The Capital (1)
A week had passed since I fainted. I'm not going to lie; I got an earful from the countess—especially Averon, the healer.
Averon used his healing abilities on my feet for an hour since they were bleeding excessively. I never noticed how bad it was until I saw my poor state when I woke up two days after the incident.
Even after waking up, I felt feverish and like my chest was about to burst. I didn't know what I thought when I saw my reflection. I was bewildered that my hunches were right about being transmigrated to another world.
I felt that my grandfather was somehow related to how I could possess someone else's body, but how? I never considered my grandfather to be someone who would transport their granddaughter into a mysterious world!
All of you might wonder how I concluded that I was in a different world. Aside from the obvious fact that I'm in a completely different body, I saw a glimpse outside the dressing room before I fainted.
There were FOUR freaking moons! And it wasn't even nighttime! As an average rational human, I never saw the three extra moons from Earth!
Also, the other three have different colors, and the beige moon is the nearest moon to this place. With that, it's crystal clear that this world isn't ordinary—for me, at least.
It left me wondering—Was I the only one who got transmigrated? I thought of this before, but it saddens me that I'm alone again. I was alone, even back in my world, but at least I knew some people. I got a sense of familiarity from them, but here? All of them are strangers.
Just thinking about this body's previous state makes me afraid of what these people can do. Being alone in a mysterious world and not knowing about it is frightening, but what can I do? I'm here now.
I don't dare to venture out, so this place is my safe zone. I'll survive this somehow.
I heard a knock on my door, and Haren, one of the maids in this mansion, went inside.
"You're awake, Milady."
I smiled. "I already told you that you should call me by my name, Haren."
She scratched her head shyly. "But you're a noble lady, Miss A-Adel! How can a lowly servant like me call a noble lady's name so recklessly?"
I chuckled. "But you just said my name, Haren. Besides, how can you say that I'm a noble lady? You might have heard from Averon, but I don't remember anything from my past."
I ended up spewing the name of this body when fragments of her past flashed when I was about to faint, so they started calling me 'Adelaide' or 'Adel.' I hesitated to accept the name since I thought it wasn't the real me.
How can I become someone else when my previous memories as Chesah Manalo remain?
Besides, I'm still determining if I want to live as Adelaide wishes. I remember her saying 'revenge' as her final word before I woke up from that dream, and I understood it even if it was only one word.
She wants me to bring retribution to the people who caused her misery and demise.
I can't recall any of Adelaide's memories except the recent ones, like how she was tormented and chained up like a wild animal. I remembered how those scoundrels would beat her up and question her about the Pearl of Salacia.
Even after the maltreatment, Adelaide maintained her elegant posture and uttered a word.
The rest of her memories are still foggy, like in a game that needs to be unlocked, so I don't know who Adelaide is. I understood Haren's sentiment about Adelaide being a noble lady because even I, who hardly compliments people if it is not sincere, find her quite beautiful.
Her dramatic looks are enough to woo men, especially in my world. She'll be a seductress, I bet.
"Enough chitchat, Milady. We need you to be ready for later's celebration," said Haren while taking off the bandages from my feet.
My eyebrows furrowed, and I asked, "Celebration? What for? The countess never mentioned a celebration today."
"It was decided earlier this morning. A carrier pigeon with the symbol of House Vanidestine arrived. I don't know the details, but they said the subjugation team finished their mission earlier than planned. So, they decided to hold a small banquet for their return."
Subjugation? It's my first time hearing this. I don't know these people well, but I know this mansion belongs to the Vanidestine family.
According to Haren, the countess is managing the county's affairs since the count is away with the Vanidestine Knights for the annual subjugation. It's been a month since the count and the knights left, and it usually takes three months to finish their mission.
"Why does the subjugation take that long? And what do they 'subjugate'?" I inquired as we headed to the bath.
When the other maids arrived, they undressed me to prepare for the bath. Even after a week, I could never get used to this treatment. I almost squealed when I had my first bath in this world since the maids entered the bathroom without letting me know.
How should I know that helping a noble lady with their bath is a regular task for them? And I can't refuse their service because they'll start bawling like children! Their reason is that the countess ordered them to care for me since I'm a patient and need tremendous attention—which isn't required.
"They subjugate the monsters near the borders, Milady. Every year monsters start to appear after their mating season from the Witch's Forest—that's what I heard from the knights, at least. The Witch's Forest is the border between the Empire of Tellus and the Empire of Igneus," she explained while shampooing my hair.
"The monster's constant appearance from the forest is still a mystery, but no one dares to venture into it since even a skilled swordmaster and archmage cannot make it out alive."
Do swordmasters and archmages exist in this world? Of course! Even monsters exist! What a roundabout way to say that a beast could devour me anytime if I try to leave this mansion!
I can't imagine how these people get by, knowing monsters could kill them if the subjugation fails.
While Haren was massaging my hair with shampoo, the other maids were massaging other parts of my body. Now this feels luxurious! I already feel drowsy because of the bath's comforting ambiance and calming fragrance.
"Do these monsters exist only in the Witch's Forest?"
"No, Milady. Recently, these monsters have been EVERYWHERE, and the Witch's Forest is only their breeding ground. The townspeople reported to the respective chief of the town that they sighted a monster's younglings inside an abandoned house five miles away from the border."
She sighed. "The townspeople are quite scared by the recent reports of the chief since it's the first time this has happened. Even though the knights of House Vanidestine have their annual subjugation, it isn't enough to destroy the monsters. We're just thankful the knights are strong enough to fend off the monsters for now."
After that, I didn't ask any more questions because it would just make my skin crawl. How Haren calmly answered my questions indicates she's used to this.
"Milady, the countess wanted me to pass your schedule for the day," said a woman who just entered the bathroom.
"After Milady's bath, Young Master Beau and Countess Vanidestine will have breakfast with you. You will go to the empire's capital with the countess by lunch to buy some dresses for tonight's celebration." She looked at me sternly. "Do you have any questions, Milady?"
I feel like she will pop my head if I ask any questions. It's my first time seeing her, but I think she dislikes me.
"Hey, Eartha! Stop looking at Milady like that. That's rude, you know?" Haren carped, feeling annoyed. "Your dislike for Milady is so evident that you don't even try to hide it."
Eartha remained emotionless and said, "This is how I look daily, Haren. Remarkably, you can discern the differences in my face."
She's not even denying that she doesn't like me. Despite that, I don't feel the same way about her. Just because someone dislikes me doesn't mean I should also dislike them, right? Eartha hasn't done anything to me yet.
"If Milady doesn't have any questions, then I shall take my leave," Eartha said, then bowed.
Before leaving, she looked back. "Haren, don't assassinate the countess' guest." After that, she left the bathroom.
Haren's angry face vanished when she realized she'd been massaging my head too roughly.
"Oh my! I apologize, Milady!" She shouted with a frightened voice while constantly bowing.
I smiled awkwardly and said, "It's okay, Haren. You don't need to apologize aggressively since it's ."
Her gaze slowly moved toward me, and I stopped myself from laughing when her face looked like she was about to cry.
"Hey, don't laugh at me! I thought Milady was going to send my head flying!"
I chuckled at her response. Haren and the maids continued their massages, and we talked until we finished.