Chapter 3 Wrong chamber

After being dismissed by the Empress, Emily wandered through the castle corridors, feeling as lost as ever. Every hall seemed identical, a blur of stone walls, lavish tapestries, and intricate carvings that offered no clues about where her room might be. The castle was intimidating, and she had no map, no phone, and absolutely no idea where she was going.

After what felt like hours of hopeless wandering, she finally spotted a doorway guarded by two soldiers. They stared at her with unreadable expressions, but they didn't stop her as she walked in, so she assumed she'd found her room.

Inside, the room was grand and richly furnished, with a bed that looked far more comfortable than the hard slab she'd been lying on in the infirmary. Emily threw herself onto the bed, sinking into the mattress with a contented sigh. *At least there's one good thing about this medieval nightmare,* she thought, snuggling into the soft blankets. Within seconds, she drifted off into the deepest, most peaceful sleep she'd had in ages.

The peace, however, was short-lived.

She was jolted awake as someone yanked her roughly off the bed, and she hit the floor with a loud groan. Blinking in shock, she looked up to see a furious Alexander towering over her, his eyes blazing with indignation.

"What are you doing in here?" he hissed, his tone laced with disgust. "Do you even realize whose room this is?"

Emily, still groggy and thoroughly unimpressed, rubbed her sore shoulder. "Apparently, it's the room of someone who doesn't know the concept of 'personal space.' What's your problem?"

Alexander's face turned a shade of red she hadn't thought possible. "This is *my* room!" he practically shouted. "How dare you-Lady Eleanor-tarnish it with your presence? Do you realize how improper it is for an unmarried woman to sleep in a man's chambers?"

She rolled her eyes, the frustration of the day boiling over. "First of all, I didn't know this was your room. Second, I was trying to get some sleep, which you rudely interrupted. And third..." She paused, looking around the room at the swords and armor mounted on the walls. "Well... now that I look around, I guess this *doesn't* scream 'Lady Eleanor's boudoir.'"

Alexander's jaw clenched, and he opened his mouth to deliver another scathing remark, but she cut him off, holding up a hand. "Look, would you just calm down?" she said, her tone casual in a way that seemed to shock everyone in the room. "I'll get out of here. No need to make such a big deal about it."

There was a gasp from the doorway, and Emily turned to see two young women in servant's dresses staring at her in horror, their hands covering their mouths. She vaguely recognized them from earlier; they were her personal maids, apparently. They rushed forward and dropped to their knees in front of Alexander, looking as if they might faint from fear.

"Your Highness, please forgive Lady Eleanor," one of the maids stammered, her voice trembling. "She... she's been acting strangely ever since the... the river incident."

Emily raised an eyebrow. "Strange? How am I acting strange?"

The maid glanced at her, whispering urgently, "My lady, you've been speaking in a very... peculiar manner. And the way you entered His Highness's chamber-"

"Oh, for goodness' sake," Emily muttered, rolling her eyes. "I didn't know it was his room, alright? And relax! In my time... uh, I mean, in... different lands, it's not such a big deal if a girl accidentally naps in a guy's room."

The maids exchanged a horrified glance. "My lady, perhaps it would be best if you... refrained from speaking about, um... foreign customs," one of them whispered urgently.

Alexander's glare turned colder, and he crossed his arms. "So," he said, eyeing her with suspicion, "you want me to believe you've suddenly lost your memory and have somehow... forgotten all sense of propriety?"

Emily held his gaze defiantly. "Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. You wouldn't believe what I've 'forgotten' lately."

At this, one of the maids, a girl with wide, eager eyes, tugged Emily's sleeve. "My lady, we were just telling His Highness that you've been asking for... erm, directions to your own chambers. Perhaps... perhaps you *have* lost some memories after all?"

The other maid, a bit bolder, nodded quickly. "Yes! Lady Eleanor's memory loss may explain why she..." She hesitated, casting a worried glance at Alexander, "...why she's... um, less refined than usual."

Alexander looked at the maids, then back at Emily, his eyes narrowing. "How convenient," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Memory loss that conveniently erases every rule of decency. Do you really expect me to believe this act?"

Emily raised her chin, meeting his gaze with an amused smile. "Think what you want, Alexander, but I'm not about to pretend I know all these... ancient rules of nobility just to keep you happy. And for the record, this is the worst Airbnb experience I've ever had."

The maids looked at each other in confusion. "Air...bnb?" one of them asked, stumbling over the unfamiliar words.

"Oh, never mind," Emily sighed, glancing at them. "Look, just take me to my *real* room so I don't end up in any more trouble." She glanced at Alexander with a smirk. "You've made your point, Mr. Grumpy."

One of the maids bit back a laugh, quickly disguising it as a cough. "Yes, Lady Eleanor. We'll take you at once."

As the maids led her out of the room, Emily could feel Alexander's glare searing into her back. But she didn't look back, only whispered to her maids, "I don't think I made a very good impression on him, did I?"

The eager-eyed maid giggled quietly, shaking her head. "Not quite, my lady. But... you made quite a memorable one, if that helps."

Emily grinned, feeling a glimmer of confidence. If she was going to survive in this bizarre world, she'd have to embrace her own way of doing things-even if it drove everyone else mad.