“Master!
Please wake up!”
A constant crying voice disturbed my slumber.
I ignored it and shut my eyes tighter.
People these days won’t even let me have my beauty sleep.
“Master!!
I can’t live without you.
They will sell me to Master Leorin!”
Again, the same voice.
Argh…
I have a shoot early in the morning.
Let me sleep!!
I shouted in my mind.
“Master…
Master…”
The voice came again, followed by a hand touching my shoulder.
I jerked awake and opened my eyes.
A silk-draped ceiling stretched above me.
Since when did I change the ceiling of my room?
I turned toward the source of the constant noise.
A petite boy was kneeling beside my bed.
His large, baby-like eyes were overflowing with tears.
The moment he saw me move, his eyes widened in surprise.
“Master!!
You’re awake!
Oh God!
I thought I was going to lose you.”
He started crying even harder.
I furrowed my brows.
Who is this boy?
Why is he crying?
Why is he calling me master?
Am I dreaming?
I tried to lift my hand to pinch myself, but the crying boy grabbed my hand again.
His touch felt real.
“Master!
Don’t move.
Let me call a physician for you,” he said as he quickly stood up.
I opened my mouth to stop him, but no voice came out.
As I tried to lift my head, dizziness hit me instantly.
Darkness engulfed me again- not before I heard a terrified scream.
“MASTER!!!!”
I could hear hushed voices around me.
Groaning softly, I opened my eyes again.
I was once again greeted by the silk-draped ceiling.
So this is real…
“Master!
How are you feeling?” the young boy asked.
Now that I looked at him properly, he seemed to be around sixteen years old.
“Where am I?” I asked weakly.
My throat still hurt when I spoke.
“What?
Master, you don’t remember?
Royal Healer, please check on him!” he said worriedly.
An old woman dressed in ancient robes approached me.
A strange bandage-like cloth was wrapped around her forehead.
She sat beside my bed on a wooden cushion and gently uncovered my wrist before placing a silk cloth over it.
Then she placed her fingers lightly above the cloth and closed her eyes.
Is she a doctor?
Why can’t she touch my pulse directly?
Weird.
“Kairo, your master is merely in shock.
I will prepare medicine for him.
Make sure he takes it on time and follows my instructions carefully,” the Royal Healer said in a reassuring tone.
She stood up and looked at me strangely, as if I were some mystery she could not solve.
Then she left.
“Master, are you alright?
I was so worried about you,” the boy-Kairo-said softly.
“Where am I?” I asked again, this time clearing my throat.
Sensing my discomfort, Kairo immediately stood up and poured water for me into a clay cup.
I took the opportunity to look around.
Moonlight spilled through layers of silk curtains, casting pale silver across the vast chamber.
Gold lanterns flickered against dark carved furniture, jade ornaments, and towering screens painted with ancient landscapes, while the faint scent of sandalwood lingered heavily in the air.
There were no city lights.
No sound of machines.
No trace of the modern world I knew.
Only candlelight, embroidered silk, and the unmistakable silence of an ancient palace.
I gulped down the water and looked back at him, waiting for an answer.
“Master, you are in your chamber,” he replied as if it were obvious.
“I mean…
what place is this?” I pressed again.
“This is the matriarchal Empire of Elyndra, ruled by Empress Selene-your wife,” he said proudly.
“What??”
“Who am I?” I asked, my heartbeat suddenly accelerating.
“You are Her Majesty’s Noble Consort, Elyas.
Master, how many times must you ask me to call you Noble Consort?
Don’t you ever get tired of hearing it?” he said with a smile.
Okay.
This was too much.
Last night, I was partying near the sea with my friends.
We had been playing in the water when suddenly the waves turned violent like a tornado.
I was drowning…
calling for help…
And now, after waking up-
I was here.
The matriarchal Empire of Elyndra.
Empress Selene.
My wife?
Me?
A noble consort?
“Kairo…
bring me a mirror,” I whispered.
He immediately grabbed a wooden-framed mirror from the bedside table and held it in front of me.
“AHH!!”
I nearly threw it away.
“Who is this?!
A ghost?!”
The reflection staring back at me looked horrifying.
The young man in the mirror appeared to be around twenty years old.
His face looked exactly like mine- except it was buried under layers of heavy makeup.
Long hair framed his pale face elegantly.
“This doesn’t look human…
It looks like a ghost.”
“What is this, Kairo?
Is this really me?
And what is all this on my face?” I asked irritably.
Kairo looked confused by my reaction.
“This is your beautifying makeup, Master.
You instructed me to apply it even if you were sick,” he answered nervously.
My headache throbbed harder.
Dizziness slowly returned.
I closed my eyes again.
I’ll deal with everything later.
Here is the first chapter!
What do you think about the first chapter?
Let me know your thoughts- Happy reading and stay tuned for the matriarchy verse…
Lune5verse