Yvonne's POV
"Let me go! This isn't right! I said, "Let me go, you big oaf!" I struck the back of the guard holding me, and I heard him groan in pain, which made a small, satisfied smile tug at my lips.
"What do you need me for? let me go," I demanded, still struggling. My head felt like it was about to split open from the awkward way I was being held upside down. My stomach growled ominously, threatening to turn over as I bounced uncomfortably on his shoulder, the hard bone digging into my midsection.
But no matter how loudly I screamed, no one came to my aid. Not that I had expected anyone to, but still... The complete indifference was maddening. My vision was spinning, and each jarring movement made my stomach churn even more.
Then I heard it, a panicked voice, trembling with urgency. "Meine Königin, du musst wieder zu Sinnen kommen, bitte, du musst es." (My queen, you must come to your senses, please, you must.)
I lifted my head slightly, brushing the stray locks of hair from my face, and saw that it was the young girl who had spoken German before. She looked so frightened, and for a moment, a strange urge washed over me, if only I could speak the language. Maybe I could reason with her, figure out what was happening, get some answers.
Had I somehow been dragged into some bizarre cult that planned to sacrifice me to their gods?
She pressed on, her voice desperate. "Dieses Verhalten ist hier nicht akzeptabel." Du hast den König, deinen Ehemann, erniedrigt. "Komm wieder zu Sinnen und bitte entschuldige dich." (This behavior is not acceptable here. You have humiliated the king, your husband. Come to your senses and please apologize.)
I tuned her out, my eyes drifting around the surroundings. The castle was beautiful, its grandeur a striking contrast to the chaos in my mind. The walls seemed to hum with age, their dark stone adorned with intricate carvings. It was majestic, but it couldn't stop the sense of dread creeping up my spine.
What was really going on here? The thought made my head spin, but I had no choice but to try to make sense of it all.
Maybe I had been too hasty. I hadn't taken the time to understand where I was; I'd simply jumped to conclusions. But who could blame me? All I had heard since waking up was either German or Spanish, two languages I didn't know.
Then, a voice whispered in the back of my mind: What if they can't hear what you're saying either?
I shook my head, trying to push the thought away. How could that be possible? We were in America, weren't we? Everyone here spoke English, or at least could understand it. Even if it wasn't their first language, they could hear it, right?
But the unsettling uncertainty gnawed at me. Could it be that I was somewhere far from home, in a place where I didn't belong, surrounded by people who couldn't understand a word I was saying? The idea made my stomach twist in unease.
God, this was bad, really bad. Had I somehow washed up in a different country? But what country still dressed like this? The clothes, everything about it, felt like something out of the medieval centuries…
"No, no, that can't be possible. It couldn't be," I muttered to myself, shaking my head. I let out a short laugh at the ridiculous thought that had just crossed my mind. Maybe I'd hit my head harder than I realized, and this was all just a dream, a hallucination before death. Or perhaps I was slowly losing my mind.
There's no way I was back in time, or that I'd somehow been transmigrated into the medieval ages. That was impossible. Magic didn't exist.
I laughed again, but the sound was hollow, almost desperate. Then, I heard that young girl cry again, this time even louder. Ugh, would she just shut up already?
Suddenly, I was dropped onto a bed. The guards bowed their heads respectfully before stepping back. I blinked and looked around, realizing with a sinking feeling that I was back in that same room, the one I had woken up in earlier.
The room was grand yet simple, reflecting the beauty of castle. The bed I was on was large, draped in thick, luxurious red velvet curtains that matched the tapestries hanging along the walls. Ornate wooden furniture surrounded the space, intricate carvings and deep, polished mahogany giving it a royal feel. A large fireplace on the far side of the room flickered with flames, casting soft shadows that seemed to dance across the stone floors. The air smelled faintly of the sea and old, rich wood, and despite the beauty, the place felt cold, alien. I didn't belong here.
I need to find a way out, but I didn't stand up from the bed. The guards were still in the room, standing by the door, their heads bowed in respect.
And then someone stepped into the room. An elderly man with a dignified presence. He was dressed in a long, dark robe that flowed to the floor, embroidered with gold around the collar and cuffs. His face was lined with age, but his eyes were sharp, focused. He wore a simple cap atop his balding head, and his belt held a small pouch and several tools. He moved with quiet confidence, his every step measured, The faint scent of herbs and medicinal oils clung to him, betraying his profession.
Was this a kind of doctor? I thought to myself.
The man's head remained bowed as he opened his mouth to speak, but when his gaze met mine, his eyes went wide with horror. He quickly averted his eyes, his face paling.
"¿Qué está pasando? La reina... en tal estado,"?"("What's happening? The queen... in such a state.) he muttered under his breath in Spanish, though I couldn't understand his words. His tone, however, made it clear it wasn't anything good. I frowned in confusion and glanced behind me, but there was nothing out of the ordinary.
Before I could make sense of it, I heard the rush of footsteps. Turning around, I felt a heavy cloth draped over my upper body. It was the maidservant.
What was she doing now?