Guardian's Atonement

TWO | LADY CELESTINE ELIRA

--

Erica Young must be dreaming.

I must be dreaming, right?

Erica doesn’t know how many times she asked this question to herself right now, but, really, These all don’t make any sense at all.

Where am I?

Erica blinked several times to make sure that what was in front of her right now was reality and she was not dreaming at all. Her eyes adjusted to the view of the night sky with the moon big enough for her to think that she was in the fantasy world.

Her gaze lingered on the moon for a while, thinking, Has the moon looked this beautiful before?

It was so magical. The moon was shining brightly enough to illuminate her surroundings and the tiny fireflies flying in random in every tree, like a bag of pixy dust scattered everywhere.

This view was so romantic.

At that moment, she wanted to doubt her eyes. It was as if she was hallucinating. Has her brain drowned from the water that she saw some things like this?

Is this really…… reality?

Erica felt the warm water enveloping her as she floats.

Closing her eyes, she recalled the moments before she got her. If she remembers correctly, she fell from a bridge, but she felt someone pushed her before that. Upon that moment, the water swallowed her, ultimately making her unable to swim on the surface. And at that time, she gave up living and said her farewells but…. now?

Closing her eyes, she can't recall the moments before she got here.

Erica opened her eyes again. She can't hear anything; the Silence was somehow comforting. Her eyes then traveled to clearly inspect the place. She was inside of the lake, surrounded by several trees. Did she got drifted from here to the bridge she fell over? Erica was confused.

She was calm in this situation. Having to live a life full of uncertainty was helpful in this kind of situation. Erica tried to rationalize what was happening right now. If she really did fall from the bridge, she guessed that that would make sense. But, there was one thing that doesn't make any sense.

She was wearing a dress.

Is this even a dress or a ball gown? I don’t know.

She also felt like she might also be wearing a corset because she can't breathe properly. Her upper body, especially in her stomach, felt stiff, and it was like it was bounded by something. If she got drifted, how would she explain the sudden change of her garments?

Something was not right.

Calm down, let's think again, but before that, let us head to the shore. I feel like my legs are getting numb.

Erica moved her arms and legs to swim to the shore, and as soon as she reached it, she felt her legs stinging. Hastily, she lifted her dress and gasped when she saw the sight of blood from her legs. Not only there but in her wrist also.

Her entire leg and left arm were covered in blood. Erica instantly inspected when the blood was coming from. She felt dizzy, and her surroundings were getting blurry.

Biting her lips, she tried to surpass the pain she was feeling right now. If she faints, she would definitely die from blood loss by tomorrow.

She inspected her wounds again. The damage looked so big like it was caused by a sharp object like a blade:

Like a sword.

A sword? That would be ridiculous. A sword would not exists in the twenty-first century unless some people have some hobby collecting them.

Did She got hurt from falling from the bridge? Erica didn’t feel anything before. All of these don’t really make any sense.

Erica sighed and bit her lips. There are many things that don't make any sense. The first thing Erica need to do was to find people.

Calculating her moves, Erica tore a piece of the dress she was wearing and cover her wounds to prevent blood from flowing. Tightening the knot, She flinched as Erica felt the stinging pain all over Her body.

I feel so weak, and my lips are quivering.

The cold wind blew, and she felt so cold. She needed to hurry and find some warmth, or else she might die from hypothermia. As soon as those words came to her mind, white grains that looked like small cotton candy fell from the sky.

Huh? She opened her palms, trying to catch one of them. It was white, and it is…. cold? Erica gasped.

Is it snowing right now? But we are in the middle of the summer. Why is it snowing? Is the world already ending?

As time passes by, the things that do not make sense seem to pile in front of me before Erica can find a suitable answer for it.

She filled her lungs with air and decided to stand up. As soon Erica stretched her knees, she felt her knees wobble because of her weight. She ended up falling on the ground. Her knees hit the grass. Thankfully, there was no stone. Still, Erica felt her knees hurting from hitting the ground.

I can’t stand. Am I this weak?

Erica inhaled a lung full of air and try to stand up again. This time She barely managed to balance her weight with both of her feet.

Where should I go? I can’t seem to locate where I am right now. Wherever I look all I can see was tress and tress.

Without thinking of any consequences, Erica head south with her left leg limping.

Walking a little bit closer, She heard people saying different kinds of language but strange enough to understand them.

“Find the lady right now!”

“The duke would kill us all if we failed to find Lady Celestine!”

Lady Celestine? The name sounds familiar. Had Erica heard it before? And why are they using the term lady?

As Erica reached the people holding some lamp. A person suddenly noticed her. His eyes widen to his horror. As soon as their eyes met, he looked pale, like he had seen a ghost.

“Lady! Lady Celestine? Where were you?” The guy approached her after he came to his senses. He was wearing an elegant uniform wearing trousers and a red cape. His clothes have gold decorations hanging on his chest. On his waist was a sword with a crest Erica barely recognized.

Am I in a movie? Is he a knight? I watched some medieval movies before and these are their clothes.

Suddenly, the knight in front of Erica kneeled and said, "Lady Celestine, forgive me for my insolent act, but his grace, Duke Reinsworth, is worried sick you need to return this instant!"

“Huh?”

Erica managed to answer, feeling confused and worried because She knew they are using a different language besides English. Still, She can understand them and who is this Duke Reinsworth.

Am I in a movie? But I’m not one of the cast. Was I kidnapped and was tossed in the water again after changing?

She laughed inside her mind—what a ridiculous thought.

Calm down, she told herself, but the people around her seemed to be in a panic. She heard one calling for a horse or a carriage. Another knight places his cape to enveloped her.

"Pardon me, Lady, but it seems like you're cold." Erica looked at him. He looked at her in the eyes, and for an instant, Erica saw his eyes flutter. His body flinched before turning his gaze to his left, avoiding Erica's gaze.

"If you were to catch a cold in this cold weather, the Duke would not like it."

“Duke?” She whispered.

"Yes. Lady, your father, seems to be in a panic for a while now. because there was no sight of you in the ball."

Father? But her father is in the hospital? She really does not understand anything right now.

“Am I okay now?” Erica asked.

The knight, who is now three steps away from her, looked at Erica with questioning eyes. "Yes, Milady, you are okay now." His words felt like warm water taking her fatigue away.

But before Erica can ask any more questions, She felt like her vision was shaking all of a sudden. The sudden relief She felt as the knight told her it's okay came to her mind making Erica weak.

Can I finally rest? It seems like her body answered the question as Erica lost her balance and consciousness.

--

“You will never be her.”

"No matter what methods you use, I will never approve of you as my sister!"

"It is better if you're dead."

“You’re so pathetic you can’t even do anything right!”

“Lady Celestine, You are so pitiful.”

"You are just a commoner who took the place of our sister, but you are not her, so do not keep your hopes up."

“As soon as I inherit the title, I will strip you with your status.”

“Such a lowly life.”

“You do not deserve your name.”

--

Erica opened her eyes again. This time, she was not floating in the water. Instead, she was not in a massive bed with different pillows that felt like feathers. It was soft and comfortable.

Am I in heaven? She joked in her mind.

The room is dark, and her vision was blurry. Erica's whole body feels so heavy, and she cannot even move her fingers. Where am I?

Erica moved her gaze to the right. Lights from the sun are leaking through the gaps of the black curtain. What time of the day is it?

Again, She tried to move her hands, but It really feels heavy. She felt hot too.

Erica felt sick and want to throw up, but she can't manage to find any strength in her body. I just want to lay here.

Her eyes went from the curtains to the ceiling. Am I really in a movie? Everything here really doesn't make any sense.

Especially the big chandelier made of glass hanging from this room and the elegant design surrounding it. Has Erica seen wall designs like this elegant? She doubted it. Who would, in their right mind, design walls with gold carvings?

Who owns this place? They must be rich if they manage to have an interior design like the castle or palace from medieval times.

The walls are white with a design of gold. The room is so big that twenty people can sleep here without touching the other person. And her bed was so big. It can fit four persons.

Where am I really?

As the question travel in her mind, Erica heard the door opening.

Erica’s eyes went there.

Huh? People today even wear maid costumes? I don’t know.

But the one who entered was a girl holding a basin in her hand. Hair tied in a neat ponytail, and she is wearing a dark yellow and black maid uniform. Even if it is a maid uniform, Erica can conclude that the fabrics used were in the top level, for it shines brightly. She never wanted to dress as a maid, but now, she guessed she might try one now.

As Erica studied her, their eyes met.

Her eyes widen to see Erica looking at her. She almost let go of the basin full of water. Thankfully, she managed to calm herself and elegantly bowed at Erica.

Why is she bowing to me? It is even at ninety degrees.

"Greetings, Milady," She said. Erica didn't say any word. She walked towards the table near the bed and placed the basin.

She grabbed a piece of cloth and soaked it in the basin before squeezing the water off the fabric. "Pardon me, Milady," she said before holding her hand and wipe it.

Am I into some kind of old times movie? I'm not even cast yet. Erica wanted to speak, but it seemed like her throat is dry.

"Wa…" the maid, who was busy wiping Erica's hands, looked at her. Erica tried to smile despite the questions inside her head and say, "Water." she told her. She seemed in panic, but she composes herself again before giving her a glass of water.

As the water travel from Erica's mouth through her throat, she thanked the heavens for blessing the humans, the so-called water. I never knew that I was this thirsty.

As Erica finished it and gave the cup to the maid, "Thank you." she managed to say. Again, she was in pure shock that her eyes widen to such an extent that Erica can see the veins in her eyes.

What is wrong with saying thank you?

"Uhmm?" Erica mumble. This is making her awkward. It seems like she managed to find her soul somehow because she suddenly stood up and bowed to her in a ninety degrees position again.

“I do not deserve your thanks milady, I was just doing my job.” She said, her voice shaking. She never felt this frustrated in her life because of a maid.

What should I say? She is clearly panicking to such an extent that I can see her shaking.

Erica sighed and managed to sit on the bed before saying, “Be at ease and continue what you are doing.” She seems to be relieved.

“I will do so, lady Celestine.”

Huh? That is not my name. What? Erica blinked several times. She felt the warm cloth brushing on her arms, but Erica seems to be in a daze. She looked at the maid again.

“What did you call me?” Erica asked.

She blinked confusingly but still answering her question, "Lady Celestine?"

What?

"Can you get me the mirror?" Erica managed to say, and she did right away. With her hands shaking, She held the mirror and saw the reflection of her face.

Goldeyes and black hair. What? She looks like herself before but with her eyes and hair changing their color.

What? What? What?

Erica ransacked her mind to find any explanation of what is happening right now. She even pinched herself to see if she was dreaming, but no matter how many times the pinch hurt, she was still here.

If I remember clearly, there was this description I read from a book.

Black hair shimmering as it cascaded on her shoulder. Golden eyes that looked too pure and majestic that even gold can't be compared; Pale white skin as pure as snow and luscious red lips. These descriptions perfectly fit on her face right now.

What?

This is what I look like? This is precisely the description of the Lady in the book I read just last week.

Lady Celestine Elira Reinsworth. The villain of the book she had read and the illegitimate daughter of the Duke Falcon Reinsworth!?

What the hell?

Did I travel to a place called fantasy