Katherine froze, staring at the toy that had fallen to the floor. A coldness spread through her hands, and an inexplicable anxiety gripped her chest.
"Lady Katherine?" Menalipo's voice carried a hint of concern as he stepped toward her. "Are you okay?"
Snapping out of her daze, Katherine quickly bent down to pick up the toy. She tried to mask her unease, but she knew it wasn't that easy to conceal. The small wooden figure felt heavier than it should in her trembling fingers.
"Ah, sorry! My hands are slippery," she said, forcing a laugh. "Florante, you said?"
"Yes," Menalipo confirmed, his expression curious. "Do you know him?"
Katherine placed a hand over her chest, gripping the necklace around her neck—the only thing that tethered her to her old world.
Florante... Albania... too many connections to something that should only be fiction.
"Ah, not really... I was just surprised because his name sounds familiar," she answered, trying to steady herself.
"Really? Maybe you've heard it from the people here," Menalipo mused, his suspicion fading. "My cousin is really talented. Not only is he skilled in the arts and warfare, but he's also a good person. I'm sure you'll like him one day."
Katherine mustered a small smile, but inside, the unease lingered. The story of Florante and Laura was just fiction in her world. But here… it was real.
She figured it out. She was in the world of Florante and Laura, the novel that high school students were required to study in their second year.
Goodness gracious, that was almost two decades ago. I don't even think I remember all the details.
"I see," she said.
But yeah, sure, I'm probably just a minor character. I don't remember a Katherine in the story, anyway.
She glanced at Menalipo. Maybe he's the cousin who saved Florante when he was younger. Now his physique makes sense—he practices archery.
"He sounds like a worthy person," she added.
Before Menalipo could respond, the door to the shop suddenly swung open. A man in battle armor stepped inside, holding a letter with an urgent expression.
"Menalipo," he called, ignoring Katherine entirely. "The Excellency wants to see you. A message has arrived from the palace."
Menalipo's expression darkened. "From the palace? What does it say?"
"I don't know. But you must return immediately."
Katherine and Menalipo exchanged glances. She could sense that whatever was happening, it was important.
In this world, it seemed she wasn't here by accident—there was a reason for her presence.
"Lady Katherine, I'm sorry, but I must leave," Menalipo said gravely. "Shall I escort you back to your aunt?"
Katherine shook her head, forcing a reassuring smile. "No, I can manage on my own. Your duty is more important."
Menalipo nodded. "Thank you for understanding. Don't worry, we'll meet again."
As Menalipo hurried out, disappearing from sight, silence settled over the shop once more.
Katherine exhaled, trying to shake off the strange feeling clinging to her. When she turned slightly, she realized that Zamir was back behind the counter.
She hadn't even noticed him move.
His presence was quiet, almost ghostlike, but now that she saw him again, she took in the details she had overlooked before. His long, dark hair fell just past his shoulders, slightly tousled, as if he rarely bothered to tie it back. His sharp features, half-hidden by his hair, made him look like some brooding novel character who only spoke in cryptic riddles.
"Katherine," he said, voice deadpan. "You're bad at lying."
She stiffened. "W-What?"
Zamir tilted his head, his expression unreadable. "You're not from here, are you?"
Her breath caught. "I—I don't know what you're talking about—"
His gaze dropped to the toy in her hand, unimpressed. "Right. And you just reacted to a common name like it slapped you in the face."
She tightened her grip on the toy. "I was just—surprised."
Zamir hummed, clearly unconvinced. "Uh-huh. And you're clutching that necklace like it owes you money."
Katherine forced herself to relax. "It's just a habit."
"Sure," he said, voice dry. "Like how people habitually freeze, drop things, and stare into the void when they hear a name they definitely don't recognize."
Katherine opened her mouth, but no words came.
Zamir sighed, leaning an elbow on the counter. "Look, I don't know what your deal is, but secrets don't stay secret for long. Not in a place like this."
She swallowed hard. Why is this Encantadia or something?
"And," he added, gesturing toward the toy, "if that broke, you'd have to pay for it."
Katherine blinked. "Wait, that's what you're worried about?"
Zamir shrugged. "I work here."
For a moment, she could only stare.
A chill ran down her spine, but it wasn't just from his words—it was from the creeping realization that he might not be wrong.