My head sunk down into the pillow. Smells of thyme and mint diffused through the air, relieving me from my headache that had plagued me for days. Gracefully, I moved my blankets, covering me from the perplexing breeze that had managed to crawl its way into my room. Upon moving the blanket, it felt very light as if I was the only one in it. Perhaps Damien had already left I thought, paying no heed to it as kept my eyes closed. I nuzzled my head against the blankets. The feeling of the soft blankets and the smell that radiated from it was quite exquisite. I should ask the maid what perfumes they used for it I wondered. Suddenly, I heard the door open and rubbing my eyes I called out to my husband.
"Damien, Training had finished so soon, its only…."
I stopped mid-sentence, when my eyes lay upon a maid who had just entered the room. Her uniform was not that of house ...…... rather it looked more practical and less fancy. I rubbed my eyes fervently, determining whether my eyes were playing tricks on me or if there was truly a unusual maid Infront of me. I begin to allow myself to fall into the false sense of security that she was a just a dream- a figment of my imagination-until I was rather rudely awoken from it when she spoke
"Isobel, are you feeling well? You're usually wide awake at this time"
I looked at my hands and body anxiously. Golden locks lay resting on my shoulder They were not mine. Everything in this room wasn't mine. I tried to remain calm, but the overwhelming feeling that I wasn't where I was truly meant to be overcome me and I eventually I let out a scream.
"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH"
Rolling out of bed, I burst through the bedroom door leading me into a dazzling hallway. A red carpet lay in front of me stretching down the billowing halls of the strange house. Flowers were neatly arranged in vases at regular intervals across it. I dashed as quickly as I could down the hallway, the unusual maid in my room calling after me, worried, while a few maids stopped mid tidying looking at me bewildered, as I ran towards my freedom. Who were these people and had they no idea who my husband was?
A voice calling for me echoed down the hallways
"My lady? Whatever has possessed you"
I continued running down the hallway not knowing where I was or going to, until I came to a door, slamming it open.
"Woah woah woah there. Issy are you ok. Whatever in the heavens has happened to you"
I stopped in my tracks and looked up. My eyes met a tall handsome man-one who I had never seen before. His eyes were emerald green and shimmered in the sunlight, that poured in through the double-glazed windows. And the stands of hair that lay upon his head were golden twinkling softly in the warm light. He furrowed his eyebrows at me and looked at me -almost bemused-pursing his lips before rather abruptly opening them and breaking the silence
"Hey calm down. What's made you lose your composure like this. Did you have a nightmare?"
Before he finished his sentence, I interrupted him erupting into tears.
"I'm not Issy. Who are you and where am I???"
His green eyes squinted looking at me- the mysterious man grabbed my cheek looking at me with concern
"How much did you drink last night???"
I thought back to the night before. It was the annual ball. It was a grand ball set to celebrate the 67th birthday of the emperor. Damien and I had been invited. Damien had escorted me to the palace, however being the duke and all, he was quickly swept away into the politics of the palace and had left me on my own. Or rather he had his duties to attend as I did mine. Damien was the ideal husband; he treated me like royalty, hiring workers to do my work as duchess and manage the estate while I was allowed to go out shopping at the latest boutique, or hosting tea parties with friends. The night of a ball was a long one. I remember sitting rather restless on the bench, my feet were aching swollen trapped inside madams' soirees newest pair of heels. Feeling rather bored wondering what was taking him so long I did drink a few glasses of wine. I burst out laughing, realising this situation I was in was a dream.
"HAHAHAHAHHA."
The man looked at me confused.
"You're scaring me. Are you sure your ok. You've never acted out like this before"
"I must still bed drunk or dreaming. BAHAHAHAHAHA ,no wonder I'm in such a strange place."
Just then the maid from earlier entered the room.
"My apologies young master, she leapt from her bed and went dashing out of her room without warning. I'll take her with me know, come now Isobel"
"Yes, do that" the man rather curtly responded
Tired, I took her hand and followed her begrudgingly back to my chambers. Before leaving the room, I caught a glimpse of the strange man smiling
In the hallway the maid turned to me, her eyes brimming with concern
"Issy you must've drank a lot last night you gave me a scare when you went darting out of your room"
Clutching onto her arm I responded, gazing into her weary yet dependent eyes
"Yes, I did drink a lot last night"
The maid led me cautiously to my bed, being careful that I did not trip while I was walking.
"I will have some tea prepared for you Issy as well as a bath for when you wake up. Rest well."
I lay in bed tossing and turning trying to find a comfortable position to sleep in this weird place, so that I would awake in my normal bedroom. I had never had a dream that felt so realistic! In the corner of the room I saw a golden-brown teddy, watching my pathetic attempt to sleep. I had never gone asleep by myself before. Walking over to the cabinet, I grabbed the teddy and whisked it away into my hands before walking solemnly towards the bed and dozing off into a blissful sleep, the teddy enveloped in my hands.