As the breathtaking scenery washes over me, completely catching me off guard, I gasp and let out my true thoughts without a second filter.
"Wow... our garden is seriously massive and breathtakingly beautiful!" I blurt out, my eyes wide as I see the beautiful landscape. "I've honestly never seen anything like this anywhere in my life."
Orlando stops walking and turns to look at me, his eyebrows knitting together in a suspicious frown. He crosses his arms, eyeing me with sudden scrutiny.
"How on earth can you be so stunned by this?" Orlando asks, his voice laced with doubt. "You've been visiting these gardens since you were a little child. It's not like it's your first time seeing it."
Panic flashes through me for a split second, but I quickly pull my composure back together, flashing a slightly awkward, knowing smile.
"Did you forget already, Brother?" I say, offering a lighthearted sigh. "I told you, I lost my memories. I don't remember a single thing about our home, our estate, or my childhood. To me, everything here is completely brand-new. Besides, the only place I've seen so far was that small gazebo where I arranged a meeting with Arthur."
Orlando's suspicious gaze softens into something a bit more understanding. "Ah... right. Well, that old gazebo area is just a neglected, out-of-the-way side section of the grounds anyway. It's mostly just a quiet spot for small tea parties." He gestures grandly to the vibrant landscape surrounding us. "This, on the other hand, is the main grounds, the actual heart and original part of our estate's garden, built specifically for walking and leisure."
"So this is the original estate garden..." I murmur, my jaw dropping just a little further. "My goodness..."
We stroll down a wide, immaculately paved stone pathway. Flanking both sides of the walk are meticulously trimmed hedges, lush groves of vibrant green trees, and endless rows of exotic flowers in every imaginable shade of crimson, violet, and gold. Some of the blossoms glow softly in the sunlight, featuring unfamiliar petal shapes and radiant colors I've never even seen in nature before.
As I walk, a quiet sense of awe washes over me, quickly melting into a private internal monologue.
Oh wow... Now this genuinely feels like I've stepped straight into a fantasy novel, I think to myself, marveling at the magical scenery. Good grief, Eleanor... just what kind of life were you living? This estate is practically a palace, and this garden is like a dream come true. I couldn't even imagine living in a place this magnificent in my old world. How could anyone have been so unhappy or bitter while living such a fairytale life?
Suddenly, a pang of self-reproach hits me, and I quickly shake my head internally.
No, no, no, Sara, don't jump to conclusions like that, I remind myself, checking my thoughts. Just because her material life was a luxurious dream doesn't mean her emotional life was easy. Her family clearly had a lot of tension, and she was dealing with her own deep-rooted struggles. Wealth doesn't fix everything. Let's not judge her too harshly.
Stepping out of my thoughts, I match my pace with Orlando's, continuing our peaceful walk side-by-side down the sunlit garden path.
Forget about the heavy past and all these complicated thoughts, I tell myself, taking a deep breath of the crisp, fresh garden air. Right now, I just need to focus on the present moment and enjoy it. Don't stress over memories or future worries , just let loose, act your age, and soak it all in. You've got this, Sara.
With a sudden burst of youthful curiosity, I shake off my lingering hesitations and bounce over to walk right beside Orlando, peering up at the vibrant scenery with wide, sparkling eyes.
"Hey, Brother! Look at those ones over there!" I ask eagerly, pointing excitedly toward a cluster of glowing, ethereal blossoms swaying gently in the breeze. "What kind of flowers are those? Why do they seem to shimmer like that in the sunlight? I've never seen anything like them before!"
Orlando blinks, clearly taken aback by my sudden shift in energy and enthusiastic questioning. A faint, bemused smile touches his lips as he glances at the glowing petals and then back down at me.
"Those are luminescent sun-lilies," Orlando explains, his voice carrying a fond, patient tone as he matches my pace down the stone path. "They absorb sunlight during the day and emit a soft, natural glow when the shadows lengthen. Father had them imported from the eastern provinces specifically for this section of the garden years ago."
"Whoa... imported from the eastern provinces?" I muse, my eyes widening even further as I gaze around at the endless rows of exotic greenery. "That is so cool! What about those tall, weeping trees with the silver leaves over by the fountain? Do they have a fancy name too?"
As we continue our stroll, the heavy tension that used to hang between us completely melts away, replaced by the warm, easy banter of a cheerful sister and her doting older brother. Compared to the first time when I woke up in this strange new world, my life seems getting better.