Chapter 1: Reincarnated as the Side Character
I had always wondered what it would be like to wake up in another world. But I never expected this.
My eyes fluttered open to a soft, golden light that bathed the room in a surreal glow. The kind of light that made everything feel... dreamlike. I sat up, feeling an odd weightlessness, as though I had just fallen from a great height.
The first thing I noticed was the soft rustle of silk beneath me. The bed was large, ornate, and covered in luxurious crimson sheets. I reached out, my fingers brushing against the soft fabric, trying to orient myself. There was a strange tension in the air, a sense of foreboding that made my skin prickle.
"Where am I?" I muttered under my breath.
As I tried to gather my bearings, a sharp knock echoed from the door. I turned to face it, startled. The door creaked open, and in walked a tall figure draped in a flowing, dark blue robe, his silver hair cascading over his shoulders. His icy blue eyes locked onto mine, his expression a mixture of confusion and concern.
"Lady Astrid," the man said, his voice deep and formal. "Are you feeling unwell?"
I blinked, disoriented. The name sounded foreign on my tongue. "Lady... Astrid?" I repeated, the words tasting strange in my mouth. "I— I'm not Astrid."
The man's brow furrowed slightly, and his lips pressed together in a thin line. "I beg your pardon, my lady," he said, clearly not fully convinced. "It is I, Eldrin, your loyal servant. You've been unwell for the past several days. Should I call for a healer?"
I stared at him, the confusion in my mind deepening. I didn't know this man, and yet, something about him seemed vaguely familiar. The way he stood so rigidly, the way he spoke with such reverence—it was as if I were someone important. But none of this made sense. I wasn't Lady Astrid. I wasn't anyone of importance.
"What's going on?" I whispered, more to myself than to him.
Eldrin didn't seem to notice my panic. Instead, he stepped forward with a concerned look on his face. "You've been through much, my lady. Your health is fragile. Perhaps some rest would do you good."
I felt a sharp pang in my chest as the words sank in. Your health is fragile. There was an undeniable truth in that statement, but not because of any sickness. It was more of a gut feeling, an instinct I couldn't quite explain. The longer I sat there, the more I began to realize what had happened.
I was no longer in my own body.
The reality of it hit me with a sharp jolt. This wasn't a dream or some kind of fantastical experience. I wasn't in my old life anymore. I was in someone else's. Someone named Astrid.
Astrid. The name echoed in my mind. I tried to recall anything about her, but nothing came to the surface. It was like a blank slate. I had no memory of this person. Was she a real person, or was this a fiction created by my reincarnation?
"Lady Astrid?" Eldrin's voice brought me back to the present. "Should I assist you in getting up?"
I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. How was I supposed to act? What was expected of me? I could feel his gaze on me, waiting for me to speak, to give him some sort of directive. But all I had were questions.
"I…" I faltered, trying to find the words. "I'm not... I don't know what's going on."
Eldrin's expression softened, as if he understood something I didn't. "I'll fetch a healer," he said quietly, and with that, he left the room, leaving me to my thoughts.
I was left alone, lying in a bed that wasn't mine, in a room I didn't recognize. The walls were adorned with tapestries that depicted scenes of royalty—warriors, battles, and celebrations. The space was filled with an elegant charm, the kind you'd expect from a noble estate. But none of it was familiar to me.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts. It was no use trying to make sense of everything at once. The first thing I needed to do was figure out who I was now.
Astrid.
Was she a princess? A noblewoman? A general? What kind of life had she lived? And more importantly, why was I inside her body?
Before I could delve further into my thoughts, the door opened once more. A woman entered, wearing a white gown with intricate golden embroidery. She was older, her silver hair tied back in a neat bun, and her warm brown eyes immediately softened when she saw me.
"Lady Astrid," the woman said, her tone gentle. "You are awake. How do you feel?"
I swallowed, trying to suppress the growing anxiety within me. "I'm... not sure."
The woman didn't seem surprised. She walked over to the side of the bed and placed a cool hand on my forehead. "You've been through much, my lady. A long and exhausting journey, both physically and mentally. But you are safe now. That is what matters."
Her words hit me like a wave. A journey. What kind of journey had I been on? Why couldn't I remember?
"I... don't remember anything," I confessed, the words tumbling out before I could stop them.
The woman's expression shifted, but only for a moment. It was as if she was deciding how much to reveal. Then, she gave a soft sigh and sat down beside me.
"It is understandable," she said softly. "Your memory was affected by the curse. It will take time for you to recall everything."
The word curse sent a shiver down my spine. Curse? What was she talking about? What curse? And what did it have to do with me?
But before I could ask, the woman gave me a reassuring smile. "Rest now, Lady Astrid. You have much to regain, and you must be strong for the trials ahead."
Trials? I didn't know what this woman was referring to, but something in her tone made me believe that the truth of my situation was far more complicated than I had imagined.
For the first time since I woke up, I realized something else—this wasn't just a random reincarnation. I wasn't just a random person placed into another body. I had a role to play, a path to walk.
And whatever it was, I was about to find out.
The game had begun.