Chapter 3: Unveiling the Unknown

Meryl woke up feeling disoriented and confused, trying to recall the events leading up to her current situation. As she attempted to get up, she felt sore all over and decided to rest for a moment, pondering her predicament. "Did I really transmigrate?" she wondered. "Did I die in my world, just like in those novels I've read? What about my mom? What about my dad? What about Damian? Will I ever see them again? Can I ever go back home?" Overwhelmed with emotions, she started sobbing, feeling devastated and afraid.

After crying for a while, Meryl began to question why this had happened to her and what she should do. She hadn't even had the chance to read the novel she found herself in. "Why am I in the body of the princess?" she pondered. "Does that mean the princess is dead?" At the thought of this, she widened her eyes in shock.

Meryl also wondered why her body felt so sore. As she inspected herself, she discovered bruises and injuries, aside from the bandage on her head. This confirmed her suspicion that something had indeed happened to the princess. However, she had no recollection of what had transpired and lacked any of the princess's memories.

Realizing she was in the princess's room, Meryl thought there might be clues present. Gathering her strength, she checked the drawers, the closet, and other areas, hoping to find some answers. "What happened to the princess? Did we swap souls, or is she deceased?" While lost in thought, she stumbled upon a crumpled piece of paper under the bed. Before she could read its contents, there was a knock on the door, startling her. Hastily, Meryl placed the paper back where she found it and sat on the bed.

Then the door opened and in came a young girl dressed in clothing that looked like a maid's, anxiety and worry evident on her face. At the sight of Meryl being awake, she heaved a sigh of relief and greeted her.

"My Lady, you're awake. Good morning, how are you feeling?" she asked.

"I'm okay," Meryl responded. After a moment, she asked the young girl for her name.

"My Lady, my name is Xiao Hui. I'm your personal maid," the girl introduced herself.

"Oh... Okay," Meryl replied and asked, "Then how was I injured?"

"My Lady, don't you remember?" asked Xiao Hui.

Meryl shook her head, indicating that she didn't remember.

"We were on our way to His Highness Prince Xian's Mansion when we got ambushed and attacked by a group of fighters. Since we were already close to his mansion, you sent me away to call for help. But by the time I got back to the scene, the carriages were empty and many of the guards were dead," Xiao Hui explained, sobbing and crying.

"When we found you, my Lady, you were barely breathing. At one point, the doctor said you couldn't be saved, but miraculously in the middle of the night, you started breathing, although slowly. But surely, you were coming back to life. I'm happy that your highness is okay; otherwise, I don't know what I would have done," she continued.

Having learned what had transpired, Meryl responded, "Ah, okay. I'm okay now, so there's no need to cry." After consoling Xiao Hui for a while, she asked if she knew why the men attacked them.

"No, my Lady, they didn't state their reason. They all wore masks, so their faces didn't show," Xiao Hui replied.

"Okay... Thank you for finding help," said Meryl.

"You're welcome, my Lady. It's no problem at all. It's my duty as your maid to assist you as best as I can," Xiao Hui responded.

"Also, my Lady, a letter has been sent to the Yuan Mansion. His lordship is expected to arrive here at any moment," Xiao Hui informed.

"His lordship?... Who is that?" Meryl asked.

"It's your father, my Lady. Your father, his lordship Lord Yuan Wei," the maid revealed.

"Oh... My Lady, please excuse me. I need to report to the head butler that you're awake. I'll be back," Xiao Hui said as she quickly left the room. She didn't notice her mistress's shocked expression.

"What? The villain is my dad?" Meryl muttered, her thoughts swirling with confusion and disbelief. She knew that her journey in this new world was only beginning, and she needed to find out the truth behind everything that had happened.