Marigold's Point of View
I slowly cracked my eyes open, muttering to myself as if my brain were pounding from the inside. I wanted to drift back to sleep—my body still begging for rest—but the surface beneath me was cold—wait?
Why am I even lying on the floor?
Panic prickled down my spine as I pushed myself up, my eyes widening. Everything around me looked unnervingly sharp, like the world had been magnified under a microscope, even though I wasn't wearing glasses.
I looked at my surroundings. This wasn't my room. I was sitting on cold marble tiles, probably in a washroom. A massive mirror with an intricate gold frame loomed before me, reflecting a space that gleamed with luxury. Every corner, every fixture shimmered with gold accents. It was luxurious… and completely unfamiliar.
A shiver ran through me—not from the cold, but from the unsettling realization that I had no idea how I had ended up here.
I also noticed that I was no longer wearing a loose gray T-shirt and short cotton shorts. Instead, I was dressed in a red and black gown embroidered with gold and adorned with details I couldn't even begin to understand. When I touched my hair, it was long, straight, and white—a far cry from my curly, thick, frizzy black hair.
Am I still asleep? Is this just a dream?
I stood up from the cold floor as panic rose in my chest.
I thought I would calm down after seeing my reflection, but when I saw the unfamiliar face staring back at me in the mirror, I felt even worse.
"This isn't real… this isn't real…" I whispered, slapping myself in front of the mirror, only to wince at the sting. "Who am I? Where am I?" I asked myself while scanning the entire washroom.
"Your Majesty, art thou well? We must needs return unto the courtroom…" A voice from outside the door made my heart pound even faster.
[Your Majesty, are you well? We need to return to the courtroom.]
I tightly gripped my gloved hand while pacing restlessly inside the washroom, trying to think about what I needed to do.
All I remember is that I was reading an 11th-century book. I fell asleep because I was so tired, and then—
Wait, the 11th century?
Wasn't I reading about the nameless empress with white hair—
My feet suddenly stopped moving as I looked at myself in the mirror once more. I immediately replayed in my mind the physical description mentioned in the book, aside from her hair which was whiter than white.
Pale steel-gray eyes. Pale skin. Slender fingers.
"N-No…" I whispered.
Of all the places my soul could have ended up, why did it have to be in the Empress, of all people?!
What am I supposed to do? I need to think of a way out! This can't be happening—this can't be real.
Am I dead?! How did I die?! Did someone murder me?! What about my brother?!
I slapped my cheek again, wincing at the sting as my skin flushed red.
I bit my lower lip and looked around. There wasn't a single window in the room that I could use to see outside.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor doth already make search for thee," the person behind the door said again.
[Your Majesty, the Emperor is already searching for you.]
My heart started pounding even faster from nervousness. I took a deep breath to calm myself.
If it's true that I've somehow been sent back to the past, then I can't let anyone notice. There's a high chance that if they find out I'm not really their Empress, I'll lose my head—here and now.
I kept repeating in my mind everything I remembered about this Empress. She was quiet, so I should avoid speaking unless it's necessary. I'll observe first before taking any action.
After a few minutes, I finally calmed down and stepped outside. Thankfully, I love reading, so I know how nobles from the past usually behave. It's just too bad that there wasn't much information about this Empress, so I still don't know exactly how I'm supposed to act.
I didn't even know her name since it had been wiped from all records in the 21st century!
When I stepped out the door, a young woman in a maid's uniform immediately bowed before me, her movements precise and respectful.
"The Emperor awaiteth thee at the Old High Council Hall, Your Majesty," she said politely, her head still lowered. Even from a distance, I could feel the tension radiating from her.
[The Emperor is waiting for you at the Old High Council Hall, Your Majesty.]
I was slightly overwhelmed by the depth of her English-speaking skills. Oh no, this is going to be tough.
Hmm, did she just say the Old High Council Hall?
If my memory served me right, directly in front of the Old Council Hall stood Blackstone Plaza—the very place where the Empress, who is now me, had once been executed.
Why… why would the Emperor be waiting for me there?
A chill ran down my spine, and my heart began pounding in my chest. Could it be… is today the day I'm going to be executed?!
Lord, what sin have I committed to deserve this suffering?
"What day is it today?" I asked coldly as we walked through the wide, seemingly endless hallway. With every step I took, I memorized the surroundings, noting each detail with quiet precision.
"P-Pardon, Your Majesty?" she stammered, clearly not expecting me to speak.
"What day is it today?" I repeated, my voice still icy and deliberate.
The maid's bow deepened as she hurried to keep pace with me. "T-Today is Wednesday, the eighteenth of February," she said, her voice trembling with anxiety.
"And the year?" I asked casually, as if it were nothing but my heart is beating so fast.
"T-The year of our Lord one thousand ninety-seven, Your Majesty," she whispered.
I was momentarily stunned by what I heard. So I really did go back to the past?
According to a piece of information written in the book I read, the Empress who owned this body died on February 18 as well—but in the year 1100, at the age of twenty-four. That means if it's only 1097, my age now is twenty-one—three years before the historical execution of the most controversial Empress in history.
I shivered slightly as I imagined losing my head. I'd rather die of illness than die headless. Gosh!
"Y-Your Majesty, art thou well?" the servant asked softly but cautiously, stopping because of my sudden pause.
I cleared my throat. "Yes, I am," I answered sparingly.
I'm not used to acting like this in front of people, but I have to get used to it… for now.
We continued walking in silence. I wanted to speak, to ask questions, but I didn't want to make my companion even more intimidated—especially since she seemed so tense it was as if she might faint at any moment.
After what felt like an endless walk, we finally emerged from the hallway. A royal guard came to fetch me. The guard and the servant exchanged a simple nod before the servant left, bowing politely one last time.
Now, I was flanked by two royal guards walking on either side of me. We were leaving the palace. I didn't have much chance to observe the interior because I could sense the urgency in my escorts' pace.
We stopped in front of a large carriage pulled by three horses. It bore the symbol of two lions facing each other, each holding a flag of the Altos Empire—the same one I had seen in the book.
It was the symbol of the Cavendish Dynasty.
I swallowed hard as the guards helped me into the carriage. I had assumed I would be alone inside, but my eyes widened slightly when I saw someone already there: a woman with black hair cut in a boyish style.
So the boy cut for woman was already in fashion back then, huh?
I silently observed her. She was wearing a regal military-style outfit in bright white and deep red. The ensemble featured a sharp white jacket with red buttons and a high collar, paired with matching white pants and tall lace-up boots. A long red cape flowed from her shoulders, accented by a red sash and silver chains adorned with lion-shaped jewelry.
"Greetings, Your Majesty," she greeted respectfully while bowing.
"Greetings…" I replied softly, weighing her identity in my mind.
"May it please Your Majesty, a brief update. I humbly beg pardon for my haste. The prisoner hath already been removed from the underground dungeon, and within the half hour, the execution Your Majesty decreed shall be carried out," she said seriously, still bowing her head.
[Your Majesty, I just want to give you a quick update. I apologize for the rush. The prisoner has already been taken from the underground dungeon, and within the next half hour, the execution you ordered will be carried out.]
I winced. I understood what she was saying because I was used to reading history books, but I didn't think I could speak in that kind of deep, archaic English.
Daddy, I want to go home!
"Execution?" I couldn't help blurting out when I finally processed her words. I had been so distracted by the way she spoke that I barely understood what she had said.
She lifted her gaze. "Yes, Your Majesty. You did give that command yesterday, did you not?"
What is this Empress thinking? Did something happen that she will going to give a command to execute someone?! I'm starting to believe everything I've read about her.
I cleared my throat, straightened my back, and looked outside the moving carriage.
"Yes, I know," I said, using it as an excuse.
Secretly, I scolded myself. I can't let the people here notice anything strange. I might end up dying even sooner! Gosh, I can't let my coming to the past go to waste without learning anything. If I need to find a way to prevent my death, I'll do it—for myself and for this Empress as well!
But I wish I at least had some idea, right? How am I supposed to fulfill my duties when I don't even know anything about my own identity?
Empress, wherever you are right now, please help me…