Who Am I?

"Die!"

"Yes! Yes! Kill her!"

"You must die! You have no right to live!"

"Die! Die! You are a fraud!"

"You treacherous woman!"

Countless furious voices shrieked at me, accusing and condemning me. But I saw nothing—only endless, suffocating darkness.

Am I trapped again?

I turned and ran, but their curses and relentless cries for my death refused to fade. They chased me, echoing through the void, growing louder with every step.

—- 

"No! No!"

I screamed in pain and despair, "Leave me alone!" 

My eyes snapped open. Sweat beaded on my forehead, and a single tear slipped down my cheek. Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm my racing heart. I muttered to myself, "Ugh! That dream again. Will I ever sleep peacefully?"

I attempted to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through my body, forcing me to stop. "Ah! That hurts. How badly am I injured this time?"

I glanced down and noticed clean bandages wrapped around my wounds. On the bedside table, a few neatly arranged vials caught my attention. Before I could process everything, the sound of hurried footsteps reached my ears.

Viola, my maid-of-honor, rushed into the room, her voice filled with concern. "Your Highness, please don't try to get up! You're still weak and badly hurt."

Her words echoed through my vast, lavish bedroom. Every corner of the room gleamed with pure gold, radiating power and royalty- just as one would expect from the legendary Princess Aralia Loset's chambers.

Yet, even after six months in this era, I still hadn't gotten used to living here.

I offered Viola a warm smile and rested back against the pillows. "Don't worry, Viola. These wounds aren't that serious."

Hurriedly approaching me, Viola helped me lie down on the bed. As she checked my temperature, she spoke in a concerned tone, "Your Highness, you shouldn't take everything so lightly. Even His Highness and His Majesty are deeply worried about the attack. They've sent our special chivalry troop to search the forest."

"Hmm. I doubt they'll find anything now," I murmured absentmindedly, gazing out through the grand window of my room. The crisp autumn air gently played with the fancy drapes, its cool touch reaching me. The view outside was enchanting—just beneath my balcony stretched a vibrant garden filled with orchids and lilies of various colors.

Though I had always longed to step outside and embrace the beauty of the royal garden, fear held me back. I was afraid of being caught- caught by the very people who were supposed to be my family, Princess Aralia's family.

Viola sighed in relief as she prepared my medicine. "It's a relief that your fever has gone down, but you must rest for the next two days. Your Highness, your body is still weak after that incident. Please don't push yourself too much."

Despite being only eighteen, Viola was a responsible and skilled maid. She had joined the palace just a year ago, and within four months, her dedication earned her the position of maid-of-honor to Princess Aralia. Though she had only served me for eight months, her loyalty and concern for me were beyond words.

Perhaps she was the only person in that vast palace with whom I felt truly comfortable—someone I could talk to without fear. I smiled at her and nodded obediently, taking the cup of medicine from her hands.

The bitter mixture made me nauseous, but before I could complain, Viola swiftly placed a sweet candy in my mouth. With a bright smile, she informed me, "Did you know that His Majesty has postponed tonight's ball due to your condition? 

"Huh? Why?"

"Last night, everything was in chaos and everyone got scared for you. He even appointed all the royal guards to search for you in every nook and corner of the kingdom," Viola explained.

"And where did they find me? Inside a pit?"

I tried to recall the events of last night, but my memories were messy. All I could clearly remember was falling into that deep, dark pit while fleeing from my pursuers…

And a pair of striking topaz-gold eyes...

Viola tilted her head thoughtfully before answering, "No, no. The guards found you near Lotus Lake. You were unconscious and burning with a high fever."

Lotus Lake?

My forehead wrinkled in confusion. I strained to piece together my broken memories. A dark silhouette, a carefree and pleasant voice, those burning eyes—they were unforgettable. I couldn't recall his face or our conversation, yet his warmth lingered in my mind.

But something wasn't right. I distinctly remembered moving deeper into the dense forest, leaving Lotus Lake far behind.

After a brief silence, I asked, "Which knight found me first?"

"Sir Killan."

"Is he new? I don't think I've heard his name before."

Viola's eyes widened. "Eh? Really? He's quite famous among young ladies! He joined the special chivalry troop last month and has already achieved an S-rank. He's not only brave but also very handsome and-"

I cut her off in the middle, "Umm… Can you ask him to meet me?"

Viola looked a bit confused but didn't question me further. After chatting for a few more minutes, she left.

A wave of dizziness washed over me as silence filled the room. My gaze drifted outside, where a group of children was playing joyfully in the garden, their laughter echoing in the air.

In the distance, I could hear the melodious song of a nightingale.

My thoughts drifted back to the past—six months ago, when I first arrived at this palace. At first, I had been terrified and utterly confused. But soon, fear gave way to thrill and excitement. After all, I had found myself inside my favorite era of history.

"400 BCE, Zahava Kingdom: The end of the Golden Era and the rise of the Nemesis Era…"

I had somehow ended up in the body of the most controversial historical figure- Princess Aralia Loset. Her mysterious and sudden disappearance had baffled historians of the 21st century, robbing them of sleep as they debated among themselves about her short and impactful life.

Some believed she had been murdered by her own family for power and the throne. Others speculated that she had been sold to a brothel, forced to live out her days as a courtesan. Another theory suggested she had been kidnapped by a neighboring prince and kept in his harem for the rest of her life.

Yes, the truth was… I wasn't Princess Aralia. I was—