"Oh gods, please save the princess."
"How is she?"
"This is the worst!"
It was noisy.
What the hell? Can't I even have a good quiet death? Shit.
From the sound of it, they were panicking. Strange…
Wait, there was no one around where we were.
The place where I was eliminated was a quiet and secluded place, and I vividly remembered it. No, I think that was not the issue here. The main issue here was…
Why the hell am I laying down on something soft?
Almost like I was on a proper bed, facing up. Again, very odd. I died on the street. No, did I survive somehow? Maybe, when he left me, someone found me and I was still barely alive.
This could mean a lot of things, though. That old colleague of mine had mistaken me for being dead. And most of all! This could also mean I'm free! I couldn't feel more happy! I mean, who wouldn't be? Haha!
My face twitched because of the positive emotions dancing inside me.
"The princess moved!"
I heard a woman's loud and relieved voice.
I wonder what princess they were talking about.
Was there even something like princesses during this generation? Oh wait, there were. Well, not where I was.
Maybe someone had the name princess? A certain country uses that word as a literal name.
Or maybe, by some strange fate, a princess ran away and encountered an accident, and thus we ended up in the same room. Good, she could be useful if that was the case. Maybe if I go all friendly with her, she would treat me nicely. Maybe she could take me somewhere. I mean, princesses were wealthy girls, so helping someone who was as good as me would be no big deal.
"Physician, she's still closing her eyes. Please make sure there's nothing wrong with my dear sister."
Hm? Wait, why the hell is someone touching the side of my face?
Must be a mistake, there must be a timing coincidence. Someone just happened to check up on me at the same time.
It was then I noticed something was amiss. I wasn't wounded in the head somewhere. Which was again strange. I was supposed to have a bullet wound on the shoulder and on the stomach. Wait, I was also stabbed in the heart. I was supposed to be dead. Could it be perhaps I was tougher than I thought? Pfft, of course not. A stab to the heart was a sure death.
"The healing spell healed her head in time, so it should be alright."
An adult man's voice reached my delicate ears.
Hm? What did this guy just say? Healing spell? Hey hey, what the hell is going on?
I was totally confused. Was something weird going on? This guy was unquestionably an adult, not some kid playing around and saying stuff like spells.
"Princess, can you open your eyes?"
Now I was just more lost. That voice, it just whispered to me.
Me? Princess?
Was this some kind of joke?
Still confused, I opened my eyes. Oh boy, what greeted my eyes only made me think I have lost my mind.
What is this? Some kind of cosplay?
I knew the concept and have seen what they were, so that was what first came to me.
I saw people who were wearing strange clothes, clothes that were definitely out of their time. A woman somewhere in her mid-thirties with silver hair and bluish eyes stared at me. She was wearing a white dress emblazoned with plenty of intricate patterns with lines dyed yellow. Her hair was tied up neatly into a bun.
But that was not exactly the main issue, the clothes were. They were not modern designs. No one would ever wear something like that under normal circumstances. In any case, her outfit just didn't sit well with the current time.
On the other hand, there was a young man with golden blonde hair and purple eyes also staring down at me. He was perhaps in his late teens. He wore a white and gold long coat with of course clothing underneath it. Trousers and boots, by his neck, tied an ascot. As expensive looking as the aforementioned woman. Again, weird.
They both looked like they came from a time when swords still existed and were used as a weapon.
Two maids were also present at the back. How did I know they were maids, you might ask? Well, they were wearing black and white dresses, which totally looked like they were worn by maids.
And beside me was a plain looking middle-aged man, although his clothes still looked a little expensive. Could this person be the physician they were talking about?
Woah wait.
If that's the case, didn't that make me the "Princess"?
Oh my, I may be beautiful, sure. And being called a princess sure is nice. But who are these weirdos? What the hell?
Only then I noticed the room I was in. The ceiling was high, a small chandelier hanging from it. White walls with beautiful decorations. Embedded on the walls were also extravagant looking lamps. Well, the room sure was nice, but that was not what I was worrying about right now.
This is way out of its timeline.
Modern architecture didn't look like this at all. This looked somewhere around medieval times.
"Estelia."
The woman from before leaned closer to me.
What did she just call me?
"... Estelia?" A puzzled look formed on my face.
"Estel? Are you okay?" The young man, seemingly sensing my confusion, gently called out to me.
I ignored him and pondered. My mind was in complete disarray.
Aaah! What the hell is going on?
I didn't have enough free world experience to come to an acceptable conclusion. I have always had a limited life. Every action I take must have restrictions. In other words, I was always focused on the task given to me. Not enough free time to go around.
"Who are you?"
"""HAAAAAAAH?!"""
Everyone in the room screamed and gasped in horror at my question. I would have given them credit since it looked genuine. Hm, but since it looked genuine, then it could be. They were legit surprised.
"Physician! My daughter! What happened?! She just asked who we were! Could it be?!" the woman asked as her eyes rattled around.
Panic ensued.
"My dear sister? No…" The young man looked away in dismay, clutching his head.
Ah, sorry, I asked on the spur of the moment. I should calm down.
"She fell down the stairs that hard?" the physician muttered as he covered his mouth in shock.
I glanced at the maids, they disturbingly looked distressed.
Hm, wait, did he just say fell down the stairs? I did? Wait, who am I?
I looked at my hands and touched them. They were pale as snow. I looked like I never left shelter at all, and never even felt the warm touch of sunlight. I shifted my eyes towards my long, straight hair. They were white, no, "platinum" would be the appropriate word to describe it.
I'm not me while I'm me at the same time?
That was the only thing I could conclude at the moment. I was a different person. And this was a totally different place.
"Agh!" A surging pain suddenly erupted within my head. I clutched my head, it felt like it would burst and explode. The people around me panicked even more as they saw the pained expression on my face.
Fuck! It hurts!
Then, it came the feeling of something being injected into my brain. It was overwhelming. I saw. I remembered. I felt. These were… memories.
I am...
"Estelia Vernisia Wisteria."
"You remember?!"
I looked at the woman who exclaimed in joy.
"Mother… Meliya."
Meliya Helvinia Wisteria, the Queen, and my mother.
"Aaaah, you remember! Thank the gods!"
She suddenly moved closer to me… my eyes widened and my body turned stiff. I didn't know how to react to this.
She… wrapped her arms around me. She was hugging me. It was warm. It was comfy. A foreign feeling and moment for me. Was it always this pleasant? Was this what normal people feel when they hug each other?
I didn't know the answer. But, I was feeling it.
This was… wonderful.
No!
I shook my head, shaking off this ridiculous feeling. This was a feeling that should not be accepted. These emotions were prohibited! These kinds of emotions only beget weakness. I have seen many people die and fail during my assassination missions due to emotions. Due to attachments!
There was even a time when my target was a female. She was supposed to be my only target, but a man came taking the bullet. Ridiculous. Self sacrifice.
There was also a time when a fellow agent went into an infiltration mission. She needed to pretend to be their ally as we gathered information. However, when time came for execution, she fucking hesitated to kill a single man. How unbelievable.
Emotions are hindrances. Attachments are absolutely forbidden.
Dreams were nice, but these kinds of emotions were not needed. They would only get in the way.
I will not get attached because of this short, empty moment.
Plus, I am not Estelia. I am…
This was a foreign body. Not mine. Therefore, I have no relationship with these people, only this body did. I have no attachments towards them. I took a deep breath and began acting.
"Mother, please let go. You're suffocating me."
Acting was an essential skill and had a lot of uses depending on the mission given. Therefore, acting was easy. I was trained hard for this.
When she heard my sweet gentle voice, which could calm any soul, the woman — or rather, my mother — apologized as she slowly let go.
"Sorry, I thought you had lost your memories."
I formed a beautiful and pure smile, my eyes turned tender. I should speak softly. Just like the original Estelia did. "To be honest, my memories slipped my mind for a moment. But thankfully, it returned shortly after. Did I scare you? I apologize." I bowed my head and formed a troubled expression. Well, I looked like I was about to cry.
"N-No," Mother frantically waved her hand as she consoled me. "It can't be helped that you acted that way first, so you do not need to cry."
"Sister? Do you remember me?"
The young man moved in front of me. A bright smile beamed on his lips. He was quite handsome, if I say so myself. As expected of royalty, I suppose. But no way my heart would flutter. Plus, he was supposed to be my brother, so no no. Let's not take a weird turn. Well, it's not like I would have any special feelings for anybody.
"My big brother, Estevan," I said so innocently to him.
His eyes brightened as he looked at me. I, who appeared like a pure lamb that must be protected at all costs.
He was Estevan Verziniel Wisteria, my older brother.
"My dear sister remembers me! That's great! You really scared me there."
"I did fall from the stairs. I-I'm… sorry… I am very clumsy. It's m-my fault."
I intentionally stammered in my words, which only enhanced my pure and innocent performance. It should closely resemble how Estelia originally acted. But maybe I acted more innocently compared to her.
"No, don't say that. I like the way you are."
I smiled at my brother. I have two brothers, this one was the second eldest. The eldest was currently absent for some reason. If I remember correctly, he was out on a diplomatic errand. By the way, I'm the youngest and the only girl in the family. Well well, this would work to my advantage.
Who wouldn't protect their cute youngest sister?
I'm currently sixteen years old, but that's still young for me. I definitely needed protection. What? Don't tell me no one would protect this pure, vulnerable and fragile girl that was me? Nonsense.
"You seem to be fine now, your highness."
I looked at the one who spoke to me. This man was the palace physician. One could also cast healing magic.
Eh? Magic?
Magic, huh? I heard a lot about that back in my old life. They came from fantasy stories, but now in this world, they seemed to be real. But Estelia only had little knowledge about it, not only about magic, but also about everything else. Hell, she barely knew anything about the outside world. Not helpful.
"Y-Yes," I responded to him as I slowly raised my body up. "I feel fine. I think I can even walk around now."
"Please rest for a while. Moving around is still risky."
I would have done so if these people were not around. Well, Estelia did have an emergency and was sent here — to my room. And her family panicked and quickly came to her — or rather me.
Agh, I still have trouble differentiating.
"In that case, I will take a rest." I laid back down on the bed and closed my eyes, hoping that everyone would leave. That would give me at least a quiet space to think.
"Yes, rest well, my daughter."
Meliya caressed my forehead. It was a gentle touch. But I thought nothing of such a thing. I just hoped they would leave me alone, I needed to cope up with everything that was happening.
She then continued. "Just ring the bell and Mera will assist you, okay?"
I looked at the handbell placed on top of the table beside my bed. I'm interested in trying it, but not now.
"Oh yes, you should change your clothes. There is a little blood on them. I will assist you."
"Later, mother. I still feel a little dizzy. I'll take care of it when it subsides."
Why would I even let you help me dress? That would be embarrassing to do with a stranger.
With that, Meliya nodded. The surrounding people, one by one, left.
"Estel my dear sister, take care~."
"Y-Yes brother."
The last one to leave was a maid. She bowed before taking her leave and closing the door. I waited for about a couple of minutes, making sure that everyone truly left.