A sharp pain was felt in the lady's head, particularly in the pterion, that she could not help to groan. Did she overindulge soju last night, causing a terrible hangover? Not only that, but her stomach is grumbling considerably. She slowly opened her eyes, and a pleasant, snow-themed room came into view.
"Am I, perhaps, in the hospital?" As much as she tries, she cannot seem to get comfortable sitting on the plush mattress. She was astounded to see a roof from the comfort of her bed, as it reminded her of historical documentaries about life in 18th-century England. The crease in her brow became apparent as her hands were brought into focus.
"Why am I so thin? I should have eaten while studying." Her heart leaped while remembering the words of a famous medical school accepting her applications to be a physician. She suddenly remembered something. "Oh, right! Why did I forget? Mom! Mom!" She tried to get off the bed, and the long linen gown fell freely. She was overcome by an unexplainable sensation when she stepped onto the marbled tiles. As she stared at the floor, her heart started to race.
This is absurd. Marble floor? She nervously contemplated.
A series of running steps can be heard in the hallway as it approaches the lady's room. Four female servants walked through the enormous double door as it swung open. The women have varying ages from fourteen, fifteen, seventeen, and nineteen, respectively. They saw the dazed lady they served staring at the floor and for a second—shallowly laughed. The four servants were stunned. The young lady seems to be a different person when it laughed. The sweetness of its voice is no longer heard. The oldest one steps in and slowly approach the young miss.
"A sunny morning, young lady. Shall we get prepared for your dance lessons at noon in Aubrey Hall? Lady Samantha will be here any minute!" Rebecka, a servant of Devon County, worked for seven years, had witnessed the young lady growing up. That is why she is comfortable speaking with her.
"Are you guys cosplaying a maid? This is not funny. Where's mom? Why am I here? If this is kidnapping, there's no ransom since we're dirt poor, yes? And my name's not young lady, it's Eli, Elizabeth!" She emotionless faced the servant, thus making her flinch. The woman suddenly sprinted outside the room and met an old man wearing a black suit on his way to the room. "Young lady, the countess has summoned— Young lady! Why are you—servants! Make haste! Chase her!" The butler paid respects by slightly bowing and lowering his gaze, but the woman has no intention of slowing down any time soon. He is stupefied seeing the woman in her undergarments running around the corridor.
"Young lady! Please slow down!" Shouts were heard inside the manor early in the morning. "What in the world is going on? Did she decide to play catch while running naked? Surely she is not deranged?" An employee said while carrying the trays. The trays falls and clang to the floor as the maids bump the employee while chasing.
"Young miss! Young miss!" The maids are holding a thick scarf to wrap the young miss who's running fast not even a deer could defeat. Eleanor's heart was at its peak as she saw the surroundings. She hurriedly found a way to a crossroads of hallways and chose the left corridor, which looked empty.
Where am I? I'm scared to admit it, but seeing these walls, I can't help but think I have transmigrated to 18th-century Europe or, worst— the other world.
The thought sent chills down her spine. She often read this kind of genre back in high school, getting transmigrated or reincarnated to another world so this is considered a possibility. She found a grandiose staircase and saw plenty of people going to and fro holding whatever it was. The people halted and looked at the young miss on the staircase, wearing only undergarments. The men hurriedly looked away and blushed, the women shrieked at the sight as they ran to the young lady, but she pushed aside the women trying to cover her and hastily found what seemed to be the entrance of the building. She hurriedly approached the light, and once she was outside, the bright sun made her close her eyes, adjusting to the brightness. Despite this, she never stops running.
The manor is located in the mountainous region of Devon, where mining and farming are the main livelihoods. Its town, Cadwyn, is populated by numerous locales and visitors from around the continent. Although it is a small city, it is known for its fresh fruits and vegetables harvested thus, it is often frequented by merchants. The manor can be seen from the town as it is located at the apex, overseeing the land.
On the manor's third floor is the quarters where the young master lives. Claude Cadwyn, five years younger than Ceri, woke up from the noise of the second floor. He barely heard the muffled sound of the ladies crying downstairs when he heard a familiar voice swearing out loud. He suddenly jolted awake.
"Sister?... Hardly." He just shoved off the thought and passed it off as a nightmare. He brushed his barely opened eyes and dazed in the window. He knows her sister. She is the sweetest, known to be spontaneous, creative, personable, and energetic. The siblings grew up in a reputable household. They were raised by loving parents and adored by the townsfolks. He called his servants, waiting outside the door for an hour. They immediately went in and attended to the young master's needs.
"What happened downstairs?" He curiously asked while getting dressed. The male servants looked at themselves, and one of them hesitantly responded.
"The young lady… she is running wild." The servant sweated, knowing he might have phrased the word wrong. The young master stopped. "Kindly elaborate."
"According to them, she is running around with her undergarments." The servant reported.
"What?! Where is mother?"
"In the greenhouse, young master."
Henrietta, the countess of Devon, flinched and accidentally cut her index finger from the sudden uproar upstairs. The maids behind her quickly attended to the bleeding finger, yet the countess paid no attention.
"What in the Lord's clamor is that?" The countess asked in confusion. "Ah, countess, I have yet to find out behind the noise. But it seems the noise is from the lady's quarters." The head maid said.
"Ah-what a piece of crap! Move aside! Scram!" The young lady cursed loudly that the employees nearby suddenly halted for a moment. The two gardeners cultivating the plants followed the young lady and the tens of servants called her name. They look at each other, confused by the sight.
She saw a metal gate, and she is nearing, tons of carriages passing hurriedly, dirt spreading from the horses' gallops. The unreal clothing of people similar to the servants, and the language she mysteriously understood. The pair of knights guarding the gate was shocked by the young lady, but she did not notice them and stood there silently.
"Sir?" The young lady asked with a trembling voice. "Yes, my lady?" the knight hesitantly replied while trying to focus his gaze to another.
"What time and place is this again?" The two knights looked at each other.
"This is the Von Empire Year 1405."
There, she confirmed. This is not my place. Not my country, and possibly not my world.
A tear fell from the lady's eyes as she collapsed to the hard ground in a disheveled heap. All her dreams were gone. She cannot see her mom, whom she only has. Her mother is nowhere here. She feels alone in this alien world. A tear became a waterfall of tears of lament, anger, and longingness. She wanted to scream but could not articulate words, covering her mouth with her hands.
She mumbled incoherent words and choked on her sobs as her white, fair face turned red.
She heard many footsteps running behind her back, shouting. A clickety-clat of boots and metals can also be perceived. The servants panted and hurriedly wrapped the young lady on the ground. The young lady's eyes were unexpressive, wet from tears, and her face down to her clavicle was red.
"Dame Stern, carry the young miss into her room. Servants, cover the young miss, hurry up!" The restless butler ordered the people around. A young, green-haired female knight hurriedly went to the young miss and slowly carried her. A young boy from afar was overlooking this sight.