When Merlin went on a recreational trip to a beautiful natural destination by a vast lake at the foot of a mountain, the cool and fresh air calmed her mind, which had been weary from work. The company had given her two days off for a vacation.
Merlin, who went with her friends, felt happy to have the chance to enjoy nature's beauty together. While she was sitting by the lake, enjoying the stunning scenery, someone suddenly pushed her from behind, causing her to fall into the water. She sank and lost consciousness.
When she woke up, she found herself in a bed in an unfamiliar place. Merlin assumed she was in a villager's house, but when someone entered carrying a tray dressed in old-fashioned clothing, she was startled.
"Princess, you're awake?" the person asked.
"Princess? What princess? My name is Merlin," she replied.
The person looked increasingly confused.
"Is the princess injured?" they asked again.
"No, I'm fine," Merlin answered.
"Do you remember me, Princess?"
"Who are you?"
"You must have lost your memory! What should I do?" the person fretted, pacing back and forth.
"Calm down, I'm fine. Who are you?" Merlin asked, trying to reassure them.
"I have served you all this time. Do you not remember me?"
"Princess? Who is this princess? My name is Merlin."
"Perhaps you were injured. I'll fetch a healer for you."
The person hurriedly left. Merlin quickly got out of bed and walked toward a mirror, only to be shocked when she saw that the reflection in the mirror was not her own.
"Whose face is this?" she wondered in disbelief, touching her face.
A white shadow appeared in the mirror and slowly transformed into someone who looked just like her in this new body.
"I am Princess Merlin. I summoned your soul to inhabit my body. Please avenge me," the reflection said.
"We share the same name, but who am I supposed to avenge?" Merlin asked, puzzled.
The princess's image faded, and the mist in the mirror revealed glimpses of the princess's tragic past.
Princess Merlin was the daughter of a renowned war general whose success made others envious. While at the academy, she was betrayed by her own friend, Sujin, who poisoned her out of jealousy, causing her to go blind. The betrayal devastated her family, and she was withdrawn from the academy to be cared for at home. Over time, her health deteriorated, and after her father died in battle, her stepmother and stepsiblings began mistreating her.
She was confined to a cold, neglected room, worsening her condition. Only one loyal servant remained to care for her daily needs. One day, while near a pond by her residence, her stepsister Linda pushed her into the water. Being blind, Merlin couldn't identify her attacker and drowned, calling for help. Her servant rescued her and nursed her back to consciousness, but the incident left her with amnesia.
After seeing the princess's suffering, Merlin realized she now inhabited the princess's body and vowed to avenge her before finding a way back to her own world. Unsure of her original body's condition, Merlin knew her current mission was to help the princess achieve justice.
Merlin remained seated by the mirror for a long time, pondering the situation. She noticed the servant had not returned and began to worry. Wondering if the family might harm the servant, she decided to check. True to her fears, the servant was being whipped, a sight that deeply pained her.
Merlin realized everyone thought she was blind, so she pretended not to see. Those torturing the servant laughed mockingly at her inaction. When the abuse ended, they left without remorse, leaving a heartbreaking scene.
The servant, weak and battered, staggered toward Merlin. After ensuring no one was watching, Merlin took the servant back to the room.
"What did you do to make them punish you?" Merlin asked angrily, offering the servant some water.
"I only asked them to call a healer for you. Are you healed now, Princess? Can you see again? That's such good news," the servant replied with a genuine smile, which pierced Merlin's heart.
"You're foolish! You're severely injured, yet you still worry about me," Merlin scolded, searching for medicine.
Using her knowledge from her original world, she found and applied ointment to the servant's wounds.
"You don't need to, Princess. I don't deserve this," the servant protested.
"You're insane! Your body is injured, and you still worry about what you deserve. Just stay still and don't move," Merlin ordered.
"What's your name?" she asked.
"My name is Lia," the servant answered hesitantly, confused by her mistress's change in demeanor.
"I don't understand the full situation here, but if you want to do something, tell me. I'll try to make a plan so we can escape. Don't treat me like a princess—just act like a friend," Merlin said, determined to understand this world better.
"But, Princess—"
"Don't argue. Let me figure out what's going on first, then I'll come up with a plan," Merlin insisted.
"Very well, Princess. I'll always be here to assist you," Lia replied respectfully.
Unfamiliar with this new world—where servitude and brutality were commonplace—Merlin shuddered at the sight of the whipping. She realized that one wrong move could cost her life. Determined to learn the rules of this world, Merlin knew understanding her surroundings was essential for avenging the princess and ensuring her own survival.