Dominic slowly regained consciousness, his senses coming alive to the familiar scent of medicinal herbs. His eyes fluttered open, greeted by the sight of a modest yet luxurious light fixture that bathed the room in a warm, comforting glow. He recognized the ceiling immediately—it was the same one he'd seen before, the ceiling of the medical chamber. A strange sense of déjà vu washed over him as he lay there, his mind slowly piecing together where he was.
Sitting up, Dominic let out a relieved sigh, the tension in his chest easing as he tried to shake off the remnants of the dream that had clung to him so fiercely. "Thank God that was just a dream," he muttered to himself while massaging his forehead
A short, bitter laugh escaped his lips as he recalled the vividness of the scene he had just recalled. "My imagination is getting out of hand lately," he mused, his voice tinged with both amusement and disbelief, "I can't believe I dreamt of Daphne suspecting me, what kind of nightmare is that I even envisioned a fully thought-out magical scene in my head. Maybe I should've been an author," he added with a chuckle, though the idea seemed absurd given his current predicament.
The notion of someone suspecting something as outlandish as transmigration in this world seemed impossible. He shook his head at the thought, thinking, *It's not like someone could ever suspect something as impossible as that—transmigration or whatever. That concept only exists in novels, and I doubt this is the kind of world you'd find a novel in.*
Just as he was beginning to push the dream from his mind, a quiet cough cut through the room, interrupting his thoughts. Dominic turned his head sharply towards the source of the sound and froze.
Sitting in a chair, with a composed yet stern expression, was Daphne. She rose from her seat gracefully, every movement deliberate as she walked over to him. She extended her hand, offering him a towel. "Are you feeling better now?"Before Dominic could reply she added
"You were talking in your sleep and woke up laughing hysterically, are you sure there isn't something wrong with you" she said
worried, her voice soft but with an undertone that Dominic couldn't quite place. "It seems like you had a nightmare. I heard you screaming and begging me not to kill you, what did you dream about?"
Dominic blinked, his heart pounding as he realized how drenched he was in sweat. He had a fever leaving his body soaked and trembling slightly from the lingering effects of his panic. He took the towel from Daphne with shaky hands, wiping the cold sweat from his face as he tried to compose himself.
"I had a nightmare," he finally replied, his voice steadier than he felt. "That my only sister suspected me and was about to attack me."
Daphne's eyes flickered with something unreadable as she responded, her voice carefully neutral. "Oh, did you?"
The room seemed to grow colder as Dominic processed her words, the hair on the back of his neck standing on end. *Daphne's acting too formally,* he thought, a pit forming in his stomach. *Did I expose myself while sleeping?* He could feel the sweat starting to return, dripping down his face as his anxiety spiked.
"You're sweating again even more profusely this time," Daphne remarked casually, though her gaze remained fixed on him, watching his every move.
"Oh, am I?" Dominic responded, trying to play off his unease with a weak smile.
"I gave you a towel," she said, her tone almost intimidating. "So wipe it off, or are you going to ask me to do that for you too?"
Dominic's body tensed as the words left his mouth before he could stop them. "Of course not, sister. You don't have to bother with the likes of me." His heart raced as he realized what he had just said. *Why do I keep speaking uncontrollably?* he thought, panic surging through him. *And I can't even move*
Daphne's expression shifted, her shock evident as her eyes began to glisten with unshed tears. Silence fell between them, thick and suffocating, the air heavy with unspoken words and fears.
Finally, Daphne broke the silence, her voice trembling as she spoke. "I can't really understand you. Are you really my brother… or are you what I think you are?
After mustering the strength to go on, Daphne goes back to her usual composed and calm self before saying "If you feel like telling me the truth you know how to reach me if you're really Dominic but if you don't I guess some things are clearer to me now"
Before Dominic could muster a response, Daphne turned abruptly and left the room, leaving him alone in the suffocating silence, his heart pounding in his chest as he stared after her, a question echoing in his mind. "What does she think I am?"