Chapter 1
"—My lady! My lady! Can you hear me?! Please wake up!"
Different voices mingled together till it became impossible to understand how many there were. I slowly tried to open my heavy eyes, through my blurred vision I could see gold and red adorning the ceiling. I blinked a few more times to clear my vision, only to see something completely unexpected.
My gaze met a towering canopy of deep crimson velvet, held up by four massive, intricately carved mahogany pillars. I blinked, confused. Golden embroidery traced the edges of the heavy fabric, catching the morning light.
I tried to sit up, but sunk further into the bed. The crimson sheets weren't cotton, but cool and smooth silk, shining so beautifully. I looked around, it was like one of those bedrooms from an historical drama— wait?! What?! Where am I?
"M-My lady? Are you alright?" A small girl spoke beside me. She wouldn't be a day older than 15, her brown hair hid underneath her maid outfit. While her hesitant gaze was adorned with beautiful freckles.
"My ladyyy" she cried out again, this time closing her eyes and dramatically flailing her arms. A few drops of tears fell from her eyes.
"We were so worried! The Duke and the Duchess couldn't sleep or eat properly all this time! Why did you—"
I cut her whining short and asked something i have been curious about since the moment i opened my eyes.
"Who am I? And Where is this place?"
My words hit her like a punch, draining all the colour from her already pale face.
"W-what do you mean, My lady?" She looked at me, horrified. Resembling the expression the other ten maids present in the room made.
"This is the Grand Duchy of Winterheard, and You are the Duke's only daughter, Lady Marie Von Winterheard" her wobbling voice explained, while another maid ran out of the room in a hurry.
"...So"
"Do my parents love me?" I asked, my gaze fixed on the silky sheets covering my body.
The maid dropped on her knees and came closer.
"They adore you My lady, they've always loved you and so do we" her gentle smile assured me.
"...Thank you. Can you tell me your name?"
"It's Petunia, My lady", she answered but her gaze still held worry and fear.
Before i could ask anything more the same maid came in with, whom I assume the Duke and the Duchess hastily entering behind her.
"Marie! My daughter! What am I hearing?" My father— no, the Duke desperately asked as he sat beside me while the Duchess followed his suit.
The Duke had Dark shiny hair, and looked younger than i thought. A black coat hugged his body, adorned with gold jewelleries. The one which stood out was the blazing red ruby, carved into a half molten heart, sitting on his chest as a pin, I stared at it. Something about it felt... Weird... Not bad necessarily though.
"Marie!" The Duchess's high pitched voice brought me out of my trance. "What happened dear? They are saying that you are behaving strangely? Is it really true my daughter?" She pleaded as her hand firmly held mine.
I looked around once more, before saying,
"Can you dismiss everyone except Petunia?"
The Duke and Duchess looked at each other and then ordered everyone except Petunia to leave the room.
"I am not from this world"
An heavy silence engulfed the room, before the Duchess broke down into tears and Petunia ran over to comfort her.
"What do you mean?" The Duke looked at me with utter disbelief, as if I have lost my mind.
"... I am sorry"
"But I am not your daughter..."
"I don't know how, but i somehow entered her body..."
"... Your daughter"
"... Is no more"
As soon as the words left my mouth, the Duchess fainted from the shock and was escorted to her room by Petunia, while only the Duke remained. All coloured drained from his face. Maybe... I shouldn't have said it this fast. Maybe i should have waited a bit more... Ofcourse any parent would be devasted to hear about their daughter's death from an imposter, except mine...
"Are you... Telling the truth?" He looked at me with swollen eyes, red from so many unshed tears. Something about that sight, broke something in me.
"...Yes"
His body shook terribly at my words, the image of Duke shattered to pieces, leaving behind only a greiving father.
"I... I never thought it would be my daughter" he said between his broken sobs. What does he mean by that? Before i could ask anything more, he suddenly stood up and walked out the door before saying "rest well".
What is happening? Why does it feel like there's something more to this?
