A sheet fluttered on a somewhat old mattress that squeaked with every slightest friction, causing whoever was lying on it to lift her head in discomfort, groping the bed before turning to the side and falling to the floor with a face pale with fear at the sight of the sheets.
That, without a doubt, was not her bed. She turned her head, looking at every detail of the room and trying to figure out where she was, but it was no use; nothing looked familiar in the slightest. She began to hyperventilate as she looked at her body for a rope in her hands or any noticeable physical damage, but found nothing of note.
—Why am I dressed in these clothes? Also, why am I so small and so flat!!!?
She held her head without quite understanding what was going on; perhaps her whole life had been a dream and she was just waking up. Maybe it was too lucid a dream to realize it. He pinched his cheek to confirm, but the pain was palpable, which didn't leave many answers.
He turned his gaze toward the door with some hesitation. With slow steps, like a cat hunting for its food, he approached, trying to open it; there was no key, which was odd for a kidnapping. While it wouldn't justify the body, at least the place would.
She poked her head in, looking from side to side for signs of life, but what she saw shocked her momentarily. Several maids were pacing back and forth, conversing with quick steps and losing sight of her without paying much attention to her.
Just thinking about the whole mess she was in made her head throb, but she heard a voice next to her that made her startle and turn her head quickly.
—Good morning, sleeping beauty. I thought you wanted to be up earlier. Were those empty words, little Alice?— The speaker was a slightly taller girl, with hair that looked like lava from a volcano cascading down her shoulders and back.
A snap of her fingers made her stop rambling and look him in the face again. Now, with a faint smile, the girl asked again:
—Are you all right? You look like you've seen a ghost.— The girl put her arm around the now Alice's back, "I know it's hard to move from town to city, but you're here for a better future, and you're not going to get it lying there.
Alice could only nod nervously; this was, no doubt, a nightmare or a dream too vividly. It was impossible that she had stumbled upon a fictional character, or had she been kidnapped by a madwoman who enjoyed cosplay?
The hug made her feel a little uncomfortable; she pulled away slightly and, by the surprised expression on the red-haired girl's face, she was, to say the least, confused, but decided to let it go.
—Follow me, I'll show you your basic duties— said the woman as she turned around and started walking down the long white hallway, not looking back to see if I was following her.
Naturally, I followed her hoping it wasn't a trap; as if my situation wasn't bad enough already, I didn't need any more trickery if she wanted to hurt me.
The walk was a bit long, but we ended up at something resembling an office. After entering, he closed the door behind him, leaving me outside waiting for a long time until he finally opened the door, taking out some books that I placed in my arms, which I spread out to prevent them from falling on me.
—Follow me, for time is money and money is the desire of every being—!said the girl, quite animated, as she advanced with a swaying of her hands that made me frown.
Why was I the one who had to carry all this? Seen from the story, it made sense, but I was not the protagonist of the story.
Until I figured out how to get back into my body, I resigned myself to following orders.
She led me out onto the patio, to a white table with a couple of chairs. She motioned with her hand for me to deposit the books on it and sat down, waiting for me to mimic her action.
I had no choice, so I did and turned my gaze to her bright green eyes, like the only plant in the desert, waiting for her to explain what the hell was going on.
She took the book, opening the cover, while one of her legs rested on the other.
—Do you know how to read?—Her voice was more serious than it had been throughout our interaction. I nodded on impulse and then wanted to slap myself in the face when I realized my actions.
She smiled and nodded in satisfaction as she flipped through one of the books and passed it to me; I turned my gaze to the almost insulted title, but the surprise helped me not to make an embarrassing scene.
—"Manners and Etiquette for Beginners?"— I raised a confused eyebrow, wasn't it supposed to give me a job or an obligation? Apparently my expression spoke for me and she covered her lips to let out a small laugh.
—Your duties will have to do with my work as an assistant. Naturally, we will be seen near the duke or the little duchess, and an impeccable presentation is part of our duties— I pointed with my finger and smiled again— Remember that we servants, in addition to fulfilling a function in the household, represent those we serve, and manners are the first thing you must perfect before you can see what work you are useful for.
He opened one of the books and began to read, giving me a glance or two to indicate that I should begin as well. With no choice but to do so, I immersed myself in the reading.
Evidently, my ability to comprehend what I was reading would have made a preschooler look like the new Einstein, but time was slipping away as I studied page after page.
If my situation didn't improve and it turned out not to be an absurdly long dream, then this would help. Rule after rule was read, analyzed and moved on to the next, only to come back a few seconds later and check if it was the same.
My brain was already smoking and the hamster in my little wheel was going into cardiac arrest when his voice, in a calm tone, gave me the best news I could hear.
—Leave it, there's no point in trying. It's already dark and if I gave you a test, you wouldn't even get to answer 1 out of 10 questions— he said as he lifted a piece of cake to his lips.
I looked at the dishes and books on the table, surprised by one fact: it was night and I woke up relatively shortly before going out to read... How long did I read?
My head hit the table with regret. Being able to understand and enjoy romantic literature had not made me an aristocrat or an acceptable range of action beyond greeting.
My smile returned as I felt something hard and cold lightly touch my head. I looked up and saw her with that same smile from the beginning.
—Eat and go back to your room. Tomorrow I will find another use for you.
My first day was able to shatter all my illusions, but at least I was able to try a pretty delicious cake, only to fall into the arms of Hypnos, hitting my head on the glass of the small table.