21st Century Lady

Chapter 2

"Sudden Engagement"

“Lady Crescella, we informed the Duke that you have lost your memories. He is quite concerned as you are to be engaged this coming weekend—“

“I’M WHAT??” Diane couldn’t help but blurt that out, she just arrived at this bizarre magical whatever world and she’s what? Getting engaged??

“My Lady, your tone.” Minerva said wide eyed with full of concern. Diane guessed this Crescella has never once raised her voice or even act out.

“Sorry…” Diane said in a whisper with a hint of embarrassment. She can feel her blood rushing to both of her cheeks, she caught a glimpse of her reflection from the mirror in the corner and she looked beet red.

“It’s quite alright, because you have no recollection of any of your past or current memories. Nonetheless, this engagement will still go as planned.” The butler said sternly.

Diane unconsciously pouted in disappointment. How is she going to face this stranger…what more he is probably the first male she’ll ever experience in meeting in such an intimate event. Diane can feel her stress rising, just the thought of getting engage at such speed with someone she has no recollection of with Crescella’s memories. She doesn’t even know what this man is like nor is he even cute?

Diane felt a warm hand on her shoulder, Diane looked up it was Minerva with a warm smile on her lips.

“Luke, I think we need to give Lady Crescella some more rest. We can run through all these information about the engagement with Prince Claudius tomorrow” Minerva turned her attention to Luke, ‘So that’s his name’ Diane thought. ‘How many more names am I supposed to learn plus this Claudius…WAIT PRINCE?” Crescella’s emerald green eyes widened.

“Sorry. I’m getting engaged with a Prince?” Diane tried to sound as calm as possible as she asked both Minerva and Luke.

“Yes.” Both nodded in and answered in unison. ‘Diane, I guess you’re Crescella now’ Diane has accepted this fact for now. She slumped in bed as both Luke and Minerva exited her room and bid her farewell.

“Crescella, Crescella? This sounds so familiar…” Diane gasped and it dawned on her, this was one of the character’s names in a novel she had read years ago. “Crescella, was the beautiful daughter of Duke Lancaster. Pure and Innocent with her love for the Prince but was completely unnoticed. Because she was being a coward and couldn’t straight up tell the Prince she loves him. Then this “Priestess” suddenly enters into this world that is like me a person from the 21st-century and this Prince falls for this very peculiar girl and disregarded Crescella completely, and she ends up being blinded by pure jealousy and she ruined herself. Periodt.”

“Oh s**t. I’m the villain? But wait am I dead? God is this some kind of joke?” Diane looked up in midair waiting for an answer that will never come.

‘Why am I even in some isekai story…did I die?’ Diane read a lot of those isekai genres in her younger years and she quite enjoyed those stories but how is it, it turned into reality for her.

‘Okay, first we need to survive. I don’t harbor any feelings for this Prince…’ Diane recalled how the Prince was described in the novel.

He was amazingly attractive. Is she really letting that chance go? Diane shook her head.

‘No, pull yourself together. You just need to survive and live in this luxury in this very beautiful lady’s body’ Diane looked at her reflection in the full length mirror across her room. She wondered when will she ever get used to Crescella’s face but she is tiny just like her. Pocket sized. At least we have one thing in common. We’re both short girls, I think she stands at the same height as me at 152 cm.

‘What was the Prince’s height again? – 190 cm…’ Diane eyes widen on the realization that this Prince is a freaking giant getting engaged to this tiny fragile body. Diane shook her head ‘I don’t need to concern myself with the Prince. He is eventually gonna fall for this “Priestess”’

Prince Claudius was practicing his swordsmanship but it was put to a pause when he noticed his father the King was walking towards the field. He gestured his sparring partner to take a break as he set aside his heavy sword on the empty bench.

“Father, what brings you here on the open practice field?” Claudius jogged over to his father. The King just smiled weakly and patted his son’s back.

“I just want to have a talk regarding your engagement son.” The King walked over to a table nearby and sat one of the chairs and gestured his son to take a seat with him.

‘Engagement.’ Claudius wasn’t really fond of this arranged engagement he has with Duke Lancaster’s famous daughter. Lady Crescella. A very timid beautiful young lady who’s five years younger than him, they barely had a conversation when they first met and they even spoke less on their second meeting. Claudius had a feeling Lady Crescella might not be very fond of this arranged marriage made by both their parents.

Claudius took his seat across his father and servers started serving them tea.

“Son, I know you are not okay with this engagement with the Duke’s daughter but we made a promise that our families are to be united by marriage. It just so happened for the past years both families kept on having sons at the same time.” The King looked apologetic towards his son.

“Father, I understand. You don’t need to worry.” Claudius gave a reassuring smile towards his father.

“You never know son, you and Lady Crescella might just end up like me and your mother the late Queen. We fell pretty much deep inlove that I never considered on having concubines in the palace.” The King winked at his son. Claudius could only let out a chuckle at his father’s optimistic view on this engagement.

“Lady Crescella, will we ever learn about each other at least.” Claudius spoke to himself in a whisper. He went back on sparring calling his Knight to continue their sparring session.

Diane tossed and turned and finally she opened her eyes. ‘This body wakes up too freaking early.’ Diane sat up her bed and looked out the window and guessed it would be around 7am right now. ‘How early does everybody wake up in this world?’ Diane doesn’t feel tired or anything, she just wasn’t used to how life it is here and this is just day two of her stay in this bizarre world.

Diane, got out of bed and was about to go to the bathroom but before she could reach the bathroom. The door opened and four maids started entering her room. Diane let out a sigh, she forgot that’s she’s a noble here and as far as she can remember. Nobles are pretty much useless, they can’t do simple tasks on their own but Diane is no noble though. She will never get used to this.

“My lady let me prepare your bath, would you like to have what scent in today’s bath—ow.” The maid beside her who had freckles across her nose nudged the maid who said to prepare the bath.

“The Lady has lost her memories. Idiot.” The maid with freckles whispered to her. The young girl got flustered and started apologizing.

“No, it’s alright. Any will do.” Diane smiled softly and all four maids stared blankly with admiration towards Diane.

After her bath and all other preparation for her was done. Diane just thought this was a tiring daily routine ‘No wonder they wake up so early. It took us two hours to finish all that.’ Diane glanced at her reflection, Crescella is really breathtaking Diane thought there’s even a possibility for her to fall her current look right now. Narcisstic as it sound but she’s really a catch, if this was in her world. Crescella could pass as an A-list type of celebrity or even more. She looked at the soft braid the made did and adorned her hair with delicate jewels.

Diane, touched the jewels lightly and wondered how much does these jewels cost. ‘Will I get to chance bring these back with me if ever I get teleported back to my world?’ Diane wondered. As her thoughts trailed on what ifs Minerva entered her room and greeted her.

“Good morning, my lady. How was your rest?” Minerva asked with a smile.

“It was good, thank you for asking. So what do we have for today’s schedule?” Diane asked curiously how Crescella daily routine goes since she’ll be in this body for God knows how long. Might as well learn about her daily life and get through with this and live.

“Well, we got new Prince Claudius will be visiting my lady today.” Minerva smiled the same professional smile she had earlier. Minerva could see through Crescella’s expression she looked panicked.

“B-but I don’t have my memories and—“ Minerva gestured Crescella to pause.

“His highness is well informed of the lady’s current state.” Minerva gave a reassuring smile this time.

‘But how am I to face someone I never met?’ ‘Well he knows I “lost” my memory, I guess this is gonna go well right?’ and many more similar thoughts ran through Diane’s head.

Diane can hear her own footsteps as she approach the guest parlor where the Prince was waiting for her.

“I can do this. You just have to live Diane.” Diane was talking to herself but she forgot Minerva was with her.

“Diane?” Minerva looked confused and looked back at Crescella.

‘The lady’s been acting strange even though she lost her memories but she seems to be a whole different person.’ Minerva thought to herself.

Diane entered the parlor and there she finally got to see the Prince. He was sipping his tea, his bangs we’re a bit long and few strands brushed over his eyes. Prince Claudius heard the doors open and saw the image of Lady Crescella her hair delicately braided and adorned with fine jewels and she had a soft cream dress on that made her all over features more delicate from their previous meeting.

“Greetings to Lady Crescella.” Prince Claudius put his teacup down and stood up to greet her. Diane was just standing blankly till Minerva whispered “My Lady…” she sounded panicked but then Diane realized how she didn’t greet the Prince first. ‘OH MY GOD’ Diane flustered greeted the Prince clumsily this made the Prince chuckle.

‘Cute’ Prince Claudius thought seeing this lady who has been reserved and quiet from their previous meetings being clumsy and showing her emotions unguarded right now.