I Reincarnated to Another World as a Woman-Chapter 255: Home

Alicia opens her eyes.

She is in a room she does not recognize.

The room is simple, yet cozy. Warm colored walls. Soft curtains. Morning light filtering through gently.

Alicia blinks several times.

Her mind works slowly, trying to place this room, trying to connect it to a memory.

But she has a feeling she has never been here before.

When she realizes that, she begins to observe more carefully.

She is lying in a queen size bed with comfortable bedsheets and pillows, tucked beneath a blanket.

She turns her head toward the right bedside table.

There is a clear water jug.

An empty glass beside it.

Her throat feels dry.

Painfully dry.

She lifts her right hand to reach for the jug.

Then she freezes.

Her right hand is holding something.

She looks down.

Her breath catches.

She is holding a kitchen knife.

This knife, she recognizes.

It is from her kitchen.

Her heart begins to pound.

She blinks rapidly, trying to understand.

How did I fall asleep with a knife in my hand?

The question makes her stomach twist.

She immediately releases it.

The knife falls to the floor with a loud metallic clatter.

The sound echoes in the quiet room.

Alicia freezes.

Her eyes widen.

Afraid someone might hear.

Afraid someone might come in.

Then a strange thought crosses her mind.

Why am I afraid of someone coming?

She hears the sound of a toilet being flushed.

The noise is close.

Inside the room.

She turns her head slowly toward a door she assumes leads to the bathroom.

The doorknob rattles slightly.

Whoever is inside is unlocking the door.

About to come out.

Alicia swallows.

She does not move.

She just stares at the door.

------------------------------

Theo dries his hands on a towel beside the sink and unlocks the bathroom door quietly.

He moves carefully.

He does not want to wake Alicia.

She has been sleeping through the night.

Her fever broke sometime past midnight.

But Theo refused to leave.

He decided to sleep there.

He is not going to let Alicia wake up alone again.

He will not repeat the same mistake twice.

He steps out of the bathroom.

He turns his head toward the bed.

And freezes.

Alicia is awake.

Sitting up.

Staring directly at him.

Silence falls between them.

No one speaks.

Theo stays still.

He does not want to startle her.

He observes carefully instead.

His eyes drop briefly.

He sees the knife on the floor.

Alicia does not speak either.

She is not entirely sure this person standing in front of her is real.

After a long moment, Alicia breaks the silence.

"You’re... Thea Montrose, aren’t you?"

Theo is taken aback.

His mind starts to spin.

She does not remember me now?

Did she lose more memories?

He nods gently.

"I am. Do you know who you are?"

Alicia blinks slowly.

She looks thoughtful.

She closes her eyes and scrunches her nose slightly.

Theo instinctively takes a step forward.

Concern flickers across his face.

But he remembers.

He cannot rush her.

He stops himself.

Alicia opens her eyes again.

"I’m sorry. I’m a bit disoriented. I feel like I’ve been sleeping for a very long time."

Her tone is apologetic.

"Don’t be," Theo says softly. "You don’t need to apologize. You can take as much time as you need."

Alicia lets out a small scoff.

"When people say that, it usually means the other person, in this case me, was acting like a mad woman before falling unconscious."

She lifts her head and looks at Theo.

"Was I? Acting like a mad woman, I mean."

Theo smiles lightly.

He visibly relaxes.

"I wouldn’t say that."

Alicia raises an eyebrow faintly.

"What would you call it, then?"

Theo’s smile widens a little.

"I’d call it lost."

For a moment, they both laugh lightly.

The tension in the room eases.

Theo walks to the bedside table.

He pours water into the glass and hands it to her.

She takes it gratefully and drinks in large gulps.

The water soothes her throat instantly.

After drinking, she feels more grounded.

More like herself.

"Alicia, how are you feeling?" Theo asks.

Then he shakes his head.

"Wait. Do not answer that. That was a stupid question. Of course you feel terrible right now. Seriously, do not answer that."

Alicia laughs.

This time, it is more genuine.

"Actually, I’m feeling a little hungry. Is there anything I can eat?"

Theo’s face lights up.

"Of course. I’ll go get you breakfast."

He stands immediately.

"Breakfast?" Alicia frowns slightly. "It’s morning?"

For some reason, she was certain it was still night.

Theo nods gently.

"Yes, it is."

He studies her expression carefully.

"Do you still want breakfast?"

Alicia meets his eyes and nods.

"Yes, please."

Theo nods once.

"Okay. Wait here."

He turns and exits the room.

Alicia watches his back as he leaves.

------------------------------

"Good, Alicia. She must think you’ve lost your mind. It’s clearly morning. There’s literally sunlight coming into the room. Literally."

"Idiot."

Alicia mutters the word under her breath, mocking herself.

She presses her lips together, trying not to laugh at her own ridiculousness.

Once again, she scans the room.

More carefully this time.

More observant.

She notices an air mattress placed neatly near the bed, with a pillow and a folded blanket on top.

Her brows knit slightly.

Did she sleep here last night?

Did I make the sister of Arthur Montrose sleep on an air mattress while taking care of me?

The thought makes her wince.

She shakes her head slowly.

Ah. I need to go to the bathroom.

Alicia carefully swings her legs off the bed and stands up.

The moment her feet touch the floor, she realizes she is slightly wobbly.

Her balance feels off.

And there are sore spots all over her body.

Her shoulders ache.

Her wrists feel strained.

Her legs feel like she has been running or fighting for hours.

Like she has been working out all day.

What exactly did I do yesterday?

She frowns faintly, but the memory refuses to surface clearly.

After using the bathroom, she washes her face and stares at her reflection for a moment.

As she steps out, her stomach rumbles loudly.

Ah. I really am hungry.

Then she pauses.

She sniffs the air.

There is a rich, delicious coffee aroma drifting through the hallway.

Warm.

Comforting.

Her stomach rumbles even louder.

I cannot think of anything else but food.

I guess I’m coming out.

She glances at herself in the mirror one more time.

Hair slightly messy.

Face pale but steady.

I look decent enough.

Thank you for my good genes.

She exhales softly.

She grips the doorknob.

Opens the door.

And steps out.

------------------------------

The living room is quiet.

The entire apartment feels quiet and serene.

It is still early in the morning, so it is understandable that most of its residents are still asleep.

Soft sunlight filters in through the curtains, casting a pale glow over the furniture.

Theo walks across the empty living room toward the kitchen.

His steps are light.

Unhurried.

He slightly regrets offering Alicia breakfast.

Because if there is one thing he is truly bad at, it is cooking.

He can fight.

He can strategize.

He can manipulate mana on a scale that bends reality.

But cooking?

Disaster.

Which is why he feels immediate relief when he sees Maeve already busy in the kitchen.

She is wearing her apron, and underneath it, a soft, very feminine skirt.

Her hair is loosely tied back.

She looks like a young mother who woke up early to prepare breakfast for the whole family.

Which, technically, she is currently doing.

She moves comfortably between the stove and the counter.

Coffee is brewing.

Something is sizzling in a pan.

There is an ease in her movements.

An unspoken rhythm.

Theo watches her for a moment.

He frowns slightly.

Something feels off. He cannot quite name it.

It is subtle.

But something about the image unsettles him.

He quickly dismisses the thought.

Overthinking.

He tends to do that a lot.

"Morning, Maeve. That is some delicious coffee."

"Oh, hey, Thea. Good morning."

Maeve smiles without turning around.

"Why are you up so early, Maeve?" Theo asks, though he is clearly grateful.

"We have no breakfast," Maeve replies casually. "So I’m making it. And before you say don’t bother, let me say this first. I love doing it. So let me."

She turns briefly and smiles at him, warm and steady.

"Okay," Theo nods.

"I’m actually glad you’re here. Alicia is awake and she’s hungry. And I have no idea what to give her."

Maeve’s expression softens.

Before she can answer, they both hear footsteps approaching from the hallway.

They turn at the same time.

"Good morning, you two. Am I interrupting anything?"