"This isn't some kind of prank by Inggit… right?"
Zata lowered her gaze, trying to process the bizarre situation she was in.
Clop, clop, clop…
The sound of the horse-drawn carriage wheels rattling beneath her made Zata restless. She pushed open the small window, hoping the outside air might calm her nerves. But the moment she stuck her head out, she locked eyes with the man who had scolded her earlier—now inexplicably riding a horse right beside her carriage.
"Don't you dare think of running away!" he barked.
Zata flinched, yanking her head back inside and slamming the window shut.
"Geez, what's his problem? Chill, will you? Even my dad never yells like that… You're gonna wrinkle yourself into an old man at this rate," she muttered under her breath.
"…na."
"Huh?"
"What the hell is happening here? Is this some elaborate prank by Inggit? But how would she even manage to drop me in the middle of a forest? Carry me on her back? Yeah, right." Zata was so lost in thought, she didn't notice the maid standing before her.
"Young Lady!" the maid called again, her patience clearly wearing thin.
"Eh?" Zata looked up, only to be met with a look of mild disdain from the woman in the servant's uniform. "You talking to me?"
"Yes, you. Please, Young Lady, I beg you, stop causing trouble. We're the ones who will pay the price for your actions. Please… for all our sakes, reconsider what you're doing. Our lives are at stake here," the maid said stiffly.
Why is this making me so annoyed?
"Well… no promises," Zata shot back without thinking.
"W-what?"
The maid gaped at her. This wasn't the Alenda she knew—the timid girl who couldn't even meet a servant's eyes. The girl before her now had a sharp, unwavering gaze. Almost like… a completely different person.
"What? Something else?" Zata raised an eyebrow.
"N-no, Young Lady. Nothing at all. It's just… you seem a little different today. I hope you won't—"
"Ugh! Fine, fine! You're so bossy, are you the director here or something? Man, you're noisy!" Zata grumbled, rubbing her ear. If there was one thing she couldn't stand, it was being ordered around.
"W-what?" The maid's jaw dropped further.
Oh crap, am I going overboard? She's starting to look suspicious. If that grumpy old guy finds out I'm not the girl they think I am… am I gonna get killed? He didn't even hesitate to slap her earlier…
Zata's mind raced. She had no idea how to act in this strange world, but if her guess was right and she really had slipped into another dimension, she'd better play it smart. Like in the novel I'm In Love With A Second Lead, where Lusi meets Lauren, the owner of the body she's inhabiting. Would that happen to her too? Would she meet the real Alenda?
"My head… I hit it on a tree," Zata said suddenly, softening her voice to match what she imagined Alenda's sounded like. "I—I can't remember anything."
The maid froze, her shocked expression slowly easing, which gave Zata a brief wave of relief. Maybe her acting was working.
"Wh—who am I to you, miss?" Zata asked, scratching her head nervously.
The maid looked puzzled. "Wh—what?"
Oh no, you idiot!
"Uh-uh, I mean… I'm me, right? And you're you… right?" Zata stammered.
"You… you?"
Damn it, stop slipping into slang!
"Uh, I mean… I'm me. You're… you. Sorry! I'm just… using weird words. Look, the point is, I hit my head back there and I can't remember a thing. Can you tell me what's going on?"
The maid tilted her head slightly. "You use… interesting language, Young Lady."
Then she leaned forward, peering at Zata. "You've lost your memory? But… are you injured?"
Feeling cornered, Zata quickly clutched the back of her head. "Ah! Yeah, yeah, the injury's at the back. You can't see it."
"…Very well, Young Lady. You'll understand everything once we reach Duke Celsion's estate."
Ugh, what's with the mysterious act? Zata sighed inwardly, irritated at the maid's constant condescension. Her stomach rumbled, sapping the last of her energy. Deciding to just shut her eyes and wait this out, she leaned back with a sigh.
God, I'm exhausted. Maybe when I wake up, I'll be back next to Inggit. If that happens, first thing I'm doing? Smack Inggit on the head. Definitely.
"Uwaaah…" Zata yawned, stretching—only to slam her hand into the low ceiling of the carriage. "Ow, ow, ow! Crap, that hurts!" she hissed, waving her stinging fingers.
Blinking her eyes open, she realized she was alone. Where was that maid? And why hadn't anyone woken her up?
Knock, knock.
"Young Lady? Are you awake?"
Zata turned her head toward the voice. As she opened the door, her eyes widened in shock. There, dressed just like the maid from earlier, stood someone who looked exactly like Inggit.
"Inggit?!"
"Please, let me escort you to your room, Young Lady. Everyone's gone inside. They left you to rest, but I was worried something might have happened. I'm so sorry I couldn't help you… our entire plan has been exposed," the maid said tearfully.
Without thinking, Zata leapt from the carriage, making the Inggit-lookalike flinch in surprise. This wasn't how the timid Young Lady she knew behaved at all.
"Y-young Lady?"
"Inggit, are you insane?! You're crazy!" Zata yelped, thwacking the girl lightly on the head. As the maid stumbled backward, Zata instinctively caught her arm to steady her.
"W-what…?"
"Ugh, what are you doing, huh? Cosplaying or something? Look, I get it—you wanted to surprise me. But seriously, how did you get me here? Did you drug me? Wait, no, you're too sneaky—you must've carried me while I was asleep! Fine, fine, I'll forgive you if you just explain everything!"
The maid's head spun as Zata's rapid-fire words tumbled out.
"Y-young Lady…"
"No, no, hang on! First, give me my phone. I mean, if you're going to all this trouble, it's a crime not to post it on Instagram, right? Where's my phone? I need to upload a story."
Zata thrust out her hand, fingers wiggling expectantly.
"Where? Where is it?"
"M-milady, please forgive me!"
Zata froze as the girl suddenly fell to her knees, pressing her forehead to the ground.
"I deserve to die, Young Lady! I… I swear I don't understand a word you're saying! I'm so sorry… so sorry… h-hic…"
"Wh-why are you crying?!" Zata panicked, crouching down and cupping the maid's face. "Why are you crying?! Inggit, you're busted already! Stop acting—I'm freaking out here!"
"But… but I'm not Inggit, Young Lady. I'm Anggita… your personal maid."
"W-WHAT?!"
And before Zata could process anything else, her vision went black. The shock of realization hit her like a freight train.
Oh no. My blood pressure's spiking…