"Who are you?" he shouted, the aggression from what he had seen in the mirror spilling onto the boy.
The boy stood up from the floor after picking up what had fallen and moved closer to James. He looked at him, brows raised, "Lior, why are you sounding harsh? I thought you were already okay?"
"Why wouldn't you even know me?" he added, his doe eyes welling up with tears, and James could only give an irritated look.
"You're meant to be a boy. So, why are you so quick to tears just because I shouted?"
"I'm not quick to tears because you shouted; it's because you don't remember me," the boy said, his tone hurt as he made sobbing sounds.
James' hand graced his head as he massaged it. He filtered his memories and the boy's face finally appeared. He said as he looked at him again, "Oh… you're my personal servant, but more like a friend because I don't have one. We've been together since I was ten. You are Sid."
"Yes, Lior. Nice that you remember me."
"I see… but what part of 'I want to be alone' don't any of my sisters understand?" James said, shaking his head. He added, as he stared at Sid, "Well, since you're here, you'll tell me."
He turned to the mirror, "Tell me why my sisters call me a boy when I look like this? And I expect that girl this body has a crush on to fall for me? I literally look like her when she wants someone that can save her and all. And let's not even forget that I have a veiled root. So is it that the heavens want me to live a kept life here? I mean, pampered by my sisters and bullied in school? Or how did he even get injured in the first place?"
The image that stared back at James was otherworldly beautiful, if one were to define and describe it. He had a small oval face, pink full lips, long eyelashes and full trimmed brows, little puffy cheeks that made him cute, natural blush, green eyes, and long red hair. The long hair part seemed to annoy James, but he didn't mind the green eyes. Perhaps if he could get a few beards somewhere or if his face got less cute, he would've been okay. To James, having this kind of face as a man was trouble especially with no root. It was just calling attention to himself.
Sid looked at Lior, who kept frowning at himself in the mirror. He suddenly turned him and placed a hand on his forehead, then his neck, all while James remained confused. Then said Sid, "But you aren't hurt, and Lady Elowen said you're better and just need rest. So why are you speaking this way?"
"What way?" James uttered with a frown.
"As though you aren't you. Why do you refer to yourself as 'he,' as though you're a new soul in Lior's body? Are you truly okay?"
James raised an eyebrow as he stared at Sid. He said with a snicker and a smile gracing his lips, "Seems you're the only one with sense in this room. You managed to catch on fast."
"Huh?" Sid said. "Are you trying to say that you're not Lior?"
He nudged Lior's shoulder as he said, "Well, we've played this game multiple times, so I'm not going to believe you this time around. But well, you just recovered from an accident. Also, you said something about not knowing how you got injured. It's the prince…"
Sid's words stopped as he suddenly scratched his head. He dipped his hand into his pocket and said, as he brought out a letter, "I almost forgot that the prince sent a letter to you. He's the one who trampled you with his horse."
"Hmmm…" James folded his hands. He looked at Sid and the letter in his hand. He sighed as he mumbled, "He's also stupid, and I'm just kinda troubled about what my task is exactly in this world. Well, if anything, let's know how we died. At least I know I died through the hands of my beloved girlfriend."
James took the letter from Sid's hand and opened it. He glanced through it, and his brows raised as he read.
"So, what does it say?" Sid asked.
"The prince requests an audience with me. He also apologized for almost killing me."
"Oh… that's good. We should get ready and go meet him then. I mean, it wouldn't be nice to keep a prince waiting and also, it's a nice way to build connections," Sid said, his face bright with a smile as he urged James.
"No!" But James had other plans. He folded the letter back and dropped it into Sid's hand as he stood. He looked at himself properly in the mirror, then back at Sid, and said, "Even though he wants to see me now, I don't think I'm mentally ready to accommodate a foreign audience. I'd love to see the world I'm in."
"Can you take me to the city or whatever?"
"Eh…" Sid just stared at James, flabbergasted. He asked, "I'm beginning to think you hit your head, Lior. Why would you want to cancel the request of a prince?"
"One that literally trampled me? I think that's enough reason not to see him. I'd say I'm traumatized."
"But… it's the royal highness… the—" Sid started, but James shut him up with a raised hand.
He asked, "Is there a way I can change out of this silk? Based on you guys' dressing, this is definitely a historical world. Perhaps I just need to trigger something to figure this all out. Perhaps it's a dream, or one of those transmigration stuff."
"What are you even saying now?" Sid asked, confusion on his face.
James turned to look at him and asked, "Take me to the closet or whatever. I'd love to change into a comfort dress."
"I… but…" Sid started, his words trailing off before he finally sighed. Then, he turned toward the direction of the bed and James followed.
As they reached there, James' brows furrowed as Sid stood before a door he could not visibly see until they stood there. He opened it, and what appeared before them was a walk-in closet holding various fashion items for the body.
James was in awe as he stepped into the room, looking from the clothes to the accessories, to the footwear, but he wasn't awed by the creativity or impressed. Rather, he was flabbergasted.
"Why does Lior wear these? Is he trying to tell everyone that he's around? These are too bright and too much! They're meant for simps! Or how do you guys think in this world?"
Before him were different flashy clothes—tight-fitting outfits, crop tops, and shorts. He was so stunned he started to question the memories of the body he inherited. 'Or is Lior gay? Because why would you dress this way and be straight? Or is he just oblivious to his sexuality? I mean, this is too much…'
Sid, who was standing beside James, coughed lightly before asking, "What do you want to wear so we can go?"
"Is it that orange matching crop top and shorts or that flashy purple?"
James looked back at Sid and couldn't help but shake his head.