Zach paced.
Back and forth.
Back and forth.
The room was massive. Five times bigger than his room. The kind of room that made pacing feel pointless because no matter how much he walked, the walls never seemed closer.
His footsteps echoed against marble floors. Curtains taller than buildings swayed slightly from the open windows. His borrowed body moved with unfamiliar weight, lighter hips, longer hair brushing against his back, soft fabric whispering with every turn.
Maids following his steps. He stopped suddenly.
Soft thump.
"Oof!"
A maid bumped straight into his back.
Zach turned around.
She nearly dropped the tray she was holding.
"M-my lady!" she gasped. "Please forgive me!"
Before he could respond, another voice joined in…older and firmer.
"Lady Elise, you must get dressed immediately," the older maid said. "His Grace will arrive at the dining hall soon."
Zach rubbed his face.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." he muttered.
He walked straight past them and threw the windows open wider.
Cold air rushed in.
His breath hitched.
Outside wasn't just pretty.
It was unreal. It was surprisingly beautiful. He didn't notice it yesterday.
Flowers glowed softly like tiny stars rooted in the ground. Lamps floated in the air without chains or strings, drifting lazily as if the night had forgotten to turn them off. Light shimmered along stone paths. Even the trees looked wrong, leaves glowing faintly, moving as if alive.
Zach leaned forward, gripping the windowsill.
"What in the fantasy world is this?" he whispered.
Behind him, the older maid frowned.
"My lady… what are you talking about?"
Zach turned.
The older maid looked calm, but the younger one, shorter, round-eyed, looked like she might cry again.
Zach pointed at the younger maid.
"You. Come here."
She flinched but obeyed, stepping closer.
Zach grabbed her shoulders gently but firmly.
"Listen," he said. "I need answers. Right now."
She gulped.
"Where am I?" Zach asked. "What is this place? Who is that silver-haired guy? And what exactly is he?"
The maid's eyes darted to the older woman.
The older maid hesitated… then nodded. They thought their Lady Elise had really forgotten her memories.
The younger maid swallowed hard.
"L-lady Elise," she said softly, "this is Kyldare Castle."
Zach blinked. 'Kyldare Castle?'
"And?"
"And His Grace is Duke Rowan Kyldare," she continued, voice shaking, "your husband."
Silence.
Zach released her shoulders.
"What."
He stared at them.
Then at the ceiling.
Then back at them again.
"What. What the hell."
His legs gave out and he dropped onto the floor, sitting with his legs wide apart without thinking.
Both maids gasped.
"M-my lady!"
Zach laughed.
It came out sharp and broken.
"What kind of joke is this?" he muttered. "I've read this stuff before. Back in high school."
He dragged a hand through his hair.
"Isekai. Reincarnation. Waking up in another world."
He looked up slowly.
"Don't tell me this is happening to me. I love my life, I don't want this. And in a body of a woman??!"
The maids exchanged worried looks.
Zach cursed under his breath.
"Why me?" he snapped. "I didn't even die winning that race. I got rammed off a damn road by that bastard."
"My lady," the older maid said carefully, "you must prepare for breakfast. If you keep His Grace waiting, you will get in trouble."
Zach stood up abruptly.
"Very funny."
The younger maid stiffened.
Zach smiled.
Not a nice one. A creepy one.
"Eeeek!" The maid reacted.
"Maybe I should ask her husband," he said slowly, "how to get back home."
The maids shuddered.
"He mentioned magic, right?" Zach continued, eyes bright and wild. "This world screams fantasy. Floating lamps. Glowing plants. Dukes throwing people around like dolls."
He laughed again.
"Hahaha… this is insane."
His gaze landed on the dress laid out on the bed.
Layers. Corset. Tight ribbons.
He poked it.
"This thing looks like it'll snap my ribs in half."
He turned to the maids.
"Hey," he said casually. "Get me some manly clothes."
The room went quiet.
The older maid's mouth opened slightly.
"P-pardon?"
Zach crossed his arms. "Pants. Shirt. Boots. Something I can breathe in."
The younger maid looked horrified.
Lady Elise had always cared deeply about her appearance…especially in front of the Duke.
This was not normal.
ৎ────
The dining hall was just as ridiculous as the bedroom. But even wider.
Long table. Golden plates. More food than Zach thought possible.
Rowan Kyldare sat at the head of the table, calmly eating.
He lifted his head.
Stopped.
For the first time since Zach met him, his expression changed.
Zach smirked.
The clothes he wore weren't noblewomen's attire. Simple pants. Loose shirt. Hair tied back without decorations.
Comfortable.
Zach dropped into a chair.
Rowan stared.
"What are you wearing?" Rowan asked.
Zach shrugged. "Something that doesn't try to kill me man."
Rowan raised an eyebrow.
Zach reached for the food.
It floated.
The plate lifted into the air and slid neatly in front of him before settling down.
Zach froze.
"…Woah."
His eyes widened.
"What the fuck."
Rowan continued eating like nothing happened.
Zach stared at the food. Then at Rowan.
"You're acting strangely, Elise," Rowan said.
Zach opened his mouth. "Actually, I'm not Elise. I'm-"
Nothing came out.
Not even a breath.
Zach blinked.
"…Huh?"
He tried again.
No sound.
His chest tightened.
"Why is my name?!" he mouthed.
Frustration exploded.
He stood abruptly, chair scraping loudly across the floor.
Servants froze.
Zach walked straight toward Rowan.
No hesitation.
He planted one hand on the back of Rowan's chair and the other on his shoulder.
Gasps echoed around the room. Someone dropped a plate.
"Sir," Zach said, voice finally returning, "I need to go home. To my world."
Rowan stiffened.
"Elise," he said slowly, "are you in your right mind?"
"I am," Zach snapped. "And you're clearly hiding something. You have magic. You know things. So tell me how to go back."
Rowan's eyes became dead serious.
He stood.
"Enough."
He raised his hand.
Something sharp filled the air.
Zach felt it before he saw it, pressure. Heat. Power.
"Huh…"
Light flashed.
Zach's eyes widened.
Then everything went black.
Rowan caught him before he fell.
The hall vanished.
In a blink, they appeared in a quiet room.
A servant stood nearby.
Caleb.
"Elise has been acting strangely since she awakened," Rowan said, laying her gently onto the bed. "Her speech. Her behavior. Examine her."
Caleb bowed. He stood in front of the bed raising both of his hands. A surge of white magic came out from his hands.
"At once, Your Grace."
Rowan looked down at Elise.
Unconscious.
Breathing.
Looking different because of the clothes she wore today.