Can I Really Trust You?

Two

The smell of fresh flowers filled my nostrils and I was suddenly reminded of my childhood, except it wasn’t my childhood. There was a red-haired boy and a strawberry blonde haired girl who each held my hand as we ran through a lavender field, laughing and giggling at one another. 

“She’s waking! I told you not to put flowers in here while she’s sleeping”, an unfamiliar voice whispered harshly. 

“I’m sorry, I’ll keep that in mind for next time”, said a child-like voice. 

My fingers twitched which jolted me awake enough to open my eyes. I had to blink a couple of times before I was met with satin sheets wrapped around a bed post. I looked at the high ceiling past the curtains confused. I was certain I had died but what am I doing awake? A brief wave of disappointment washed through me as I groggily pushed myself up to sit up on the bed.

“Ugh”, I groaned as I rubbed my face with my palms. Long feather-like touches tickled past my shoulders and down onto my arms. I stopped, unaware of what might be touching me. 

“Good morning My Lady”, the child-like voice greeted. 

Lady? Is this how nurses greet their patients nowadays? I pulled my face out of my hands and turned towards the direction of the voice. A petite woman in a brown and white maid outfit stood by the bed smiling at me. 

I stared at her in shock as I looked around. The room was set in a Victorian style setting with a blue and white color palate, made for the female taste. I looked back down to my hands, and I gasped at how pale I had become. I had a sun kissed tan before but now I was white as a sheet! 

“What happened?” I asked nervously. Did I die and was somehow in a coma for years that my natural tan had faded? Oh my God, did my parents sell my comatose body to a sicko who had a maid and Princess fantasy? 

“What do you mean?” The little one asked. 

No, no, no, this isn’t real. I pulled the blanket off me and noticed that my legs were now white as well. “Oh my God, I’m white”. I hurried myself off the bed and made my way towards the vanity that sat across the room. 

The cold marble floor hit my feet and I hissed at how cold it was. I dashed towards the mirror, holding my breath, afraid to look at my reflection. Okay Rika, just look up. Look up and breathe. I slowly pulled my chin up and opened my eyes slowly and screamed. 

I was no longer an Asian woman but a white woman. My shoulder length straight brown hair was now replaced with wavy black hair and my brown eyes were now a subtle wine red. My thin lips were now plump with an added reddish-pink tint to it and my skin was porcelain white, but I could change that at any moment. My cheeks also had a natural red flush to it making it look like I was wearing blush but I'm not. Oddly enough the lady in the mirror kind off looks like me but it wasn’t at the same time she doesn't. I tilted my head as I studied my face some more before checking the rest of my body. I had definitely dropped down a cup size and my legs and ass are now non-existent but I could change that too. Overall I didn’t look too bad, I just needed a little… Shaping. 

“Lady Rizpah are you alright?” My eyes jumped to the older maid’s reflection in the mirror. 

“Excuse me?” I asked, a little shocked. 

“Are you alright?” She repeated. 

“No, not that. What did you call me?”

“Lady Rizpah”, she nodded. 

“I’m sorry. Who am I?” I laugh nervously. 

“Lady Rizpah”, she looked at me confused at having to repeat it over and over again. “I’m sorry for asking again but are you feeling alright?”

I turned to look at her and laughed. “Never better!” 

Holy hell! I’m in ‘Can I Trust You?’ as Rizpah Vanderbrown? This has to be a dream, because I cannot just die to just literally die again and the worst part is I don’t even know what year or where Rizpah died! My only indicator is Christmas!

Ingela! She’ll know! I walked over to what I assume is the closet but it was the bathroom instead. There was a giant tub in the middle of the room, a single sink with a large marble countertop and… A toilet! Oh my God, a toilet! It was an old fashioned toilet with a handle where you have to pull from the top but at least it was a toilet! 

“Would you like a bath?” The older maid asked me from the doorway. 

“Hmm? Oh, um, maybe? I’m trying to see if I could meet with Ingela today”. I turned to look at her. I should really ask for her name but I didn’t want to seem rude. 

“Yes, after your lessons will you then be able to visit with Lady Ingela”. She walked over towards the tub and twisted two knobs. One for hot and the other cold I assume. 

“Right, my lesson. And what lesson is that?” 

“Do you not remember requesting to take a political class?”

“It’s a little early in the morning, if you could be so kind as to freshen my memory, I would very much appreciate it”, I asked a politely. It was weird. I felt as if I knew how to act as Rizpah and all the history about the place I was in. Like as if I've been living my life as Rizpah but suddenly gained Rika's knowledge as well. 

The Manhwa never specified what the country was called but I for sure know that we are in the Rasten Empire and the current Emperor is Arsene’s brother, Alaric, who ascended the throne about two years ago. I live in Lidenburg, which is an hour away from the capital and Arsene so I know that I should be safe here. 

“Sure, Lady Rizpah. You wanted to work in the capital as a judge, although I’m not sure how because you are a lady yourself, but you had insisted on it. Your brother, Rodnik, had connections with the Emperor himself and got you a seat in a political class in the Capital. You have also asked your parents that you would like it if you could stay there on your own since it’s closer for you to commute to your classes--”. 

“No!” I interrupted her. A wave of lost memories flooded my mind as I recalled every single thing she had just told me. I wanted to work as a judge because I wanted to help the women who are on trial and give them a fair trial without being discriminated against due to their gender. I also begged my parents to rent me an apartment in Rasput because I refused to commute an hour away by carriage everyday. 

“Is something the matter?” She asked as she turned the water off to fill it with petals and oils. 

“Can I retract back my request about the apartment in Rasput?” I asked as the smaller maid untied my nightgown from the back. 

“That is something you should be discussing with your parents and not me, Lady Rizpah”. She motioned me to enter the tub after seeing me stripped of my gown and shivering as the cold air hit me. 

“Do you know if they are available today after my bath?” I asked as I stepped into the warm bath and sank my entire body into it. 

She walked over towards a cabinet and pulled out a towel and a robe, placing them onto a chair next to the bath. “Your mother, yes. As for your father, I’m not too sure”, she informed me. I cupped water onto my hands and splashed it onto my face. The smaller maid poured something cold onto my head, letting the liquid seep into my eye. “Careful, Emily! You’re going to blind our Lady!” 

“I’m sorry Miss Delilah”, Emily apologized. 

“It’s alright, Emily”, I assured her and Miss Delilah lets out a heavy sigh. 

“This is why I cannot get one good worker, Lady Rizpah. You’re way too nice to our staff”. I giggled as Emily lathered the shampoo into my hair. I leaned back and thought about all the things that needed to get done today. First, talk to my parents about the apartment and secondly, meet up with Ingela -- after the class. I couldn’t let Rodnik’s hard work go to waste. Who knows what he had to go through to get me into that class.