007

The next morning.

I woke up in a nightgown of the softest fabric, nestled in a plush bed with a thick, luxurious blanket. The comfort was so overwhelming that I hadn't even noticed the sun already high in the sky

"... yawn." I covered my mouth which almost yawned widely while getting up from my sleeping position.

I slipped my feet into the waiting fur slippers on the soft carpet, then rose from the high bed and strolled leisurely toward the bathroom to wash my face, ready to begin my usual morning routine

For some reason, this sleep felt different—deeper and more restful than I had experienced in years. After so many restless nights, I woke up feeling refreshed and energized, my body was light and my mood unexpectedly lifted.

"..Hmm...hmm..."

It even made me hum softly, something I rarely did.

Today, for the first time in a long while, it felt like everything might just be okay.

"... Lady? What are you doing, my lady?!"

I froze mid-step, suddenly aware of a familiar pair of eyes watching me from the doorway, their face marked with surprise.

"Huh? Who, why are you—" My voice faltered, trailing off as if I'd turned to stone.

The owner of those eyes pushed the door wide open, revealing several young women in matching black-white uniforms. They moved gracefully into my room, carrying basins of water and towels.

Some scattered to draw back the curtains, flooding the room with sunlight and revealing the expensive classic furniture that filled the spacious bedroom.

'Ah.'

The bright sunlight streaming onto my sleepy face felt like a splash of cold water, jolting my senses awake. My sluggish morning brain, still groggy, suddenly kicked into gear—and everything that had happened came rushing back to me.

I stood frozen as the memories of yesterday flooded my mind, leaving me speechless in a room that had once felt familiar but now felt strange—because this wasn't my room.

"..."

In the midst of it all, I forced myself to turn my stiff neck, glancing down at the clothes I was wearing. A luxurious black nightgown trimmed with delicate silver lace—far too extravagant to belong to me.

But it wasn't just the nightgown that felt wrong.

This body, these hands, these feet... none of them were mine, yet they responded to my movements as if they had always been a part of me.

'So, yesterday really wasn't a dream...?'

"Tina," I murmured to the familiar figure who had gently helped me sit back up after I'd frozen by the side of the bed.

She turned her head toward me the moment I said her name.

"Yes, my lady? Is something wrong? Does your head hurt again? Or is the water not warm enough?" Tina asked with attentive concern, while her eyes flicked back to the others. Her movements were calm but efficient as she supervised her colleagues, who carefully washed my feet, hands, and face with warm water and the softest towels.

They washed my feet and hands with utmost care and gentleness as if my body were precious and any small injury would lead to dire consequences for them.

"..." Their actions felt strange to me; it was awkward yet surprisingly comforting at the same time.

As I contemplated how to end the actions of the younger girls gently washing and wiping my feet and hands, my gaze fell upon my reflection in the large mirror of the room.

It was a foreign appearance, and the treatment I was receiving felt equally alien. Everything about this situation felt like it didn't belong to me.

I tilted my head, and the reflection mirrored my movements—long, straight orange hair cascading to my waist, exuding a floral scent. My smooth, snow-white skin made the pulse at my neck visible, with a delicate blush on my cheeks and soft, rosy lips that looked almost seductive.

'How can someone so beautiful, living such a luxurious life, have such a sad story?' I wondered.

"I think that's enough. You can all go now," I said firmly, waving away the young girls in their medieval-style maid uniforms, trying to sound indifferent without being rude.

They paused in their tasks, and as if on cue, they bowed respectfully. Despite the confusion swirling in my mind, I managed to maintain a composed expression.

One by one, they filed out of the room with the basins and towels they had brought.

"Lady Eleanor, are you okay?" Tina remained behind as if my dismissal hadn't included her.

The soft click of the door closing was accompanied by her anxious voice, making me sigh.

"Why did you move on your own, Lady? You should be resting. The doctor said you're not allowed to move much for the entire month—have you forgotten?"

'Yes, I forgot. No, it's even worse than that. I thought last night was just a dream.'

If I had answered her bluntly, Tina would have likely screamed hysterically, causing a scene in this luxurious residence and prompting the Marquis and Marchioness Gwendolyn to become even more overprotective. They would bring in doctors from around the world to diagnose an illness that never existed.

'Wait, possession isn't a disease, is it? More like something supernatural…?'

"Lady Eleanor...?"

I paused, lost in thought until Tina's anxious voice snapped me back to reality.

"I'm okay, Tina. In fact, I need you to calm down so my head doesn't start spinning," I admitted.

"...!" She nodded obediently, covering her mouth as if she had never worried about me at all.

With Tina standing quietly by my side, acting like the reliable personal maid she was, I sighed softly and closed my eyes.

'What should I do now?' The question echoed in my mind.

'Should I go find my younger brother… or deal with the issues of this body I'm possessing first?'

Knock knock.

"Excuse me, Lady Eleanor. The kitchen staff has come to bring you a healthy and nutritious breakfast. The Marchioness herself requested this menu, hoping for your swift recovery."

I opened my eyes and exchanged a glance with Tina, silently giving her a cue.

She understood immediately, elegantly moving to open the door for the chef and kitchen staff who entered with a small cart, the aroma of breakfast awakening my appetite.

'I can think about everything later after I eat first,' I thought, a small smile forming on my lips without my realizing it.

***

"... What did you just say...?"

I had started to adapt to the luxurious residence that once felt so strange, lounging comfortably on the comfy couch while snacking on caramel cookies and sipping fragrant tea.

Given that it was still daylight and my movements had to be limited to avoid raising suspicion under the watchful eyes of those at Gwendolyn's residence—who were understandably concerned for Eleanor after her recent accident—I chose to take a moment to unwind. I focused on adapting to this unfamiliar world and the strange body I now inhabited, allowing myself to breathe and gather my thoughts

So, I was shocked when a male servant delivered surprising news in broad daylight!

"Lady Cecillia wishes to see you, Lady Eleanor. She seems very worried about your condition after hearing the news. She also brought you a gift," he repeated, his gaze lowered, clearly hesitant to meet the eyes of the ailing beauty before him.

I covered my face with my hands, shaking my head slightly. "... No, I meant what you said before."

"Ah, about Lady Cecillia being in the drawing room? She's currently chatting with the Marchioness," he clarified.

A wave of memories from the original plot of the novel crashed over me, and my head throbbed as I processed his words.

'Why is the heroine here...? I know the body I possess is that of her childhood friend, but why has she arrived so soon?!'

An unsettling feeling crept in—I sensed that something bad would happen if I met the heroine now.

Was it intuition, or just nerves at the thought of facing a character I had only read about in books?

'Either way, I was certain this was not the right time to see her!'

"Tell her I'm still very sick and can't have visitors."

The male servant looked taken aback by my refusal, clearly surprised that Eleanor, who was known to have a close friendship with Lady Cecillia, would decline a sudden visit.

However, his surprise quickly faded as he caught a glimpse of my pale, sweaty face, realizing just how unwell I appeared.

"Very well, my lady. I will relay your message. I apologize for interrupting your rest," he said, placing the gift from Cecillia's nearby desk.

"..." I remained silent, maintaining a facade of calm indifference on the couch until I heard his footsteps retreating and the soft click of the door closing.

Finally, I exhaled a long sigh of relief.

'This is insane. I've only been home for a day on this world, and the heroine has already come to visit!' I cursed silently to myself, massaging my temples.

My gaze fell on a small box wrapped in green and orange ribbon—the gift from Cecillia, the heroine.

Reluctantly, I reached out, untied the ribbon, and opened the lid. Inside lay an exquisite necklace adorned with bright orange jewels, nearly the same color as my hair. It was clear that the giver had put a lot of thought into this gift.

"It's beautiful," I couldn't help but say, admiring the jewelry. Yet, despite its allure, I had no desire to wear it at all.

Then I casually returned the necklace to its box and tucked it away in the dressing table drawer.

I settled back into my cozy spot, savoring the rich flavor of my caramel cookies paired with a warm cup of tea. With each bite and sip, I tried to dissolve the fleeting waves of anxiety that had washed over me.

'... I had no reason to feel guilty, especially considering what she planned later,' I mused, averting my gaze.