—Elanor's POV—
Our tragedy had begun long before our birth, with our mothers dragged into this quagmire of royalty. The petty politics and relentless palace struggles had worn them down. They had lost sight of both their purpose and their motivation, leaving behind nothing but aimless fighting.
And we? We, their children, were merely tools in their games. Raised to fight one another, to plot and scheme for a throne that only brought misery. I can't help but blame them. Yet, at the same time, I understand them. They're as trapped as we are in this endless cycle of suffering.
Sigh. This little girl—she's making me think too much about the past. Would things have been different if she had been here before? I can't help but wonder. Perhaps our story would have had a better ending.
But thinking about the past changes nothing. Regret won't make my life better. Instead, I'll use this new opportunity to alter our fate. These other girls—my sisters—they've suffered enough.
They say when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. But when life hands you chilies, you dry them, grind them, and throw the powder in the eyes of anyone who dares to oppose you.
—Narrator's POV—
Elanor had been silent for a while, lost in thought. I let her be, though I couldn't help but wonder what she was planning. Her expression had that sharp, calculating look again—the one that always made me nervous.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Iris stirring in her sleep. Finally! It looked like everyone was waking up.
Dorothy blinked herself awake next, rubbing her eyes and yawning. Alice was the last to rise, and when the maids gently nudged her awake, she glared at them as if she was going to sentence them to deaths for disturbing her royal slumber. Note to self: never wake up Alice. Ever.
I glanced at Elanor again. She looked like she'd come to some grand conclusion during her quiet moment. But judging by the look in her eyes, whatever revelation she had wasn't going to be good news for my peace of mind.
Once everyone had eaten, it was time for the inevitable discussion. So, we gathered in the grand meeting room, our cradle. They seemed eager to know more about me and where I came from. It started subtly, but soon the floodgates opened.
"So," Elanor began, crossing her arms, "what exactly is your world like? You've mentioned machines, but I want to know more about how everything works." Her tone was calm but commanding, as always.
I hesitated for a moment, gathering my thoughts. "Well, my world is... complicated. We rely heavily on technology. For example, we have machines that allow us to fly—airplanes—and cars for ground travel. Communication happens instantly through something we call the internet, which connects people across vast distances."
Dorothy perked up at that. "Instant communication? How is that even possible?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.
"It's all done using satellites and wireless signals," I explained, trying to keep it simple. "We send information through the air using invisible waves, and it can reach anywhere in the world in seconds."
Dorothy frowned in concentration. "Like magical signals? Except... no magic?"
"Exactly," I nodded, relieved she was catching on. "It's not magic, just science. I mean, it's basically manipulating invisible forces—kind of like mana, but without the magical stuff involved."
Alice, who had been quiet until now, suddenly spoke up. "What about transportation? You mentioned flying machines. Are there other methods of travel?"
"Yeah, we have cars, trains, ships, airplanes... it's all very different from here," I said, gesturing around at the grand room. "Our world is pretty advanced when it comes to getting from one place to another quickly."
"And how fast are these... cars?" Alice's eyes gleamed with interest now.
"Depends on the car. Some can go as fast as 200 miles per hour, though regular cars are slower," I said. "Planes are much faster, of course. They can travel thousands of miles in a matter of hours."
Dorothy seemed to be thinking deeply. "That kind of speed... it sounds like the teleportation circles used by the archmages here. But instead of magic, your world uses machines to move people."
I shrugged. "Kind of, I guess. But it's not instant. Planes still take time."
Iris, who had been quietly listening, suddenly leaned forward. "What about your world's beliefs? You've talked about science and machines, but what about religion? How do people worship?"
"Religion?" I echoed. "Well, that's a bit more complicated. In my world, there are many different religions. Some people worship one god, like in Christianity or Islam. Others, like in Hinduism, believe in many gods. There are also people who don't follow any religion at all."
Iris's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Many gods? And people believe in them all?"
"Yeah, in some parts of the world, people believe that gods live in everything—trees, rivers, animals. Others think of their god as a single, all-powerful being. It really depends on where you are."
She seemed fascinated by this. "Here, we only worship the constellations. The stars are our guides, and we believe they control our fates."
I nodded, mentally noting that. It explained the Cassiopeia motifs I had seen everywhere. Their reverence for the stars was deeply ingrained in their culture.
Elanor's voice cut through my thoughts again. "And what about war? You said your world has had large-scale conflicts. Tell us about those."
I took a deep breath. "Yeah, there were two world wars—massive conflicts that involved almost every country. The weapons used were... devastating. Guns, bombs, tanks, planes dropping explosives. Entire cities were destroyed."
Elanor leaned in, clearly interested now. "Guns and bombs? What exactly are those?"
"They're... weapons," I replied, feeling out of my depth. "Guns shoot metal projectiles at high speed. Bombs explode and cause massive destruction. I don't really know how they work in detail, but I've seen the aftermath. It's not something you want to see."
Elanor's eyes gleamed. "Interesting. It sounds like something that could change the course of a battle in an instant."
"Yeah," I muttered, feeling uncomfortable with the direction the conversation was taking. "But it's also caused a lot of pain. Trust me, war isn't something you want to live through."
Dorothy, always the thinker, asked, "And how are these wars decided? Who commands these weapons?"
"Leaders," I said simply. "In some parts of the world, we have kings and queens, like here. But in most places, people choose their leaders through voting—something we call democracy."
"Democracy?" Elanor's brow furrowed. "The people... choosing their rulers? Doesn't that cause chaos?"
"It can," I admitted. "But it also gives people a voice. It's not perfect, but it's better than the constant power struggles that happen with monarchies."
The princesses exchanged glances, absorbing the concept.
Iris, now looking contemplative, said softly, "And what of your world's literature? Are there stories of your history, perhaps novels that reflect your times?"
It hit me like a lightning bolt. This world—everything about it, from the constellations to the royal politics—it was eerily similar to something I'd read before. But could it really be...? No. I couldn't just assume this was a novel world without solid proof.
"Uh, yeah, we have a lot of novels and stories," I said cautiously, not wanting to jump to conclusions too soon. "Some even talk about different worlds, other universes where the rules are different from ours."
Elanor narrowed her eyes slightly. "You seem... hesitant. Do you believe this world could be one of those?"
I swallowed. "I'm not sure yet. But there are... similarities. I'll have to think on it more, maybe gather some evidence before I say anything definitive."
Iris seemed intrigued. "Novels that reflect worlds beyond your own? Perhaps the gods of your world speak through them."
"Maybe," I said, feeling the weight of their curiosity and the growing suspicion that this world was more familiar to me than it should be. "Maybe..."
I left this trail of thought behind, I know there's no chance that I will get my answers so soon.
Now, it was finally time, time to hear their side of the story.