The day was going by routinely.
Wake up. Eat breakfast. Get ready. Go see how the art house was doing.
Life as a single artist wasn't very exciting. The only reason she went out instead of staying home creating was to oversee how business was doing in her art house. Various pieces of art that spanned her career stayed in the House; pieces of art that brought her millions in every year.
She lived, breathed, and bled art; from working on commissioned paintings to freelancing her jewelry designs, there was nothing she couldn't do using the power of her imagination and her hands as conduits. Placing the ideas in her mind into reality had always come easy to her and it was a gift that she tirelessly honed to be the best it can be.
She had almost everything she ever wanted in her life.
Life was good. Life was normal. Life was life. Until it wasn't.
Screeeeeech-
...
"Oh no! I hope Little Miss wakes up soon," a weepy voice cried out. "What are we going to tell the Master and Madam?"
"It was an accident," another voice said calmly, her clear voice resonating throughout the room. "I'll continue staying by her side, please inform the Master and Madam what happened today."
Elaina was confused. Master and Madam? When had she ever known anyone who had titles like that?
With a throbbing resonating from her forehead, Elaina slowly opened her eyes. What she saw shocked her.
Pink frills and crown molding are what met her eyes instead of the clinical hospital room she thought she was in. Instead of a medical bed, a huge king-sized bed with pink bedding surrounded her with sturdy dark wood pillars and a pink canopy covering the whole bed. Stuffed animals were scattered along the walls of the room, all the toys varying sizes and design, emphasizing the youth of the room's owner.
Big bay windows draped in white curtains let in gentle rays of sunlight in. There was an ornate door opposite the bed and towards the right of the room lay a plain black door while the left had wooden double doors. A wooden chest lay in front of the bed where the top of it lay slightly ajar with hints of toys shining through. A white table lay near one of the walls with a huge bay window next to it overlooking the grounds below.
Why am I here, thought Elaina. What is happening?
"Little Miss, are you feeling alright?" the person with the clear and calm voice gently asked her. She looked at Elaina with unwavering black eyes and a gentle but serious face. From the clothes she was wearing, a black and white maid's uniform, Elaina guessed that this lady was a maid for whatever house she was currently in.
"Are you talking to me?" Elaina asked confused, wondering what in the world was happening.
"Are you okay Little Miss?"
Little Miss?
Elaina took a death breath and looked down. Instead of adult hands, she saw children sized hands. Her entire body was proportionate to that of a 5-year-old; it was no longer the 30-year-old she previously was.
What happened to me?
After looking around the room once more, Elaina covertly pinched herself. From the immediate pain that flooded her, she knew she was not dreaming. Somehow, she had changed bodies from her previous 30-year-old adult self to a now 5-year-old child.
After her pounding headache, Elaina finally understood what happened. She had been transmitigated into another world. This world was almost like medieval societies in her previous world but had the added bonus and marvel of having magic to help with daily needs. The main power in this world was magic; people lived, breathed, and practiced magic.
Magic stones helped bring water to the bathroom. Transportation circles allowed people to transport from different places to another place instantaneously. All technology ran on magic lines.
Instead of a democracy, a monarchy ruled this land. The Aerus Empire spanned the cold north, the eastern plains, the desert north, and the western jungles. At the center of the empire lived the Capitol; the place where all the Royal Family and the 10 Noble Families lived year-round.
Elaina was now the precious daughter of one of these 10 Noble Families; the Leonel family was one of the oldest families in Aerus.
Her parents and current heads of the family are Lyson and Eliza Leonel. Lyson is a Star General, one of four generals sworn to protect the outer regions of the empire, and is famous for doting on his family. He lives inside the capitol for half a year and the other half of the year is spent in the south where his army is stationed.
Eliza Leonel is a renowned beauty and scholar. Not only did she have a beauty that could destroy cities, but her academic and martial knowledge was second to none. Her temperance made her seem like she was kind and genteel, but behind her smiling face lay a mind like no others.
Together both Eliza and Leonel brought even more fame and acclaim to the Leonel clan. Apart from one other family, the Leonel clan lay just underneath the Imperial family.
Eliza and Leonel only have one child. Eliana Leonel. Since she was their only child, Elaina was very much doted upon by her parents and servants. Like her mother, she inherited silky black locks dark as night, an angelic cherub face with rosy red cheeks, and beautiful glowing blue eyes that peeked behind frayed bangs. At a mere 5 years old, other people were already predicting that she would surpass her mother in looks and become a beauty like no other.
The current Elaina did not look as angelic at this moment; she was overwhelmed with the information that flowed through her and the knowledge that she was now in a new world.
What should she do?
"Little Miss? Are you okay?" the maid asked softly, concerned that the little miss had a frown on her face and her uncharacteristically quiet demeanor.
Elaina looked at her for a second, waiting for the onset of memories to tell her who this was. The person in front of her was her personal maid and caretaker named Lily. Lily was young, only 15 years old, but because she was a fifth-generation maid and her family was extremely loyal to the Leonel clan, she rose to the status of maid and caretaker for the little miss.
Lily was a petite young woman, standing prim and proper next to her bedside wearing the standard maid attire. Her brown hair was tied back into a neat bun and her face was devoid of any makeup. She had black eyes the seemed to peer into your very soul and lightly rose dusted cheeks. She stood straight with perfect posture, hands in front and intertwined and feet closed together.
She had been around for her whole life and was very loyal to Eliana. Loyalty meant the most to the Leonel clan; it was okay to not have the best skills, but it was not okay to not be loyal.
"Huh? Oh, I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" she asked with a concerned tone in her voice.
"Yes, I'm sure. Can I have some water please?" Elaina needed her out of the room so that she can have a stronger confirmation on the influx of knowledge she received.
"I will go downstairs to get you some water. Please stay in the bed Little Miss, you still have not recovered from your injury."
Injury?
Elaina smiled at her and nodded her head. She'll figure out what injury and what happened to cause it after Lily left.
Lily looked at Elliana for a second longer, as if affirming that she would stay in the bed, before bowing and walking out of the bedroom. As soon as the door closed, Elaina ripped the throw off her body and went off the bed.
She walked to a full-length mirror on the wall and inspected her new self. Like her memories informed her, she was now a 5 year-old-child with silken black locks. Long, thick black eyelashes surrounded her icy blue eyes that seemingly glowed. Blood red lips and rosy cheeks adorned her face, making her look angelic even with the current frown on her face. A frilly white nightdress adorned her body that emphasized how cute she looked.
A little white cloth can be seen behind her head. Elaina bunched up her hair and looked at her injury using the mirror. Part of her neck and head was wrapped in the bandage, a light pink seeping through the wrapping. She thought long and hard and waited for the information to come to her.
That's right, I was playing with some of the dogs before one of them accidentally got too excited playing with me before it pounced on me and caused me to fall backward, injuring the back of my head on a rock. It was a painful experience, but she hoped the dog did not suffer any consequences for its exuberance.
After looking at her mirror and confirming that she indeed was another person in another world, Elaina investigated the rest of the room. The door opposite the bed was the way in and out of the room, so Elliana went to the right door first.
The black doors contained the bathroom. This bathroom was enormous, bigger than what a 5-year-old needs, and had everything one could ever want. It contained the standard sink and toilet, although it ran on magic to get rid of any waste that entered it instead of a plumbing system, and a massive shower area enclosed with detailed frosted glass. Little in it interested Elaina, so she went to the last door in the room.
A soft pitter-patter of feet could be heard as she gently ran across the room, eager to see the closet that presumably lies behind these doors.
Correct in her guess, opening the door opened a heaven dreamed of by little girls. Various dresses and outfits adorned the walls, the more ornate ones hanging by themselves showcasing the design. Jewelry lay in neat boxes alongside one of the walls, with different drawers containing a hidden treasure. The whole room was twice the size of the bathroom and chockfull of clothes, accessories, and shoes meant for her. It seemed like she could wear everything in the room for a year and not have to repeat a single outfit.
It was nice to know that in this life, she was born into wealth.
A gentle knocking could be heard from the door and Elaina quickly ran back into her bed and dove underneath the covers.
"Come in."
"Please excuse this maid for coming in," Lily said as she brought in a cart with water and a tray of snacks.
She wheeled the cart into the room and brought it beside the bed. "The cooks were worried that you were not able to eat lunch, so they had me bring some food over in case you were hungry."
"That was very nice of them, please convey my thanks to them, Lily."
"Of course, Little Miss." Lily brought out a bed tray from underneath the cart and placed it gently on Elaina's lap. She placed a plate in front of her before loading on little finger sandwiches, fresh fruit, and a fresh cup of water.
"Please eat up and enjoy your meal."
"Thank you, Lily. Do you know where my parents are?"
"Master and Madam are currently in a meeting. They have been informed about what happened to you and will come by to see you as soon as they can."
"I hope they won't take too long."
"I'm sure they'll be here before you finish your meal. Little Miss, please make sure to finish all the food, I must finish my duties. I will come back in 2 hours, please continue staying on the bed until I come back," Lily said to me before bowing and exiting the room once again.
I guess it's a waiting game until I see my new parents and figure out what I want to do in this life.
A long first chapter containing some world building and background information. Please let me know if you like it and give feedback! The current release schedule is 1 chapter every other day. I hope you've enjoyed the first chapter ~