Transferred to another life

**Chapter Ten: The Escape**

The maids finished their tasks with a subdued efficiency, their departure leaving Olivia alone with her thoughts. The echoes of the morning's confrontation lingered in the silence, but Olivia knew she couldn't dwell on them. Her survival—and perhaps her future—depended on more than just maintaining control over her household.

With a determined set to her jaw, Olivia focused on the plan that had been forming in her mind. She recalled a detail from her study of the original Olivia's life—a secretive group known as the Lunar Rays, an information guild rumored to possess valuable connections and knowledge. If she was to navigate the treacherous waters of her current predicament and ensure her survival, she would need allies. And the Lunar Rays seemed like the perfect place to start.

She wasted no time. The mansion's oppressive quiet was a cloak of secrecy as she summoned her butler, Mr. Graves. His entrance was accompanied by the soft rustle of his uniform and the faint scent of lavender, a remnant of his polished demeanor.

"Mr. Graves," Olivia began, her voice low and urgent. "I need you to cover for me while I leave the mansion. I have matters to attend to that cannot be delayed."

The butler's eyes, sharp and perceptive, met hers. "Of course, Lady Olivia. What is it that you need me to do?"

Without hesitation, Olivia reached into a hidden compartment within her journal and produced two gold coins. She held them out, their gleaming surfaces catching the light. The bribe was deliberate—an amount substantial enough to ensure loyalty but not so lavish as to attract undue attention.

"Here," Olivia said, pressing the coins into Mr. Graves's hand. "These should be more than adequate for your trouble. Make sure no one questions my absence."

Mr. Graves's expression remained impassive, but his eyes softened slightly as he accepted the coins. "Consider it done. I will ensure your departure remains unnoticed."

Olivia nodded in appreciation, her resolve hardening. With Mr. Graves's assurance, she moved swiftly and silently, slipping out of her room and making her way to a hidden exit she had discovered during her time in the mansion. Her footsteps were light, her heart pounding with a mix of excitement and apprehension.

Navigating the mansion's labyrinthine corridors, she finally reached the back garden. Here, the mansion's stone wall—an imposing barrier meant to shield its occupants—had a notable flaw. Years ago, a massive tree had been uprooted, leaving a gap in the stonework. Olivia had studied this gap carefully; it was her planned escape route.

She approached the stone wall, the gap now more visible with the absence of the tree. The roots had left an irregular opening, just large enough for her to squeeze through. Olivia paused, taking a deep breath. The risk was high, but she knew she had no other option.

With practiced precision, she slipped through the gap, her body contorting to fit through the narrow space. The cool air of the outside world greeted her as she emerged on the other side, her heart racing with a sense of liberation and urgency.

She took a moment to orient herself, her gaze scanning the surroundings. The garden beyond the wall was a tangled mass of overgrown foliage and shadows. Olivia moved quickly, her steps light and deliberate, as she made her way toward the area where she knew she would find the Lunar Rays.

The path she took was well-trodden in her mind, a route she had memorized from her research. As she walked, she couldn't shake the feeling of exhilaration. The stakes were high, and the path ahead was uncertain, but Olivia was determined. She needed allies, and she would find them, no matter the cost.

With the mansion fading into the distance, Olivia's focus sharpened on the task at hand. The Lunar Rays awaited, and with them, a chance to alter her fate and secure her place in a world fraught with danger and intrigue.