The castle looked beautiful at night, lanterns perched everywhere, and the open sky a dark, deep blue, dotted with stars. In the 21st century, you could barely see twenty stars with all the pollution. Damn, if I had my phone now, I would have taken a picture to show Christina.
I had to admit, nature embraced this historical world beautifully. Pollution really had become a human disaster.
We passed through an empty courtyard that wouldn't catch the guards' attention, and if we ever met a guard, Matilda somehow found a way to lie and let us pass.
We reached an open field filled with giant trees, their canopies blotting out the moonlight from the paths.
"Where are you from?" Matilda asked suddenly.
We were walking along a narrow road, which I assumed led to the lake.
"If I tell you, you wouldn't believe me."
She paused and turned to me, those cat-like eyes studying me. "Why not?"
"Well, no one believed me," I shrugged. I just needed a bath and a good night's sleep.
She nodded, then kept walking. "The way you dress is strange, and the way you talk… I believe you are not from this kingdom, nor any neighboring ones. I have listened to travelers and merchants, heard their accents, and none sound like yours."
I looked at her as she walked ahead. Something inside me shifted—maybe it was her aura—but I suddenly blurted the words without realizing.
"I am from the 21st century, the future."
This time she halted and turned sharply, eyes widening while mine stayed calm, waiting for her to laugh at my joke. But she didn't. When she saw I wasn't joking and stayed neutral, her mouth opened in awe.
"How is that possible? Do you have magical powers?"
She didn't say it jokingly. She sounded curious, and somehow that calmed me.
"I wish I did, then I could have gone back."
She started walking again, and I followed. This time we walked side by side, talking. It felt good to speak to someone who didn't think I was a spy in this world.
"How did you get here, then?"
"I wish I knew," I shrugged, hearing the first sound of splashing water ahead. Damn, must be a waterfall. I was jealous of this world. "One minute I spilled coffee, and the next, I'm in front of the castle."
"Sounds like a scene from fiction, but I do believe you," she said, giving me a smile.
"Why do you?"
"You have no reason to lie," she finished, jogging forward and rooting me in place. "The water is cool and nice, hop, hop, hop on."
But I couldn't move. No one had ever said that to me before, and no one had ever trusted me that way—except Christina, of course. And having someone like that in this world, believing me, made something in my heart shift.
Suddenly, I found myself hopping toward the water. Indeed, it was a waterfall, feeding a vast lake surrounded by mountains. Cricket sounds drifted through the air, frogs croaked, and the night felt alive. I pulled off my boots and began taking off my trenchcoat.
"Sure no one's coming here?" I asked.
She shook her head, legs splashing the water as she laughed. "You have nothing to fear, milady."
I nodded and removed the black gown, unstrapping my bra and panties. Matilda gasped and looked away. Oh my, I must have scared her. To save the embarrassment, I jumped into the water.
"You do not have to strip bare," she said, alarmed, but I only laughed, lifted my head, and grinned.
"Where I come from, you have to be naked to get the best bath."
"I know, but you only do that when no one is around, and I have never stripped to bathe. I don not always have that confidence," she said, staring at me in awe.
"You should," I urged, slapping the water. It was cool against my skin and somehow calmed my nerves. "Join me."
"Oh no," she waved. "We only bathe once a day, most times thrice a week."
"Nonsense," I said firmly. "A girl must bathe and oil her skin at all times. If you get your man, he's going to be all over you when you're clean."
"My man?" She pointed at herself, blinking innocently. Of course she didn't understand.
"A gentleman, when you are… uhmm," I struggled for the historical wording, "Listen, when a gentleman falls in love with you, you need to bathe every day. That way, he will never leave you for another."
Her cheeks brightened. "You think so?"
"Oh," I grinned, something feeling fishy, "Do you have a gentleman that loves you, Tilda?"
"I shall have a bath," she said, quickly dropping my linen neatly on the side. She removed the first layer of her maiden dress and remained in her white undergarments, fiddling with her hands as she stared into the water.
"You have nothing to fear. Take it all off—didn't you say no one is here?"
She nodded. Hesitantly, she lifted it over her head and quickly stepped into the water, hiding herself, but the important part was she was finally bathing stripped.
"It's so cool," she murmured, closing her eyes.
"And goooood," I drawled lazily.
The water was bliss against my skin, washing away every worry. We stayed quiet, immersed in the night, with no thought of leaving.
"I never want to get out," she giggled.
"Me neither."
She stared at me, eyes glossy and warm. "I believe you are from the future. We stay timid as women in this world, but you…" She paused, smiling. She didn't need to finish the sentence—I understood perfectly.
After taking some time to relish the water, we stepped out. I finally changed into the maiden dress, wrapping my old clothes in a sack I hadn't noticed Matilda had brought. She carried it for me, even though I wanted to, and said it was her way of thanking me.
We headed back to the castle. The lanterns along every path shone brighter now, the place ghost-quiet, and that's when I realized it must be close to midnight.
"Oh no, no one has to see us," she said, panic in her voice.
I blinked. "Is there a curfew?"
"Yes," she nodded. "I failed to inform you. The past few days, there have been constant attacks on the subjects of Netherfield, so the King is making sure all threats are eliminated for the safety of the people."
Is that why he thought I was a spy?
Matilda must have read my thoughts, because she nodded. "You came in odd clothing, that's why I looked at you strangely, but a part of me knew you were not one of them. I've met one before."
My eyes widened. "You have?"
She nodded. "I was at the market when they attacked. They carried swords and covered their faces. They were aggressive—nothing like you."
My heart melted. This girl, who didn't even know me, already trusted me enough to see the difference.
"Come this way," she said, pulling my hand. "We have to follow the women's quarters. The curfew is less strict there, and we can say we are serving the concubines."
I blinked at her. "Concubines? Who's concubines?"
She barely looked at me. "His Majesty."
The King? I hadn't expected my boss to be surrounded by concubines. I hadn't even seen him around women. Most of the time, I wasn't even sure if he was into women. Ah, Isabel, this man is not your boss. This man is a King, way back in historical times. Of course he can have concubines. How many are there?
"Does he have a wife?" My mouth moved before my brain could stop it.
Matilda shook her head. "The King has refused to take a wife, for whatever reason."
"Then why concubines?"
Isn't a wife better than having many concubines? How do men even manage it? How did King Solomon do it with over 300 concubines?
She shrugged. "That is unknown to me."
I didn't press her with more questions. Instead, I followed silently. We came to a hallway that must lead to the maidens' quarters. Thankfully, the few guards were easy to dodge.
The maiden cloth I wore, though lighter than my trench coat, was a bit uncomfortable—not to mention the little flip-flop things on my feet that did nothing to protect them on the hard floor. How did they even wear these clothes every day and stay comfortable?
Just as we were about to head down another hallway, we froze at a loud commotion ahead.
"Get down on your knees!" came a sharp, commanding female voice.
I couldn't see who was speaking, but a group of maids in similar clothing to ours surrounded her. The maid shouted on looked timid. Something must have happened. I wanted to step forward, but Matilda held me back, eyes wide with fear.
"What's going on?" I whispered.
She shook her head. "That is Lady Tyra, the King's favorite. Rumor has it she might become queen. You do not want to cross her path."
I rolled my eyes. I hadn't even met her yet, but I already knew I wouldn't like her. "Let me guess—one of his concubines?"
Before Matilda could answer, we heard the timid maid whimper. "I'm so sorry, I spilled the water by mistake."
"And it dare touch the hem of my dress," Lady Tyra chimed.
Her voice was dripping with malice. It made me want to march up and set her straight, but each time I moved, Matilda would pull me back.
"What are you doing? Do you want to be thrown into the dungeon?"
"She's mean," I pouted.
"Let it be, we have to go," Matilda tugged at my arm. "There's another path that leads to the maiden's quarters."
But I didn't want to go. I wanted to see what this concubine would do to that maid, so I planted my feet, ignoring Matilda's frantic pleas.
"Lady Tyra," the maid reached for the hem of her dress, and that was when she snapped.
"How dare you!" she burst, fury erupting.
The sharp sound of a slap echoed through the hallway. Damn. This concubine had guts.
"Take her away," Lady Tyra ordered coldly. "Flog her one hundred strokes of the cane."
Huh? Whatever is sh.. Suddenly, the air left my lungs the moment she turned and I saw her face.
No. It couldn't be. It had to be the coffee. I must have drunk it on an empty stomach, passed out, dehydrated, hallucinated and came into this world. This wasn't real.
No. It couldn't be. No, it couldn't.
I blinked hard, willing myself to wake up, because this was turning into a nightmare.
There was no way—no way on earth—that of all people, she would have **Christina's face**.
But she did.
Olive skin, curl black hair now adorned with jewels. That same expression, the exact face Christina wore whenever she was angry.
Oh God.
I should open my eyes. I should be back in my world. Because there was no way I was meant to stand here, in this place, staring at my only best friend...
Now wearing the face of Lady Tyra.
No way.