Selena had been staring at the white wall for 30 minutes now. One thought consumed her mind ' Where am I? '
She had gone to bed last night like any other night. She remembered dreaming about falling—plummeting through endless darkness. When she woke up, she was here.
'What's going on?!' she asked herself, panic rising in her chest.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the creak of a door opening.
She snapped her head up, startled, as the door creaked open. A young maid stepped inside, her head bowed and hands nervously clutching the hem of her apron.
"G-Good morning, your h-highness," the maid stammered, her voice trembling as if she feared she had made a grave mistake by speaking.
Selena's eyes widened. Your highness ? The words echoed in her mind, foreign and unsettling. 'What is going on?'
The maid didn't wait for a reply. Keeping her head low, she hurried across the room toward a door on the opposite side, her footsteps barely audible on the polished floor.
Selena watched in confusion as the maid opened the door, revealing an enormous walk-in closet. Inside were rows of dresses, shelves of shoes, stacks of bags, and every type of clothing imaginable. The colors and fabrics shimmered under the soft light, looking far too luxurious to be real.
Selena's breath hitched. Where am I? Why would anyone call me 'your highness'?
Selena tore her eyes away from the lavish closet and took in the rest of her surroundings. The room was enormous—so big it could easily fit a bedroom, bathroom, and living room all in one space.
Everything around her screamed luxury and wealth. The furniture was ornate, with intricate carvings and gilded accents, and the fabrics looked impossibly soft and expensive.
Her gaze landed on a large portrait hanging on the far wall. The woman in the picture was breathtakingly beautiful. She had striking white hair that cascaded down her shoulders and bright blue eyes that seemed to pierce through the canvas. Her clothing was as extravagant as the room itself, radiating an aura of power and sophistication.
Selena couldn't help but stare. There was something oddly familiar about the woman, yet Selena was certain she had never seen her before.
"Wh-which one w-would her h-highness prefer?" the maid asked hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Selena snapped her head away from the portrait, her eyes landing on the maid. The woman held two dresses delicately in her hands. One was a soft, light green gown that seemed to glow under the room's light, its fabric flowing like liquid silk. The other was a sleek black dress, simple yet elegant, with an air of quiet power.
Selena blinked in confusion. Wait, is she asking me to choose? she thought, her mind racing. She couldn't even wrap her head around why she was here, let alone why someone was offering her dresses fit for royalty.
"I'm sorry... but I think you have it wrong," Selena said, her voice firm but uncertain as she suddenly stood up from the bed. "I'm not a royal—ouch!"
Her words were cut off as she stubbed her tiny toe against the edge of the bedframe. Pain shot through her foot, sharp and unforgiving.
Selena immediately bent down, clutching her throbbing toe. "Ouch, ouch, ouch!" she muttered under her breath. Any lingering hope that this was all just a strange dream quickly vanished. The pain was far too real.
"Your highness!!" the maid gasped, rushing to Selena's side with wide, panicked eyes. "Are you alright? Should I call for a healer?"
Selena glanced up at the maid, torn between embarrassment and disbelief. This situation was growing stranger by the second.
"No, I'm..." Selena paused, still clutching her foot. "Fine."
She straightened herself carefully, the throbbing pain in her toe a sharp reminder of her current reality. Selena hesitated, knowing that what she was about to ask would sound strange—possibly even absurd. But she needed answers.
"Excuse me, but... what's my name? Again?"
The maid froze, her eyes widening in shock. For a moment, she just stared at Selena, her mouth slightly open as if searching for words.
Finally, in a cautious voice, she said, "Your name is Selena. Selena Crystiyal."
'Wait, but that's my name too well except crystiyal', Selena thought, her heart pounding. Without a second thought, she stood up and hurried to the mirror across the room.
What she saw made her gasp. The same woman from the portrait was staring back at her.
Selena rubbed her eyes, hoping she was imagining things, but the reflection didn't change. The woman in the mirror had flowing white hair and piercing blue eyes that practically glowed. She looked regal, confident, and entirely unfamiliar.
Selena's gaze darted back to the portrait, then to the mirror, and back again. This isn't me, she thought in panic. I have brown hair and dark eyes, not... this.
Her reflection seemed to mock her confusion.
"What's going on...?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
Now that she thought about it, the name Selena Crystiyal sounded oddly familiar.
Selena closed her eyes, diving deep into her memories, searching for where she'd heard it before. The name lingered on the edges of her mind until—click.
Of course! Selena Crystiyal, from the book "My Kingdom Fall," she thought, her heart racing.
But why was she here? Why was she in Selena Crystiyal's body? Was this some kind of black magic? How did she end up in a fictional world?
Her frantic thoughts were interrupted by the maid's hesitant voice.
"Uhm, is h-her highness feeling better now?"
Selena blinked, snapping out of her spiraling thoughts. "Yes... yes," she replied, waving a hand dismissively. "I'm fine," she added in a low voice, trying to sound composed.
Before she could gather her thoughts, the door creaked open again, and another maid entered the room.
"Your highness," the new maid began, bowing slightly, "are you ready? You are meeting the prince today... for your engagement meeting."
Engagement?! Selena's mind screamed, her heart nearly stopping. What is going on?!