Chapter One: Reborn In A Strange World

Darkness, it covers every inch of the void. My body feels light, almost like I'm floating. Everything is quiet, not a sound is heard yet I feel peaceful. There was no trace of worry or happiness. Just a sense of tranquillity and quiet. Is this how it feels to die? I close my eyes and let myself be overwhelmed by the serene sensation.

"You have to survive!"

A gentle voice cries into the abyss, its tone shaking as if the person is afraid. I turn my head to check for the unidentified person. But all I can see is total blackness. I open my lips to say something, but nothing comes out. Why am I unable to speak? Nothing happens when I open my mouth again. I can't even make a sound, let alone talk. I start to panic. I feel heavy as if something is weighing me down. 

The sensation of floating transforms into the sensation of drowning. I can't breathe when my peacefulness shifts to panic. I close my eyes as I reach my hands up, trying to grab something, anything that can save me. The suffocating sensation intensifies as I fall deeper and deeper into the darkness.

"You have to survive"

A soft voice speaks very clearly. As if they were speaking directly into my ears. When I open my eyes, I see a silhouette floating above me. As my vision dimmed, I couldn't tell who they were.

"You must survive."

I can hear the voice echoing, but their lips didn't move. The mysterious person extends one of their hands towards me. My body reacts on its own, depleted of life and energy. My right-hand raises as if attempting to grasp the person's hand.

I want to wake up, let me wake up!

My heart burns with the sudden desire to live. My palm lightly grazes their hand, and then the person disappears and a blinding light replaces them. My body drifts towards the light forcing me to close my eyes as I come closer. Is this the end of my journey? Is this how my brief existence ends?

No, please. Give me a second chance. Let me live. I don’t want to die.

The first thing I hear is loud cries. "M-my lady-," a timid voice murmurs softly. I can feel my body moving as something soft wraps around me. "It-you birthed a girl!" The same voice is trembling with fear. 

Where am I? What Happened? I'm pretty sure I died. Am I in the hospital?

"Archer, you must be quiet." A woman breathes out, her voice is soft and sweet, reminding me of candy. Yet there is a sense of tiredness. "We cannot take the chance of those standing outside hearing. If His Majesty discovers her, she will be killed." 

What is going on? Who are these people? Who’s going to get killed? Why does my head hurt so much? My body feels like ice is seeping inside my veins. My body feels warm, yet I'm shaking like I’m cold. I go to speak but instead, a cry comes out. 

"Yes, My Lady." The timid voice speaks up. His voice appears closer, almost as if speaking directly into my ear. As he spoke, I felt a light vibration on my back. 

Is he holding me? What the hell is he doing with me? What's the deal with my inability to move? Why am I unable to open my eyes? What is going on?! Someone, please tell me!

“Good, now bring me my children.” The woman orders, her tone soft and full of humour. Soon after the sound of movement fills my ears, like shuffling sheets. 

“Wait! My lady, you just gave birth! You have to be careful!” The person holding me anxiously says. I can feel my body being moved swiftly before I’m laid down on something soft. I can feel something warm wrap around my body as if someone is hugging me close to their body. 

Come on Hyewol, open your eyes! After a few more moments of struggle, I managed to open my eyes. At first, I only saw a bright light, but after blinking the bright light faded and I could see properly. 

As I open my eyes I stare into eyes as beautiful as sapphire gems. A young, beautiful woman with long curly pink hair stares at me, a soft smile gracing her lips. A soft lilac glow emits around her body. Similar to what I saw around the guy who had killed me. "Hello, my beautiful daughter," She softly whispers.

Who is she?

I watch as she turns her eyes away from me, looking at something in her other arm. Turning my attention to where she is looking I stare at an infant who is peacefully sleeping in her left arm. “Your twin brother is a sleepy little guy,” She laughs. Her laugh reminds me of a soft tune in a song. 

Twin brother? Where am I?

I glance around my surroundings from where I lay. I’m in a gorgeous, large room that resembles a bedroom. The colours are a mixture of sweet lavender purple and soft cream. Cream-coloured walls, soft lavender-coloured carpet, and a large stone fireplace on the far right side with nightstands, shelves and dressers scatter throughout the room. A small living room space is just farther up from the bed while two golden doors are on the far wall across the room. The bed is made of lavender and white sheets and pillows. A large chest at the end of the bed and a single stuffed rabbit sits on top of it.

What is this place? 

“Lady Ophelia, here is some herbal tea to help with the bleeding and pain.” A beautiful boy, who doesn't look to be an adult yet, stands next to the bed. He has soft Amber-coloured hair and honey-tone eyes shine behind a pair of glasses. A soft teal mixed with a light red colour surrounds his body. His hands are covered in blood as he places a teacup on the nightstand next to the bed. 

What are those colours?

“Thank you, Archer.” The woman, Ophelia, smiles softly. 

“But, I’m a little worried,” Archer says, his honey eyes looking down at me. “Is it normal for newborns not to cry? His Highness cried, but not the princess-”

Newborns? 

I turn to look at the woman holding me only to see her smiling down at me. “That’s because she’s a very special little girl.” She places a kiss on my forehead. 

What is happening right now?!

“Since she is so special, I’ll give her a special name.” I blink as I look up at her. “Her name will be Rubia. Rubia Jane Easlathia.” She kisses my forehead again. Before turning her gaze towards the boy in her other arms. “And you will be named Rohan Grey Easlathia.” She kisses his head. 

Easlathia? That name sounds familiar. Rubia…..Rohan…Archer….Ophelia. Why do they sound so familiar?

A sudden knock echoes through the room causing the Archer guy and Ophelia woman to freeze. They both stare at the two large golden doors, "Lady Ophelia, His Majesty the Emperor wishes to see you." A new voice spoke.

Archer turns to look at Ophelia and in a swift motion, the sheets are ripped from the bed. I’m being passed off to Archer, who clumsily holds me. “You must go, now.” She whispers as she stands from the bed. She’s hunched over slightly as she carefully walks towards the crib next to the bed. I watch as she softly places the boy infant inside the crib. 

“Hide her in your cloak, make it look like you are carrying laundry and get her out of this damn palace fast.” She orders her soft voice now stern with the demand. “There's a hut in the Silver forest by a lake. Wait for me there." She whispers, gathering some clean-looking sheets. 

She lays them out before grabbing me. “I'll wrap her inside the sheets, I’ll leave an opening so she can breathe so you must make sure her face is facing your chest so no one can see her. Stand by the door and when they walk in I need you to slip out and make a run for it.”

My body is tossed around as I’m wrapped up tightly inside a ball of sheets. What the hell is going on?! I want to cry, but I hold it in. The once beautiful colour that surrounds them is now fully black. My body shivers with fear, something inside of me tells me to remain silent. 

After being wrapped in the sheets, the ball is given to Archer who is quick to stand next to the door just as it opens. My face was immediately hidden by Archer's chest. “I apologize for keeping you waiting, your Majesty the Emperor” I can hear Ophelia’s voice, she sounds surprisingly calm. 

Footsteps fill the room as I hear people walk by us. I close my eyes in fear. Why are they going through so much to hide me? Why is my body so small? What happened to me? Did I really die? My heart throbs at the thought. What is happening to me now?  Did I get reborn just like in those stories I used to read? But that's not possible, after all, that is just fantasy, a fragment of a person's imagination, it isn't real. Is it?

While battling with my thoughts I feel Archer slowly slip out of the room, I can feel his body move hastily to wherever, holding me close to his chest. I can look up at him through the sheet and I can see his face twist with anxiety. “It's alright, Princess Rubia, I’ll protect you.”

Archer.

Ophelia.

Rohan.

Rubia.

Easlathia.

Where have I heard these names before?

These names all sound so familiar. Where have I heard them before? It's definitely from my past life, but I lived In Korea, these names are uncommon there. Was it from a show? A game I played? Maybe a book?

As Archer rushes down what I believe is a corridor, my head begins to ache.

I remember now.