Yvonne's POV
As I plummeted downward, the last face I saw was hers, just before I was swallowed by the water. It rushed into my nose, cold and suffocating. My hands flail wildly, grasping at the empty air, my body fighting the current with every ounce of strength. I was a fighter, after all. I didn't give up.
But no matter how hard I tried, it seemed like it was my time. I knew I was going to die soon, but never like this, drowning in the cold, unforgiving depths. The water kept flooding my nose, choking me, until I felt something leave my body, something I couldn't explain.
Funny thing, though, as the water pulled me under, and I felt life slipping away, a memory flashed through my mind. Devon, my ex-boyfriend, used to obsess over those documentaries, the ones about what it's like to die. The narrators always said the same thing:
"When the soul leaves the body, it's not gentle. It's not some abstract sensation. It's like something vital was yanked out, something that held you together, and once it's gone, you're just... empty. Detached from everything, like a thread severed from its loom, leaving you to unravel."
I always thought those talks were a little far-fetched. I mean, how the hell would they know what it feels like for a soul to leave the body when theirs was still inside them? They were there, weren't they? So, I always called it bullshit.
But right now? I knew. It had just left. I was dead. I stared at my own body, sinking deeper into the depths of the river, and then, darkness.
But suddenly, the weirdest thing happened. It was like I was tossed into something warm all of a sudden, like a damn cocoon. And then, these words in a different language drifted into my ears:
"Con este acto, te coronamos Reina de Aragón, uniendo tu corazón al del rey. Que tu reinado sea guiado por sabiduría, paz y prosperidad."
{With this act, we crown you Queen of Aragon, uniting your heart with that of the king. May your reign be guided by wisdom, peace, and prosperity.}
And then, nothing but darkness again.
I didn't know how long I was out, but I started hearing strange whispers, soft and sharp, the kind you can't ignore. My brow furrowed. Wasn't I supposed to be dead? Was this the afterlife? Hell, if there was one, I sure didn't think it was supposed to feel this warm. It wasn't like the fiery pits I'd always heard about.
The voices continued, and I slowly blinked open my eyes. Only to immediately slam them shut again when the blinding light hit me. Not dead, then. But… I couldn't be saved by those assholes who'd killed me, right? Maybe I was in a hospital.
I opened my eyes again, squinting against the light, and glanced up at the ceiling. Wait, what the hell? This wasn't a hospital room. No white tiles, no sterile walls. Instead, there were intricate wooden beams arched high above me, carved with patterns that looked like they belonged in a museum. The golden trim shimmered, and a massive chandelier dangled from the ceiling like some medieval fantasy. Nope. Not a hospital.
"Ihre Königliche Hoheit ist erwacht." {The Royal Highness has awoken}, a soft voice fluttered in my ear. German. The cadence of the words gave it away instantly. But why the hell was someone speaking German?
I turned toward the voice, and my gaze landed on a young girl who couldn't be more than sixteen. Tears welled up in her eyes, and I found myself wondering, Who is she? Before I could ask, she knelt in front of me, her outfit, wait, what the heck was she wearing?
I blurted out without thinking, "Who are you, and what are you wearing?" Her eyes went wide as she stared at me, completely bewildered. She glanced over at the elderly woman standing by the door, her head bowed low.
The woman raised her bowed head slowly, stepping forward. They both wore the same style of clothing. The young girl was in a long, flowing gown of deep blue with lace trim at the sleeves and collar. Her hair was tied back neatly, and a simple white bonnet sat on her head. She looked like some sort of maid, but the dress? Expensive, yet humble. Definitely not some cheap, costume-like outfit.
The older woman, who seemed to have more authority, wore a gown of rich gold and burgundy. It was decorated with detailed embroidery, and the layers of fabric seemed to shimmer softly under the light. A small, crown-like headpiece sat on her head, looking expensive enough to buy my entire wardrobe. Her dress, though elegant, wasn't overly flashy but still made the maid's simpler clothing look plain in comparison.
And I wasn't sure if I was going insane or if I'd somehow ended up in the weirdest movie set in history.
What the hell was going on? Was this some kind of bizarre costume party? But it wasn't even close to Halloween, September, for crying out loud. Or were they filming a movie? If so, why the fuck was I here?
"Who are you, and what the hell am I doing here?" I demanded again, my voice sharp. The young girl recoiled in shock, her confusion obvious. More tears welled up in her eyes, and I looked around. No cameras. So what was going on?
"Eure Hoheit." {Your Highness}, the young girl in the medieval maid outfit said again, her voice trembling. I didn't understand a word. She reached for my hand, and I yanked it away.
That's when I caught sight of my sleeves. My brows furrowed, and I looked down at the cloth I was wearing.
My heart skipped a beat. Where the fuck was my crop top, my latex skirt, and my boots? Instead, I was draped in what could only be described as some ridiculous, royal gown. The fabric was heavy, black with puffy sleeves and gold accents, like something straight out of a medieval fairytale. What the hell was this?!
I spun around, only to find the same ridiculous outfit behind me, no tight skirts, no edgy boots, just this fluffy monstrosity dragging on the floor. I could barely move in this thing. And my hair… my sleek, red pixie cut? What happened to it? Now I had long, brown flowing locks that felt like they belonged in a period drama.
"Ahhh!" I screamed, leaping off the bed. "What the fuck is going on here?!" This couldn't be happening. Where the hell was my real outfit?
I turned to the maid, but she was crawling backward, her face filled with terror as she stared at me. It was like she was seeing a monster. And then, with a cry, she fell face-first to the floor.
"Meine Prinzessin hat den Verstand verloren." {My princess has lost her mind.} She whispered, her voice quivering.