Another World

•••

It was one cold night. I think I'm having insomnia because of what Elton said. Damn, this is the time where I need my mom the most. A pounding headache is killing me. Should I ask for a diary? So that I could write down everything that I need to do. And also to start with my mission.

There are small cabinets and drawers inside my room. Maybe I'll be a lucky cow and find an empty journal or just a piece of paper. It would be easier for me to carry it around without getting caught. I'm afraid they might kill me if I knew all their doing was just a trap.

What happened to woman empowerment huh? Ravina is one of these tactics. Add the fact that she's wearing makeup every day just to make it seem normal. Also, her scary red contact lenses. Oh dear, I'm terrified.

I searched from drawer to drawer to look for a diary. I luckily found a pencil but it was a bit old. There's an engraved on it.

L.D

L.D? Light display? Lion den? What the heck does L.D mean? This is really frustrating. I have no choice but to take the pencil. At least I have something rather than nothing.

"Come on, papers. Come out, come out wherever you are." I whispered.

My eyes widened when I opened the last drawer in my bedroom. There lies an old journal. It's covered in specks of dust and the cover was leather. There's also a lock on it.

"Damn it,"

I closed the drawer and walked towards my bed. I brushed off every dust on that diary until an idea popped in my head. I saw this trick one time on a series that I have been watching.

I always have a bobby pin beneath my hair. Sometimes when the wind is too strong I put up a bobby pin on my hair so it won't go to my face.

"Yes!"

I managed to get the lock off and open the damn journal. I was about to scan the notebook but I was startled by a knock on the door.

"Pesters," I whispered.

"Lady Devina,"

That voice was so familiar. I hurriedly placed my journal under the bed with the pencil. The door opened and there goes Edna, in her maid uniform.

"Edna," 

"The King called you, my Lady."

What for?

I tilted my head to the side. Asking her if she knows why I am being summoned.

"I'm not really sure, my Lady. I'm sorry." She pursed her lips.

I nodded and stood up. She closed the door behind us and went ahead of me to guide me which room I'll go into. We landed on an enormous door. The same concept from my bedroom door. There's a huge window facing it.

"My King," Edna went inside and left me.

After a few moments, Edna went out of the room and gestured me to come in. I smiled at her and took a deep breath. Why would the King summon me at this dear night?

"My King," I did a curtsy once I got inside.

He's sitting at his study table while drinking a glass of wine. He stood up and cleared his throat.

"I am not sure if Elton had already told you,"

"About the wedding?"

"I see you already know," he chuckled and took a sip on his wine.

"I'm still confused about what's happening around me, my King."

He looked at me and nodded. He placed his glass on the table and looked at me.

"I know it is hard to cope up, knowing that your father is already dead and you have a missing sister is really hard."

Missing sister? Excuse me, did Elton left out that minor detail? If I do have a missing sister heck I need to know her. She may be my last hope on getting out of here.

"Missing sister?"

"I'm sorry if you don't remember her now, but yes, she's missing."

"Since when?"

He let out a deep sigh and shrugged. "You were both still young actually, but I have some news now on where to find her."

"Where?"

"The village of sorcerers,"

Morning came and the King was out of sight. There goes Edna again on being M.I.A, whenever I want to see her she'll disappear like a bubble. The library was now clean, I asked Elton if he wanted to come with me but he was also out of sight.

"I want to go outside,"

I said to the guard whose wandering inside the castle. Most of the guards do these roaming to check if every each one inside the castle is not at stake.

"Prince Elton is not here, Lady Devina." He answered.

"I don't need him, maybe one guard will do?"

The guard massaged his temples and let out a sigh.

"Alright, do you need a carriage?"

I shook my head and happily clapped my hands. I can now finally see the villages on my own. Good thing there are still guards who can stand behind me while I wander.

The path to the village is not that far. As soon as I stepped into the village, I roamed around wondering how does it feel being normal again. I mean, I'm a Lady in this world and they are normal citizens.

I passed by a huge well, where villagers are doing their laundry. They must've felt my presence that I was watching them so they immediately stood up and did a curtsy.

"Oh no, it's okay." They nodded at me and continue doing the laundry.

"My Lady?"

It was a young man. Wearing ragged clothes while carrying a sack on his shoulders. I looked around my side thinking he was calling someone else. Then I slowly pointed at myself. He nodded several times so I walked closer to him.

"Hello," I greeted.

He slowly walked towards me and slightly tilted his head to the side. "How are you, Mea Femina?"

"I-I'm good, d-do you know me?" He nodded at me.

"I'm Placito," he offered his hand to me. He might have realized that it's dirty, but I gladly accepted it.

"I was the one who saw you lying over there." He pointed at my back.

"O-oh!" I felt embarrassed knowing that he's the first person who saw me.

"I have a question," I lowered my voice so that the guard behind me won't hear what I'll have to say.

"Is there something wrong?" He whispered.

I smiled at him. "Do you happen to know where is the village of sorcerers?"

His brows furrowed and nodded. "My mother is a witch, that is where we live. Why do you ask?"

I fought the urge to smile so I bit my lower lip. "Can you show me where?"

He nodded. "Come with me, my Lady."

Placito took me to the village of sorcerers. It was afternoon so that the village was quiet. I remember what Elton said that they sleep at this time, it was kind of a ritual or something.

"My Lady!" The guard stopped me when he realized where we were.

"I can go alone if you're afraid,"

He swallowed hard and take a look behind my back. Then he shook his head. "I'll come with you, my Lady."

"Don't worry, you're with me so you're safe," Placito assured.

I took a deep breath as we went along the village. The guard behind me prepared a sword if ever we get attacked or something. The whole village was so quiet.

"We're here," Placito whispered.

I let out a sigh and nodded at him. We went inside their cute small home. The living room is on the right while the kitchen and dining area on our left. I glanced at the guard and he just nodded at me.

"Me Hercule!" Oh my goodness! A woman in her thirties, I think, walked down from the second floor.

Her hair had white strands and she was wearing cute glasses. She has tons of pearls around her body too.

"Mama, this is Lady Devina she wanted to come here," Placito answered to calm her mother down.

"Est Principes post eam, Placito." There is a guard behind her, Placito. She whispered which I didn't understand.

"She's a royalty," Placito answered.

His mother nodded and cleared her throat. She walked towards me and reached for my hand.

"I'm Mama Odelia, Placito's mother. I'm glad to see you in our home, Lady Devina."

I smiled. "Thank you,"

"Sit down, I'll get you something to drink."

I nodded at her and took a seat. I called my guard and gestured him to sit beside me. He cleared his throat and roamed around.

"What's your name?" I whispered.

He was surprised when I asked about his name. He scratched the bridge of his nose and smiled. "Antonio,"

My mouth formed an 'o' and nodded. He asked me a few things why I went here to this dangerous village. When he knew my reason he said that he'd support me.

"Why so?" I asked out of curiosity.

"I lost my sister too, Lady Devina. I want to help you." He answered.

"I didn't know guards are nice," I joked.

He chuckled softly. "Some guards aren't, but I'm different from them."

"That's nice," I answered.

Mama Odelia came back with a small tray in her hand. I was about to grab a cup when Antonio stopped me. Mama Odelia must've noticed it and chuckled.

"Don't worry, I don't want to harm you. I have a child to feed and a family to support." She answered.

"So, Lady Devina, why are you here?" Mama Odelia asked as soon as she sat down.

I took a sip of my drink and sighed. "I was wondering if you could help me find my missing sister."

Her brows furrowed. "Missing? Aren't you the daughter of King Nikolav?"

"You know my father?"

She nodded. "Of course, I served for him for several years before I retired."

"So you know my sister?"

She nodded and placed down her cup. "Oh yes, King Neidus took her when she was fishing in the pond."

"Who is she?"

"Ravina,"

•••

Another World

•••

NOTE: Mea Femina means My Lady in Latin.

•••