BECOMING ROYAL (Souls Swap #1)

OLIVIA (LYRA)’S POV. I can feel my temple get wet from my tears, but my eyelids are suddenly way too heavy for me to part. I would rather close my eyes. At least I feel more peace than when I am awake. Somewhere in my heart I know today is Monday and I am supposed to be on my way out, but the company can miss their slave for some hours, can’t they? Would I even be missed? Of course I should. When they need someone to complete their editing task fast, they would remember I exist. My eyelids are still heavy, I didn’t drink last night, did I? Drinking is never my thing… “Lyra.” I hear a very faint voice calling out. I think the new couple that moved into the next apartment must have a Lyra at home. “Today is a very important day. Open your eyes princess Lyra.” The voice continues and I shift without opening my eyes. This is actually really weird… I do not remember ever hearing those new couple talk so loudly. She is a princess too? “I am sorry I would have to do this.” The voice is louder this time and I feel something cold hit me. Forcing my eyes open, I feel my eyelashes get heavy and I notice the blurry vision I have due to the drops of water on my eyelashes. Wait! I live alone… “Wake up or Lady will come in here herself.” The Voice says again and I lift my hands to cover my face. This is horrific - I must be dreaming - “Don’t answer, Livia.” I mumble to myself as I feel my heart beat faster. Slipping my hands off my face slowly, I open my eyes and the piercing light rays that I usually wake up to is no more. All I can see is a brown brick wall. “Thank goodness you finally opened your eyes.” The female voice which was speaking earlier says and I move my right hand over my mouth fast to muffle my scream as I sight her. “Who are you?” I ask and she grins. “You have suddenly grown a sense of humor, Princess.” She answers and my gaze shifts to the bed I am in and then to the white cloth wrapped around my body. I never sleep with some cloth wrapped around my body like a towel... and she just called me princess? I must have been abducted to act a movie, but… “Remember, you have to appear before the first prince. You chose this dress.” The pale skin beauty says as she pulls a cross like wood out and place an ancient dress on it. “I chose that? When did I?” I ask and she laughs then stop. “You have really decided to have a sense of humor, but it isn’t funny right now.” She replies and I push the heavy cloth used to cover me off my body. Shifting my gaze from the lady in front of me, I let my eyes trail over the walls, paintings and some scrolls. “That painting.” I exclaim as I point to it and get off the bed to touch it. It seems more realistic. The one in the museum felt like a copy. “This is beautiful.” I murmur as I brush my fingertips over it. “Young mistress, I am getting scared. You are acting weird, I would have to call your mother.” I hear the lady who seems more like a girl say, but I care less… I just can’t believe I am touching the painting I saw in the museum. The red fallen petals feels so real, the crown prince’s bride to be had drawn it. “Lyra.” A woman gushes over to me and I try to remember if I have seen her before, but I haven’t. “Who is she?” I ask the pale beautiful lady who has a weird way of waking someone she calls young mistress. “Lyra, stop being a child. The king would be disappointed if you arrive at the banquet late.” The woman who seems older answers me instead. Okay, let me get this straight. I am not in my cozy apartment anymore, some weird lady calling me a name no one has ever called me woke me up with a bucket of water, I touched a historical painting on a wall in the room I am in. I am being called the princess and the king would be disappointed in me if I fail to appear on time. “I must have wished way too much last night and now I am dreaming.” I murmur and pinch my cheeks. That hurts. “My beautiful daughter, you have always wanted this. You’ve had your eyes on the crown prince ever since you two were young. He made you hold a brush for the first time, remember?” The older woman says and I turn to look at her. “I have no mother.” I reply and the other lady who has a very weird method of waking someone holds me by my arms. “Stop all of this please.” She begs and let me go. She looks at a large stainless hung on the wall and point to it. “Don’t ever forget who you are going to be from hence forth. Listen to your maid and look at your reflection again to remind yourself. You are my courageous daughter and you won’t chicken out now because of Vienna.” The woman who calls herself my mother says and I face palm myself. What the heck is going on? Who is Vienna and why would I look at some large tray looking stainless to check my reflection? “Did you lose your memory after falling off yesterday? You felt fine, you said ‘mother I am okay’ when I and your maid was helping you stand… Call the imperial physician.” My supposed mother says and my supposed maid leaves immediately. Imperial physician? “Mother, the king’s man just sent this.” The maid returns almost immediately and hand over her a letter to my supposed mother. She reads through, but I can also read from behind because of how strong the black ink used in writing is thick. “That’s something he could have sent through his cello device.” I say as I begin to read from behind. “Call in her bath maids.” My supposed Mother orders and walk out majestically. “Bath maids?” I murmur as I walk towards the stainless. Screaming, I place my hand over my mouth to muffle my screams before moving my hands to wipe the stainless. What happened to my face? Wiping the stainless with my hands in other to be sure again, I raise a hand above my head and it reflects the same causing me to scream again. “I am crazy. I am the crazy one…” I keep murmuring as six ladies dressed in casual robes walks in with different things in their hands. “Let’s leave, young mistress.” One of them says and the weird one urges me to follow them, but I can’t seem to take a step. It feels like my feet are glued to the clean wooden floor. “Where is the mirror?” I ask. That stainless isn’t even a mirror in the first place so the reflections might be odd. “What’s that?” She replies and I scoff. “A M-I-R-R-O-R…” I spell out as I try to describe, but I seem to be a fool in their sights. What’s happening? They do not know what a mirror is? They use letters when they can just send a text message with their phones and also have their maids dressed in weird robes… Today is Monday, I am supposed to be at work and I am… Wait! Is this my freedom? Has the lord finally decided to give me a break? Did I get into some accident and this is my road to afterlife? No, no, no. I remember sleeping yesterday. “I am sorry I would have to do this then.” Ms. Weird says and I feel a bit of pain in my neck before darkness clouds my vision. “You must be crazy, you just knocked young mistress out. What if she doesn’t wake up before the banquet begins?” I hear from afar as I feel myself get numb. Opening my eyes slowly, I feel a shoulder below my temple and my body on motion. A hand touches my face and I raise my head. “You are awake.” She acknowledges and I take in my environment. I am now dress in some extravagant maxi skirt and long sleeved top. A rope attached to the top is tied in a bow style on my chest and finally I notice the curtain by side. Pushing the curtain open, I scream. “Princess?” The weird lady holds my hand and I scream again, causing me to hear the sound of a screeching horse. Horse? “Is something wrong with Young mistress?” A guard also dressed in an ancient robe asks and I place my hand over my mouth as it dawns on me slowly. Firstly, I was knocked out meaning I am not in a dream. Secondly, I am called young mistress. The screeching noise of a horse, an enclosed place and a curtain means a carriage. The houses around look like inns and the dusty environment, everything says one thing… I am in the past. I am not dreaming. I can feel pain. I am being called a royal. I am free. I am finally free, from all of my stress in the city. “I am free.” I murmur as I get off the carriage without any assistance. Without bothering to notice my environment further, I place my hands on either sides of my face. “I am free.” I shout as I emphasize on the ‘e’ part and the weird maid takes my arm. “Young mistress, you can tell me what’s going on. You trust me, right? You told me we are sisters now and you do not mind who my father is. You have told me multiple times that I am not just your body guard. We are sworn sisters, so you can trust me.” She says and I narrow my eyes at her. Should I trust her? “We are sworn sisters?” I ask and she nods. She leads me into the carriage and I feel it move. “Look at your index finger and mine. We swore to always look at this scars and strengthen our friendship so you can tell me what’s going on in your head right now.” She answers and I look at the equal scars. “I am trapped in the body of a princess.” I whisper and she laughs. “Young mistress…” She trails off when the carriage stops and I get off before anyone moves to assist me. Walking on the concreted floor, I smile and sniff at the scent of tulips. The fallen leaves makes rustling sounds as I step on them and men with swords stands on either side of the path way as Ms. Weird finally catches up with me. “You shouldn’t walk alone, the king’s guard are supposed to lead you in.” She says and I beckon to her. “Do me a favor, walk behind me but do not stay far away. Introduce everyone who walks past me and also tell me your name.” I whisper into her ear and she nods. “My name is, Selena.” She whispers and I shrug. Walking steadily with her and some other men I do not know of behind me, I still can’t get the thoughts of being here out of my mind. What if I didn’t sleep yesterday? Did I may be sleep walk and got hit by a truck or something? Could my body be laying lifeless in a coma in some hospital in the city? Is this what afterlife feels like? “Princess!” Selena’s urgent voice snaps me out of my reverie as I feel my legs fail me when I trip over a stone. Shutting my eyes close with the full knowledge that I am bound to hit the floor, I mumble greatly to fall and return to being Olivia Haynes. “Will you open your eyes now?” A soothing husky voice says and I open my eyes in slit. I am in love – “You have an animal scent.” It just rolls out before, I can resist myself from talking. I still do not have a bridle on my tongue in this life – “Weird enough calling yourself a princess when you are yet to become one.” He quips and leave me to fall. Ass.