The woman with black hair entered the palace lobby, and whispers rippled through the crowd. Her refined appearance and confident stride commanded attention, prompting murmurs about her identity and purpose at the palace.
"Who is this woman?" General Saint asked Lord Nop, who stood beside him. General Saint's eyes were wide with amazement; he'd never seen such a beautiful woman. Lord Nop, with a proud smile, replied, "She is my date."
General Saint watched Nop, his stepbrother, approach the woman. Never in his life had the General felt such intense interest in a woman, not since his deep admiration for Prince Kirk. Even as a child, he knew his feelings for the Prince were different; he'd even discreetly sniffed the Prince's sweat during their teenage training. He was just grateful the Prince never noticed his obsession. As he observed Lord Nop and the beautiful woman, he wondered if he would ever find someone who could evoke such strong emotions in him.
He thought, Maybe this is the one; maybe this woman is the solution to his problem. It hurt him so much, especially now that the Prince was in his care. He refused to tell anyone he'd found the Prince a month ago, saving him from the death sentence for allegedly poisoning the King. The General's heart sank, thinking about the consequences of revealing the truth. He knew that if word got out, it would not only jeopardize his own life but also put the Prince in even greater danger. The weight of this secret pressed heavily on his shoulders, making him question if he'd made the right decision. But he believed the Prince was innocent and was doing his part as a general to investigate.
The main problem now was that the Prince didn't remember anything after regaining consciousness from almost a month in a coma. The General feared that if the Prince regained his memory, he might uncover the secret and unintentionally expose himself to danger. Additionally, the General worried about the impact this revelation could have on the kingdom's fragile political stability.
"General Saint," a familiar arrogant voice greeted him, a white man approaching as he observed the palace surroundings.
"Lord Armstrong," he greeted back.
"Why don't you go with your brother on the dance floor and also get yourself a woman and enjoy yourself?" Lord Armstrong's tone was mocking, as it was no secret that General Saint had never shown interest in women.
"My job here is to protect all those within the palace walls, regardless of their personal preferences or interests," General Saint calmly replied, refusing to let the comment affect him. "As for my brother, he is perfectly capable of making his own choices and does not need me to intervene in his personal life." With a firm yet respectful tone, he made it clear that his duty as a protector extended beyond societal expectations and stereotypes.
"Mhm," was all Mr. Armstrong could say.
"What about you, Lord Armstrong? Why aren't you joining the table where the prime minister is seated? Aren't they soon to be part of the family?"
Lord Armstrong chuckled, glancing at his entourage. "They are indeed soon to be part of the family." He paused and sighed. "But my presence at the prime minister's table is not necessary. And all I care about now is my daughter, who I am afraid will not come, so if you would excuse me, can I ask if you've seen Mr. Lee? I have been waiting for him for a while now. That man is always disappearing, and it's becoming quite frustrating." The General nodded sympathetically and replied, "I haven't seen Mr. Lee recently, but I can try to locate him for you if you'd like. It seems like he has a knack for disappearing at the most inconvenient times."
"Lord Armstrong."
"Mr. Lee, where were you? And why are you sweating?" Lord Armstrong asked, his voice tinged with annoyance. "I've been waiting for you for quite some time now. We have an important matter to discuss, and your disappearing acts are not helping the situation." Mr. Lee, catching his breath, replied, "I apologize for my tardiness, Lord Armstrong. I was caught up in a pressing matter that required my immediate attention. Rest assured, I am here now and ready to address any concerns you may have."
"It is Rebecca; she is still not here. Could you check in on the mansion to see if they have already left?" Lord Armstrong commanded. Mr. Lee nodded, understanding the urgency in Lord Armstrong's voice. "Of course, my lord. I will immediately go to the mansion and inquire about Rebecca's whereabouts. Please allow me a moment to investigate, and I will return with an update."
The modern woman with a man's haircut stepped back, about to scream, when a hand covered her mouth and pressed her lower neck, causing her to fall asleep. Before she dozed off, she managed to utter a name: "Mr. Cutie."
Mr. Lee's POV
The Maurer's party was held at Lord Nop's residence. I had the privilege of exploring the place. I was walking in the hallway when I saw Lord Nop and his guards entering a door hidden behind a bookshelf. Curiosity piqued, and I followed them discreetly, wondering what secrets lay beyond that mysterious entrance. As I approached, I noticed a faint flickering light emanating from within, hinting at a hidden chamber or passage.
I followed it and heard muffled noises inside. I hid myself on the opposite side of the hallway, trying to catch a glimpse of what was happening. Through a small crack in the door, I could see Lord Nop and his guards engaged in a heated discussion. Their expressions were tense, and it seemed they were discussing something of great importance. My curiosity grew even stronger, and I made a mental note to investigate further and uncover the secrets that lay within Lord Nop's residence.
I saw him whipping the air angrily. He stopped and commanded a guard standing in the center of the place. I was shocked when the guard opened the covered pit. A woman jumped out and tried to run away, but was quickly apprehended by the other guards. Lord Nop's face turned red with rage as he shouted orders for her to be brought back. It was clear there was more to this situation than met the eye, and I couldn't help but wonder what secrets were being hidden within Lord Nop's residence.
The woman was quickly captured again. In the next scenario, beyond what I could bear, the woman was screaming in pain, tied to a wooden pole. I couldn't bear to witness her agony as she screamed, her body tied tightly to the pole. Lord Nop was whipping her back nonstop. It was evident there was a dark and sinister side to Lord Nop's residence, and I couldn't help but question what horrors were being inflicted upon those who dared to cross his path.
What kind of monster are you? I whispered to myself. I was about to go when my eye caught something not too far from where I was hiding. At first glance, I wouldn't think it was true, but the clothing was the same as I remembered; it was from my world. I cautiously approached, my heart pounding with a mix of fear and curiosity. I heard that the commotion inside had subsided, but it wouldn't shake off the feeling of unease.
And I heard footsteps approaching in our direction, so I quickly hid behind a nearby tree, trying to stay out of sight. And then again, I saw the person earlier wearing modern clothes who was about to run and scream from the horror it had witnessed earlier, but before it made a sound, I was able to quietly cover its mouth and dragged it further into the shadows.
I saw Lord Nop and his guards exit the place; they walked past us, and I was thankful they didn't see us.
Now what to do with this person?
I was right; this person is a lesbian, if I'm not mistaken. This gives me so much hope to be able to get back to my world.
I wonder how this woman got here.
I remember she called me by name.
"Mr. Cutie." That's what she calls me. Did she read the diaries too? I wonder if she knows about the secrets hidden within them.
I will know the answer later, when she wakes up from her deep sleep.
But first of all, I have to find a place for her to hide and clothes to wear to blend in with this world and keep her identity hidden.
Rebecca's POV
"Lady Rebecca." Irin looked at me with so much amusement in her eyes.
"So what do you think, Irin? How do I look?" Irin's eyes sparkled with amusement as she looked at me. "Lady Rebecca, you look absolutely stunning," she replied, her voice filled with genuine admiration.
"Do I look rebellious now?" I was anxious to hear her answer. I had carefully chosen my outfit to reflect my newfound independence and defiance against societal norms. I wanted to break free from the constraints of my noble upbringing and embrace a more adventurous side of myself.
"If I would look as stunning as you when rebellious, I want to be a rebel my whole life," Irin said with a mischievous grin, her words hinting at a shared desire for freedom and rebellion. It was clear that she understood and supported my longing for a life outside the confines of tradition and expectation.
"You don't think it's too revealing," I said, covering myself with a cloak because I felt so exposed.
"I can't find any dress that would really piss everyone off more than this," she said. I wondered where she got it.
"Where did you get this, by the way?" I couldn't help but ask. I had been having and buying expensive dresses all over the world and had never seen such a design; it was out of this world. She chuckled. "I actually got this from one of Lord Nop's servants. He tried to sell it in a boutique at the market when you told me to look for the perfect outfit for the event, and when I saw it, I knew it was the one. It's definitely a unique and attention-grabbing dress that will make a statement at the event."
"So you mean this is maybe one of Nop's whore dresses? So you think I am a whore?" I said, annoyed.
This face? My beautiful, stunning face?
How could she think of that to me?!
"No, no, no, Lady Rebecca, I don't think it's from a whore; its material is too exquisite and expensive for a whore's clothing, and whores don't wear such designer clothes," Irin explained.
"Designers' clothes?" I asked curiously.
"The person who sold this to me told me the person who made it is popular all around the world," Irin added.
"Eh? And who would that be? Lucile, aka Lady Duff Gordon, Jacques Doucet, Lanvin, Jeanne Paquin, and Worth?" I asked because they were the only designers I recognized these days. "Their designs are known for their exquisite craftsmanship and luxurious materials." "Yes, exactly!" Irin exclaimed. "The person who sold me this dress mentioned that it was made by one of the top designers in the industry, known for their impeccable taste and attention to detail."
"Is that so? And who was it among them, though?" I asked, and Irin replied, "Unfortunately, the person who sold me the dress didn't mention the specific designer. But based on their description, it could be any of those renowned designers you mentioned."
"Wait," I said, gesturing for her to read what was written in the collar, and she obliged. "What does it say?"
"Dolce&Gabbana?" She said and slumped my shoulder.
"Who is that?" I asked.
"See, you are scammed by that person," I said.
Irin looked disappointed as she realized she had been scammed by the person who sold her the dress. It was clear that the dress was not from one of the top designers in the industry, despite its initial appearance.
"Yeah, you are right, but still, the dress is stunning," she said, trying to cheer me up.
"So are you ready, Lady Rebecca? I'm sure everyone is waiting for you, especially Freen." What Irin said only reminded me of what was at stake.
"Freen is inside?" I asked when what she said sank in.
"Yes, I saw them bring poor Freen into a cabin first light of the day," Irin confirmed, her voice filled with concern. "They said she had a bad fall and hurt her leg. I hope he's okay." I couldn't help but feel a surge of worry for Freen, knowing how much he meant to me and how important her presence was for the event.
"What do you mean? Did they hurt her?" I asked, my voice trembling with fear. Irin shook her head, reassuring me. "No, they didn't hurt her intentionally. It was just an accident. But I heard that her leg is badly injured; it was the same leg that had an injury before, but she still had to go, and you know why..." Irin paused and looked at me, and I nodded.
I understood what she meant.
"I'm ready," I said, and Irin immediately got out of the carriage and helped me down, still wearing the cloak to cover my exposed back.
And by the time I was finally out of the carriage, the event had already started. People from different countries were all present, and they looked in my direction when they saw me. Irin's presence by my side provided a sense of comfort amidst the crowd. I could feel their curious gazes, but I focused on staying composed and putting on a brave face.
The people's reaction when they saw what I wore was a mix of surprise and admiration. Most were taken aback by the boldness of my outfit, while others couldn't help but feel disgusted by my unique sense of style.
Especially my parents. But looking around with Irin beside me, I couldn't be more surprised and stunned when I saw the most beautiful woman at the party who was dancing with Nop.
"Flower girl."
"Freen!" Irin blurted out.
And I looked at her with surprise, and she smiled at me, knowing that she had caught me off guard.
"Freen," I muttered when I looked at the woman again.
How could I not notice all this time?