Familiar Strangers, Unfamiliar World [NOEL]

The soft patter of footsteps echoed through the grand hallway. A gentle creak followed as the door opened.

A maid stepped inside, balancing a silver tray with a porcelain teapot, a delicate cup, and a small plate of biscuits. Her uniform was crisp, adorned with the embroidered crest of the marquis household.

She moved with quiet precision, approaching the tall windows. With a practiced motion, she pulled back the heavy velvet curtains.

Golden light spilled into the room, chasing away the last remnants of the night.

“Young Lady,” the maid called, her voice gentle yet firm.

A sigh. A faint stirring. Then, long silver lashes fluttered open.

Noel.

Daughter of the esteemed Marquis family. The only sister to two brothers. A noblewoman raised in elegance, grace, and unwavering discipline.

She sat up slowly, her silver hair cascading down her back like a stream of liquid moonlight. Even in the haze of morning, her posture remained flawless, her every movement deliberate.

“Let me freshen up first,” she murmured. “Then you may pour the tea.”

The maid bowed and stepped back as Noel rose from the bed.

She moved through her morning routine with practiced ease. Each action was second nature, an unspoken expectation of nobility.

Once satisfied, she returned to the balcony, where the maid had already set the table. A fragrant cup of tea awaited her, steam curling into the crisp morning air.

She took a slow sip.

Another day. Another routine. Another predictable cycle.

There was little in Noel’s life that she could call truly her own.

But there was one thing that fascinated her more than anything else.

Books.

The grand library of the marquis estate housed countless volumes of history, politics, and etiquette. Yet, among them, there was one book she returned to again and again.

It spoke of an ancient civilization, a world so advanced that it defied imagination.

Towering structures of steel and glass. Enormous flying contraptions that soared through the skies. Cities that never slept, illuminated by lights that never faded.

The scholars dismissed it as foolish fantasy.

But Noel could not.

She did not know why, but the words lingered in her mind. The images refused to fade.

A world unlike her own.

A world that should not exist.

And yet… deep within her, a quiet voice whispered that perhaps…

The day passed as it always did.

Lessons in diplomacy. A carefully structured afternoon tea. An uneventful dinner filled with meaningless pleasantries.

And then...

A comet.

Black, yet pulsing with an otherworldly purple glow.

It streaked across the evening sky, illuminating the gardens in a strange, eerie light.

Servants and nobles alike paused, watching in quiet awe as it cut through the heavens.

A fleeting spectacle. A celestial anomaly.

Then, just as suddenly as it had appeared...

It was gone.

The night resumed as though nothing had happened.

Noel lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.

She could not sleep.

The comet had stirred something inside her.

A sense of unease. A whisper of something just beyond her reach.

What was it?

She closed her eyes, trying to shake the feeling.

And then...

She woke up.

But she was not in her bed.

Noel’s breath caught as she took in her surroundings.

Towering structures of glass and steel stretched high into the sky. People rushed past her, dressed in peculiar garments, speaking in words and tones foreign to her ears. Above, enormous metal objects soared through the sky, vanishing between the clouds like creatures of myth.

A place unlike anything she had ever known, yet strangely, impossibly familiar.

The sheer noise, the movement, the energy of this world...

It was overwhelming.

Her heart pounded.

The place was similar.

She had read about it in that book, the one everyone dismissed as mere fiction.

But how was she here?

She looked down at herself.

Her nightgown was gone, replaced by the elegant dress she had worn earlier that day.

Her fingers curled against the fabric. It felt real. Everything felt real.

And yet...

It was impossible.

This had to be a dream.

Had to be.

A voice interrupted her thoughts.

“Oh my God, are you cosplaying?”

Noel turned, startled.

Two young women stood before her, their wide eyes sparkling with fascination.

“Your outfit is amazing!” one of them gushed. “So intricate! Can we take a selfie with you?”

Noel blinked.

Cosplay? Selfie?

She had never heard these words before in her life.

Her mind scrambled to make sense of their meaning.

The girls must have noticed her confusion because they hesitated.

“Ah, sorry!” the other girl laughed nervously. “Did we make you uncomfortable?”

Noel remained silent, unsure how to respond.

The girls exchanged glances before stepping back. “Well, you look stunning! Sorry for bothering you!”

They disappeared into the crowd, leaving Noel with more questions than before.

What had just happened?

What were those strange words?

Her initial fear began to wane, slowly replaced by something else...

Awe.

Curiosity.

She turned, taking in the vast cityscape once more.

“So this is a dream…” she murmured.

A dream shaped by the book she had read countless times.

A dream that felt far too real.

And then she saw him.

A man, standing motionless in the moving crowd.

Black hair. Piercing eyes.

Watching her.

Unmoving.

Noel’s breath caught.

He was close.

And yet, she had not noticed his approach.

Their eyes met.

A shiver ran down her spine.

His gaze was not that of a stranger.

Not someone who simply happened to see an oddly dressed woman in the streets.

His expression was something else entirely.

Not the curiosity of a bystander.

But the gaze of a man who had found something he lost long ago.

His lips parted, as if to speak...

Then, finally, he asked:

“Are you lost?”

His voice was calm. Measured.

Noel stiffened.

She had never seen this man before.

And yet…

Something about him felt natural.

Familiar, even.

She clenched her hands, forcing herself to regain composure.

A noblewoman does not waver. She does not falter. She does not reveal her vulnerabilities.

And yet...

For the first time in her life, Noel was uncertain.

“Who are you,” she asked coolly, “to be concerned about my situation?”

The words left her lips effortlessly, as though she were merely addressing a wandering knight in her family’s estate.

The man’s lips curled into an amused smile.

“Haha,” he chuckled, “I’m just someone… certified around here. No need to be so alarmed.”

Certified?

The term was unfamiliar, yet something about the way he spoke, so effortlessly confident, so naturally acquainted with her presence made it difficult to dismiss him entirely.

She hesitated.

And then, without warning, the man bowed.

Not the hurried, awkward kind she had seen commoners perform, but a graceful, refined gesture, precise in every movement. One hand crossed his chest, the other extended outward in a silent request.

A noble bow.

“Young Lady,” his voice smooth, almost teasing, “would you grant a humble request from this lowly peasant? Please, allow me to serve you with modesty today.”

Noel’s heart flickered, a strange feeling, distant yet profound.

Why… why does this feel so familiar?

She should refuse. She should.

And yet, before she even realized it, her lips moved.

“…Very well.”

The man lifted his head, his expression unreadable but tinged with something knowing.

“My name is Leon,” he finally introduced himself, “Leon”

It was one she had never heard before yet it felt somewhat familiar.

“Noel von Redlaw,” she replied, “the only daughter of Marquis Redlaw.”

She didn’t miss the flicker of recognition in his eyes when she spoke.

A feeling of unease coiled in her chest.

“Stranger,” she continued, her voice careful, “I will ask you once again. Do you know me? And what is this place?”

Leon’s response was calm, almost rehearsed.

“I know that you are Marquis Redlaw’s daughter.” He paused. “As for this place…explaining it is difficult. It is a world different from your own.”

Noel’s fingers twitched against the fabric of her dress.

A different world?

It sounded impossible. Yet, nothing about this place was normal and she knew that she was inside a dream.

She felt intrigue.

A moment of silence passed between them.

Then, Leon exhaled and gestured to the road ahead. “Would you care to join me for a meal? I believe this must be an exhausting day for you.”

Noel hesitated for a fraction of a second before nodding.

“…Lead the way.”

A Meal Among Strangers

The walk was short but filled with quiet observations.

Noel’s eyes darted from one marvel to the next, glass buildings reflecting neon lights, machines moving with an intelligence of their own, the strange symbols that decorated every signpost. It was all foreign, yet oddly fascinating.

And then they arrived at a peculiar establishment.

A resturant, Leon had called it.

Noel frowned slightly. She had never heard of such a place before. She tested the word silently in her mind. Res-tu-rant…

Before she could ask further, they stepped inside.

Noel’s breath hitched slightly.

The interior was stunning. Warm lights reflecting off polished floors, scents of exotic spices wafting through the air, people seated at various tables, chatting over meals.

It was nothing like the grand feasts of noble gatherings, yet something about the intimate atmosphere felt far richer.

Before she could make a choice, Leon took the liberty of ordering.

“Mushroom Tartine with Herbed Ricotta for the lady,” he said smoothly, “and Steak for myself.”

Noel narrowed her eyes slightly.

A coincidence?

She had never spoken of her preference for mushrooms, nor her distaste for meat. And yet, he had known.

Leon, however, said nothing. He merely leaned back, waiting patiently as their food arrived.

The moment she took a bite, her thoughts scattered.

The flavor was unlike anything she had ever tasted. Savory, rich, yet light on the tongue. It was a stark contrast to the delicately plated noble dishes she was used to.

For a brief moment, she forgot her suspicions.

After the meal, they stepped outside once more.

Noel turned to Leon. “You knew I liked mushrooms.”

Leon’s smile was unreadable. “Did I?”

She frowned, watching him closely. He was hiding something.

Before she could press further, he asked, “Would you like to stay the night?”

Noel stiffened slightly.

He must have sensed her hesitation because he quickly added, “I have two separate rooms. One of them is unused.”

That should have been enough to ease her worries, yet she still felt uncertain.

Then again, what else could she do?

This was a dream...or at least, that’s what she told herself.

“…Very well.”

The day went on with talks about this and that, then the night came.

A Night of Strange Encounters

Leon’s apartment was unlike anything Noel had ever seen.

The strange glowing devices, the metal fixtures, the odd lack of candlelight, everything about it was foreign, yet intriguing.

They spoke at length about their respective worlds.

Noel, for once, found herself excited.

This world was unlike her own. It was loud, fast-paced, brimming with mystery. A stark contrast to the rigid life she led as a noble.

It was refreshing.

Eventually, the night deepened, and they retired to their respective rooms.

Noel lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.

Through the window, the city lights twinkled like a sea of stars. Yet, none of them shone brighter than the true moon that loomed above.

She sighed, turning onto her side.

And then...

Something blocked the moon.

Her breath caught.

A figure floated in the sky.

At first, it was distant, barely visible against the darkness. But as she watched, it became clearer.

A long, spear-like weapon.

A reddish glow.

Eyes...burning, shining, piercing.

Noel’s body tensed.

It was watching her.

And then...

It moved.

Faster than she could react.

The spear jolted forward, slicing through the night like a falling star. It was heading straight for her.

Her breath hitched. Her body froze.

There was no time to think. No time to move.

Impact.

And then...

She woke up.

But to the reality…