—— Chapter 1 ——

  Where One Took a First Step

  Tick - 5:59

  Tock - 6:00 Time to get ready, can't run late. ?I should be able to catch the next train if I hurry -?

  Tick - 7:59

  Tock - 8:00 Time to start working. I think my coworkers have been chatting about a new project recently. Maybe I'll get selected for it this time? ?No i've only been here a few years - I shouldn't be too greedy. My colleagues are better suited anyways.“

  Tick - 11:59

  Tock - 12:00 Time to have lunch. It's been quite the busy day so far, I really need that break. ?I wonder if I brought enough change for ramen today - well if not I'm just gonna stick to my usual meal. Sticking to the usual isn't so bad anyways.“

  Tick - 17:59

  Tock - 18:00 Time to get going, I worked hard enough for today. ?Some of my colleagues are still focused on their assignments, it's baffling how much energy they put into the company. I could never. I'm already tired after only this many hours. They really are on a whole nother level.“

  A small sigh escaped my lips as I walked through the doors of the skyscraper that I had already spent hundreds of hours in.

  ?Maybe I should eat out today? After all, I really haven't been treating myself to anything lately. No - forget it. it's already way too late today, another day would be better, I should head home and get some proper rest.“

  Tick - 18:59

  Tock - 19:00 I should be home soon. Looking out the window of the train I again realized how far away my flat was from my workplace, I really should change that soon. ?If only rent wasn't as expensive in the city, what if i won‘t be able to afford it after I move somewhere else? Might just stick to my current place anyways.“

  Tick - 19:59

  Tock - 20:00 Pearls slipped off my freshly brushed hair as I entered my bedroom. I liked my flat, it was only a one room apartment but it still was my home after all. ?I had to like it, right? At least here I was able to do as I liked.“

  I put myself a store-bought dish in the microwave and waited for it to be done as I placed a towel around my shoulders. My wet hair clung onto it.

  After chucking down my meal I leaned back on my chair. ?What now? Should I just go to bed right away?“ I looked towards the clock right next to my bed - 21:30 - quite late already.

  A moment later I got up lazily and strode towards my bed, letting myself drop down. I held my left hand slightly over my eyes. I was exhausted, as usual. It was really just a bland day but it still felt like I needed a thorough break now. I felt something sharp pinching into the right side of my waist.

  I sat up and looked at it - right, the novel I had read yesterday. It was boring, my little sister recommended it but it was just your typical standalone romance novel. Bland as well. I seem to attract bland things nowadays.

  ?Well, I should at least finish it, I don't have many pages left anyways. She begged me the whole time to read it after all. When I get to see her again she'll be super happy if i talk to her about it, right? “ I really didn't feel like finishing it.

  ?I still need to charge my phone - also i should brush my teeth first - my hair should also be dried. I almost forgot about setting my alarm - Ill need to get into my pajamas …“

  Tock - 23:30 Finally, I made it through my night time routine. I am really done for today. I picked up the novel as I lay on my side. As I skimmed over the rest of the pages my consciousness gradually slipped. The weight of the day had finally caught up to me and pushed me into a deep slumber.

  ?She - really was just your typical Main Character -“

  ———

  I stood in the middle of a dimly lit courtyard, the faint light of the moon reflecting off my eyes as I looked up. It was odd, there was a soft wind blowing through the garden and the faint noise of people laughing and talking. Even so I didn’t feel cold or alone, I was fine.

  It felt like your typical autumn night, the temperature was neither cold nor warm, just perfect. There was not a single cloud in the sky, one would've thought they could see the whole universe from down here.

  As I looked down I realized that I was wearing a wide dress that looked like the night sky itself, reflecting the moonlight on it as if it was made from hundreds of stars. Contrary to what I expected, it didn't feel heavy at all, it was actually quite comfortable. A dress one could only dream of. I wondered how I appeared, did something like this even fit me?

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  Naturally, at this point, my curiosity took over, and I wanted to explore this place to see what it was about. Maybe I could even find a mirror somewhere around. After gazing around, the things that grabbed my attention the most were delicate white lights floating around. If i had to describe them, i would say that they looked like little stars that had fallen from the Firmament mere seconds ago, still lingering in their high dreams. A surreal sight. It was somewhat eerie, yet it felt peaceful to me.

  A warm wind blew past me. It felt like a gentle hug from a distant memory even though it only lasted for a split second.

  < You're wearing it well. — After all, it has always been yours - you have no need to hesitate this time. >

  Along with the wind dissipating into the cold air, everything around me slowly started fading. It wasn't scary, more like the end of a party when everyone was gone, sitting alone in the quiet. The darkness took me into itself.

  ———

  The brightness of the morning had slowly woken me from that dreamy night. I held my hand over my face, blocking off as much of it as I could as I turned away from the windows. Maybe it was just the mixture of my lingering exhaustion and a lack of proper sleep but I felt weaker than usual. Have I gotten sick overnight?

  ?It's been ages since I even dreamt at all and then I end up with something like that, I really can't get a second to rest - I barely sleep enough as is. I don't even get 5 hours until it's time to get up again.“ A bit of frustration came over me.

  That moment the realization hit me like cold water in the face, the sun was up, it was the next morning. I should've been at work since 8:00. Simply being late wouldn't even describe this situation anymore.

  ?How could I let this happen?! They will never give me a raise if I'm known as the ?show-up-late‘ of the company! No, nooo ~ I've worked so hard.“

  Once I had fully recovered from the initial shock, I set my mind. ?It's not too late yet, I can still make it. I will make it.“

  Still half asleep I tumbled out of bed as fast as I could, my mind still a mess, heart racing. I felt the weight of my own body as I stood up way too fast, my body outpacing my thoughts. The sensation of a wave of lightheadedness and fading vision washed over me as I tried pushing through it. ?I've done this like a million times, why am I reacting this badly now?“

  ?No, no time to give it any consideration, I'll fix that once I get my raise.“

  ?Skip Breakfast, just get dressed, maybe i can still get the second train! I just have to hurry - grab my brush, clothes, pack some stuff and -?

  Whilst my thoughts were doing their utmost, my feet didn't seem to be on the same page with me. I had stumbled over something. Of course this had to happen in a stressful moment like this. My expression was a mixture of frustration, stress and anger whilst I clenched my fists.

  As I sat there I gently held my head until my vision and dizziness had cleared. I felt awful that morning. Not letting my frustration get the best of me at this point, I just looked down to see what I had run over.

  ?Huh? What? - what is that?“

  I was dumbfounded.

  ?Where was I?“

  The tension within my body just dissipated from total confusion at this point, sitting slumped in a bedroom that very clearly wasn't mine.

  It was a huge room with a high ceiling. The walls were made of high quality looking wood and the ceiling seemed to be of some kind of marble - of course everything was also luxuriously decorated. Below me lay a large carpet that had softened my fall. It was an extravagant one with many symbols in a divine red coloring, almost like straight from a movie. I never assumed someone would actually put a thing like that in their bedroom.

  The sun was shining through huge windows, in front of them a sight to behold, lush trees followed by the coast. It looked like one of those postcards people would send when they went on their expensive vacation over the summer.

  As for the rest of the room - it looked exactly like one would imagine it. Fancy decorations that were designed in an old fashioned way, showing off way too much wealth. I even saw small paintings on the ceiling from the corner of my eyes.

  ?Wha - just - how?“

  It definitely took me a solid minute to get myself together enough to be able to think straight enough to even start deducting what could have maybe happened.

  ?Is this still a dream? Have I woken up yet?“

  Just for the sake of it I pinched myself slightly. Nothing changed.

  ?No this is way too clear for a dream, I even felt the pain from my fall, it can't be that.“

  I looked down at myself.

  ?Maybe I was kidnapped? I am not wearing my pajamas from last night so that would add up - but why would they bring me here?“

  For a split second I thought of a scenario where I would have been kidnapped by some rich man to replace his deceased daughter or something. Nonsense of course but it was the best I could think of.

  Click - the sound of a door opening.

  < Lady Marilys may I enter? I have brought some of your favorite food with me, if you are feeling like breakfast yet. >

  I looked up towards the other end of the room. It was a woman who looked like she was in her mid 20s, holding a silver tray with food atop it in her hand. I did not know what to say so I just proceeded to gaze at her.

  As she closed the door behind her and came closer she ended up recognizing I sat on the ground and rushed over.

  < My Lady are you alright? The doctor told you to stay in bed, didn't you remember? Why didn't you call for me? >

  She tried helping me get up.

  ?I can't just ignore her now, can I? I assume playing along is better for now, at least until I know more.“

  < Oh no dont worry, it's really no big deal, I just slipped. >

  ?Huh did I get sick overnight? My voice is definitely not as high and soft normally. Maybe i got hoarse from straining myself the past days too much -?

  As the situation called for it I had to slide those thoughts to the side for now. As the woman offered to help me up I took her hand. She even insisted on me sitting back down so I did as she asked.

  When I looked back at her face she seemed like she had just seen a ghost before here. It was an expression for the books, did I already mess up that much?

  < My Lady why didn't you say you were hurt? I will be calling a doctor for you, just wait here for a second alright? Don't get up, you’re still having a fever! >

  She darted out of the room as though she was facing a life or death situation.

  I lay down on my, way more comfortable, bed as I looked down at my leg. I had scratched it when I ran into the thing I had just tripped over. It had barely bled, really no need to call for a doctor. If it were just me I wouldn't have even given this a second thought.

  I leaned my head onto the cushions below me, she seemed to be right, I must've burned up with a fever. ?Well if I really was kidnapped it would make sense I got sick overnight.“

  At this opportunity I took a moment to sort the new information I got from our short interaction.

  ?She seems to be an employee of some sort, after all she was concerned about my wellbeing a lot. But what really puts me off is that she called me ?Lady Marilys‘.“

  Suddenly I remembered something that had slipped my mind entirely for this whole time. I actually did know who Marilys might be.

  ?Marilys - like in the novel I had just finished before I had fallen asleep last night? No, that simply could never be, that’s definitely a stupid thought.

  I halted for a moment.

  ?No - it really could be nothing to even consider, right? Sure it's a rare name but I would have realized if something like that had happened, right? Yes, it can't be - something like this could never happen to me.“

  Even so it didn't stop bugging me, it's normal to wanna make sure that you are still yourself. I can at least rule it out, right?

  ?Well I assume I could just search for a mirror, that should prove I'm wrong. If I really were her I would also look the part right?“ My mind was set, first mission, look at myself!

  ?If I were a mirror in a place like this, where would I be…?“

  < It didn't look that bad but we should still take proper care of it, our Lady is still sick after all. >

  It seemed the woman had returned again as she had said she would. She really was way faster than I assumed.