Ambrosial

Chapter 2

The girl rushed forward, scanning my body to see if there were any injuries, before grasping my arms gently and guiding me back to the bed. "My Lady, you shouldn't move around! What about your illness?" She fretted frantically. I scrunched up my eyebrows.

"What illness?" I asked, confused. She briefly glanced at me before looking down at the ground.

"Um...You know...You fell into the pond and-" she didn't get to finish her sentence however, because I had already stood up in disbelief, startling her. "What?!" I muttered, holding my head in my hands.

"I-I fell into the pond?" She nods reluctantly. Well, that explains why my limbs felt so heavy. What have I gotten myself into? I groaned, causing the maid to check my forehead again for the second time.

"I...I'll call the other maids," she stuttered out, looking around frantically. Great. I didn't need a dozen maids hovering around me and giving me an actual headache. That is...assuming they were all like her.

"Yes, My Lady." She proceeded to look around awkwardly, as if unsure of what to do. That was when she noticed the shattered porcelain cups on the floor. Covering her mouth with her hands, she stifled a gasp, and then turned to me, as if seeking my permission. When I inclined my head, she hurriedly bent down to pick up the broken pieces, and scurried out the door.

Walking back to my bed, I sighed, rubbing my temples gently. That was exhausting. I wasn't ready to deal with people yet. I didn't even had the chance to process this yet. Ugh! Why didn't I charge my phone yesterday? If I had, I would be able to call my parents or Francis, I frowned, frustrated. But then, if I was really in the ancient times, then there wouldn't be any signal here either. Sure, I could use the emergency call on my phone, but I hadn't memorized any of their phone numbers. So either way, I would end up being screwed. I sighed again for the umpteenth time this morning.

I looked around, searching for anything that might serve as a clue as to where I am now. That was when I caught sight of a small mirror laying on the large wooden table. Cautiously, I took a step forward. And then another. And another, until I was close enough. I inspected it for a while before grabbing it, holding it in front of my face. What I saw in the reflection made me reel back in horror.

I looked...like me. I looked like Freya Evans. The only difference was that my features looked more Eastern. My striking blue eyes were replaced by chocolate brown eyes, and my wavy golden hair was replaced by soft and long brown ones. Staring at the mirror, I touched my face, my mouth open from shock the whole time.

Suddenly, footsteps could be heard outside my door. I quickly placed the mirror onto the table and ran back to the bed, trying to look as calm as possible, although my heart was racing a hundred miles a hour. What if it was someone else? I wouldn't know how to react then.

Thankfully, the maid from earlier walked in, holding another tray, this time with a beautiful tea set, depicting cranes. She placed them carefully on the table beside my bed, then started steeping the tea.

I decided to make this my chance to gain information.

"So...um, what do other people call you?" I began, nervously fiddling with my fingers. I can't let her suspect anything, but I also needed to know more about the world that I'm currently in; the people that I'm dealing with.

She looked...shocked. I wasn't sure if that was because she thought that I knew, or if she didn't expect that I would ask. Honestly, it could be either. I couldn't tell.

"They call me Ying," she answered slowly. "That's a beautiful name," I nod enthusiastically. She blushes a bit, but then her expression turns serious.

"My Lady...are you feeling alright?" She asks cautiously, worry evident on her face.