Y...
Yo... l....
Young lady...
"Young Lady Misha-"
Someone woke me up.
When I opened my eyes, I was greeted by a woman in a maid's outfit. She had blond hair and green eyes.
I blinked as I rubbed my eyes, "Huh... Where am I?"
"Good morning, my lady. You're in your room."
I slowly pushed myself up and sat on the bedside. "My... Room? ....guild?"
"Guild? Oh, are you referring to your outing for today? Apologies, my lady, but we need to postpone that for now."
....
"Huh, okay."
I felt like I'm forgetting something...
I stood, and she helped me balance as she brought out the equipment to help me prepare.
"We need to fix your hair, my lady, so you will have absolute confidence when facing his highness."
I blankly stared at her. "Who?"
"His highness the first prince"
"Prince who?"
Not containing it, she laughed, holding her breast, while tapping my shoulder on the other hand. "Who else could it be other than your beloved fiancé? Prince Reo-"
She hadn't even finished her words when a sudden burst of light flared, searing into my eyes. The brilliance swept across the chamber, unveiling a hall draped in banners and adorned with gilded carvings, every detail shimmering in the glow.
"GAAAH MY EYES!" I screamed as I covered my eyes with my hand.
All of a sudden, another set of spotlights flared to life, illuminating a grand staircase that descended into a lavishly decorated hall. At the top stood two figures: the woman clung tightly to the man's arm, while the man raised his hand, pointing directly at me.
"HEY! DO YOU OWN THESE LIGHTS? CAN YOU TELL THEM TO KEEP IT DOWN?!" I shouted at the man. But he didn't respond—either he couldn't hear me, or he simply chose to ignore my plea.
Without warning, the man's voice thundered across the hall:
"I, Reoshey Haplon, renounce my engagement to the Duke's daughter, Misha Louvelon! And for the sin you have committed, in the name of Haplon, I condemn you to death!"
huh?
engagement?
sin?
condemn?
death?
A moment of silence struck me.
" ...HAAAAAAAH?????!" I shouted back at him
A squad of armed men rushed toward me, their boots pounding against the carpeted floor. Rough hands seized my shoulder, forcing me down until my knees struck the floor, pain radiating through my body as they held me fast.
I thrashed against their grip, but the more I fought, the tighter they held me—until the pain burned through my arms and shoulders.
FRICK
"GAAA-! LET GO!" I screamed in pain
One of the armed men stepped forward, the steel of his sword catching the glow of the hall's lights. He approached with deliberate steps, raising the blade high above me, its edge gleaming as though it hung poised between judgment and execution.
"wa- wa-wawa-wawa-wa-it! please!"
Though I begged for mercy, he did not relent. His blade sang through the air, a cruel arc of steel, until it found my neck with unyielding force.
I felt it—the pain, sharp and sudden, a fleeting fire that coursed through me. It was as though a bucket of icy water had been poured upon my soul, jolting me upright, tearing me from the depths of slumber into the waking world.
"Wa wa wa wa, What.... the hell was that!" I screamed as I pulled the blanket towards me.
"Are you alright?" The voice was soft yet piercing. A figure with golden hair and eyes like burning embers sat beside the bed, watching me with an intensity that made the shadows retreat.
"Who…? Is this yet another dream? Enough! No more visions of betrayal, no more nightmares of execution, death, and severed, flying heads! I cannot endure another torment!" I cried, my voice breaking as I stumbled to my feet, frantic and trembling.
Puzzle, he stared at me. "Hm? No, no. This is real, you just woke up," he replied.
I stared back at him, but my gaze faltered when the window caught my eye. In its glassy surface, my reflection stared back—my tie was gone, replaced by a garment far softer. My clothes had been changed into a comfortable dress, the fabric clinging gently to me, unfamiliar yet strangely calming, as though someone had prepared me for rest in a world not my own. The sight unsettled me, for it was not the image I remembered, nor the self I thought I knew.
"Wa- wha- wait wait," I pulled up the blanket, "Who who who who who are you, where am I!, what did you do to me!"
He stood up.
The moment he did. I grabbed a candlestick from the bedside table
"Wait… calm down," he said, raising both hands in a gesture of peace, his movements deliberate and steady, as though to reassure me that no harm would come.
"How in the hell am I supposed to calm down!" I shouted, brandishing the candlestick like a weapon. My eyes darted wildly across the room, searching for threats that might emerge from the shadows.
My things aren't here, where are my bag and clothes!
"If you're searching for your belongings, they are not here," he said calmly. "Your clothes are being cleaned. For now, you've been given something more comfortable."
"What do you mean!" I shouted, thrusting the candlestick toward him, its flickering flame casting wild shadows across the room.
"Ekk! Cool down!" he exclaimed
The door swung open with a creak, and another figure stepped inside. His hair was as dark as midnight, his eyes gleaming gold like molten honey. The air seemed to shift with his presence, heavy yet strangely comforting.
"Soup guy!" I blurted out, half disbelief, half relief, as though the name itself carried some forgotten familiarity.
I ran to him as I dropped the candlestick onto the floor. "H-help me!" I cried, clutching at his clothes and hiding behind him.
Surprised, he still shielded me. His stance was firm and protective.
"What did you do?" he demanded, glaring at the other guy
"Hey, hey, hey! I didn't do anything!" the blond guy stammered, as he raised his hands. "She woke up, screaming about death, and flying severed heads!" he followed.
I glared at him, "Where are my clothes? And my bag!" I demanded as my voice trembled.
Soup Guy slowly turned to me.
"Pardon," he said gently. "Your clothes are in the laundry. The maids of the mansion helped change you into something more comfortable. As for your bag, it rests in the drawing room," He explained.
"Oh… okay… but—" My words faltered as realization struck.
WAIT, MY DISGUISE!
"I—I'm not a woman. I'm a man!" I blurted out in panic, my voice trembling as I tore my gaze away from his piercing eyes.
Soup Guy knelt before me.
"Lucian!" the blond cried out, trying to stop him.
But he continued to kneel
"Forgive me, Princess Misha Louvelon," he said solemnly. "We have been searching for you."
The moment those words left his lips, my guard shot up. I raised my hands defensively. Guarding myself against him
"Are you here to kill me? I won't go down without a fight!" I clutched my fists
Soup guy only shrugged.
"I am Lucian Lowell, The First Prince of the Lowell Empire." He re-introduced himself.
"Wha—" I stammered, stunned.
"Lucian, don't kneel!" the blond protested.
Lucian's voice was calm. "It's alright. If Princess Misha Louvelon feels safe if I kneel, then I shall kneel."
"What are you talking about?" I asked, confused.
"We are not here to harm you." He extended his hand. "If you'll allow me, I will protect you from now on."
His sudden declaration surprised me.
I… I didn't even know what was happening anymore. When had my cover been blown? Why was the First Prince of another empire kneeling before me?
I could only reach for his hand.
His stern expression softened, and his golden eyes melted like honey dripping in the sunlight.
"Please rest assured. No harm will befall you, so long as you stand with the empire, with me." He smiled, slowly standing from kneeling on the floor.
His words calmed me, easing the storm inside.
"Yuck, get a room," the blond muttered.
I scowled and hurled a nearby vase at him. He dodged, hiding behind Lucian.
"Gah! Don't damage this delicate face!" he whined.
This man!
Soup Guy—I mean, Prince Lucian—stepped closer to me.
He holds my hand as he checks for wounds
"We might have ordered maids to clean and dress you up properly, but we still haven't healed your wounds from the earlier attack."
Oh, right, earlier, I was on the brink of death
"That's why you've been having nightmares about death," The blond man remarked as he smirked behind Lucian.
"Sorry to disappoint you, but my fear of death stems from all that condemns engagement and sins, I don't even recall doing," I exclaimed
Lucian appeared to be surprised
"You don't remember anything?" he asked
"Pardon me, but, yes, I don't."
Shocked, the blond man pointed at me. "Haha, amnesia, the romance novel I read always has this kind of genre or theme, so things would be spicier!"
Lucian smacked him.
"Your obsession with romance novels doesn't match your disgust when your parents show affection in front of you."
"That's two different things!" The blond man shot back. "It's like comparing second-hand embarrassment to the kind of romance I choose to read."
"I won't forget to tell your parents later that you're preparing to look for a fiance"
"Shut it!"
I watched them both exchange words. After knowing Lucian is a prince, it's kind of a surprise that this blond guy speak at him with no formality.
"Um, excuse me, who is this guy?" I asked, curiously
The blond guy stepped forward
"I'm Marxyllon Heriondial, Heir of Duke Kayllon Heriondial, and I'm Lucian's cousin," He introduced himself.
Oh, I see.
"Nice to meet you. Let me reintroduce myself as well. I am Misha, Misha Louvelon, daughter of the duke of Louvelon, if I remember it correctly...."
I hesitated as I pondered a little.
"Then the name Leciro Green. Did you invent it to avoid your persuers?" Lucian asked
"Oh, that… yes. Honestly, I don't even remember who I was at first. All I know is that I woke up in Mesiah Village, feeling strange about why I was there at all. So I chose to hide my identity and escape."
"WHAT?! Then how did you know you're Misha Louvelon?" Marxyllon asked
"That, when I saw the wanted posters outside the Capital, I instantly knew it was me. The people spoke my name, so I came to know." I explained
Well, I didn't lie, that's partially the truth, I'm just hiding some informations
"So you stayed away from Mesiah village, just from sheer instinct of thinking people are coming after you?" Marxyllon followed
"Yep"
"Damn, your instincts are good."
"He's right." Lucian followed. "But the name you used might have drawn some unwanted attention."
"Why?"
"Because the Green family only had one child. Some might not know, but some nobles love to gossip; that's also how we came to know you're Princess Louvelon." Marxyllon explained
"Damn, I didn't know, I'm sorry."
"It's alright, as long as not all people know your last name is Green, while in disguise, you're still safe for now," Lucian reassured me again
Come to think of it, the only people I told about my fake surename was the guild stewardess, Xenon, and Geroz from the blacksmiths, and Soup guy, who turns out to be the first prince. Thank god I didn't tell Florhen, who is a broker, my last made name.
"Are you alright?" Lucian asked
Oh, I might have zoned out
"Yes, I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize, it's normal to feel tired after passing out, though we don't know the reason for your loss of consciousness. We'll just talk about it later," Lucian helped me to bed
"That's right! You were out cold for three hours," Marxyllon followed
Lucian grabbed him, pushing him out of the room.
"Well, talk about other things in the morning, for now, get more rest."
I nodded at him.
Lucian smiled warmly as he closed the door
He was surprisingly gentle, despite the cold severity of his features. That very contradiction only deepened the aura of mystery that surrounded him.
I lingered in thought for a while longer, but soon the weight of drowsiness pressed down on me, pulling me gently into sleep