I have to say, the drug's efficacy in this other world is very concerning.
This body, Carlyanne's body, got sick and went into a coma-like sleep for nearly 9 days and yet, when I checked on the mirror, it's as if nothing happened! No sallow skin, no signs of atrophy, nothing! I don't know what's inside that IV drip but it might as well be a goddamn elixir if this is the result!!
I can just imagine the amount of money every woman from my past world would give just to get injected with whatever liquid was in the IV… The K-Beauty scene is going to burn down the moment this drug gets commercialized.
Anyway, today is the day that I'm finally off IV and the ever-so-friendly Dr. Keller is taking the thin needle out of my wrist, while Sasha and Sieghart stand by, observing the procedure in silence, which got me to question why they're even here in the first place. Sasha, I can kind of understand since she's the most senior servant around and should be the stand-in for my yet-to-exist personal maids but Sieghart? Bro, what are you doing???
It's kind of amazing the length of how human adaptation can go. Me in the previous world would have found it a bit horrifying to find myself waking up being stared at by a guy sitting at my bedside at the crack ass of dawn but give it a few days and voila, I find myself adjusted to it.
Honestly, it's still kind of baffling that a guy like Sieghart is waiting on me like some private nurse for the rich. I mean, I am sick and the Hortensias are kind of rich being a Count family and all, but it's not like this mansion has a shortage of employees, right? I'm sure the guy could take a shift with one of the maids, do some scheduled rotation. Take some break for himself since Carlyanne isn't around to order him around like a workhorse.
But every time I open my eyes, it's to this guy's face. Anyone would've thought that this future familicide extraordinaire and kingdom-toppling aspiring criminal might have something better to do but no, he just, hangs around the room. All the time. He smiles whenever I stare at him like there's nothing wrong with this arrangement whatsoever and that's when I know that this guy must be sleep-deprived if the smile is starting to look genial of all things.
Anyway, I thought it might have been the issue that I've not dismissed him since I fainted which caused him to linger around the room and not leave, so I tried to do just that once I'm a bit more present in the body again. "You are dismissed."
"..Yes?" Sieghart blinks so slowly that I thought I had a slo-mo camera plastered on my eyes.
Hey, why do you look terrified instead of relieved? Aren't you the number 1 Carlyanne haters? The anti to top all antis?? Why do you look so reluctant to part away all of a sudden, does being sleep-deprived make you clingy????
"The maids will attend to my needs for the rest of the day," I repeat with a louder voice, biting my lips since my wrist aches a bit after the IV needle is gone, massaging the area gently to not tear a new wound by accident. Miracle drugs or not, newly healing puncture wounds still hurt.
"So, you are dismissed."
"I see." Sieghart seems to have collected himself and nods, though I sense his hesitation as he bows down in that perfect polite angle. "Thank you for your grace, miss. I shall see you tomorrow."
Yes? I'm pretty sure we'll see each other tomorrow?? Sieghart you literally live here why do you even feel the need to say that??
Great, now my brain is all jumbled from the medicine and the confusion. What counts as polite goodbyes and what is just him saying to fuck around with me?! Not cool, man!
Ina, to no one's surprise, is more than happy to attend to me alongside Sonya. The green-haired girl is all smiles as she's doing my hair into a simple braid down my back. "I'm so glad that you allowed us to serve you more often, miss! Being allowed to pick your outfits and dress you up every day has been a dream come true!"
Ah, I see. This girl is a hardcore face-fan. No wonder she became so fearless after getting fed some food, the ulterior motive has always been to dress up this darling miss!!
Although I understand her a little since, if I see someone with visuals like Carlyanne in my previous world, I too would probably get a little starstruck.
"I am merely recognizing hard work." is what ends up coming out of my mouth after long, long deliberation. Even though I truly wish I could say something else instead like 'Good job in being so good at dressing people up that my laziness says it's better to let myself be a dress-up doll every day! I am very impressed!' but alas, I have to be careful with what I say now that I start to meet real threats after acting OOC once.
"Enough about me, how is it going in the manor?"
Ina takes the bait and starts talking about the most recent gossip, "There's not much going on the servant's side if that's what you're curious about, miss. Most of us that work in ch- in this wings are doing our job happily!"
… You're about to say something else though? I can't see Sonya's face from this angle, but I bet the brunette is glaring so hard right now. I can feel the chills coming up my freshly warm bathed back. "I didn't know that this place has another name than the Western Wings."
"I, uh, eheh…" Ina starts to look incredibly nervous after being called out, which, isn't my intention at all! It's even spreading to Sonya, who's starting to look a bit wary herself! I'm not even smiling!!!
Fuck, if there's no difference between me smiling and not in terms of intimidation, then what good is emoting!? If I apologize it might even scare them shitless and no, I can't have that after farming goodwill this long!!! "Just spit it out."
Sonya takes over the task of tying the braid from the slightly vibrating Ina and answers, "Among the staff, we dubbed this part of the manor Chick Wings, though mostly it's because most of the staff here are young females, bar the few exceptions like Ma'am Sasha, Sir Sieghart and the head chef."
"Hm." The answer makes sense, though if there's something else that these 2 aren't telling me since that kind of answer isn't enough to make the tension solid enough that I can knock on it. Is it because it's crass by ancient people's standards? Actually, when do people start addressing women as chicks? I'm sure it'd be a little farther down the time than this..???
Anyway I'll leave it at that since this won't be the first anachronistic thing the author has inserted into this novel, what's another thing to fuss about right?
With my silence taken as a silent assent once again, the maids continue to dress me up into another light dress appropriate to lounge on a chair for a prolonged time. I've gotten a little tired of sitting on the bed and, since there's a veranda just a few steps away, I've ordered for it to be prepared for some quality sitting time. I've even asked Sieghart to go fetch the history book again, feeling a little bad since he'd have to go back so many pages since I don't remember much of his reading during my unconscious phases.
Ugh, I don't even want to think back to those days, but the events are still too fresh in my mind. Enjoying the summer now that I'm a hot girl might provide a decent distraction while I'm recovering–
'Knock knock!'
I throw my glance at the door, feeling another sudden bout of uneasiness creeping in as there's no male voice announcing arrival, so it can't be Sieghart or the kitchen crew coming early.
'Knock! Knock!'
Another set of knocks. I turn the glance to Sasha, who also looks just as confused as I am but still way calmer than I am, the older maid gives a little bow as she says "I shall check on it." and walks over to the door.
She only opened it slightly, with the intention of checking the person on the other side, I can hear her about to ask for inquiry when a big hand rest on the open door and pushes it open, followed by a chuckle that instantly sent shivers down my spine in a bad way.
"Is my lovely little sister Carlyanne here?"
Ah fuck, here we go again.