Following the prince's orders, someone led me inside and into an empty room, telling me to wait. Finally, I could catch my breath.

Soon, a middle-aged woman arrived with a younger woman who looked about my age. They announced they were there to clean me up and make me presentable. Relief flooded me—this was exactly what I needed.

They guided me to a room that looked like the bathroom, before setting down a basket overflowing with bottles and towels. I watched them, expecting them to leave, but instead, they walked over to me. 

"Ah... w-wait. What are you doing?" I stammered, as they stepped closer, clearly intent on undressing me. 

"Removing your clothes, sire," the older woman replied as if this was the most normal thing in the world. 

"Sir? No, no, it's fine—I can handle bathing on my own," I said, trying to force a smile that probably looked more like a grimace.

The three of us were now stuck in the world's most awkward standoff.

I waited, hoping they'd take the hint and leave, but when it became clear they weren't going anywhere, I finally blurted out, "Um, aren't you going to, you know, head out? I kinda need to take a bath, and it's a solo activity."

"We can't. We've been ordered to assist you, my lord." 

'Oh, I get it. They're here to watch me in case I try to escape,' I thought, completely misunderstanding the situation. 

Feeling a bit shy, I walked inside and stole a glance behind them before hesitantly started on taking off my oversized shirt and unhooked my bra. 

Gasp! I turned to see their shocked expressions. 

"Y-you're a woman?" the older one blurted out, eyes wide, her voice trembling with disbelief. 

"Uh... does this look like a man can have?" I said, pointing awkwardly at my chest.

Their expressions changed so fast I almost stumbled backward. It wasn't just surprise—it was fear. The older woman bolted toward the door, locking it with a candlestick, while the younger one drew the curtains in a frantic sweep, both of their faces are pale as if we were hiding a crime.

"What... what are you doing?" My voice wavered, dread gnawing at my insides. This wasn't just awkward anymore. It feels like something dangerous is about to happen.

"Um, what's going on?" I asked, thoroughly bewildered at their sudden action

"Who knows about this?" the older woman demanded, her tone is now deadly serious compared to before.

"I don't know. It's not like I'm hiding—" I began, but she cut me off, suddenly grabbing both my shoulders, which made me flinch with the unexpected action.

"Listen carefully," she said, her voice dropping to a whisper. "You mustn't let anyone know. Do you understand?"

"Uh, yeah, sure, but... why?" I asked, still thoroughly confused. "You really didn't know?" the older woman asked, her voice laced with disbelief.

I shook my head before answering the obvious "No, I didn't."

"Where are you from to not know something this basic?" she pressed me with more information, sharpening her tone.

I couldn't help but wonder how my bath suddenly turned into an episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

"Not from here for sure," I muttered, too exhausted to explain the whole 'other world' thing.

Honestly, who'd believe me when I myself can't believe what's happening to me? I don't even know where I am. If this is another world, it should be something like those I watched and read, right? 

The one who enters a story or portal something, but the problem is...I am in my real body. So what kind of story is this? I don't think I created a story where I am the main lead, I mean come on! Who's insane to do that? Haist...my brain is not functioning today to remember all those thousand stories I have read.

"Definitely not from this world," I added, too exhausted to explain further as I stepped into the tub, scrubbing at the sticky blood clinging to my face. I groaned while rinsing the wounds on my head.

That guard was utterly heartless! My expensive skincare routine is too precious for my face to just slam against the floor!

"If you didn't know, then you must be from the Homonhon Empire?" 

'Homonhon? That sounds like Hamon, a sweet small cut of pork that turns into ham...' I shake my head with the thoughts of food. It's making me hungry. 

"Nope. Aunty, sorry, but can I wash myself?" I awkwardly requested as they began scrubbing my arms and continue asking me questions that I obviously didn't have an answer to.

"I mean, it feels weird having someone else wash me when I'm already a grown woman." I slid away from them, continuing to scrub my body. 

"If you're not from the Homonhon Empire, then there's no way you wouldn't know how women are treated here." 

"Mother, look at her clothes. They're very dirty but they look different from what our people wear," the younger girl observed, eyeing my jeans and oversized shirt. I quickly snatched my underwear from her grasp, my face flushing with embarrassment. This is so mortifying! 

"I heard you were held captive, but which kingdom are you from if not Homonhon?" I debated internally before deciding to reveal the truth about my origins and how I got involved in the war between the two kingdoms otherwise these two would not stop asking me questions I don't have answers from.

In the end, they simply concluded that I'd hurt my brain. I don't expect them to believe me, but being called crazy stung more than I thought it would. Honestly, I question how I've managed to stay sane after everything I've been through. 

"It seems you've hurt your head pretty badly. Do you even remember your name?" The middle-aged woman's voice was gentle, yet firm, as she brushed the tender wound on my forehead with the soft cloth that I got earlier. She looked so convinced of my injury that I didn't bother correcting her.

"Let me introduce myself first. I'm Lea, and this is my daughter, Rowena." We exchanged polite bows, though their cautious gazes lingered. I sensed a quiet, unspoken bond of trust forming.

"Come here. Let us help you clean up." Skeptical but with no better options, I followed.

"Listen carefully," Lea said, her voice dropping to a whisper as she scrubbed my back.

"This Empire is built on dominance and power. The royals rule with cruelty, and those of us lower down live in constant fear. Here, strength is everything. Women are often forced into secondary roles, little more than tools for the powerful to wield."

The water trickled down my face, merging with her words. My reflection in the bathwater distorted and rippled, much like this twisted world. "The people here," she continued, her voice now soft but unyielding, "are cold, calculating. They don't show emotions easily, and love? It's seen as a weakness compared to our village. Servants like us… we have no choice but to serve. Whether it's with our skills or our bodies, that all depends on who we end up serving."

I stared into the water as droplets slid down from my hair and blurred my reflection. This was the reality here—the world I needed to understand if I wanted to survive. This is something I have to know. I have to listen to this information.

"There used to be three empires," Lea went on, her tone is now calm yet heavy. "Only the Homonhon and Elthor treated women differently. We're from Ellis, a fallen kingdom of the Elthor Empire. But fate brought us here, to serve under this lord. We had dreams of escape once, but with the fall of Aldo—a kingdom known for its military strength today, those hopes were shattered. It's because our princess is…" Her voice faltered.

"Mother…" Rowena interrupted gently, her hand on Lea's arm. Lea's mouth closed, but her gaze was grim.

"The only empire left now is Homonhon but it was threatened as we speak. This kingdom, Marceau, used to be small and unremarkable, but look at what it's become." Lea's voice grew heavy, like lead.

"There are quite a few women here, and every one of them has one role: to serve their master. Do you understand now why we're so worried for you?" 

A chill ran down my spine, and I nodded slowly. Hesitating, I spoke up, wary of the answer. "Then… does that mean you two…" Lea cut me off with a firm shake of her head, though her expression was full of pain.

"I made both of us barren." 

'What's barren for women again? I think I know that...ah!' 

A heavy silence fell in the room the moment I thought what it means, thick and unbreakable, until Lea finally spoke again.

"That's why we're allowed to serve in the palace," she said with a steady voice but much darker now.

"No one can touch a woman owned by the emperor, not unless he allows it." I saw then how the weight of her words carved into her face, lines of weariness etched deep.

"And the emperor doesn't like a woman with a scar. I made sure neither of us would ever be touched, so I chose to give us both this." My throat tightened, a horrified question on my lips as I looked at the scar on their shoulder near the chest.

"You… chose that?" to confirm my question, she nodded slowly, her eyes clouded with grief.

"It was the only way to protect her. To protect us," she added.

A shiver crept over me.

Would I need the same kind of protection? But I take extra care of my skin, even buying those expensive skin care that my idols used...and I hate pain!

"What about the women I saw earlier?" I asked, remembering the chains on their wrists. "Are they slaves?" 

"They aren't slaves. They're princesses from a kingdom that the emperor took a liking to," Rowena said softly. 

I felt sick.

"That's… twisted." A dark thought clawed its way to the surface. 

I just got lucky now, but what if they find out I'm a woman? 

"Aunty, what should I do?" My voice sounded small, like a child's. I asked if she had any medicine to make me barren, even though dread pooled in my stomach at the thought because this current situation wasn't in my plan. She only shook her head sadly. 

"Don't worry. As long as they believe you're a man, you'll be safe," Lea said, her eyes flickering with doubt as she looked at the clothes Rowena's holding.

"They sent men's clothes. They must already believe it. Just… play the role." My stomach twisted. 

Play the role? Easier said than done!

"But…" Her gaze drifted to my chest, a warning in her silence. 

"I can hide that," I whispered, more to myself than to her.

"If I bind it tight, no one will notice. Some of my friends use binders to flatten theirs. If I had something long enough…"

"Like this?" Rowena held up a strip of fabric, thin but sturdy.

"Perfect!" I said, feeling a strange burst of relief.

I held the cloth, staring at it. Wait..why am I happy for a piece of cloth? Disguising myself was going to be a challenge. Flattening my chest is one thing, but my small build and voice will give me away eventually—or so I thought.