1 Prologue: Where Am I?

...

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

Marbled floors covered with crimson red blood, spreading like a wildfire that consumed a healthy forest. A man lying weakly on the floor, breath ragged and choked as if he didn't have enough oxygen filling his  lungs.

"Brother.. Brother...." A woman's voice muttered out, holding the cheeks of the man who lay down in a pool of blood. "I had to do it."

...

The girl awoke haphazardly, gasping for air as rivulets of cold sweat dripped down her face. Her hair was matted down to her forehead, and she was sure that her shirt was damp with her sweat.

"What the hell was that dream..." She groaned out, sitting up from her tiny couch. She didn't think she would fall asleep, but here she was, covered in her own sticky perspiration.

Letting out a big yawn, she stands up to stretch all her joints that felt uncomfortable because of her odd sleeping position. It was a small couch, so she'd fall off if she slept in any other position except for the fetal position.

Her head was ringing. For some reason, ever since her long work holiday started, she's been having weird dreams and killer migraines. If she could do it, she'd honestly drill her head just to get rid of the pain.

On the coffee table in front of her dingy couch was her cellphone, placed face down on the glass as it moved from how much it was vibrating. She was tired of seeing the countless notifications she received from work despite being on holiday break, so keeping it face down gave her a bit of peace.

It was a lazy day today. The breeze was cool, the sun was covered by large clouds, and the day was surprisingly calm and quiet instead of bustling with noise. It must have been because most of the people in her apartment visited their hometowns for Easter.

"I really need to stop falling asleep in small spaces..." The girl sighs out, massaging her temples as she walked around her small living room into the kitchen right beside it. "Ugh, my head feels so horrible.."

She complains inwardly as she takes out a bowl of instant cup noodles from one of her cupboards, proceeding to fill the water heater so she could boil some water.

All of a sudden, her phone rings loudly, the tune of a bell blaring through the speakers echoing in her small apartment flat. She grumbled in annoyance as she stomped over to pick it up, pressing the accept button angrily as she placed the phone by her ear.

"Hello?" She replied snarkily, a frown on her face. "Who is this? This better not be about work."

[Honey? It's Mom. Is there something wrong?] She gasps as she hears the soft voice of her mother from the other side of the line, instantly feeling guilty about how she reply.

"Oh my gosh, mom! I'm so sorry for answering like that.." She replied sheepishly, rubbing the back of her neck. "Nothing's wrong, I'm fine. What's up?"

[If you say so.] Her mother chuckles out. [Will you be going home for the holiday? Your father and brother said they miss you. They've been bothering me about you for a week now!]

"I don't know, Mom." She sighs, taking the whistling water heater and pouring the piping hot water into the cup of noodles. She placed metal chopsticks on top of the lid so it would stay closed. "I'm kind of tired. My head has been hurting for the past few days and I've been feeling light-headed too. I might just stay home."

[Oh... Okay.] You could hear the disappointment in her mother's voice, making the girl feel guilt eat at her conscience. [Are you sure you're not coming home? How about the weekend? Won't you at least go home during the weekend?]

"I..." Her head throbbed painfully again, making her hold her head in her left hand as her right held the phone. "Alright. I'll go this weekend, Mom. For you guys."

Never mind if her head was hurting like it homed the depths of hell. Her family was the only reason she would travel for 2 hours to the countryside with a migraine.

[Really?] Her mother's voice was filled with happiness and excitement. [That's great to hear sweetie! I heard from your friend who just came home from Seoul that you were promoted. I want to hear all about it when you get home!]

"I will, Mom." A light smile was placed on the girl's lips as she reopened the lid of her cup, the smell of good instant noodles wafting in the air.

[You better not be eating instant noodles! Eat healthy, okay?] Her mother nagged her, reminding her to keep her body healthy. [I'll hang up now. Your good for nothing father is asking me to cook lunch already. That idiot. Alright, I love you honey! Goodbye and see you soon!]

"I love you too, Mom. See you soon." Her smile was full of love as she ended the call, placing it on the table beside her food. Her phone was left on lock screen mode, the wallpaper being her family picture during their summer beach trip a year ago.

Sitting herself on the cheap seat that came with her heavily discounted table, she picks up her chopsticks so she could start eating until a stinging pain attacked her head, making her drop her utensils. Her hands immediately shoot up to hold her head, cursing under her breath with how excruciating the pain she felt was.

"Crap, my head...!" She whined out, dragging her feet as she wobbled towards the cupboard where she store her medicine. "I wish I was dead, ugh.."

"Tylenol should do the trick." She muttered to herself, taking two 500 milligram pills and chucking it in her mouth, downing it with the glass of water she left on the counter a few hours ago.

She hoped to heavens her headache would die down after an hour as she sat herself back in her seat, leaning into her hands. She took deeps breaths, trying to keep herself calm. The pain was making herself disassociate with reality, making her feel very light-headed and nauseous.

"Ah, whatever..." She slurred out, heading towards her bedroom. "I'll just sleep this stupid migraine away."

Her head felt like it would split in half, so conking out was probably the best remedy. It was definitely better than waiting for the medicine to work.

Not even bothering to fix her food that was already getting cold, she dropped onto her bed and instantly fell asleep, numbing her body from the pain.

...

Drip.

Drip.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

The place was extremely dark, with the only source of light coming from the moonlight that shone through. It was an unfamiliar place, with white pillars and arched walls that seemed like it was straight out of a fairytale.

'Where is this? Is this another dream?' She thought to herself as she looked down at her hands. What she saw surprised her, but her scream just stayed stuck in her throat, as if someone else was controlling her body and preventing her from making any noise.

"Brother." Her voice didn't sound like her. It was another woman's voice, but it was coming from her body! "I've done it."

The unknown woman's sweet voice trailed off, her lips lifting up in a smile. Her body was moving on its own.. What the hell was happening?!

"Good job, Astraea." A tall man who leaned on the pillar right in front of her approached close, placing his hand on top of her cheek. Again, her body moved on its own accord as she placed her hand atop of the man's, melting into his hold. Her eyes closed, breathing out.

"Thank you, brother." She chuckles out, removing her hand before taking the bloody rapier sword that was on the side, handing it over to the man.

"I'll be going now to clean the sword. Make sure to act well. The knights are coming." He takes the sword from her and glances down at the bleeding man in Astraea's lap, choking on his own blood.

"I will brother." The woman's voice replies, looking down so she stared at the face of the bloodied man. His features twisted in pain, chest heaving in panic. "Oh, poor you..."

'What the hell is happening...?!' She thought in her mind, unable to avoid looking at the gruesome man as her body had a mind of its own.

Marbled floors covered with crimson red blood, spreading like a wildfire that consumed a healthy forest.

"Brother.. Brother...." The woman muttered out, holding the cheeks of the man who lay down in a pool of blood. "I had to do it."

Smiling one last time, she closes her eyes then hugs her brother's body, starting to sob. "Brother Ajax! Who did this to you?!"

As if she predicted it, the knights start running in, a panicked frenzy passing through. They all head towards the woman and the man she was hugging, trying to pull her away. She shook her head and continued to hold on, bawling her eyes out.

"Princess Astraea! Please let go of Prince Ajax's body!" One of the knight's tried to hold her back, but she only continued to sob into his cold body.

"No! Let me go!! How could they hurt my brother!!!!" Her acting was on point. No one would think she was the one who killed whoever this Prince Ajax was. "Why...?!"

Another knight tries to calm her down, pulling her away from the body of the prince. The knight's green eyes shone with concern as he held her arms. "Princess... Calm down please. We will take care of this."

'I don't like it here.. Please, I hope I wake up from this damn dream!' She cried out in her consciousness, tears that finally came from her dripping down her cheeks.

"Save me." She whispered, her real words breaking through as she fell unconscious, dropping into the arms of  the worried knight.

...

Morning sun shone through the windows, the curtains open wide as the rays hit the bed where Astraea slept on.

Her eyes shoot open, observing the unfamiliar surroundings.

"Where am I?" She asked herself, getting shocked once she spoke. She could talk! Finally! But this, wasn't her voice...

"What's happening? Mom?" She felt herself starting to panic, climbing off her bed to head to the full body vanity mirror that was at the corner of the large room. "Who... Is this?"

Pale, porcelain skin. Long, beautifully curled silver hair that cascaded down her back. Golden eyes that shone like gems and plump, pink lips. This was not her. This was definitely not her.

"Whose body is this? Where am I?" She cries out, frantically searching for any type of gadget. "Where am I? What is this? Am I still dreaming?"

She pinches herself, but the stinging pain she felt meant this was all real.

She scrambles to find any kind of book of newspaper, finding one atop the table in the balcony beside her bed.

Astraea pushes the doors open, grabbing the newspaper that was placed on the elegant table, reading it.

She could read it. But this.. This wasn't her language. What the hell was this?

"What..." She drops to her knees, not bothering if the nightgown she wore got dirtied. It wasn't truly hers, anyways. "What's going on here...?"

It was only a few moments ago when she was in a call with her mom, promising to visit home.

"Oh no, mom...!" She cried out, bursting into tears. "I don't know where I am!"

Being in such an unfamiliar environment with no familiar item in sight was enough to make her cry. It was also due to the accumulating stress from work and the headaches she had been feeling that made her explode.

Astraea even began thinking she may have transmigrated into a different body. It was honestly the stupidest thing to think about, but what else could explain this crazy situation? Her, an asian woman in her late twenties, was now in the body of a young european looking woman who didn't look a day over twenty.

But why would she be transmigrated? Out of all of the souls that the almighty god above could have transmigrated, why did it have to be her? Did she die?

She only slept! How could she die of a migraine?! Did they really take her joking wish to die awhile ago?

"No, no, that's stupid and impossible." She muttered to herself, biting her thumb. "But why am I here...?"

Remembering once again that she was in a foreign place, she bursts into tears, feeling herself start to breakdown. Her mind melted like a puddle as she cried and screamed loudly, her head on the floor. Her panic attack was starting.

As she hyperventilated on the carpeted floor, several maids burst in the room and crowd at Astraea, trying to calm her down. They were all worried, pulling her hands away from her body so she would not hurt herself.

"Gosh, what's happening to the Princess?!" One of the maids muttered out, smoothing her hand down Astraea's back as she continued to scream and cry. It was hard to calm down once a panic attack started.

"Call the Crown Prince!! Please!!!" The maids yell at the concerned knights who peeked inside the room, startling them as the whipped their heads away.

"O-Okay!" One of the knights replied, their boots clicking on the floor and their swords clinking on their belts as they ran to call the Crown Prince.

Soon after, the Crown Prince runs into the room, the maids parting and giving way to him as he rushed to Astraea's side.

"Astraea, what has happened to you?!" He asked frantically, trying to look at her face. Astraea continued to cry as she struggled to get away from the Crown Prince.

"Get away from me! Get away!" She sobbed out, about to push him away even harder when he suddenly hugs her. His hug was warm, and it reminded her of her older brother back at home.

"Astraea, its okay. It's just me Aristaeus." He said, patting her back as her cries started to quiet down. She starts to hiccup as she grips Aristaeus' back.

Aristaeus picks up Astraea, placing her on her bed as she sniffled. They remained hugging on her bed, just like two siblings trying to comfort each other.

"The poor Princess..." One of the maids mutter out, feeling sadness for Astraea who cried silently. "She must be having a hard time since she was the one who discovered her Prince Ajax's body last night...."

"It's okay, Astraea..." He continues to pat her back, making her feel like ease. He reminded her so much of her brother back in her world, it almost made her burst into tears again.

"Hngg..." She hiccuped, hugging Aristaeus even tighter. It didn't matter if she didn't really know this man. This body recognized him, so she clung onto him for support.

"Astraea..." His lips go close to her ear. His eyes turn sharp, his concerned look changing into a blank look. He whispers, "You better not tell anyone about what we did to Ajax last night."

Her blood runs cold.

She thought wrong. This man was no reliable brother. He was only pretending.

He pulls away and wipes away the tears off her shocked face, smiling cruelly before looking back at the maids.

"Call the Imperial doctor to get Astraea checked up later. I think she may be suffering symptoms of PTSD because of what she saw last night." The maids nod, gazing solemnly at the Princess. "Leave us for a moment. I will speak to my sister and calm her down."

They quietly file out of the room and close the door behind them, leaving the two of them alone. She felt her stomach churn with uncertainty and slight fear, staring at her brother who gazed coldly at her.

"You." He gripped her cheeks with a gloved hand. "You better not take this too far. Why are you acting like such an insane woman?"

He pulls her face up, frowning even more. "Stop acting like an idiot. How can you be traumatized when you killed Ajax with your own hands? Tsk."

After berating her for her breakdown, he turns around and leaves the room, closing the door right behind him.

...

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