P1
The room was decorated with light brown wallpaper, patterned with a darker shade. Two long red curtains hung on either side of a massive window that stood behind a golden throne, cushioned in deep red velvet.
A long red carpet stretched from the throne to the far end of the room, bordered by two thin golden stripes. I sat on the throne, looking rather struggling as my arms were being pulled in opposite directions.
"Hey, she's mine, brother, a woman shouted with determination, yanking my left arm.
"No, she's mine!", a man retorted, equally stubborn, pulling on my right.
I sighed. How did I end up in this mess?
It all started when I was in Tokyo. My name is Stella Hoshi.
I was walking along the gray concrete sidewalk with my thirteen year old sister, Star Hoshi. My name was Stella Hoshi and I was 18 years old at that time.
P2
The sky was heavy with dark clouds, thick with rain. I held a yellow umbrella in one hand and my phone in the other, completely absorbed in a Korean manhwa called, The Lost Saint Has Been Found.
Just as the story almost reached the end, a notification popped up, interrupting me. Ugh, again?
Another news alert about the serial killer. Jeez, just let me read in peace. I'm almost at the end!
I kept reading, too focused to notice I was already crossing the street. Then I felt my sister hands one me and calling my name with a panicked tone behind me.
I looked up. People were staring at me with wide, horrified eyes.
I turned my head and that's when I saw it. A truck right in front of my face.
Wait…. Is this what my sister, an anime weeb called, Truck-Kun!? I suddenly went blank and I wondered if my sister was ok?
Did she also get hit by the truck too? I couldn't see anything, all I saw was blackness, and emptiness.
Then, faintly, I heard a man's worried voice, "High priest, is my daughter ok?"
Another voice replied calmly, "Yes but we might need to do some tests just in case my lord."
The first man let out a breath of relief, "Very well, High Priest, Gabrial."
P3
When I slowly opened my eyes, I saw two men standing in front of me. One had dark red hair, piercing red eyes, and wore a deep blue, duke-like outfit just like a noble character in the manhwa I was reading.
The other had gray hair, kind brown eyes, and wore a white coat with golden yellow stripes, with a unique white pattern on it dressed exactly like a high priest from those stories. Am I in a hospital bed?
I blinked, trying to get my bearings. But no this wasn't a hospital.
This was someone's home. And not just any home it looked like something out of a fantasy drama.
The room was lavishly decorated in white and red, elegant and expensive. Then I noticed something strange.
My hands... they were a little smaller than I remembered. And was my hair a different color?
That's when I remembered the two men still standing in front of me. I looked at them warily.
"Where am I?" I asked, my voice skeptical. A part of me wondered if they'd kidnapped me.
The man in the priest-like robe exchanged a glance with the other man replying in a hesitant voice, "It seems she's lost her memories again."
What? Lost my memories?
No, I remember everything. I remember walking with my sister.
I remember reading my manhwa. I remember the truck.
That's why I thought I'd woken up in a hospital. The two men quietly stepped out of the room.
P4
I heard muffled voices through the door, but I couldn't make out what they were saying. A moment later, they returned.
"If you need anything, Isabella, just ring the bells next to your bed," said the man in the dark blue duke-like outfit.
*-*His voice was serious and mature, and the way he looked at me made it seem like he didn't really want to be here. Then, without another word, he turned and left the room, leaving me alone with the man who looked like a high priest straight out of a manhwa.
Isabella? I blinked. Did he just call me Isabella?
Who's Isabella? I was pretty sure that wasn't my name.
The priest-like man stepped closer and held out a strange, glowing object. It was a smooth orb, swirling faintly with light.
"Isabella, this is a magical ball," he explained gently. "If you lie, it will glow red. If you tell the truth, it will turn green."
This reminds me of that lie detector ad I saw on my phone… or maybe one of those fortune-teller balls from a street stall, I thought, eyeing the orb suspiciously. He asked me several questions.
I answered honestly, unsure of what he was even trying to confirm. After a few minutes, he left the room.
I waited for a while and I lay back on the soft, oversized bed. It was ridiculously comfortable.
But then I realized I was hungry. I glanced at the little bell beside the bed, remembering what the duke-like man said.
I reached over and gave it a light ring. A few minutes passed before the door opened and a maid stepped in.
P5
The maid stepped into the room. She had short brown hair tied into a small ponytail, bright green eyes, and a face sprinkled with cute freckles.
She wore a classic maid outfit, crisp and neat.
With a calm, almost hypnotically tone, she said, "Good afternoon, my lady. What do you need?"
I could tell right away this wasn't her first day on the job. Her movements were smooth and practiced.
"I was wondering if I could get some snacks," I said with a friendly smile.
"Of course, my lady. Please follow me," she replied, bowing slightly before turning toward the door.
I followed her out of the elegant bedroom, and we walked down a wide hallway lined with a red carpet that reminded me of the kind used at celebrity events. The walls were decorated with paintings, mostly vivid red flowers, detailed and elegant.
As we continued, we descended a grand staircase. On the way down, I noticed more paintings, this time of glowing red minerals that sparkled in the light like rubies.
I couldn't help but be amazed by the sheer size of this place. Is this a mansion?
It felt larger than any home I'd ever seen, like a mansion or maybe it's a little bit bigger than a mansion. At the bottom of the stairs, we turned right and entered a room. It was the dining room.
P6
The space was stunning. The long dining table was covered with a dark red cloth that ran elegantly from one end to the other, creating a regal atmosphere.
Everything looked polished and expensive, like it belonged in a fantasy novel or a dream. When I looked up, I saw a line of maids standing neatly in formation.
There were six of them in total, including the one who had led me here. Each of them wore the same classic uniform, their posture perfect, hands folded in front of them.
The maid pulled me from my thoughts, "Please sit down and wait for the snacks. I'll ask the others to bring them to you," she said in a calm, mature tone before turning and walking away.
A few minutes later, another maid entered the room. Her brown hair rested neatly at shoulder length, and she had soft brown eyes with no freckles like the first maid.
She approached hesitantly and spoke in a slightly nervous voice, "W-what kind of snacks would you like, my lady?"
I smiled, trying to sound warm and friendly, "Any snacks are fine."
She seemed to relax a little at my response, "Okay, my lady," she said, her tone lighter now.
Still, I couldn't ignore the way she had looked at me when she walked in like she was scared. Was she afraid of me?
I wondered. Without another word, she slipped out of the room through a side door.
P7
That must lead to the kitchen, I thought to myself as I waited quietly.Then the door opened and another maid came in with a somewhat different uniform.
Her brown hair was twisted into a high bun, though a stubborn strand stuck up at the top. She wore red glasses, and there was a mole on the left side of her chin.
Her expression was furious. She stormed toward me, each step landing hard against the floor.
With a loud smack, she slapped her hand onto the dining table.
"What are you doing!?" she barked, her voice sharp with anger.
Startled, I blinked at her. "I... I was just waiting for some snacks," I said, confused by her aggression.
She scoffed, eyes narrowing, "What do you mean? I told you you're supposed to be on a diet! Jeez, you're so fat!"
I stared at her in disbelief, "What are you talking about? I don't even know you."
Her eyes shifted behind me. I followed her gaze and noticed a few other maids standing nearby, watching the scene unfold.
The angry woman's face changed slightly, her smile twisted into something that felt smug, almost satisfied. I was slightly confused as to why she was looking behind me.
Then she added in a mocking voice, loud enough for the others to hear, "Are you trying to get your father's attention again?"
P8
I frowned, even more confused. What was she talking about?
Why was she acting like she knew me? I was still slightly confused until I realized exactly what she was doing.
She wasn't just yelling at me, she wanted the other maids to hear. Every word was for show.
Trying to match her tone with feigned confusion, I asked, "Trying to get my father's attention again?"
Father? First of all I didn't have a dad, I didn't even have parents, my only family was my little sister.
But now I could see it clearly this woman was trying to provoke me, bait me into reacting so she could twist the story even more.
I looked at her calmly and said, "I'm sorry… but I don't know who you are."
Her eyes narrowed. She gave me a sneer that dripped with mockery.
"Ha! And now you're doing the fake memory act again, huh?"
I heard the soft murmurs of the maids behind me. Whispers filled with doubt and curiosity.
This woman wanted to paint me as a liar, maybe even unstable. But I wouldn't give her that satisfaction.
I took a deep breath. "I'm telling the truth. I actually lost my memories. I don't know what you're talking about."
That only made her angrier. The tension in the room thickened.
She stomped forward, fists clenched, her face twisted in rage. I could tell what was coming even before she raised her hand.
P9
She lifted her arm and aimed a slap straight at my right cheek. But just before her hand could reach me.
A voice cut through the air like a blade. Someone had stepped into the room.
It was a man dressed in an elegant dark blue uniform nearly identical to the duke-like outfit I'd seen on the man from when I first woke up.
The man who entered had dark red hair and piercing red eyes—just like the one I saw when I first woke up. In one swift motion, he grabbed the maid's wrist before her slap could land.
The woman froze mid-swing, her expression flashing from anger to shock.
"Oh! H-hi, Young Master," she stammered, suddenly all smiles and nervous energy. "What brings you here?"
He didn't even blink. His voice was cold, sharp, "What are you doing with my sister?"
I blinked. Sister? That can't be right. I don't have a brother. I only have my little sister… Star Hoshi. The confusion swirled in my head, but I stayed quiet.
The man didn't break eye contact with her. "Like I said, Head Maid Lea what are you doing with my sister?"
Head Maid Lea…? Why does it sound so familiar?
And that title… it's just like in the manhwa I was reading. What is going on?
The woman, Lea, laughed nervously, her tone completely different from before. "Oh, I was just… um… disciplining the lady. She's supposed to be on a strict diet, and I caught her sneaking snacks."
P10
"Well it doesn't look like you're hitting her for that.", he said with a serious tone gazing his eyes to hers
Lea's smile faltered, her voice shrinking. "N-no, of course not, Young Master. I would never…"
He let go of her wrist with visible disgust, then turned to me.
His expression softened only slightly but his tone was still serious, "If she ever lays a hand on you again, tell me immediately."
I stared at him, still stunned. But the weight of his words lingered.
He was protecting me. Even if I didn't know who he really was.
"I know Ellie likes you," he said sharply, "but you can't hurt a family member like this, Lisa. Head Maid, follow me. And you, Isabella stay in your room for the time being", his tone was serious, laced with frustration. I could tell he was holding back even more anger.
Ellie? That name echoed in my mind.
Why does it sound so familiar? They both left the dining room without another word.
A moment later, the same maid from before entered the room.
"Please follow me, my lady," she said in that same calm, serious tone.
I followed her silently through the grand staircase and hallway, back to the bedroom I had woken up in. Once we stepped inside, she gave a slight bow and quietly closed the door behind her.
I walked straight to the enormous bed and collapsed onto it with a sigh. Today was a complete mess… I just wanted some snacks, I thought, feeling drained.
P11
Then my hand brushed against my hair and I froze. Wait… my hair color. It's still different.
The same maid entered the room again, pulling me out of my thoughts. This time, she pushed in a cart overflowing with snacks.
As she arranged the snacks, I asked, "What's your name?"
She gave a polite bow and replied, "My name is Sara, my lady."
Sara… that name sounds familiar too. But why?
Why does everyone's name sound like I've heard it before? I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd seen these names somewhere.
Maybe somehow in manhwa? Sara left quietly, leaving the cart behind.
I sat down and took a bite of one of the snacks, and instantly my eyes widened. This is the most crunchious, delicious, snack I've ever tasted!
After finishing a few more treats, I stood up and decided to explore the bedroom. The space was lavish red and white wallpaper, polished furniture, gold accents on the edges of the dresser and the mirror.
Everything sparkled like it belonged in a palace. I wandered over to the large standing mirror across the room.
What I saw made me freeze. My hair was no longer blonde; it was a deep, rich red.
And my once blue eyes had turned a vivid crimson. Dark red hair… red eyes… and the name Isabella…
Then it hit me. A girl with red eyes and red hair named Isabella just like the villainess in the manhwa I was reading.
P12
Reading that manhwa was the last thing I was doing before I got hit by a truck, I thought to myself. Am I going crazy?
Did I actually get isekai'd into the very manhwa I was reading in the middle of the street, no less? And why… Why did it have to be Isabella Ju?
Isabella Ju, the infamous villainess in The Lost Saint Has Been Found. She was supposed to marry the Crown Prince, Peter Pak, but then the heroine, Sophia Cho, appeared and made the crown prince fall in love with her instead.
Of course, Isabella constantly schemed to get rid of Sophia because she was jealous of Sophia getting all her lover's intentions. And of course the villainess has to die by her own fiance's hands.
Ugh, what do I do now? Okay, maybe first avoid the main leads at all costs.
Second break off the engagement with the crown prince. Ugh, I don't know.
I rolled onto my side, sighing deeply. My head was spinning from all this.
I just wanted snacks, not a full blown villainess arc. I need rest, I thought, closing my eyes. I'll deal with everything tomorrow.