Chapter 2
I came back.
At that moment, I felt sick and wanted to throw up.
“Urgh…”
“Florence, my lady!”
I covered my mouth, but it didn’t help. Even after spitting out the bitter liquid, the nausea wouldn’t stop. I felt like cutting open my stomach and cleaning out all my organs.
What had touched this skin? What words came out of this mouth?
I wished I couldn’t remember, but the memories were too clear.
Dirty. Disgusting.
“Oh dear, Florence! It’s okay, just let it out!”
“Urgh… blegh…”
“Julia, go call the doctor! And tell the master too!”
I heard someone running away. As I kept throwing up, a maid gently rubbed my back.
Her name was Helen. I didn’t know her, but she had served and cared for ‘Jang Hyunji’ for the past five years.
When I looked up, I saw her kind greenish-brown eyes looking at me with worry. She looked at me like an older sister would look at a sick little sister. Even while I was gasping from vomiting, I almost laughed.
Helen’s care for ‘me’ was funny.
I wasn’t ‘Jang Hyunji.’ And the woman Helen cared so much about only liked Helen because she was easy to use—not because she saw her as a real person.
But Helen didn’t know that.
“Phew…”
“Oh, Florence… how sad…”
Helen grabbed my dirty hand without hesitation. She looked like she might cry.
“I’m so glad you woke up. I believed you would!”
“…My hand is dirty.”
“It’s not dirty. Oh, there’s warmth in your fingers.”
It scared me how honest she sounded. Helen’s face had no lies. I think I understood why Jang Hyunji kept her close. Someone that blindly loyal must have been easy to use—just like I used to be.
People like Helen give their hearts easily for a little kindness, some fake sympathy, or a few tears.
Jang Hyunji was a person who only cared about convenience. To her, this world was full of gifts made just for her. She picked only what she liked.
And somehow, everyone still loved her.
“…How long was I asleep?”
I hoped my voice didn’t sound strange.
“It’s already been ten days. You didn’t open your eyes once and kept getting weaker. Oh God… Everyone thought you wouldn’t wake up again, but we believed you would. We knew you’d get up like this…”
Too bad. The one who woke up wasn’t Jang Hyunji—it was me.
“The master was especially worried. He stayed by your side, praying every day, barely eating or sleeping…”
Of course he did. I didn’t say anything. I didn’t want to sound sarcastic, even if Helen probably wouldn’t notice.
“That… man, where is he now?”
“He had to leave this morning because Lady Lindquist called for him. But until the very last moment, he stayed by your side. Please believe me.”
“I believe it… of course…”
That man truly loved Jang Hyunji. I didn’t doubt it.
I remembered the strange heat in his dark eyes when he looked at ‘me.’
If that was love… I’d rather never know love.
What did he think while holding this body that Jang Hyunji had left behind?
Suddenly, I wanted to laugh out loud.
“We called Julia, so even if it takes a while, she’ll be here by tomorrow morning. You should see the doctor before the master returns, and—oh dear, I almost forgot! I’ll contact the church to bring the priest. You need a blessing…”
“What time is it?”
“It’s just past 1:30 PM. Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of you until the master comes. Are you okay? Still feeling sick?”
“I’m fine, Helen.”
“You should eat something. I’ll ask the cook to make something soft and healthy. Even if it’s hard, you need to eat, okay?”
“Helen.”
I had to stop her endless talking. She looked surprised and stared at me with wide eyes. I rubbed my aching forehead and said,
“We already called the doctor, so fine. But don’t call the priest. I don’t need him.”
“But…”
“I said I’m fine.”
Helen’s lips moved like she wanted to say something. Ah, this isn’t how Jang Hyunji would’ve spoken. She was cheerful and playful. But I couldn’t pretend to be her now. My head hurt too much.
“And I feel dizzy.”
“Florence…”
“Please change the sheets and help me wash. After that, I want to be alone.”
I looked up at her after speaking. She hesitated, then nodded. When I held out my hand, she helped me up. It was awful to keep sitting on the vomit-covered bed. Damn it, my legs had no strength.
I leaned on Helen and barely made it to the chair.
‘I have to run away right now.’
But with this weak body, I couldn’t even walk out of the room. How badly had she used this body? What the hell did she do to me?
It wasn’t enough that Jang Hyunji stole my body for five years—I now had to deal with all the damage too. I was so angry, I could scream. She treated my body like it was hers and still pushed it so hard.
The ‘me’ in my memory wasn’t that weak. I lived well, even pampered.
Yet that woman had probably never lifted anything heavier than a pen.
Still, my body hurt like this because I couldn’t use the same power she did.
Magic and spirit power.
I held my aching head and bent over. Even though my stomach was empty, I still felt like throwing up. The room spun. I thought I might faint, but I couldn’t. I was afraid someone else would take over my body again if I lost consciousness.
“Florence, I changed the sheets. Come lie down.”
“…Thank you…”
I answered weakly. Speaking was hard, but I had to say something. Helen almost carried me to bed.
It was hard to believe I felt so dizzy and weak after just a few steps and vomiting on an empty stomach.
I wasn’t super healthy five years ago, but not this bad.
“It’s nothing, Florence. Rest well.”
Helen smiled with a warm blush on her cheeks.
A happy, joyful smile. Her smiling face blurred in my dizzy eyes.
No one ever smiled at me like that before.
“I’m so happy you’re awake, Florence. Really… thank goodness.”
I didn’t say anything.
Helen’s “Florence” wasn’t me.
I didn’t know how to answer such sincere concern.
Helen gently stroked my forehead, pulled up the blanket, and finally left.
Left alone, I shut my eyes tightly.
The blanket she pulled over me was too heavy—I couldn’t even push it down.
I had to think. Just getting my body back after five years wasn’t something I could celebrate.
I had to get out of here. Now.
‘I still have time until tomorrow morning.’
Until that demon comes back.
