Kimi's eyelids fluttered, a blinding, sharp light immediately assaulting her vision. She winced, reflexively raising a hand to shield her eyes.
The air, surprisingly, smelled clean and crisp, a mix of grass and rich earth—a scent far too fresh for the city she remembered.
As her vision gradually adjusted, an impossibly brilliant blue sky stretched overhead, utterly devoid of clouds, towering buildings, or the familiar haze of pollution.
Her breath hitched. Where am I?
She pushed herself up, her fingers sinking into damp grass. Rolling hills, endless and green, stretched out in every direction. No cars, no streetlights—nothing but nature.
A colossal oak tree loomed beside her, its branches swaying gently in a soft breeze, casting dancing shadows across the ground.
Her head throbbed faintly, and she rubbed her temple, desperately searching her memory. She'd been walking home in the city, earbuds in, when someone yanked her into an alley.
A man—gruff, shadowed—demanded her bag. She resisted, stupidly, and then... a sharp blow to her head. Then she remembered only the darkness that engulfed her whole.
But there was no pain now. No blood. Just this impossible place.
Am I dead? Is this... heaven?
A soft snort startled her, pulling her from her spiraling thoughts. She turned, her gaze falling upon a sleek, black horse tethered to the ancient oak.
It stood perfectly still, its dark eyes watching her calmly. "Wow," Kimi murmured, drawn toward it.
Kimi slowly rose, brushing dirt and leaves from her, then froze.
Her familiar jeans and hoodie were gone. In their place, a flowing pink dress, intricately embroidered with lace, cinched at the waist by a corset, clung to her. She lifted the heavy skirt, horrified. *I hate pink*.
And her hair—once short and a simple brown—now cascaded past her waist, silvery-white and impossibly smooth.
Her pulse quickened. What's happening to me?
Needing something tangible, something real to anchor her, she reached out a hesitant hand towards the horse. Its warm muzzle brushed her palm, and a wave of relied washed over her.
She smiled, stroking its mane, until a sharp, clear voice shattered the moment.
"Step away from the horse!"
Kimi flinched, snatching her hand back. A man approached, his strides firm and unhurried.
He was tall, dressed in impeccably tailored black trousers, a pristine white shirt, and a long, dark coat. He was striking—black hair, sharp red eyes, and a lean build.
A sword hung at his hip, glinting in the sunlight.
A sword?
Her stomach twisted as she stumbled back. The man's gaze narrowed, his red eyes scrutinizing her.
Before she could react, he grasped her arm, pulling her away from the horse. His grip was surprisingly strong, not painful, but utterly unyielding.
He released her with a scowl. "Careless," he muttered, his voice low and clipped.
Kimi yanked her arm back, glaring. "What's your problem?"
He ignored her, turning toward a cloth spread beneath the tree, where apples and bananas lay untouched. He gestured towards the fruit. "Eat."
She hesitated, her mind racing, searching for a strategy to talk to this man. Okay, play along. Figure this out.
She sat, picking up an apple. It was crisp, incredibly fresh, juicy—almost too perfect.
As she chewed, her eyes darted to the man, who was now calmly grooming and feeding the horse an apple. "Can I ask you something?" she ventured.
He didn't respond, his focus on the horse.
"Where am I?" she pressed, irritation creeping in.
He glanced at her, his red eyes unreadable, then turned back to the horse.
Kimi's patience snapped. She stood, about to demand answers, when a glimmer caught her eye—a stream glinting nearby.
Her absurd dress swayed, heavy and old-fashioned, and her white hair shimmered in the light. I need to see how I look now.
"I need a mirror," she said, louder this time.
The man's brow furrowed, but he said nothing.
"There's a stream over there." She pointed, taking a step. "I'm going."
"You're not going anywhere," he stated, appearing instantly in front of her. She gasped—he'd been by the horse a second ago. How had he moved so fast.
"I need to know what's happening!" Kimi snapped, her voice trembling now. "Why is my hair white? Why am I dressed like this?"
He stared at her, his expression unreadable. After a tense, silent pause, he stepped aside. "Stay close."
***
Kimi rushed toward the stream, the man following at a respectful distance. Kneeling at the bank, she leaned over the water—and froze.
The face staring back wasn't hers. It was a young woman, perhaps eighteen, with delicate features, striking emerald-green eyes, and that same cascade of flowing silver-white hair. She was also wearing an old-fashioned noble's dress, in a shade of pink Kimi detested.
She touched her cheek, and the girl in the reflection mirrored her movement perfectly. This isn't me.
Her voice was barely a whisper. "Who is this?"
The man's reflection appeared beside her, his image perfectly still, uperturbed. "Camelia Valois," he said, his voice even, devoid of emotion. "Daughter of Duke Valois."
***
Kimi's head spun, a dizzying whirl of disbelief. She turned, her breathing shallow and ragged. "Duke? What is this place?"
"The Kingdom of Calonia," he answered, his eyes never leaving hers.
Her mind reeled. Calonia? She'd read countless isekai novels—ordinary people waking up in fantastical worlds—but none had ever mentioned a Camelia Valois or a Kingdom of Calonia.
Yet here she was, undeniably trapped inside someone's else body, in a world that felt too real, too vivid to be a dream. This wasn't a narrative she recognized; she was completely in the dark.
Before she could even begin to process the information, the man spoke again, his words sending an icy chill straight down her spine.
"And you're my captive."
Kimi's heart ceased to beat. "What?"
His expression remained unchanged, but something flickered in his red eyes—a momentary hesitation. "You're coming with me, Camelia," he said, his voice firm. "Don't make this harder than it needs to be."