Chapter 4 – Reborn

“Oh, uh…”

She wants to ask the thrilled housekeeper what was going on, but feeling a little strange about it, she dismisses the idea.

At that moment, she realizes they have been speaking Korean which would mean she was not in a foreign country. The first maids eyes were, however green, a strange eye color for a Korean.

“I’m so glad you are awake, Lady Tiana.” The first maid thrilled and excited grabs her hand tenderly.

She is shocked by the sudden contact, “Who?”

Did my owner already give me a name? Or is that his dead daughter’s name? Wait… She just said she is glad I am awake as if I have been gone for a while. What kind of household is this? She opens her mouth to speak to the housekeeper who is looking at her. “What did you just call me?”

“Pardon?”

“My name is… Tiana?”

“Oh, my lady!” The maid’s face goes pale. Astonished, she turns to the butler. The butler makes eye contact and approaches with a stern face. “My lady, do you not remember the housekeeper, Roena?”

“Uh, umm, I…”

“Do you, do you not recognize me?”

“No…”

The butler goes pale like the housekeeper. The two exchange a glance, and the butler shouts hurriedly, “Bring the emergency contact stone! We must let the Duke know immediately!”

“Yes, yes!”

The butler follows the running maids. The housekeeper, who is holding her hand, cautions the remaining servants who had begun to murmur. “Quiet now. Everyone except Inabelle.”

“But, Ms. Roena…”

“Hush please!”

The servants bow their heads once and leave the room.

“Housekeeper…” Inabelle calls in a trembling voice, looking like she is about to cry. She looks just the same age as her.

“Don’t cry, Inabelle. You are going to scare the lady.”

“Yes…”

But her words seem to have only made it worse, because then, Inabelle breaks down completely and begins to weep uncontrollably. When she notices Roena and her lady watching her, she tries her best to quell her tears.

The housekeeper sighs gently when she sees Inabelle and turns around to look into her eyes. Roena’s hands against hers feel warm and comforting. Her green eyes stare at her sadly.

“My Lady. Do you really not remember me?”

“I don’t. I’m sorry. I’m not sure what’s going on right now.” She was feeling confused and just needed answers. “So my name is Tiana. Is that right?”

“Yes”

“Then, the butler from earlier, the duke he said he needed to contact is…”

“Your father, my lady.”

“My father?”

Oh my god, my father is a duke? Do Dukes still exist in Korea? Dukes are only found in foreign countries or novels like The Dangerous Situation of the Emperor or…

“Wait… No way.”

“My lady?”

If I sit to think about it, that would mean… She holds her breath and turns to Roena. “What is my father’s name?”

“Your Grace, Duke Edwin Quinn Celeste.”

“Then, I would be…”

“You are Tiana Quinn Celeste, daughter of the Duke, my lady.”

“Goodness!” She could not help but exclaim. She is stunned with realization, then in flashes, she remembers what had happened to her. It was like being hit in the head with a sledgehammer.

“What…” She says and for the first time, she notices the big mirror sitting elegantly in a corner. She stares at her reflection, bewildered and astounded. Those unique silver-gray eyes. The dark hair. The expensive clothing. Everything was beginning to piece together sensibly.

“I was reborn as Tiana?”

Why hadn’t she thought of it earlier? She had read the book many times before losing consciousness. She had reacted to the story and was emotionally involved with its progression. She had commented about Tiana Quinn Celeste, the poor woman who was killed by her beloved villain husband, but who turned out to be the real villain.

I am Tiana? Am I really in The Dangerous Situation of the Emperor, reborn as a character? She bites the inside of her mouth, deliberately avoiding the curious gaze of Roena and Inabelle. This was way too vivid to be considered a dream.

This sort of thing only happens in dreams.

She remembers holding onto volume two of the book in her arms before she blacked out, Lucius’ face decorating its front cover. Having read the side story that concentrated on Lucius, she wondered why she had been reborn as Tiana of all the characters.

While she is gazing into space, the bedroom door opens with a loud noise introducing a tall man with the butler by his side. Roena and Inabelle by her side quickly take a step back and bow. They looked bewildered at the sudden appearance, and she could not take her eyes off them.

As he cautiously approaches her, she realizes fast that he is Tiana’s father. Like Tiana, he sported dark indigo hair and blue eyes like the sky.

He comes close to her bed, “Tiana.”