If it was the middle of the night, Elin would have accepted the quiet as natural, but she could see with the sun shining through the window that it was the middle of the day. There should be the noises of servants moving about their daily tasks, guards patrolling, or even idle conversation from servants taking a break without permission.
It shouldn't be so quiet that she could hear the insects from by the window. It shouldn't be as quiet as it was now. As quiet as the days she'd travelled with just Jonas, Elmo, and Kim.
However, she couldn't hear the distant sounds of battle, nor did it appear that the area had been attacked by bandits or anything.
Elin took a deep breath and walked towards the door, opening it slowly and looking outside it. What she found was an empty corridor, with no servants to be seen.
While she still didn't see any signs that she needed to worry about anything, she stepped out and started walking towards where her father's office was. Maybe she'd returned on a holiday she'd forgotten about, one where the servants had the day off or something. She couldn't recall any such holiday like that, but after spending time with people from other worlds, she wasn't sure that she just didn't pay attention when she was younger.
After all, she certainly had been rather sheltered when she'd been pulled into that competition.
As she made her way through the hallways, Elin became aware of a gathering of some sort that was off towards the front gates of her father's manor. She wasn't sure she'd like the reason why there was a gathering there, but she couldn't deny that there was a possibility that something had happened while she was away and this gathering was an effect of that.
Elin quickly made her way down towards the gathering, vaguely aware her dress was turning a light yellow. Not that she paid it much mind. She'd gotten used to it and was more interested in finding out what was happening. Why everyone seemed to be gathered together rather than their usual jobs.
As she got closer, at the edge of the gathering, she started to be able to make out her father's voice, carrying out over the crowd. "…will rest in peace. Her death will finally be avenged and justice will have been served."
Elin wasn't sure what was going on, and felt like she'd missed some important details, but she couldn't think of a reason to try and stop whatever was going on. Especially since she didn't even know what was going on.
Elin carefully edged her way through the crowd, not paying attention to the looks she was getting, her focus was entirely on reaching the front. Which as her father's daughter, she had a right to see what was going on. Though, she did feel a little surprised at how difficult it was getting through, as she'd never had trouble quietly passing through any gathering of the servants and guards before, yet here everyone seemed rather reluctant to move.
"So, we will give the condemned one last chance to repent and tell us what she did with my daughter, Elin Davies," Elin's father's voice called out, startling Elin.
She couldn't deny that her disappearance wasn't likely looked on favorably, but to have returned on the day they were executing someone for her disappearance was shocking to her. Not to mention how she couldn't imagine who would have been accused of that in the first place, as it wasn't like anyone could have helped her enter that competition from this end of it.
At least she was pretty sure there wasn't anyone in her world who had a connection to the world where that competition was run from.
Elin started using more force as she made her way through the crowd, not caring at the dirty looks she received from the guards. She'd apologize to them later if they wanted her to, but right now she needed to stop this execution from happening. She needed to show to her father that she was alive and well. That he was about to carry out something he'd regret.
When she finally burst through the crowd, she saw her father about to give the signal to drop the trapdoor under the condemned prisoner and execute them with the rope around their neck. However, she could tell he noticed her when he froze in place, unable to move as he saw his daughter.
Elin glanced at the person who was about to be hanged and was surprised to see it was her personal maid, Cynthia. Which she supposed made sense that her disappearance would be blamed on her, since she was the last person to see Elin every day and she was pulled into that competition after she'd gone to bed that night.
"As you can see, I'm still alive, so you don't have a reason to continue," Elin declared, confident that she'd be able to sort things out, even if she wasn't able to explain what had happened to her. Which she was confident her father would want to know that.
"And how do I know you're not a double who was recently found by those who had killed my daughter?" Elin's father snapped, startling Elin.
She hadn't thought of that possibility, nor had she expected her father to refuse to accept her return as anything but a cheerful reunion.
"Examine me for the birthmark you know I have. Examine me for the scar I received when I fell from my first horse," Elin replied, not willing to let anything unexpected keep her from saving her friend. "Question me to find out things only I would know, such as where you hide the chocolates in your desk that you think no one knows about."
Elin could see doubt enter her father's gaze, though he dropped his arm to his side. "Release the prisoner. We'll sort this matter out. If this is my daughter, then we'll have cause to celebrate. If it isn't, we'll have two people to hang if they don't confess to who else was involved."
Elin couldn't say that she liked the way her father had put that, but she also couldn't say that she objected to it either. It was a more prudent course of action when he had his own doubts.
Elin took a deep breath and turned to look at the servants and guards all gathered to this event. It was at that moment that she realized how everyone was looking at her. There were expressions of shock and disbelief mixed with expressions of wonder and awe.
Though, when she realized her dress had turned a dark rose color, she also realized that she might have a few things to explain. Such as where she got this dress that changed colors with her mood. Which she suddenly realized might not be a good thing, since it could give away more information about her current state than she'd like.
Not that it mattered. What did was the fact that she'd been able to return back to her home world, even if it might be a little rocky with proving she was herself and not an imposter.
+++
Elmo blinked his eyes at the sudden light in his eyes.
He was standing outside the store front where he'd been when he'd first been drafted into the competition. He also had his purchase from that time in his hand as well. The purchase he'd long determined was gone for good, considering the fact that he hadn't had it with him when he'd gone into the competition and it hadn't been with him. Only now it was morning and the dawn's light was hitting him directly in his eyes.
While he'd like to take his time and reacquaint himself with the familiar surroundings, he didn't feel like he had that much time. He needed to return to his home and see if he'd lost any clients over the time he'd been gone. He couldn't be sure if that was the case or not, but since that was his source of income, he knew he needed to find out sooner rather than later.
As he walked back to his home, he was surprised at how quickly he was able to move. He supposed that his time in the other world had been beneficial to him, even though he doubted he'd ever see Jonas and the others again.
Though, he would at least keep the memories of his time with Jonas close to his heart forever, regardless of if he ever saw him again.
When he returned to his home, he was a little surprised to see how little his family had missed him. Even as he walked through the house, giving a greeting to his mother and one of his sisters, none of them seemed to take note of the fact that he'd been gone for a while.
If it wasn't from the fact that the time of day was different from when he'd been pulled into that competition, he'd have thought that no time had passed at all. Even as he could see on his computer that pretty much time had passed day for day in his own world as had passed in that other one.
However, despite his family having not noticed his absence, it was good to be back.