Crimson Rebirth ( GL)

"I, uh…" I cleared my throat, trying to keep my voice steady. "I want to learn how to read."

The servant looked at me, her eyebrows raised ever so slightly. There was something odd in her expression, like she was trying to process what I had just said but couldn't quite figure it out.

I suppose it did sound strange a noble asking a servant to teach them how to read. In this world, servants probably didn't get much of an education, if any at all. 

"Pardon, my lady?" she asked cautiously, her voice as soft as ever, though there was a hint of confusion in it. 

"I want to learn how to read," I repeated, this time a bit slower. The words tasted awkward in my mouth, but I was committed. 

The servant blinked, then gave me an apologetic look. "I'm afraid I can't help with that, my lady. I don't know how to read myself."

Of course. Why didn't I think of that? I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck in embarrassment. I should have realized that not everyone in this world would have the privilege of education, especially not a servant.

This wasn't the modern world where everyone went to school, and literacy was a given.

Here, knowledge was reserved for the higher classes. And even though I was apparently part of a noble family, I was just as clueless as she was.

"Right," I muttered under my breath, my frustration simmering. "Thanks anyway."

The servant gave a small, hesitant bow before retreating to her task, leaving me standing in the middle of the library with a growing sense of uselessness.

This body was already weaker than I was used to, and now I had to deal with the fact that I couldn't read.

How was I supposed to figure things out if I couldn't even understand the basics of this world?

I sighed again, this time louder, letting the weight of everything sink in. My eyes drifted across the room, taking in the towering shelves of books, the sunlight filtering softly through the tall windows, casting warm patches of light on the polished wood floor.

Everything about the library was so calm, so quiet. A far cry from the constant noise and demands of my old life. In a weird way, it was almost... peaceful.

A nap didn't seem like such a bad idea.

I wandered toward the back of the library, where the shelves were denser, and the shadows were deeper.

The room felt like it was holding its breath back here, the air thick with the smell of old paper and leather-bound books. It was the perfect place to hide for a while.

Away from the prying eyes of servants, away from the ridiculous expectations of this new world, away from the sheer confusion that had been swirling in my head since I woke up here.

There was a plush armchair tucked in the corner, looking incredibly inviting. I sank into it with a grateful sigh, the softness enveloping me like a cocoon. It had been such a long, exhausting day physically and mentally.

My body felt heavier than usual, the strange new weight settling in my limbs in a way that made everything seem harder than it should be. 

For a moment, I just sat there, staring blankly at the shelves across from me. My eyelids felt heavier with each passing second, the warmth of the chair lulling me into a sleepy haze.

The world outside the library seemed to fade away, leaving only the soft sounds of pages turning somewhere in the distance and the faint rustling of the wind outside.

I'll just close my eyes for a bit, I told myself. Just a quick rest.

The quiet wrapped around me like a blanket, and before I knew it, I was drifting off into a deep, dreamless sleep.

---

I wasn't sure how much time had passed when I woke up. The soft light that had filled the library earlier had dimmed, the shadows stretching longer across the floor. I blinked groggily, rubbing my eyes and trying to shake off the lingering drowsiness.

But something was off. The room didn't feel as peaceful as it had before. There was an energy in the air, thick and tense. And then I saw her.

My mother stood at the edge of the library, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, her face a mask of thinly veiled anger.

Her dark hair was perfectly arranged, as always, framing her sharp features in a way that made her look even more intimidating than usual.

Her lips were pressed into a thin line, and her eyes those cold, calculating eyes were fixed on me with an intensity that made my stomach flip.

"So you were here all this time."

Her voice was sharp, cutting through the stillness of the room like a knife. It wasn't loud, but it didn't need to be. The cold edge in her tone was enough to send a chill down my spine.

I blinked, still trying to fully wake up, my mind scrambling to make sense of the situation. How long had I been asleep? And more importantly, how had she found me here?

"I was just... taking a break," I muttered, sitting up in the chair and rubbing the sleep from my eyes. "It's been a long day."

My mother didn't move from where she stood, but her gaze didn't soften either. If anything, she looked even more irritated.

"A long day?" she repeated, her voice dripping with disbelief. "You've been missing for hours, and you're telling me you've been sitting here, doing nothing, all this time?"

"I wasn't doing nothing," I protested, but even as I said it, I knew it sounded weak. I was technically hiding. "I was… reading." That wasn't exactly true either, but I figured it might soften the blow.

Her eyebrows shot up, a flicker of surprise crossing her face before she masked it again. "Reading?" she echoed. "You?"

I swallowed, suddenly feeling very small under her gaze. "Well, trying to."

For a moment, she didn't say anything, just stared at me with that same cold, calculating look.

Then, without another word, she turned sharply on her heel and walked toward the door, her movements quick and purposeful.

"Come," she said over her shoulder, her tone leaving no room for argument. "We need to talk."

I scrambled to my feet, my heart racing in my chest. Whatever was coming next, it didn't sound like it would be good.