*Bang.*
Lin Fei felt himself lifted off the ground, his body rapidly descending before he crashed heavily onto the pavement. His head was spinning, his ears filled with the sharp screech of brakes, and his eyes couldn't open. In his dim awareness, he heard the chaotic sounds around him.
"Quick, call the police! There's been an accident!"
※※※
In the endless darkness, Lin Fei seemed to glimpse a faint light. Like waking from a nightmare, he suddenly opened his eyes, gasping for breath, his chest heaving with fear.
"Where am I? A hospital?"
Lin Fei remembered being struck by a speeding car. Frantically, he checked himself, finding that he was in a loose pajama set lying on a soft bed with no injuries.
"Strange, I was sure I got hit by a car. How come I'm completely fine now? And even if I weren't hurt, I should be in a hospital, right? Is this a hospital?"
He lifted his head, glancing around the room. It was spacious, with a canopy over the bed. Through it, he could see the bright blue sky outside the window.
Gradually, Lin Fei noticed something was off. There were no electric lights, no air conditioning, and nothing electrical at all.
All he could see was a desk, a high wooden chair, and a small stool. On the desk were some books bound in thread and a candelabra with three half-burned candles.
Startled, Lin Fei hurried to a large mirror in the room. What he saw reflected back was a young, unfamiliar face with a sharp nose, a long face, and pale skin that looked almost sickly. Though he had black hair, his eyes were blue.
The person in the mirror was no longer Lin Fei as he knew himself.
"Who am I?"
He murmured to himself, slumping onto the bed. Suddenly, his head throbbed with pain, and unfamiliar memories surged into his mind.
"Merlin? I'm Wilson Merlin?"
Lin Fei sifted through the sudden influx of memories. The world he found himself in was primitive, resembling a Western medieval era from his past life, ruled by multiple kingdoms. He was in Blackwater City, a mid-sized city in the Kingdom of Light.
Merlin's father, Old Wilson, was a minor noble—a baron by rank, one of the lowest in the nobility, but he had earned it through real battle merit. In his youth, he joined the army, serving for twenty years and participating in a campaign against the Eastern heretic kingdom, Blackmoon. His bravery won him the baron title, along with a sizable estate. However, Old Wilson preferred city life and only visited the estate to collect taxes.
Merlin had many memories of Old Wilson, but his memories of his mother were vague. All he knew was that his mother was an Eastern refugee who came to the Kingdom of Light, married his father, and gave birth to Merlin. His black hair was inherited from her.
However, Merlin's mother had died shortly after his birth, so even he couldn't remember her face.
*Knock, knock.*
As Merlin was lost in his new memories, there was a knock on the door. He quickly returned to bed, calling out, "Come in!"
The door opened gently, and a maid dressed in gray walked in, holding a stack of clothes. She spoke softly, "Young Master Merlin, these are your clothes for today."
Upon seeing her, Merlin immediately recognized her as his personal maid, Lucia.
"Alright, put the clothes here and leave," he replied casually.
Lucia, keeping her head low, lifted it briefly, revealing her fair skin and a few freckles, which didn't detract from her beauty.
"Young Master Merlin, Miss May Snow is waiting for you downstairs for breakfast."
"I understand. I'll be down shortly," Merlin nodded.
Lucia curtsied slightly, lifting her skirts as she gracefully exited the room. Merlin got up, picking up the clothes she left, and quickly changed into them.
The white shirt he put on was comfortable, clearly handmade without any machine stitching, and the black overcoat fit him well. Staring into the mirror, Merlin noticed the reflection still held traces of his old self only in the eyes; everything else felt foreign.
Merlin left the bedroom and descended to the hall, where his younger sister, May Snow, sat impatiently.
"Hurry up, Merlin, or we'll be late for the church."
Merlin took a seat, frowning, "Oh? Where are we going?"
May Snow widened her eyes, struggling to keep her patience as she whispered, "Merlin, don't play dumb. Even though Father went to collect taxes on the estate, he reminded you to attend training with Sir Perot at the church every day!"
Without responding, Merlin quietly committed these details to memory. May Snow's words provided valuable information: Old Wilson had gone to the estate and wouldn't be back soon. For now, he wouldn't have to worry about revealing his secret until he fully absorbed the memories.
"I understand," Merlin replied calmly. He then picked up his utensils and began eating breakfast.
Breakfast was bread with milk and some thick wheat porridge, all surprisingly tasty. Merlin ate with enthusiasm, finishing three bowls.
Having eaten his fill, he took a moment to observe May Snow.
She was the daughter of Old Wilson's eighth wife, though Merlin didn't even know the woman's name. In his mind, she appeared as an image of a buxom figure, which led Merlin to privately refer to her as "Lady Bust."
Thinking of Lady Bust, Merlin glanced at May Snow's chest. Despite being only fourteen, she was already well-developed, with a striking figure that likely owed much to her mother's generous genes.
Without noticing Merlin's gaze, May Snow urged, "Hurry up, we're running out of time. Sir Perot is strict!"
Soon, Merlin and May Snow boarded the carriage that had been prepared, heading toward the church.