start to wonder if she had lost her ability to speak entirely.

"A unique name," he said with a nod.

He looked at her with a scrutinizing gaze. His eyes seemed to scan every crevice of her body, and for a moment, she became conscious of how she looked. She wanted to hide herself from that gaze. Instead, she stood there, a blush painting her cheeks pink. As an adult, she rarely blushed, but she remembered that as a teenager, she had walked around constantly painted a shade of pink. Aurora was not used to being perceived this intensely. Aurora had hated being perceived at all in her old life. She preferred to avoid any attention when possible.

"You have a unique hair color, Aurora." The Duke shifted, crossing one leg over the other. His piercing gaze was still on her.

She wanted to chuckle uncomfortably. Maybe make some small talk to distract the man so he would stop looking at her like that. She would say, but your dukeness we have the same hair color. God was taking his sweet time today. Once more, when Aurora had given up all hope that a screen would appear, one finally did.

1. "Is it unique?"

2. "It is the same as yours."

3. "I inherited it from my mother."

Aurora chose the third option, which maybe could have revealed more about Clementine and her history: "I inherited the color from my Mother. She was a dancer from a faraway land where the color was not as rare. Your Grace."

"I see," he hummed.

"Come here, child, let me read your aura," he ordered. Aurora wanted to laugh, remembering how ridiculous it would have been to say that in her last life.

She nodded and made her way to the man. His gaze felt more threatening than that of the Shadow Wolf. Something told her to be careful of the man. With trembling legs, she walked to him.

"Your hand," he said and held out his own hand.

Placing her hand in his large palm, The Duke closed his eyes. They stood there in silence for a moment. The silence was filled with the beating of her heart, which wanted to escape from her chest. Something in the pit of her stomach told her that even her shield would be unable to rescue her if the Duke chose to get rid of her. A shiver ran down her spine, and she forced a nervous smile on her face. The moment had gone on for far too long.

"You have a strange aura," he hummed, "your soul is indeed very unique, an unfamiliar soul from an unfamiliar place." He licked his lips, and she froze in shock.

Why was he licking his lips? Was she going to get eaten by the Duke? Maybe he was a cannibal? Aurora attempted to pull her hand from his, but he locked her in. His hold was firm. In a panic, she tried to yank it out again. He opened his eyes and looked at her, smiling—a cold smile. She stopped breathing and waited for her demise.

"My Mother has an affinity for kids like you, poor orphans, and the such. I think I shall take you to her."

He let her hand go, "plus, there is something quite interesting with that soul of yours. If you make yourself useful, you won't have to worry, Aurora."

She pulled her hand to her chest, hugging it. Aurora felt as if she had been close to having it pulled out of her socket moments ago. Quickly, she nodded in agreeance, fearful of what would happen if she did not.

"Good," he got up. Reaching a hand to her, she flinched away. The same fear she had felt in the woods held her in place. He put a hand on the top of her head and gave her a pat.

"We will leave tomorrow at sunrise."