9 Chapter 6

It hurts. My head and whole body aches. What happened to me? Oh, yes. I was kidnapped, but I can feel my hands and feet now. The chain was gone, did they return me already?

I opened my eyes, my sight is blurry. My body feels light, even though every part of it aches.

"Where the hell am I?" I whispered to myself. I thought they returned me and was comfortably sleeping on my room, but this isn't my room after all. The bed and couch... no, everything around this room is old fashioned. Did they lock me in an old fashioned mansion? In fairness, it looks decent. I peeked at the window, it's already morning. My intention was to flee from the window, but it is impossible. The room was high, and there's a cliff below.

"Nice way of putting their victim far away from the urban areas." I murmured.

Now, time to test my strength. How strong the door is? I approached the door and punch it. "Ouch!" I shouted. This door is as hard as a steel, but if I throw myself it might work.

I sighed and focused. "1... 2... 3!" I threw myself for it to open, and again, and again. Still nothing. This door is annoying.

"Let me get out of here!" I shouted and turned the doorknob. The door suddenly opened. "Eh? It's not locked?" I whispered to myself. I feel embarrassed and thankful because no one saw me and what I did. I heard footsteps coming on my way. I stood up fast, and prepare my stance to attack the kidnapper.

"Princ—"

"Aaaaaa! Hiya!" I shouted and kick his balls. He laid down on the cold floor, tantalizing the pain of my kick.

"Eh?" He's not the kidnapper who talked to me. Is he the boss?

I heard another footstep, "Sir! Gracious! What happened to you?" A maid suddenly came rushing through his sir's location.

"Wow. Nice of you to bring me here, boss. You think I can't fight, especially that you removed my chain?" I asked.

"Boss? And wait w-what are you talking about?" The man said.

"What am I talking about? Did your brain shook as well with my power kick? You kidnapped me yesterday, you don't remember it?" I point my finger at myself.

"I don't understand your language that much. What is kidnap? What is boss?" He tried to get up.

"I don't need to answer your question. I'm getting out of this... house..." I pushed both of them and ran down the stairs, but what the hell is wrong with this house?! "H-hey. What's wrong with this stairs?" I asked. It's neverending!

"Princess. That's not you again, aren't you?" I heard the maid asked. Princess? Me? When did I became a princess?

"I'm not a princess. What are you talking about?" I decided to go up the stairs again, but it's also neverending. That means only one thing, I'm stuck!

"Arrrrg! What's wrong with your stairs? Is this an escalator?!" I shouted because of frustration. The man bursted into laughter.

"Whenever you switch with our princess, this always happen. I never get tired of that expression." He's still laughing. I want to pull his tongue.

"Just let me get out of this effin' stairs!" I shouted.

He became serious and draw something in the air. I'm tired, this is really like an escalator!

"Erocile xe rae ivue rocum

Nue se poro hi riani, suvir!"

It stopped. I blinked many times. What just happened? I looked at him, there were light in his finger, but it faded. And wait, what kind of language is that?!

"I can sense that you have too many questions." He said.

"Y-yes. I do." I said, but my stomach rumbles. Oh, yes. I haven't eaten anything since yesterday. He's trying not to laugh again, I threw dagger looks at him and he fixed his composure.

"Why don't we eat breakfast first before I answer those question?" He asked.

"Okay." I said and followed them to the kitchen.

—

This is a magnificent house, indeed. "It looks like a palace." I whispered to myself.

"Because this is a palace." he said.

"Huh? Are you kidding? There's no palace in our country." I said.

He sighed. "Why do you always have no memory of us whenever you came here?" I don't know if he's asking me or talking to himself.

"Whenever I came here? I'm sure that this is my first time coming here." I said while looking at the interior design of this house. I would definitely remember this design if it really is not my first time.

"Well, yeah. There's no point of insisting whether this is your first or not since you don't and won't remember it anyway."

I just shrug and followed him, this house is big. Going to the kitchen will take you to forever.

—

"Wow! Do you eat like this everyday?" I asked. The table were longer than I expected. There are lots of food, but I don't recognize some of them.

"Yes. Because we serve the princess. We can't let her die of starvation." the man said.

"By the way, what's your name?" I asked.

"I am Verus Fortien." Verus said.

"Verus, huh?" I whispered to myself.

I looked at him and his outfit. "Do you happen to be a soldier? Captain or a leader to be specific?" I asked.

"Yes, I am. I rule all the soldiers of our kingdom." he answered.

I laugh a bit. "That's why."

"Why did you laugh?" He asked.

"Verus, right? Do you know where's Marcus Aurelius?" I jokingly asked.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Verus was confused why I was laughing, but he picked up his spoon and fork and started eating.

"Can I now ask abou—"

"It's a bad habit to interrupt someone while eating. If the princess heard you, she already killed you." Verus interrupted.

"Sorry." I said. "But it's also bad to interrupt someone while talking." I murmured.

After we finished, I was about to ask questions, but he insisted to go to the forest to help him get woods for bath. I feel irritated.

"Oi!" I called him.

"Yes?" He asked without looking at me.

"I thought I was the princess." I panted, "why are you treating me like a maid?" I asked.

"But, you are not the princess right now." he said.

"You're too confident with your answer." I panted again. "Why am I so tired with just this few logs?!" I ruined my hair out of frustration.

"Our princess have a weak body, and most of the people here rely on their magic and mind that's why when you are coming here once in a while, I'm taking that as an opportunity for you to help me gather enough woods for bath."

I didn't heard his explanation because of confusion. When did my hair became this long and thick? I tried to smell my hair. There are no smell of chemical.

"What are you doing? Are you listening to me?" he asked me.

I looked at my outfit. This is not mine. It's a cool dress, but it's mostly made out of metal. I would never wear such kind of clothes. I haven't noticed it until now. I feel lighter, but this metal outfit keeps my balance, and weight. I touched my face and my body.

"Hey." I called him.

"What the hell is this? Tell me honestly what happened to me!"