I fell in love in another world

“Ugh.” The tightening pull and the suffocating strength of the corset made Luna wheeze as she hovered over the dresser.

The maids were not sparing her a second to breathe as they tightened and tugged a knot over and over again. Luna thought her ribs were going crack as they pulled one last time.

She had no idea a corset would be so detrimental. Once she entrusted herself to May she agreed to Duke Gerald’s wishes. The first thing he wanted her to do was to be put in a corset. She thought it was absurd. She knew she wasn't skinny but to have the Duke infer that she needed to be thinner was absolute hypocrisy.

She groaned heavily not being able to catch her breath. When she glanced up, she could see how worn out she looked. Her whole face was sweating and she had a little drool on her lips. After wiping away her shame, she examined her body. Her old clothes had been burned. This made Luna incredibly sad because she loved her boots, and her white top with long sleeves was the only cute shirt she had that didn't make her breasts look big.

Now she was in a silk champagne pink corset with white ruffles on the top and bottom. The maids also made her wear a stiff fabric that went around her waist that they called a Crinoline. Which was giving Luna a hard time to pronounce so she just called it a hoop skirt like they did in the old Victorian movies she used to watch with her grandmother.

As Luna touched her new outfit, the memory of what her grandmother used to say popped into her mind. “Luna I wish I was born in that era.” she used to say.

Grandmother you definitely wouldn’t want to wear these, they could kill a woman.

She turned to her side and almost went pale when she saw how huge her chest looked. She didn't want any more reason for men to stare at her in this place. It seemed her wishes would not be granted.

“You look beautiful dear,” May said smiling with a little empathy.

Luna stood up straight, putting her hand on her hips. “I sure don’t feel pretty.”

The maid's eyes continued to stay down, obeying the Duke’s orders as if they had no free will of their own. Their silence made Luna nervous, so she changed the subject.

“How did the-Duke Gerald obtain such clothes, I was sure he only had things in…black.”

May pushed her gray hair back. “He bought them from his secret merchant. That Merchant of his always has something and anything the Duke wants.” Her grey eyes rested on the long skirt that the maids held. “No one knows what the merchant looks like…”

Luna was about to ask many more questions but got interrupted by the maids shoving the skirt over her head to the hoop. “Wah!” she yelped.

The skirt wasn’t anything too unique, it was the same color as the top and the same texture. The only thing that wasn’t the same was its weight. Luna looked around at May in distress as she couldn’t believe she’d have to walk around in such a mess. They don’t actually think I can survive in this…do they?

The sound of May clapping made the maids leave in a hurry, none of them jumped in surprise like Luna. As soon as they were gone May walked to her.

“You don’t look well, how about you sit down? I know this is a lot to take in.” She lightly touched Luna's arm and guided her to the bed, where Luna sat.

“This is a lot to take in. Where I’m from a lot to take in would be suddenly moving away from your home or something along those lines, This is absolute craziness.” Luna started to scratch at the corset, trying to untighten it, but the more she tugged it the tighter it seemed to get. Her breathing soon turned ragged and fast. “How am I—supposed to play the role of a fiancee—when I can barely—”

May cupped Luna's face. “Breathe dear. Relaaax. As I told you in the cell, you will be free. You just need to be patient.”

Her breath was still shallow but calmer as she spoke again. “I’m scared.”

May sat down next to Luna. “Hm, how about I tell you the plan again to ease your nerves.”

Luna smiled as she absolutely felt she needed a recap.

“You will play as the Duke's fiancee. You won’t need to do anything but look pretty and do as the Duke says. For that's all he wants. Once he trusts you enough and thinks you won’t escape, you will tell him that you want Keir to be yours. For Keir is the way out of this deadly place. Once you have the Duke's approval you will go down to his cell and heal him. Little by little, just enough for him to stand on his feet. When Keir feels he can trust you, he will help us.”

Luna pouted when she mentioned Keir. How was she supposed to gain his trust, would he even want to help or is his mind already too far gone? She started to fiddle with her fingers. Those red eyes…as terrifying as they looked they remind me of Ruby’s.

“Are you sure Keir will help us? I mean what if he betrays us or something?”

May frowned and quickly pressed her fingers to Luna's lips. “Ah! Dear don’t judge him, for you do not know that boy. I have taken care of him for three years now and not once has he shown any vulgarness as the Duke tells. No, he is just misunderstood. He is not the oddity everyone thinks he is.”

Then a sudden thought appeared in Luna's mind. “That's right! What are his powers? Why does everyone think that way?”

May sighed again. “Fortunately, I’ve never seen his powers. But I do know the stories.” Her eyes lowered and she went so serious it gave Luna a chill so cold that she had to look if the window was open.

It was not.

“What I’m about to tell you, please do not let it change your mind about him.”

Luna hastily nodded. “Ok.”

“The bearer of red eyes is foretold to be the cause of Vendilla's demise and destruction. Every one hundred years there is a Red Eye magic user. In every one of those times they are born, calamity arises. They are said to have unimaginable power…stronger than a Black-eye user. They have all the abilities but one makes them truly feared and it is called Nether manipulation. It is the power to spread disease to a body, first corrupting your mind then your flesh starts to turn black, and your blood feels like it's boiling. Three hundred years ago there was a black plague and it was caused by a Red Eye bearer.” She cleared her throat.

“Why would they do such a thing?” Luna mumbled.

May cleared her voice once more. “Because a thoughtless villager killed his daughter.”

Luna clasped her mouth as a sunken feeling squeezed her heart.

“They are seen as demons and are killed instantly if they are born, well except for him. I have no idea how he lived to the age of twenty-five.”

He's just four years older than me.

“I see…I will try to trust him.” Luna softly put her left hand over Mays.

May’s face quickly changed into a smile. Her gentle eyes lowered and more wrinkles showed around her corners. “How about we stop talking about such a depressing topic and finish getting you ready.”

Luna had almost forgotten why she was squeezed into the straight jacket of a getup. It was now turning midnight and the Duke wanted Luna to have dinner with him by the first stroke of eight o'clock. It was now seven thirty. If they wanted any chance of this plan working they needed her to be downstairs before then.

After dabbing a light touch of blush and just a little red lipstick so her lips could look pink, She was ready. At least she thought so before May added a cute ribbon to the back of her hair.

“Oh, how I wish things were different and Duke Gerald was a different man, because dear you look stunning.” She dusted her long tattered skirt and stepped away from Luna. “You remind me of my daughter.”

“You have a daughter?” Luna urged as she rose from her seat and walked to a golden full-body mirror.

“Uh yes, she is in her forties now.” She slowly said, consciously not saying anymore.

Usually, people would die for a mirror so huge, and yet despite its size Luna's nose turned up at the design of it. Its potential was wasted by the swirly and intricate designs that looked way too confusing.

While gliding her fingers across it, she suddenly saw a smudge. She couldn't help but wipe it away and as she did a beautiful girl came into view. Her skin was fair, her doe eyes that contained the blue sky looked enchanted, her wide lips looked almost bigger, and lastly, her hair-the bow complemented it perfectly.

She staggeredly took a step back and waved her right hand-trying to find May to grab onto. This couldn't possibly be me…

May squeezed Luna's shoulders. “That's indeed you.”

I look so…so- before Luna could finish that thought she heard May gasp.

“We are almost out of time! Hurry hurry child.” May said pushing her out the door.

“You better run, I can’t go with you now for I will only slow you down.” She knelt and held two white heels. “Put these on as soon as you make it down.”

Luna took the shoes and began to run, but not before shouting a big “Thank you” to her Savior.

She was late. Thirty seconds only but still late. She ran barefoot to the large extended table that she knew had only seated one person in the last decade. Nevertheless, she still plopped herself down in the huge chair which made her feel puny. She expected her abductor across the table, sitting in the middle one that was across from her. To her relief and surprise, he wasn’t even there.

That hypocrite! Here I am rushing to get here so nobody's head will be separated from their shoulders and he's not even here!

Luna's face darkened as she purposely banged her elbow on the table and rested her chin. The servants around her gulped and fidgeted.

It had been five minutes and Luna was still in the same position. Feeling bored and done trying to stay mad she let her eyes look around. The dining room looked very similar to the Grand Hall. It had diamond chandeliers, a black marble floor, and huge windows. Only in this room the windows were covered by black curtains and were lit around by giant candles.

The food on the table looked marvelous too. There was a plate of corn on the cob, cooked potatoes, mashed potatoes, stacks of salmon, bowls of apples, grapes, and strangely enough Dragon fruit. Even pastries were on the table. It went from as simple as sliced bread to a whole-pound cake. What made Luna salivate was the gigantic pig in the center.

Luna had never seen a dead pig with its head still attached. It amazed her how perfectly crispy everything was, and then she looked at its eye sockets and a sickening feeling of guilt pulled her out of her ideas.

“Lunaaaaa, beautiful enchanting Luna.”

The main person finally arrived. He wore a black buttoned-up long-sleeved shirt that looked very loose, especially around the collar. He also had a very long and noticeable white caped jacket. Everything below him looked similar to what he had on during the day. His once fluffy hair now looked over-gelled and slick. He was screaming extra and trying too hard.

It took so much strength for Luna not to cringe.

“The maids did well in dressing you, I cannot believe you were hiding…such a figure.” He indecently said while licking his lips.

“You look nice too…your grace.”

He smiled at her, feeling that she was finally respecting him. “I’m so happy you agreed to be my wife, I’ll shower you with as many gifts as you want.”

Gifts he says…

“All I expect from you is to birth at least three boys.” Duke Gerald sniffed as he let the servants place napkins on his legs and shirt collar.

Luna couldn't help but flinch. The servants who were also putting a napkin on her jolted at her movement. I really do need to escape from here!

“You’ve prepared such lovely food.” She lousily changed the topic.

“Ah yes, my servants aren't awful when it comes to making me food. Although they are nothing to the Royal family’s cooking. Their chiefs do wonders.” He grabbed a glass of wine while glancing up at Luna, only to almost choke upon her confused face. “That's right you aren't aware of the Royal family because of your amnesia.”

He set the glass down. “The Royal family lives in the far northern side of Vendilla. Their kingdom stretches far and wide, bigger than all the dukedoms combined.” He intertwined his fingers and rested them on the table. “The Kingdom is wealthy beyond comprehension and everyone who lives there is competent. The gray magic users who live there aren't useless like mine, some of them can do all their magic abilities. The black magic users can too, and some of them aren't knights, they’re spies.”

“How come they have so many skilled citizens?” Luna was amazed to hear that it was so evolved.

The Duke snapped his fingers and eight servants started to prepare his plate, while only one got Lunas. She wasn’t bothered by it.

“It's because the Royal family is super strict on who can live in their kingdom. Only people who can do five abilities and up can stay.” He emphasized.

“Well, that seems inconsiderate. There are no other qualifications?”

He laughed. “No of course not! Think of it as this. A kingdom needs to be strong, if it has any weaknesses or in this case weak citizens then it could be targeted very easily. You would not believe how many wars waged for that kingdom to finally be on top.”

“Wars?”

The Duke grinned as he saw his eight plates of food. He immediately bit down on the leg of the pig. “Yeahmm there wasshh a hugggee war after the greatmmm plague.” He swallowed. “Many kingdoms fell, now there is none but the northern kingdom.”

“All those people died?” Luna's eyes shook in complete horror.

The Duke scuffed down a spoonful of mashed potatoes. “Yesh, but a couple thousand of them gave themselves up to the Royal family or dukedoms. The weak ones sadly went to the dukedoms like mine and the highly skilled ones went to the northern kingdom. It's been like this for almost three hundred years.”

This place only seems to have death in every corner, no wonder people are so miserable.

Luna ate slower than the Duke feeling her appetite diminishing.

What was left of the light in the sky was now gone. The Duke had stuffed himself silly, for about an hour. He was only rambling about himself barely letting Luna speak. Only when he had finished his last plate did he unexpectedly ask a question to Luna.

“Now, what is it you want as an engagement gift?”

“Huh!?” Luna gasped as she dropped her fork that she was fiddling with. “Oh, um nothing right now. You’ve already been so er-generous.”

He waved his overly big hands at her. “I know I know dear. But seeing as our engagement rings are still getting made. I wanna make this night memorable.”

I know what I need to ask, but it's too soon. If I suddenly ask him to let me see Keir… our plans could be ruined. I need something else, something that could also aid our plan.

“What about a personal guard?” She said biting her bottom lip.

The Duke blinked once then smiled wryly. “A guard…that seems like a wasteful want seeing that I have many guards who would happily protect you?”

Luna shook her head. “I was hoping I could choose my own tomorrow?”

If I choose one of his guards it would make life harder, but if I chose someone who would fall for my womanly charm and could be hypnotized easily, it would make seeing Keir so much easier.

He stared long and hard at Luna before he grinned. “Alright then!” He clasped his hands together. Luna expected to hear a clapping kind of sound when he did that but instead, she heard a wetter sound from his hands, because of how much he was sweating.

“We will find you one tomorrow…you know, you’re much easier to deal with once you’ve calmed down.” He boasted.

Luna smiled with her eyes closed. “Really? I’m happy you think so.”

During another boring conversation, The Duke had fallen asleep. It took ten of his servants just to carry him to his room. Luna was thrilled with how the night went. Even though they talked about some unseemingly topics, it filled her with joy that he wasn’t coming on to her.

So after a long soak in a gigantic tub that she at first reluctantly didn't want to get into because of the servants offering to scrub her, she went to sleep.

Her dreams were odd. Usually, she’d dream of nothing or her day, but tonight she couldn’t stop imagining those sad Ruby eyes.