I flinched when I felt the same pain in my rib. I feel like crying but tears won’t come out. I have traveled multiple dimensions but I have never experienced that kind of pain. I had my head cut off but it was so swift that I can’t even feel it. I was shot by a gun, stabbed by a sword, and was actually burned alive yet I can’t recall if it was painful or not as I would immediately be transported to a different dimension as soon as the body I was in is harmed.
I am currently back in the room. They probably dragged my body and threw me on the bed without even turning the lights on. What happened when I passed out? Did they continue injecting those huge needles into my body? I don’t even want to check it now.
Leonora, Ofelia… those names. I’ve always thought I knew almost everything, turns out I am wrong. So much for a coincidence. I’ll think about what I shall do later- maybe in a few hours or so. My brain can’t function well right now. Ahh, a bowl of ramen sounds real good right now~ For some reason, haha.
I spent hours staring at the black ceiling and was only pulled back to reality when a light suddenly entered the dark room, followed by a concerned voice.
“Madame, did you not sleep well?”
Huh?
I turned my head and saw a familiar maid. I immediately sat up and realized where I am in.
“I just had a nightmare.” As soon as I said that, tears formed in my eyes and started falling endlessly.
“Ah, ah, I’ll get you some water, Madame.” She panicked and left the room quickly.
I only calmed down when the maid tapped my back while giving me a glass of water.
“What’s your name again?” I asked.
“I’m Lyra, Madame.”
“Thanks, Lyra. That really calmed me down.”
“It’s nothing, Madame. We all have some sort of nightmares.”
I got off the bed and glanced out the window.
“What time is it?”
“5 o’clock, Madame.”
“I see,” I changed into a pair of comfortable clothing. It’s only 5 AM but the skies are already bright so it is safe to assume that the weather today would be great. Perhaps there is something I can do to figure things out. That can’t just be a simple nightmare. It felt like a memory or something.
“Lyra, how many days have I been here?”
She stopped fixing my bed and looked at me in confusion.
“Uh, you’ve been here since you were a child, Madame.”
Huh?
“Then why did you tour me around the manor yesterday?” Or was it the day before? I'm not quite sure of the time flow here ever since I entered the game.
She scratches her cheeks and showed hesitation before answering.
“Madame, have you perhaps confused your dreams with reality? You were with Mr. Adam yesterday, discussing the arrival of the merchants tonight.”
That’s odd.
I scratched my nose.
“Probably. My head is aching, can you get me some tea?”
She nods her head and left the room.
If she can’t recall what happened yesterday or the day before, is this perhaps a new world? That would mean I traveled 3 worlds within a week! That’s a record-breaker! But her face is familiar, did I get back after I was given that shot in a child’s body? I am pretty sure that wasn’t merely a dream because my right rib is still painful.
[creaking sound]
“Madame, please take a seat. The tea is here.”
I stopped pacing and looked at her. That’s it!
“What’s my schedule for today?”
If I am the Madame, my daily routine is probably scheduled from the moment I wake up. I might get a clue as to what the heck is going on.
“I believe Mr. Adam knows your schedule best, Madame.”
Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
I shut my eyes and silently drank the tea. Of course, Ofelia! How could a maid know your schedule, duh?
“Madame, an immediate report from Odyssey Guild just arrived.” A man who looked like in his 30's entered. I am currently in the office, trying to make myself look busy because this is the place Lyra guided me to earlier.
I believe this is Mr. Adam whom Lyra mentioned earlier. I’ll just assume that he is because he wears a monocle.
He handed me an envelope so I quickly opened it.
Hmmm…
Madame, code 4.
-O. G
Haah.
Dear, somebody help me.
“What does it say?” He asked me so I handed him the letter. He might have an idea of what it could be.
“WHAT? This is a disaster! Madame, let’s go to the guild now!”
Oh, it was that important?
It wasn’t.
I stared at the random people in front of me whilst wearing the expression of a dead fish.
“What about this, Miss Leonora?”
Tell me, why am I currently surrounded by ladies asking me about their gown choices for the arrival of the merchants tonight? And also, don't they usually prepare for something like this a month earlier?
“Miss, do you think the knights would prefer this one over that one?”
I looked at the purple gown the lady was holding and then at the green one that her maid lifted.
I sighed. I’m already here, might as well try to do my part.
“Who would be wearing either one of those gowns?”
The same lady who asked for my preferences pointed herself. I can’t help but raise my eyebrow. None of the gowns would surely suit her- not because she is ugly, but rather because her color choice is wrong.
“You have a soft appearance, are you sure you would want to limit yourself to those two choices?”
She looks so lost but she ordered her maid to show me some more of her gowns.
“Why don’t you try on that sky-blue gown?”
She nodded and went behind the partition.
“How about me, Miss? I heard Sir Trevor is one of the knights who are traveling with the merchants. I want to look good for him.” The lady with a high ponytail blushed as she said that.
After a couple of hours of trying to help the ladies, I found myself sitting at the dining table for lunch.
“It was such an ordeal, wasn’t it?” This lady looks familiar.
“A bit.”
She laughed. “Oh gosh, thank you so much for saving me this time, Leonora. As much as I want to chase them away, I can’t. Their families have a strong standing within the guild so I cannot say no to their silly requests.”
Oh, I remember! She was that woman whom I talked to the first time I was here. Also, she called me by the name given to me so casually, do we have a bond that can be called a friendship?
“It’s nothing.” Let’s keep this conversation short. I feel so stuffy. I want to find a peaceful place to think.
When we finished eating lunch, she asked me for a short walk to digest what we ate.
We stopped by in the middle of the hallway, facing a board of what looked like information about the guild officers along with their portraits.
“The Earl will be coming along with the merchants tonight, has anyone informed you?”
No.
“The portrait doesn’t give you justice, Nayeli.” I uttered, trying to change the subject. Heck, I don't have a single idea of what's going on. It's better to keep my mouth shut than speak of something unnecessary.
She laughed. Seems like I got her name right.
“I won’t say a thing to Mr. Preet.” Must be the artist’s name.
I was about to say something when a maid appeared in front of us. She bows her head before speaking.
“I do not mean to interrupt your walk, My Ladies. However, Master Nayeli’s presence is currently needed in the council meeting.”
Nayeli looked at me and smiled. “I apologize for this, Leonora.”
“It’s all right,” I smiled back.
She instructed the maid to guide me out and now I am left with Mr. Adam who was waiting for me in the carriage for an hour already.
“Someone told me that code 4 is a disaster.” I flatly uttered as soon as I stepped into the carriage.
He froze and tried to look away but I was able to catch his gaze first before he could.
“Really? Disaster?”
“M-Madame, it really was!” He put his two arms in front of him as if he was trying to defend himself.
“Ah, sure! Do you know what I did inside?”
Considering that my wardrobe isn’t exactly full of skirts or dresses but that of men’s clothes instead, it would be a well-known fact that I’m not fond of women’s clothing.
I sat properly and crossed my arms.
“I spent hours listening to those ladies talking about gowns and jewelry. They even went as far as talking about boys for all I care.” I do not hate it actually. It’s nice to have someone to talk to about those things. I’m just in the mood to torment this guy.
“I apologize, Madame. It’s just that-” I burst out laughing when I saw how red his face is.
“It was Nayeli’s personal request, correct?” He nodded.
Adam is in a relationship. I found out about it this morning in the office while I was trying to look busy. I was only able to confirm when I saw Nayeli at the luncheon as it was hers and Adam’s portrait I saw on the paper.
“I thought so. Anyway, I have a personal request for you too, Adam.”
This thought suddenly appeared while I was walking with Nayeli. I’m pretty sure Adam would find this request odd, I just hope he’ll agree to it.
“What is it, Madame?”
I pursed my lips. “I will talk about the details later.”
He nods his head in response. No one said a thing after that so the whole ride back to the manor was filled with silence and anticipation.