It was already evening by the time Lusserina finished her story. The sky had begun to lose its light.
"Milady, please wait a moment. I'll prepare some warm water for your bath."
Without waiting for my response, Lusserina disappeared from the dining table. As I waited and gazed toward the lake, she soon called out to say the bathroom was ready. She then guided me to the second floor.
I was surprised—the bathroom was modern. The 3x2 meter space was filled with modern equipment—sink, shower, and bathtub—all powered by magic stones.
"Is something the matter?"
"Let me take care of your used clothes."
(Is she going to stand there while I undress? Even though we're both women, I still feel embarrassed.)
"T-turn around!"
Obeying my command, Lusserina turned her back. After I took off my clothes and handed them to her, she left the bathroom.
I didn't go straight to washing in the shower or entering the bathtub. I just stood in front of the mirror above the sink. For the first time, I could see my new body. A beautiful young woman with silver hair and blue eyes stared back at me. A small beauty mark sat under her right eye. For several minutes, I examined and admired the beauty of this new body.
Once I was satisfied, I began showering. But while I was washing, the bathroom door opened again. Lusserina entered wearing a white towel.
"Ahh?! W-what are you doing?!"
"Allow me to help you, Milady. You must be tired."
"W-what do you mean? I-I'm an adult—I can do it myself!"
"You must be exhausted, right? So let me help you wash."
Without waiting for a reply, Lusserina pulled me under the shower. Warm water fell from the faucet and soaked my entire body. From behind, a hand and a soft cloth touched my skin. The sudden touch made my whole body shiver. My heart raced and I trembled every time her hands moved across my body. My face flushed with embarrassment as she washed me.
Once she finished washing my body, she also helped wash my hair. I was surprised that this fantasy world had soap and shampoo.
"It's done, Milady. Now you can get into the bathtub. In the meantime, I'll prepare your sleepwear."
Without waiting for a response, Lusserina left the room. Turning toward the bathtub, I saw many flower petals floating on the surface—red, white, and purple. Without hesitation, I slipped into the tub.
"Ah... this is what I've been waiting for ever since I arrived in this world..."
…
After I'd soaked enough, I got out and dried myself with a towel. After leaving the bathroom, Lusserina led me to the main bedroom.
When Lusserina opened the door, I saw a large orange and light-blue bed for two on the left side, with two small cabinets beside it, each with a lamp on top. At the end of the room, near the door, was a large window with a chair nearby. On the right side, another large window led to a balcony. There was also a vanity near the entrance on the right.
On the bed was a sheer, bright white nightgown Lusserina had prepared. After I put it on, she brought out a device that turned out to be a hairdryer—also powered by a magic stone, like the other tools.
After helping me dry and style my hair, Lusserina went to the kitchen to prepare dinner. I wanted to help, but she wouldn't allow it. She insisted on serving me. So, all I could do was wait until she finished cooking.
About an hour later, the dishes were ready. There was so much food that I doubted I could finish it all—but I was wrong. Perhaps because my body needed a lot of energy, I ended up eating a lot.
After dinner, Lusserina still refused to let me help wash the dishes. So, I sat on the terrace sipping warm tea while admiring the beautiful view of the lake at night.
So many thoughts crossed my mind—why was I in this world? In the body of my avatar... what happened to my old body... was this reincarnation or something else... and these new memories... and what Lusserina said about Rima and the children... and what I should do next...
No matter how hard I thought, I couldn't find the answers. If this were my second chance at life, the only thing I could do now would be to enjoy it.
Feeling it was enough, I went to my room to end the day.
[A few hours earlier in the kingdom]
knock knock
"Come in!"
After being invited in, a man entered the room. He was the knight who had visited Luna's cabin. Before him stood a large draconian, writing a report at his desk.
"What is it?"
"I have something to report, Commander."
"..."
"Are you serious?!"
"Yes, I'm serious, Commander."
(Just earlier, the guild leader came to discuss a female adventurer named Luna who looked a lot like Lady Rimaria. Now this guy brings the same report. If that's true, then...)
"Then come with me. We're going to see the King."
"Yes, sir!"
[A few hours earlier at an academy]
A slim, silver-haired elven woman walked through a hallway. As she neared her destination, a teenage girl came running out of the room in tears. When she entered, at the far end of the room stood a bespectacled man, who looked like a scientist, holding a shimmering silver-white potion vial.
"Darling, did you break another girl's heart?" asked the elf woman.
"I just scolded her about her homework."
"What's that you're holding? (It looks familiar...)"
"This is a potion she submitted after seeking help from the adventurers' guild. I've never seen anything like it. Look! If this were to enter circulation, it would destroy the market for potions. I want to invite her here."
"Leave it to me tomorrow. For now, let's go home."
[The Next Morning]
The chirping of birds was my alarm to wake up in the morning. Stretching my body, I stepped out of bed and opened the window. I felt the cool morning air greet my skin as I closed my eyes. After that, I headed downstairs. Lusserina was already in the kitchen cooking, wearing her maid uniform.
"Good morning, Lusserina!"
"Good morning to you, too, Milady! How did you sleep?"
"I slept so well."
"I'm glad to hear that. I've prepared breakfast for you."
"Thank you, Lusserina."
"You're welcome, Milady."
I went out to sit on the back terrace. The scenery was truly breathtaking. Whether it was morning or night, the view never got old. Building a house here was the right decision.
For a while, I enjoyed some warm milk and a sandwich. After breakfast, Lusserina had already prepared warm bathwater for me.
…
Just like yesterday, Lusserina had already laid out clothes for me in the room after I bathed. Since Rima and I had the same body type, I wore one of Rima's outfits. On top, I wore a white blouse with a black corset that left the upper chest area open, accessorized with moon-shaped earrings and a necklace. On the bottom, I wore black leather pants and matching black heeled boots. Lusserina helped me dress and style my hair.
Once ready, I went downstairs to check the front area of the house. The display cases and shelves were all empty. While looking around, a memory surfaced of when this shop was once crowded.
Back in the game, this place, Moonshine, was always packed despite being in a remote location. Initially, only my friends came to buy, but eventually, more players joined in, and the shop was even featured in online gaming guides.
It all started because I never threw anything away. I also collected quest items—every day, from rare to hard to find—that were hard to find in NPC shops. Since I didn't want to discard them, I sold them here. Unexpectedly, players looking for quest items bought them. That's why the store became known as an all-purpose or "fantasy" shop for selling rare and unusual items.
While I was lost in nostalgia, the front door burst open suddenly.
BANG!
A silver-haired elven woman, just like me, appeared in a dark purple dress, panting as if she had been chased. She stared at me for a few moments before collapsing to the floor in tears.
WAAAAAH~sobsob
"Miss, are you okay?"
She didn't answer—just cried. Shocked by the sudden turn of events, I instinctively approached her. As I got close, she suddenly hugged me tightly and continued sobbing.
(She must be going through something... I'll just let her cry it out.)
When her sobs finally began to subside, she said something that truly shocked me.
"I knew you were still alive, Mom, and that you'd come back. I missed you so much!"
(Mom?!)
Looking at her again, she had the same hair and eye color as I. Could she be…?!