Chapter 33: A Princess’s Bewildering Awakening

Gazing at the unfamiliar surroundings, Bai Yu’s mind seemed to stall, almost crashing.A disquieting thought crept in: was she dreaming? Was this even her home country anymore?

Bai Yu pinched her own thigh, and immediately, a searing pain shot through her body.

“That hurts!”

To definitively prove this wasn’t a dream, Bai Yu had pinched herself with all her might.

“I wouldn’t have pinched so hard if I’d known. Why does it hurt this much!”

Bai Yu grumbled, grimacing in pain.

“Ah, Master, what are you doing! How can you hurt yourself!”

A girl, clad in a maid’s uniform, quickly seized Bai Yu’s hand, her voice laced with urgency.

She promptly leaned over the bed, gently massaging the spot on Bai Yu’s thigh where she had pinched herself, a sensation that made Bai Yu feel rather ticklish.

“Don’t rub it!”

A faint blush crept across Bai Yu’s cheeks; being fussed over by such an adorable young girl stirred a peculiar feeling within her.

“What’s wrong, Master? Does it still hurt?”

The girl’s large, beautiful eyes gazed directly at Bai Yu, her sapphire-like irises seeming to shimmer with starlight, creating an utterly ethereal effect.

“It doesn’t hurt, no, but who are you?”

Bai Yu scratched her cheek, a gesture of confusion. While the girl’s concern was evident, Bai Yu had absolutely no recollection of ever meeting her.

“Master… you don’t remember me? I’m Lili, your maid.”

The girl recoiled, clutching her chest and trembling, as if struck by a monumental blow.

“No, no, no, I might just be a little groggy from sleep, Lili. Where exactly is this?”

Witnessing Lili’s distress, Bai Yu hesitated to press further, yet she remained utterly bewildered by the situation.

Her last distinct memory involved being in a car with Lu Xingyao…

A wave of recollection, tinged with embarrassment, brought a fresh blush to Bai Yu’s face.

“Master, you truly don’t remember? This is the Imperial Palace! What on earth is going on? Are you ill? Should I summon the court physician?”

Lili’s worried expression was utterly genuine, her eyes brimming with undisguised concern for Bai Yu.

“Wait, wait, the Imperial Palace? Is this a movie set? Can you explain the current situation?”

“What’s a movie? What is that? Master must still be groggy from sleep. This is the Imperial Palace of the Torman Empire, and Master is a princess!”

Lili asserted earnestly, a note of pride evident in her tone. As the princess’s personal maid, she was, after all, the most intimate confidante the princess possessed.

“A princess? Me?”

Bai Yu pointed to herself in disbelief. Had she transmigrated? This couldn’t be right; she harbored no such desire. She had only just confirmed her relationship with Lu Xingyao; how could she possibly abandon her now?

“Yes, Master. It truly seems you’re unwell. Should I inform the Knight Captain and tell her you’ll be excused from today’s sword training?”

Lili leaned her small head closer, her gaze fixed on Bai Yu, brimming with concern.

Bai Yu found herself growing a little shy under the adorable girl’s attention. Despite this being their first encounter, she felt an inexplicable warmth and fondness towards Lili.

‘Was she truly such a fickle woman? She had only just been confessed to by Lu Xingyao, and here she was, already captivated by another girl.’

‘Still, she couldn’t entirely blame herself; her eyes, after all, seemed to possess a mind of their own.’

“No need, no need. I might just be a little tired. Lili, why don’t you take me there first, to that sword training class.”

Bai Yu resolved to first assess her current predicament, only then formulating her next course of action.

“Master, are you truly alright? Well then, do you remember where your lessons are held?”

“Uh, I forgot.”

“Honestly, Master, please get out of bed first. I’ll help you change.”

Lili pouted her small lips, her blue-pink ahoge bobbing with the movement.

Bai Yu stepped out of bed and approached a nearby mirror.

Reflected back was the same adorably perfect countenance; no matter how many times she beheld it, Bai Yu remained utterly pleased with her own face.

She wore a black nightgown, its silk-soft fabric draped gracefully over her form, subtly outlining her petite yet beautiful curves.

Yet, her height remained stubbornly diminutive; even Lili, standing beside her, was slightly taller.

‘Honestly, why was everyone taller than her?’

“Master, please raise your arm.”

Lili reached out and pulled down Bai Yu’s shoulder strap, causing Bai Yu to flinch in surprise.

“Are you going to take everything off?”

“Of course! What’s wrong, Master? I’ve seen all of you before, yet you’re still so shy.”

‘All of me…’

Ultimately, Bai Yu found herself unable to resist, submitting as Lili gently but firmly helped her into formal attire.

Given that she was to practice swordsmanship, she wasn’t dressed in an elaborate princess gown, but rather in attire more suited for physical activity. It lent Bai Yu a subtle air of heroism, even as her inherent cuteness shone through.

“Master is truly adorable; everything suits you.”

Lili stood by her side, lavishing compliments upon Bai Yu.

“Is that so? Hehe.”

Ever since she had become a girl, it seemed everyone complimented her on her cuteness.

“Shall we go then, Master?”

“Mhm.”

Bai Yu followed Lili out of the room. The palace corridors were adorned with a profusion of opulent decorations, a level of luxury Bai Yu had never witnessed in her entire life.

‘This felt far too real. Could this truly not be a dream?’

The thought of dreams suddenly brought Moweila to Bai Yu’s mind.

‘Why hadn’t she heard Moweila’s voice since this whole ordeal began? Logically, Moweila should have been the first to offer an explanation for such a bizarre turn of events.’

‘Moweila, are you there? Come out, quickly! Something huge has happened.’

Bai Yu repeatedly called out to Moweila within her mind, yet received no reply whatsoever.

‘It’s over. The supposedly omniscient Moweila was gone.’

Bai Yu began to genuinely worry that she had indeed transmigrated; otherwise, the current circumstances defied all logical explanation.

She then turned her awareness inward, sensing her own body.

Thankfully, her two spiritual cores remained intact, and both of the secret arts she had mastered were still accessible.

This brought Bai Yu a significant measure of relief, confirming that her past experiences had not merely been figments of her imagination.

A moment ago, she had even harbored a terrifying suspicion that her entire life up to this point might have been nothing more than a dream.

Now, at last, she could truly breathe a sigh of relief.

Moreover, possessing her powers meant she held the capacity to resist, no matter her location. Strength, above all else, was the most invaluable asset.

However, all the weapons she carried had disappeared. Neither [Morpheus’s Whisper] nor the scythe her Mother had given her were on her person.

Yet, a persistent feeling nagged at her—a sense that she had forgotten something crucial, as though her memory itself was somehow compromised.

She struggled to recall why she and Lu Xingyao had been in that car, departing Xian City. It seemed linked to some grave, perilous incident.

Even the gun—she couldn’t quite pinpoint the specific event that had led her to acquire it.

But what exactly it was, Bai Yu simply could not recall, no matter how much she strained her mind.

After a prolonged period of fruitless contemplation, Bai Yu ultimately decided to cease her efforts.

‘At least she hadn’t forgotten anyone important. Perhaps it wasn’t particularly vital for now; establishing her current circumstances was paramount.’

As she followed Lili through the vast palace, every maid and servant they encountered offered respectful greetings.

This unfamiliar deference still made her feel rather awkward; becoming a princess was a notion that had never once crossed her mind in her previous life.