Chapter Text
Earn's feet dragged along the pavement, each step feeling heavier than the last as she trudged her way back home. The day's exhaustion clung to her like an unwelcome weight, and her body ached with a dull throb that seemed to seep deep into her bones. She had spent the last several hours on the historical drama set, being thrown, spun, and knocked to the ground more times than she could count. Being a stunt double was supposed to be thrilling, but right now, it just felt like punishment. The bruises beneath her costume went unnoticed during the shoot, but now they screamed with every movement.
She took a swig from the cold beer in her hand, feeling the fizz tickle her throat as it slid down. It wasn’t anything fancy, just a cheap can she’d grabbed from a convenience store on her way out, but the icy taste was a small comfort against the day's strain. She wasn’t even sure why she had picked it up—Earn wasn’t much of a drinker—but maybe she just needed something to remind her she was still awake, still pushing forward. Anything to drown out the exhaustion.
The night wrapped around her like a thick blanket, cool and comforting. She could hear the faint hum of the city—cars passing by in the distance, the occasional chatter of passersby—blurred through the haze of her fatigue. The city lights shimmered, casting long reflections on the wet pavement along with the full moon, making everything look like it was floating in some strange, dark dream. Earn took another long drink, almost finishing the can, and let her thoughts drift away.
Her mother’s face kept flashing in her mind—worn, with dark circles beneath her eyes, but relieved. It had been a grueling couple of years. Her illness had drained not just their savings, but also her mother’s spirit. Yet, now that the worst of it seemed over, there were other battles to fight—the relentless stack of medical bills piled on the kitchen counter, the credit card statements that left Earn staring at zeros that seemed too high to belong to her. Her part-time jobs barely made a dent, no matter how many shifts she took on. Sometimes, she wondered how long she could keep up this pace. But she had to keep trying; it wasn’t just a choice—it was a necessity.
As she wandered closer to the bridge, the cool night air seemed to shift, bringing with it the distinct sound of rushing water below. The river wasn’t anything unusual for this part of the city, but tonight, there was something about its rhythmic splashing that pulled at her attention. At first, the sound blended into the background, a quiet murmur against the city’s distant noise. But as she drew nearer, the murmur grew into a steady roar, and Earn noticed a figure standing on the ledge.
Her footsteps slowed, and her brow furrowed as she squinted through the dim light. A young woman, probably around her age, was perched precariously on the edge of the bridge, her figure silhouetted against the dark sky. The way she stood there, too close to the edge, with the wind tugging at her clothes and hair—it sent a chill running down Earn’s spine. A strange, sinking feeling settled in her stomach as she realized what she was seeing.
“Hey!” Earn called out, her voice sounding distant and hollow even to her own ears. The beer slipped from her fingers, the half-empty can clattering loudly against the concrete as she broke into a sprint toward the girl. “What are you doing? Get down from there!”
The woman's head turned slowly, her face pale under the streetlights. For a moment, their eyes locked, and Earn could see the hollow look in the woman’s gaze—one that carried a kind of calmness that felt too much like resignation. It was as if the world had already faded away for her, leaving only the water below. There was no fear, no panic—just a quiet, steady determination that unnerved Earn more than any scream would have.
Before Earn could reach her, the girl stepped off the edge. There was no hesitation, no second thought, just a swift, almost graceful movement as she disappeared from view. Earn's breath hitched, and without thinking, she lunged forward, her arms outstretched as if she could somehow catch hold of the air itself and pull the girl back. But the ledge came too soon, and her balance too unsteady. Her momentum carried her forward, tipping her over the edge.
She could barely register the sensation of falling before the icy shock of the water slammed into her. It seized her body, stealing the breath from her lungs as she plunged beneath the surface. The cold was relentless, numbing her senses, and Earn thrashed wildly, her limbs flailing as she struggled to find the surface. She kicked and twisted, but the darkness pressed in on all sides, a suffocating force that seemed intent on dragging her down.
The world above was lost to her, swallowed by the rushing current and the inky blackness that enveloped her. She fought to keep her head above water, to reach for something—anything—that could pull her out, but the cold stole her strength, and as the darkness closed in, she felt herself slipping away, swallowed whole by the river’s depths.
Then, there was nothing but silence.
---
Earn’s eyes fluttered open to a soft light filtering through paper screens, casting delicate patterns across the woven mats beneath her. The air was different here—earthy and floral, tinged with incense and herbs, as if she had somehow stumbled into another world. Her head throbbed, and a dull ache seemed to radiate from every part of her body. When she tried to sit up, a firm yet gentle hand pressed her back against the bedding.
“Please, rest,” a voice said—calm, composed, and carrying a formal tone Earn wasn't accustomed to. Her gaze focused on the speaker: a young woman in traditional attire, her dress intricately embroidered with patterns that looked like they belonged in a history book rather than real life. The colors were rich—deep reds and blues interwoven with threads of gold, glinting in the soft light. “You’re safe now. Her Royal Highness found you in the lake and ordered that you be brought here.”
The words echoed in her mind, disjointed, not quite making sense. "Royal Highness?" Earn repeated, her voice coming out in a weak croak. “Am I… still on set?” She glanced around, taking in her surroundings. The room was small but elegant, with wooden beams stretching up to a high ceiling and woven mats covering the floor. There were no glaring lights or camera equipment, no signs of the chaos of a film crew—only the gentle flicker of lanterns and the distant murmur of voices.
The nurse's brow furrowed, a hint of confusion in her dark eyes. “Set? I don’t understand, miss. This is the royal clinic, and you are under our care. You were very fortunate to have been found in time.”
Earn’s pulse quickened, a cold wave of unease settling in the pit of her stomach. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice trembling. "This has to be part of the drama, right? Where are the cameras?" Her gaze darted around the room, desperately searching for some hint of modernity, something familiar—a boom mic, a director barking orders—but there was nothing. Just the aged wooden walls and the faint scent of sandalwood hanging in the air.
The nurse's expression softened as if realizing that Earn was indeed disoriented. “You must be confused. Please, lie back down and take a moment. Your injuries may have left you a bit… muddled.” She reached out to guide Earn back to the bed.
But Earn’s anxiety spiked, and she shoved the nurse's hand away, pushing herself upright. The room spun, and for a moment, she had to steady herself against the bed frame. “No,” she insisted, her breaths coming quick and shallow. “I need to get out of here.” Panic surged as she stumbled toward the door, the nurse's voice calling after her, but the words blurred into the background. She didn’t understand what was happening, and that terrified her more than anything.
The door slid open with a creak, and the sudden brightness of the courtyard outside made her squint. As her vision adjusted, the world beyond the clinic came into focus. Earn stopped dead in her tracks, her breath catching in her throat. The courtyard was bustling with people, all dressed in traditional Thai garments—flowing robes, intricately wrapped cloths, and elaborate hairstyles that looked like something from a period drama. She saw young women carrying baskets of herbs, monks in saffron robes murmuring prayers, and soldiers in uniforms adorned with ornate details she’d only ever seen in paintings.
Her own clothes—a pair of jeans and a faded T-shirt—were like a jarring anachronism, making her stand out like a splash of modern paint on a centuries-old canvas. The curious glances from those around her, the whispers, the way they looked at her with a mix of surprise and disapproval—all of it overwhelmed her senses.
Her legs felt heavy as she stumbled forward, each step faltering as if the ground itself was shifting beneath her feet. Earn’s mind raced, trying to piece together some explanation for what she was seeing. Maybe it was a hyper-realistic set, a historical re-enactment with an exceptional budget—but even then, something about it felt too vivid, too real. She reached out, touching the wooden post of a nearby pavilion just to convince herself it wasn’t all a trick of the mind. It was solid, rough beneath her fingertips.
Before she could make another move, she noticed a tall figure closing in on her. The man wore a uniform resembling that of a royal guard, complete with an embellished sword at his side and a stern expression that brooked no argument. “Miss, you must come with me,” he said, his tone polite but carrying an unmistakable authority. “Her Royal Highness wishes to see you.”
“What?” Earn’s voice trembled. “Why does she want to see me?” Her heart pounded against her ribs, her instincts screaming for her to bolt in the other direction. But her body was already exhausted, her muscles still weak from her earlier struggle in the water. She managed only a few staggering steps before the guard’s hand wrapped around her arm, firm but not unkind.
“That is not for me to say,” the guard replied. “Please, do not resist.” He began to guide her back through the courtyard, his grip steady as he led her up a set of stone steps and through a pair of large, ornately carved wooden doors.
The hall they entered took her breath away. It was grand in a way Earn had only seen in paintings or imagined when reading old tales—massive pillars of dark wood, decorated with gold leaf, lined the space, and the ceiling was painted with scenes of epic battles and serene landscapes. The floor was covered in woven mats of rich colors, and tapestries depicting royal insignias adorned the walls. Every detail seemed meticulously crafted to evoke a sense of timelessness, an air of royalty and tradition that permeated the very air she breathed.
At the center of the room stood a young woman, her figure poised with an elegance that seemed almost otherworldly. Her dress was a masterpiece of woven silk, threaded with gold and deep reds that flowed like liquid fire around her as she moved. Her dark hair was arranged in an intricate style, adorned with delicate gold pins that caught the light. But it was her eyes that held Earn captive—sharp and dark, yet soft with curiosity, as though she were studying a strange creature that had wandered into her world.
“You were the one who I found at the lake,” the woman said, her voice soft, yet it carried an authority that suggested she was no ordinary person. “How are you feeling?”
Earn tried to speak, but the words seemed to catch in her throat. There was something about this woman—her presence, the way she carried herself—that rendered Earn speechless. Was this really a princess? The question seemed absurd, yet nothing about this place felt remotely normal. “I—I’m not sure,” she stammered, glancing down at the ornate floor beneath her feet. “This can’t be real, right? I mean… a princess?”
The young woman’s lips curved into a faint smile, as though she found Earn’s bewilderment mildly amusing. “Rest assured, you are not dreaming,” she replied, taking a step closer. “You are in my father's palace. You were brought here after you were found in the water, unconscious and half-drowned.”
The guard beside Earn shifted slightly, his gaze fixed ahead. “What shall we do with her, Your Royal Highness?” he asked, his tone respectful but firm. “Shall I escort her from the palace?”
The princess turned her attention to him, her expression calm yet unwavering. “No,” she said, her voice steady as a still lake. “She is not to be discarded. I have decided that she shall remain here, under my care… as a maid in the palace.” Her gaze returned to Earn, and there was a hint of something deeper in her eyes—compassion, perhaps, or maybe curiosity. “We shall discuss your duties later. For now, you need to rest.”
“A… maid?” The word slipped from Earn’s lips in disbelief. She stared at the princess, struggling to comprehend what she had just heard. “But… why? I don’t even know where I am, or how I got here. This must be some kind of mistake.”
The princess’s smile did not waver. “Consider it my way of helping you,” she replied. “It would seem you have no place to go, and it would be unkind to turn you out onto the streets in your current state.” She motioned toward the guard. “Please, show her to the servants’ quarters. Make sure she is given proper attire and food.”
Earn felt a mixture of relief and bewilderment as the guard guided her away, her mind spinning with unanswered questions. Where exactly was she? How had she ended up here, in this seemingly ancient world? And who was this enigmatic princess who had so casually decided to change the course of her life? As the doors closed behind her, Earn couldn’t shake the feeling that she had stepped not just into another time, but into the pages of a story that had already begun, long before she had arrived.