Sohyun's POV.
Seven men sat across from me at a long table, staring at me with sharp, determined eyes. This was a meeting room. Yes, the kind of room used for important or urgent discussions.
"Your Grace! Give us your orders!"
"We will do anything!"
"Should we declare war now?"
"The monsters are approaching the third line."
"Your Grace!"
But why...
Why are you all asking me?! How would I know what to do?! Do I look like a military commander to you?! Monsters?! Am I going to die?! Why are you staring at me? What are you waiting for? I don't know!
I want to go home!!
__________________
A day earlier, back in Sohyun's small and modest home, her mother was preparing breakfast—a steaming bowl of kimchi soup, her favorite.
"Sohyun! Hurry down!" her mother called out, and moments later, rapid footsteps echoed down the stairs. But instead of heading to the dining room, Sohyun dashed straight to the door.
"How about your breakfast?"
"No! I have to get to work!" Sohyun replied, running out of the house. She sprinted down the street, answering an important call—who else but her boss.
"I'll be there in five minutes! Everything's alrea—"
Crash!
Sohyun collided with a man, and they both went sprawling onto the ground. Without a word of complaint, she began gathering the scattered documents from the pavement. Meanwhile, the man picked up her fallen phone—and then immediately running away.
"Hey! You thief!" Forgetting about the documents, Sohyun took off after the man.
"Stop, you jerk! Hey!" She was exhausted but refused to give up. The thief crossed a zebra crossing, widening the gap between them.
"Damn it!" Without thinking, Sohyun dashed after him, disregarding the green light. Her thoughts were a chaotic mess—she didn't even care about risking her life as long as she could get back her fifteen-million-won phone, still under installments.
Honk! Honk!
Crash!
_____________
Sohyun's POV.
My head was pounding, and my eyes fluttered open. I was lying in a bed somewhere, feeling intense pain. Damn it, I thought I was going to die back there.
...How many days had passed? A week? Two weeks? A month? What happened to my phone? That damn thief...!
Despite the difficulty, I glanced around, noticing something odd. The room didn't look like a hospital at all—there were no EKG machines or other medical equipment. Even the bed was strange.
It was... incredibly soft.
"Where am I?"
What?! My voice changed?!
"Why... What's...?"
Oh no, no, no! What's happening? Why is my voice different?!
I sat up and examined my surroundings more closely. This wasn't a hospital room—it felt more like a private chamber. But the question was, whose chamber was this?
"Your Grace, you're awake."
I nearly jumped out of my skin when a man's voice startled me. I turned to see him entering through the window.
...Who is he?! Is he some kind of gangster?! Why is he coming in through the window?!
"How are you feeling?"
This man... was wearing the strangest outfit. Almost everything he had on was made of metal. Was he cosplaying as a knight? And most importantly...
"Your Grace?"
He was ridiculously handsome. Oh my gosh, like an idol.
"Ahem. The monsters in the northern sector have been dealt with. There's unlikely to be a second wave, but we cannot lower our guard. I'm relieved you've regained consciousness, Your Grace. The knights were very worried about you."
What was he saying? Do cosplayers usually commit to their roles this much? I had no idea what he was talking about. Monsters? Has he lost his mind?
"Your Grace, please say something."
"Who are you?"
He looked startled by my question. What? Why? Was my question inappropriate? I was asking because I genuinely didn't know who he was. Surprised, he suddenly knelt down, one knee on the ground while the other supported his arm.
"I am Xavier Edguard, a knight of Brawn, eternally sworn to be your loyal sword."
...What the hell?! Why is he taking this so seriously?! Stop it already! This is stressing me out!
I wanted to ask him who I was, but I was scared. He was a stranger, and if I said the wrong thing, he might hurt me. Those three swords hanging on his clothes are just for show, right? Tell me they're fake. What should I do?!
Damn it, damn it, damn it...!
"Your Grace?"
"I have a question for you."
Let's ask politely and calmly. Don't panic, just stay composed.
"Who am I?"
I was sure I'd asked nicely, politely, and calmly. My heart raced nervously—a habit of an introvert with anxiety issues. Damn it.
...Huh?
"Y-you... are the Duchess of the northern region..."
He stammered? And his hands and legs were shaking? Was he scared of me now? But I was sure that I asked him nicely!
Fine, let's try one more time. Be even friendlier.
"What's my name?"
"Y-you... are... The Duchess... of Brawn... Riana Brawn..."
...Why does he seem even more terrified? What kind of situation is this?
It's better to end this here. I need some time alone to figure out what's going on. If he stays, things might just get more complicated.
"I understand. Leave now."
"Y-yes, Your Grace."
He obeyed and left the room—not through the window, but through the door. As soon as the door shut, I lay back on the bed, stretching my arms and legs.
"Damn it...! What the hell is happening to me?!"
______________
Xavier let out a long, heavy sigh as he exited Riana's chamber.
"Her Grace has become even colder than before. Could the battle still be haunting her mind?" He thought.
"Who am I?"
"What's my name?"
"Those questions... they were terrifying. If it had been Henry or Finn standing there instead of me, they would've wet themselves." Shaking his head, Xavier walked away, still haunted by the intensity of Riana's presence in that room.
"Your Grace..."