Following the prince’s orders, someone led me inside and into an empty room, telling me to wait. Finally, I could catch my breath. Soon, a middle-aged woman arrived with a younger woman who looked about my age. They announced they were there to clean me up and make me presentable. Relief flooded me—this was exactly what I needed. They guided me to the bathroom, setting down a basket overflowing with bottles and towels. I watched them, expecting them to leave, but instead, they walked over to me.

"Ah... w-wait. What are you doing?" I stammered, as they stepped closer, clearly intent on undressing me.

“Removing your clothes, sire,” the older woman replied as if this was the most normal thing in the world.

"Sir? No, no, it’s fine—I can handle bathing on my own,” I said, trying to force a smile that probably looked more like a grimace. The three of us were now stuck in the world’s most awkward standoff. I waited, hoping they’d take the hint and leave, but when it became clear they weren’t going anywhere, I finally blurted out, “Um, aren’t you going to, you know, head out? I kinda need to take a bath, and it’s a solo activity.”

“We can't. We've been ordered to assist you.”

‘Oh, I get it. They’re here to watch me in case I try to escape,’ I thought, completely misunderstanding the situation.

Feeling shy, I walked behind them, stole a glance at their faces, and hesitantly started taking off my oversized shirt and unhooked my bra.

Gasp! I turned to see their shocked expressions.

"Y-you're a woman?" the older one blurted out, eyes wide, her voice trembling with disbelief.

My stomach sank. "Uh... does it look like I’m trying to hide it?" I mumbled, pointing awkwardly at my chest. Their expressions changed so fast I almost stumbled backward. It wasn’t just surprise—it was fear.

The older woman bolted toward the door, locking it with a candlestick, while the younger one drew the curtains in a frantic sweep, her face pale as if we were hiding a crime.

"What... what are you doing?" My voice wavered, dread gnawing at my insides. This wasn’t just awkward anymore. It was dangerous.

“Um, what’s going on?” I asked, thoroughly bewildered.

"Who knows about this?" the older woman demanded, her tone now deadly serious.

"I don't know. It's not like I’m hiding—" I began, but she cut me off, grabbing my shoulders with the intensity of someone about to reveal a dark conspiracy.

"Listen carefully," she said, her voice dropping to a whisper. "You mustn't let anyone know. Do you understand?"

"Uh, yeah, sure, but... why?" I asked, still thoroughly confused.

“You really didn’t know?” the older woman asked, her voice laced with disbelief.

I shook my head. "No, I didn’t."

“Where are you from to not know something this basic?” she pressed, her tone sharpening.

“Not from here,” I muttered, too exhausted to explain the whole ‘other world’ thing. Honestly, who’d believe me?

"Definitely not from this world," I mumbled, stepping into the tub and trying to scrub off the sticky blood on my face. I couldn’t help but wonder how my bath suddenly turned into an episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

“If you didn’t know, then you must be from the Homonhon Empire?”

“Nope. Aunty, sorry, but can I wash myself?” I awkwardly requested as she began scrubbing my arms. “I mean, it feels weird having someone else wash me when I’m already a grown woman.” I slid away from them, continuing to scrub my body.

“If you’re not from the Homonhon Empire, then there’s no way you wouldn’t know how women are treated here.”

“Mother, look at her clothes. They’re very different from what our people wear,” the younger girl observed, eyeing my jeans and oversized shirt. I quickly snatched my underwear from her grasp, my face flushing with embarrassment. This is so mortifying!

“I heard you were held captive, but which kingdom are you from if not Homonhon?”

I debated internally before deciding to reveal the truth about my origins and how I got involved in the war between the two kingdoms. In the end, they simply concluded that I’d hurt my brain.

I don’t expect them to believe me, but being called crazy stung more than I thought it would. Honestly, I question how I’ve managed to stay sane after everything I’ve been through.

“It seems you hurt your head a lot. I guess you don’t even know your name.” The middle-aged woman said, her hands gentle but firm as they brushed against the fresh wound on my forehead. She seemed so sure of my injury that I didn’t bother to correct her.“Let me introduce myself first. I’m Lea, and this is my daughter, Rowena.” We exchanged bows, forming a quiet bond of trust. “Come here, let us help you clean up.” Skeptical but with no better options, I decided to trust them.

“Listen carefully,” Lea began, her voice low as she washed my back. “This Empire is built on dominance and power. It’s a harsh, unforgiving society where the elites, especially the royals, rule with cruelty. The lower classes live in constant fear, and the men in charge never hesitate to use violence to keep control. In this male-dominated empire, strength is everything. Women are often forced into secondary roles, seen as little more than tools for the powerful to use as they see fit."

The water trickled down my face, the sound of it mixing with her words as I silently absorbed what she was saying. My reflection rippled in the bathwater, distorted, much like the world around me.

“The people here,” she continued, “are cold and calculating. They don’t show emotions easily, and love? It’s seen as a weakness to be exploited. The strong always dominate the weak, and for servants like us, we have no choice but to serve. Whether it’s with our skills or our bodies, it all depends on who we end up serving.”

I stared down at the water, the droplets from my hair blurring my reflection. This was the reality I needed to accept.

“There used to be three Empires,” Lea went on, her voice soft but steady, “but only the Homonhon and Elthor Empires treated women differently. We’re from the fallen Kingdom of Ellis, which was part of the Elthor Empire. But fate brought us here to serve under this lord. We once had hopes of escape, but with the fall of Aldo, a kingdom known for its military strength, those hopes are gone. Our princess is—”

“Mother…” Rowena gently interrupted, and Lea stopped.

“Anyway, the only empire left today is the Homonhon Empire. This Kingdom Marceau, was once a small land in the past, but look at what they’ve become now. There are few women here, but they all have one role, and that is to serve their master. Do you understand now why we are so worried about you?”

“Anyway, the only empire that remains strong today is the Homonhon Empire. This kingdom, Marceau, was once a small and insignificant land, but look at what they’ve become now.” Lea's voice grew heavier. “There are very few women here, and every single one has one role: to serve their master. That’s the reality. Do you understand now why we’re so worried about you?”

I nodded silently, the weight of her words sinking in. I hesitated before speaking, unsure if my question would offend. “Then... does that mean that you two…”

Lea shook her head before I could finish, her expression firm, but the unspoken truth lingered between us. “I made both of us barren.”

A heavy silence fell over us. No one dared to speak after Lea's revelation, but eventually, she broke it.

"That’s why we’re allowed to serve inside the palace," Lea said, her voice steady but tinged with something darker. "No one can touch a woman owned by the king. Not unless he chooses."

Her eyes hardened, and for the first time, I noticed how much older she looked—like the weight of her words had carved lines into her face. "I made sure neither of us would ever be touched. I made myself barren. And my daughter too."

My throat tightened. "You... you chose that?"

She nodded slowly, the sadness behind her eyes unmistakable. "It was the only way to protect her. To protect us both."

A chill crept over me. What if I end up needing the same kind of protection?

“What about the women I saw earlier? Why are they chained? Are they slaves?” I asked, remembering the disturbing images.

“They aren’t slaves. They’re princesses from a kingdom the king took a liking to,” Rowena answered.

“That’s… seriously messed up,” I mumbled, shivering at the thought of what would happen if they found out I was a woman.

“A-aunty, what should I do?” Like a scared kid, I turned to Lea, asking if she had any medicine to make me barren, even though I didn’t really want it. She gently dashed my hopes, saying she didn’t have any left.

“Don’t worry. As long as they think you’re a man, you’ll be safe," Lea said, her voice steady, though her eyes flickered with doubt. "They sent men’s clothes. They must already believe it. Just... play the role.”

My stomach twisted. Play the role? Easier said than done. "But..." Lea’s gaze fell to my chest, her hesitation a silent warning.

“I can hide that," I whispered, more to myself than to her. "If I bind it tightly, they won’t notice. I just need to pass long enough to figure a way out of this mess. Some of my friends use binders to flatten theirs. If I had a long enough piece of fabric…”

“Something like this?” Rowena lifted a thin piece of fabric that looked like a shawl.

“Perfect!” I exclaimed, seeing what Rowena held.

Wait, why am I so excited about this? Hiding my gender is going to be tough. Flattening my chest is one thing, but my small build and voice will give me away eventually—or so I thought.

After Lea and Rowena taught me how to dress properly, we said our goodbyes as they wished me luck. It seemed I wouldn’t see them again anytime soon.

Everything was a mess. I only wanted to buy shoes, but now I find myself in a life-or-death situation, having to disguise myself as a man and prepare to meet that terrifying prince again?!

“Please come inside,” the butler said, pointing to a door that seemed to emit an ominous aura.

‘My instinct is screaming at me to avoid this door but…’

I took a deep breath and finally entered. Inside, the prince was sitting at his desk, discussing something with two officials. One of the attendants guided me to another room where I anxiously sat on one of the sofas. The room was luxurious, filled with crafted ornaments, but I didn’t have the guts to admire it. I was so nervous that it felt like my first CEO interview, except this time, my life was on the line. I adjusted my double-layered clothes, feeling stuffy and uncomfortable.

I automatically stood up when the prince entered the room, like a soldier meeting his superior. I couldn’t believe I was in this situation.

“I believe I don’t have to explain why you’re here,” the prince said upon entering and sitting in front of me.

I remained silent because I had no idea why.

‘You better explain, I am not a mind reader.’

The prince waved his hand, signaling one of his attendants, who moved towards me and placed a box in front of me. He then opened it to reveal what looked like an ancient scroll made of fabric cloth with a soft yet dry texture—something you’d expect to see in a museum.

I blankly stared at the content of the scroll as the attendant carefully opened it and then left the room.

‘What’s this? A code? Sudoku?’