Chapter 21: Present x Past

Sophia's POV

"Lady Sophia, I must say, your return is far sooner than anticipated." Lea greeted me with a warm smile.

"Lea..." I could only whisper her name before I pulled her into an embrace.

"Lady Sophia, is something the matter?"

"Lea, forgive me. I wasn't able to keep my promise."

"What promise do you speak of, Lady Sophia?"

"To return home happily," I murmured, my voice trembling, before finally breaking down into sobs.

"Wait—what has happened, Milady?" She pulled away slightly, concern evident in her eyes.

"Lea, Lea… The Duke." I clutched my chest as if trying to hold myself together. "He rejected me," I confessed, my knees giving way beneath me as I collapsed to the ground, wailing.

"Am I ugly, Lea? Am I not desirable enough? For the third time, I confessed my love to him, and it didn't even take him a minute to reject me. Right there, at that very moment, without hesitation—as if I had never been, even for a fleeting second, someone worthy of his gaze."

"Milady, pray, compose yourself. I know not what has transpired, but whatever it may be, know that I am here for you. Please, do not weep."

Here for me?

The moment I heard those words, my sobs deepened. 

""Lea… that won't matter anymore because by tomorrow, I'll be gone from here." My voice was laced with finality, making her expression shift into shock.

"The Duke is coming!"

Lea and I both froze as the guards announced his arrival.

Do you know what hurts the most? Going home to the same place as the man who just broke your heart.

I shot up from the ground and ran straight to my room before I could let him see me in such a wretched state. Once inside, I let it all out. The heartbreak, the humiliation, the aching weight in my chest—it all came pouring out in tears I could no longer hold back.

I didn't know how long I wept, only that exhaustion eventually took over, and my eyelids grew heavy.

The Next Morning

"I know not what truly transpired last night, nor why the Duke has suddenly decreed your banishment to Posen. Yet, I can only hope that in time, he shall come to his senses and revoke this grievous decision," Lea said sorrowfully.

"Don't hold on to false hope, Lea. We'll only hurt ourselves in the end," I replied, my gaze cast downward.

"Do not say such things, Milady. I have a strong feeling that, in due time, the Duke will summon you once more."

"I don't care anymore. I refuse to waste another second waiting for that heartless man. He can go and be happy with Princess Anastasia for all I care."

"Lady Sophia…" Lea's voice wavered, her tears threatening to fall as she reached for my hand.

"Please, take care of yourself while you are there. If ever I find the opportunity, I shall come to visit. And I promise to write to you." Her words trembled with sincerity, and suddenly, my own tears surfaced again.

"You take care as well, Lea."

"The carriage has been waiting for quite some time now. You should depart soon, lest nightfall makes the journey perilous."

"Then, I shall go." I turned away, only to be stopped when she suddenly pulled me into a tight embrace.

"Pray, stay safe, milady. "

I shut my eyes for a moment. When I opened them again, my gaze landed on the window of the Duke's chamber.

That night was the last time I ever saw him. That cruel man—he didn't even see me off. Not a word, not a glance, nothing.

What a heartless, wretched person! He's cancelled! CANCELLED WITH A T!

Before frustration could overwhelm me again, I stepped back from Lea and climbed into the carriage. As the horses began to pull me away, I cast one final glance at Lea and the Duke's estate.

I don't know why, but tears streamed down my face once more.

I never expected this. I never thought that in such an unfamiliar place, at such an unexpected time, and for such an unworthy man—I would experience heartbreak this deep. My entire life, I dreamed of falling in love with a K-pop idol.

Who would have thought that the first man I'd ever truly fall for would be a German aristocrat? And worse, that he would be the one to shatter me completely?

This… This is what it truly feels like to be brokenhearted?

It hurts. It hurts so much.

Clutching my chest, I sobbed quietly as the carriage carried me farther away. And in between those silent cries, a thought suddenly surfaced.

Daddy…

How is he? What is he doing right now?

I don't know why, but all of a sudden, I wanted to go back.

Yes… I want to go back.

"I don't want to be here anymore. I want to go back!" I cried out, hiccupping between sobs.

BOOOOOGSH!!!

My wailing halted as the carriage suddenly crashed into something, forcing it to a stop.

"What happened?" I asked, hastily wiping my tears.

Silence.

No one responded. My brows furrowed, and just as I was about to call out again, a strong gust of wind blew through the carriage.

I stiffened. The windows were closed.

Then why…? Am I being haunted?!First, I get ghosted by the Duke, and now I'm literally being haunted?! What is this?!

I was about to stand when a wave of dizziness suddenly washed over me.

Wait. Why do I feel dizzy? I don't get motion sickness…

Wait. This… This is the same sensation I felt in the fitting room before I teleported into this world.

Could it be—?!

My heart pounded wildly as I threw the carriage door open. A blinding light met me as I stepped out, forcing me to shield my eyes. When I finally adjusted and took in my surroundings, my jaw nearly hit the ground.

A horse-drawn carriage rolled past me.

Huh? WHAT. THE. HELL?! I thought I was back!

My chest tightened in anxiety, thinking I was still stuck in the past. But then—

"Miss, are you a staff member here? Do you know where the restroom is?"

I turned at the tap on my shoulder and nearly choked.

The woman in front of me… She was wearing modern clothes.

"Milady, where did you buy such an outfit in this era? Have I arrived in Posen yet?" I asked eagerly, only for her to frown.

"Friend, isn't her outfit out of place? It looks like a western ball gown, not a hanbok," one of her whispered to her while awkwardly smiling.

Wait… Did she just speak Korean?!

For a moment, I thought I was hallucinating. I hadn't spoken my own language in so long. But no—she definitely spoke in Korean.

And not only that…They didn't look Western.They looked Asian. They looked Korean to be exact!

"Miss, What year is it?" I suddenly grabbed her shoulders.

"Uhm… 2025?" she answered hesitantly before lifting her phone.

"WOAH! YOU HAVE A PHONE?!" My eyes nearly popped out of their sockets at the sight of her iPhone.

"Miss… Are you okay?"

"Can you tell me where I am?" I asked, still in Korean.

Instead of answering, she simply pointed behind me.

I turned—and my breath caught.

"Changdeokgung Palace!" I gasped, staring at the palace in front of me.

For a moment, I remained frozen.

Then, it all started to sink in.

"WAAAAAH!!! MISS! I'M BACK! I'M REALLY BACK IN KOREA!" I screamed, jumping up and down as I clutched her hands.

"Miss… You don't even know where the restroom is. We'll be going now."

She was about to leave when I grabbed her arm again.

"Miss, can I borrow your phone?" I asked, smiling widely.

She hesitated but eventually handed it to me. I quickly dialed a number, and the moment the call connected, a deep voice answered.

"Who's this?"

The moment I heard that voice, my tears welled up again.

"Daddy… It's me. It's Sophia."

After 2 weeks 

Raphael Von Veldt, A head of a Royal guard and a Duke during the year 1850 under the reign of King Aldrich William IV, in the heart of Germany.Age: 25. Standing at an imposing 6'3" (190.5 cm), fair-skinned, strikingly handsome, with broad shoulders that carried both power and danger.

"What the heck, girl?!" Jel exclaimed, her expression twisted in disbelief as she stared at her laptop screen. "I've searched for him over and over again, but I can't find a single trace of him anywhere on the web!"

I sat across from her in her room, feeling a growing sense of despair. I had come here hoping for answers, but even Jel, who was practically a human search engine, had found nothing.

"But I saw him, I was with him, I fell in love with him! And more than anything—he rejected me!" I shot back, my voice cracking with frustration.

"And you're proud that he dumped you?" Jel scoffed. "Girl, listen. I don't know where the hell you disappeared for six months, but are you absolutely sure you didn't escape from a mental hospital? I mean, how does a 21st-century girl like you suddenly claim she traveled to the 18th century and came back? And not just that—you're telling me you met a duke, fell in love with him, and he rejected you? Seriously, were you on drugs?!"

"You know what? I am telling you the truth!" I insisted, my hands clenching into fists. "He was the most tyrannical ruler I have ever known! He would stab a man without hesitation, order executions at the slightest offense, and even worse—he wanted the woman he loved to be hanged just because he found her annoying! How could a duke so cruel, so infamous, not be documented anywhere in history?!"

"Girl, I've scoured Google inside and out!"

"Did you check... Pornhub?"

Jel nearly choked. "What the actual fuck?!"

"Jel, I'm begging you. Help me find him. If he's not on Google, maybe he's on Yahoo, Mozilla Firefox, Bing, Baidu, Yandex, or Naver!"

"I did! But none of the results match your description. Every duke I found looks like Santa Claus' long-lost cousin with beards thicker than forests, and they're all ancient! Like, retirement-home-level old. If they're still alive, they're probably playing mahjong with grandmas, girl!"

I wanted to argue, but she wasn't wrong.

For two weeks now, I had been searching for him. I had dug through every history book in my father's library, spending sleepless nights poring over old records, desperate for even the faintest trace of his existence. But no matter how hard I searched, there was nothing. Not a single mention of Raphael Von Veldt.

Not a name. Not a title. Nothing.

What did that mean?

Confusion swirled inside me, twisting my heart into knots. My hands trembled as I lowered my head, feeling the weight of helplessness pressing down on me.

Even though Raphael had broken my heart, I missed him terribly. I thought returning to this world would make things easier, but with every passing day without him, I felt like I was losing my mind.

"You know, girl," Jel began hesitantly, her usual sarcasm tempered with something close to concern. "I really don't want to believe you. But with the way you've been acting… I can't help it. I mean, you used to hate anything related to Korean history. You never cared about anything old or traditional, and now—look at you! You've become obsessed with historical shit like you've been possessed by the ghost of Mona Lisa. When you showed up two weeks ago, you were wearing a damn ball gown! And sometimes, you talk so formally, like you stepped right out of a period drama. Hell, you don't even speak in Korean anymore—it's all English! Honestly, girl, I think you left your brain wherever the hell you came from."

"You're right, Jel. I think I did leave something behind."

"What? Your brain cell?"

"No." I let out a shaky breath. "My heart."

Jel nearly fell off her chair. "What the hell, girl?!"

"I left my heart with him," I whispered, my voice breaking as tears spilled down my cheeks.

"Wow. That's… unbelievably corny. I have no words. You know what? Let's just go eat. Ajjuma is cooking kimchi fried rice downstairs."

"Kimchi fried rice?" I repeated absentmindedly.

"Uh, yeah? Kimchi fried rice?"

Something clicked in my mind. A realization. A painful, bittersweet truth.

"You know," I murmured, my gaze distant, "I just realized something."

"That you want kimchi fried rice?"

"No." I inhaled deeply, a single tear slipping down my cheek. "That garlic shouldn't be the first thing before everything else."

Jel blinked. "Wait… huh? You mean… oil?"

I shook my head. "No. Myself."

For a moment, she just stared at me before shuddering dramatically. "Damn. That was almost deep. Gave me goosebumps—almost."

I stood up, brushing past her, my heart aching.

If only I had thought of myself first before falling for him, maybe I wouldn't be hurting like this.

But why…

A sob caught in my throat.

"Jel," I whispered, my voice trembling, "I don't think I can take this anymore. I miss him so much. I don't think I can go on if I never see him again."

Jel sighed heavily. "Okay, so… should I buy you a compilation of famous noblemen from 1850s Germany?"

"I already have one," I muttered under my breath.

 "Wait, what?"

"I replaced all my BTS posters with portraits of 18th-century aristocrats," I admitted, and then, unable to hold it in any longer, I broke down in tears.

Jel gaped at me, looking utterly horrified. "What?! Sophia, are you serious?! Oh my god. I think I'm getting a fever just listening to you!"

She exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Listen to me, girl. If everything you're saying is true, then fine! But let me tell you something—he rejected you, didn't he? You're back in the present, and he's in the past. No matter how much you want to see him again, it's impossible. Like, seriously. Reality check! It's 2025, and the man you're crying over lived in 1850. That's more than a hundred freaking years ago! The time gap is massive!"

Her words hit me like ice-cold water.

Raphael was in 1850. And I… I was here. In 2025.

Even if I did find a way back, what would it change?

"Bestow your affection upon another —anyone but me.". Just... not me."

His voice echoed in my head.

I clutched my chest. Even if I returned, it wouldn't matter. Because he never wanted me in the first place.

"Jel, I think I should go home. I need to be alone," I murmured, standing up.

Before I could take a step, she pushed me back down onto the couch.

"Sophia, I don't care if your story is true or not," she said firmly. "But listen to me—get a life and move on. Okay? I cannot believe you're heartbroken over a guy who's literally older than Seo Jae-pil!"

I swallowed hard.

"I just… I need time to move on," I whispered. "But more than that, I need to understand why history has completely erased him—why there's not a single trace of his existence."

"No, Sophia. You need to get over a man who might not have even existed in the first place!" Jel huffed. "You know what? We're going bar-hopping later with Yuna. I think you need to snap back into reality. There are plenty of real, hot, available men out there. Not some ancient duke who might as well be one of Santa's reindeers. You're driving me nuts!"

Her words lingered in my mind.

And for the first time, I thought… maybe she was right.

Maybe it was time to let go.Maybe it was time to forget that world.

Maybe it was time to forget the Duke. 

I stared at my reflection in the mirror.

Just yesterday, not an inch of my skin was exposed beneath layers of fabric—I had been wrapped in an elaborate ball gown. And yet now, here I was, clad in a black tube top and a fitted mini-skirt.

I looked like I belonged in a club, a woman draped in temptation. A sight so unfamiliar, yet so ordinary for the nights I spent bar-hopping with Jel and the girls. Maybe I had just grown too used to the modesty of a ball gown.

Ball gown…

A sharp pang clenched my chest.

"Hey, you're overthinking again. Stop it, okay? Come on, or all the handsome guys at Octagon will be taken," Jel's voice rang from the doorway.

I forced a smile before following her outside.

As we drove through the city, my senses were overwhelmed—the dazzling lights, the roaring traffic, the towering buildings, and, most of all, the sheer number of people.

This is a world far, far away from 1850.

It wasn't long before we arrived at Octagon, a renowned nightclub in Seoul.

"Hey, are you okay?" Jel nudged me as we sat in a dimly lit corner.

I simply smiled, reached for the beer on the table, and took a long sip.

"Girls! Look, quick! That guy is ridiculously handsome," Yuna suddenly squealed.

I lazily followed her gaze.

I smirked. Handsome?

That man wasn't even a shadow of Raphael. I took another swig.

"Look at that one! He's tall as hell and just as good-looking," Jel chimed in, pointing in another direction.

I smirked again. Tall?

He wouldn't even reach Raphael's shoulders. I took another gulp.

"And that one! He looks cold and brooding but seriously attractive," Jisoo added.

Cold and brooding?

If he met Raphael, he'd probably cower like a dog. I drowned another mouthful of alcohol.

"Hey, Sophia, what's up with you? Are you just here to drink, or do you actually plan on checking out the guys tonight? You're too gorgeous to waste the night!" Yuna teased.

I stared at my drink. "No matter where I look, I can't find a single man who even comes close to him."

"What? Who the hell are you talking about? Don't tell us you got yourself a foreign boyfriend while you were gone?" Jisoo arched a brow.

"Hehe, ignore her. Let's just focus on finding some hot oppas tonight!" Jel laughed.

I let their words fade into the background and kept drinking.

But no matter how much I drank, the weight on my chest didn't lighten. I kept pouring the liquor down my throat, only noticing the live band when they started playing a song that suddenly felt too close to home.

Just the two of us, let's be together…Just the two of us, it was always meant to be…

"Just the two of us?""We were meant to be?"

How could that be possible?

I was in the 21st century. He was in the 1800s.

It was insanity. Besides… he didn't even like me. He had someone else.

Yet… Yet, I didn't know why, but as I drank, the tears began to fall.

"He doesn't love you.""You belong to different times.""You don't even know if he ever truly existed."

Then why? Why did it feel so real?

If I thought about it logically, I already knew the answer—

"We were never meant to be."

"There was no 'us.'"

And yet… I pressed a trembling hand over my mouth.

I like you, Duke.

And more than anything…I just want to see you again.

"Girls, wanna dance?" A group of four men appeared before us.

I didn't even spare them a glance. The last thing I wanted was to dance.

"Of course! Let's go," Yuna giggled, standing up with Jisoo and Jel.

"What about you?" One of the men leaned in too close, his gaze lingering on me like something sticky and unshakable.

"Get lost," I muttered before taking another drink.

"Hehe. Sorry, boys, she's already had too much. Let's just dance without her," Jel grinned.

I tuned them out. I just wanted to be alone. I was already bowing my head in exhaustion when another voice cut through my haze.

"Hey… alone?"

I frowned and looked up, barely registering the man standing before me.

"And you? Are you alone? No royal guards lurking around?" I smirked at my own question.

"Royal guards? You mean, like… guards from the Victorian era?"

"Exactly!" I laughed.

"Haha! Looks like you're pretty drunk."

"Yeah, I am. I'm drunk… but mostly, I'm drunk on him."

"Who?"

"The Duke. What, are you jealous too? What's next? Are you going to send someone to the guillotine? Order another execution?"

He looked baffled for a moment but then chuckled. "I'm interested in your story. Want to go somewhere quieter to talk?"

I blinked. At least someone wanted to listen.

"Sure."

I tried to stand but stumbled. Before I could hit the floor, his hands steadied me. I shut my eyes, barely aware of being led to his car. I only noticed we had stopped when his hand suddenly crawled up my thigh.

"Fvcker! What the hell are you doing!?"

"Doing exactly what a girl like you wants me to do," he sneered.

"Fvck you!" I tried to get out, but he yanked me back.

"Stay still, bitch. Isn't this what girls like you are after? So desperate for attention, you'll say anything—" He laughed mockingly. "What was it again? Oh, right. Royal guards and a Duke? Give me a break. Those only exist in history books. In reality, there's no such thing."

His words hit me like ice-cold water.

Why? Why did everyone keep insisting he wasn't real? That Raphael didn't exist?

"So if I were you, be a good girl. No one's coming to save you, not even that 'Duke' you were rambling about—" SLAP!

"Shut up!" My voice shook as my palm stung from the impact. "He does exist! So stop talking like you know everything!"

I turned to leave, but he grabbed my dress, yanking it so hard the fabric tore, leaving only my tube top covering me.

"Where the hell do you think you're going? Scream all you want, but I'm telling you—no one is coming to save you."

No one?

His words rang in my ears, but instead of fear, something else surfaced—Memories.

Memories of the Duke.

He never likes me.

But not once did he let harm come to me.

Every time—when I least expected it, when I needed him the most—he was there.

"You're wrong!" I kicked him with all my strength.

Clutching my torn dress, I threw the door open.

"He will save me!"

"He will save me!" I repeated, swallowing my sobs.

And then—

A sudden gust of wind howled around me, so strong it stole my breath. A blinding light swallowed my vision.

When I opened my eyes— There he was.

Seated upon a towering black horse, dressed in regality, his piercing gaze locked onto mine.

And then, in a voice like thunder and silk, he spoke—

"I am pleased to see you again, Lady Sophia."