Hiding Behind Her Superficiality by Kyla Olson

It hurts… It hurts.

Elspeth opened her eyes and found herself lying in a magnificent room. Everything around her was shining gold and she thought she had entered a room made of gold. She remembered that she had jumped into the sea before she woke up. Unfortunately, she was not a strong swimmer and passed out after swallowing some water. Although she was lying on the bed, she still felt slightly dizzy, and the room seemed to spin around her.

But… Why am I here now?

Not long after she opened her eyes, and before she even had time to move, she heard a commotion coming from outside the door. She immediately became alert and her hand under the quilt reached out to touch the dagger that was kept by her hip, only to find that someone had changed her clothes at some point when she was unconscious.

Creak…

The door was pushed open, and a pair of white sneakers came into view. Looking up, she saw a young man dressed in gray sweatpants, a white shirt, and a blue and white striped jacket. He looked like an athletic and cheery man. When Elspeth saw his face, she was immediately dumbfounded.

“Edmund, why are you here?”

Truth be told, this man looked exactly like Edmund but in a different style of clothes! She actually wondered if Edmund had two sides to him. He was usually dressed in a well-fitted suit and leather shoes, but now he had become an athletic and sporty guy.

“Edmund? Are you mistaking me for someone else?”

Elspeth rolled her eyes. “Do you think I won’t recognize you? Tell me where I am. I’m really shocked!”

“Edmund” came over, leaned against the bed, and reached out to touch her forehead. “Let me see. Isn’t the fever gone? Why are you still talking nonsense?”

Elspeth pushed his hand away and glared at him fiercely. “What are you doing, Edmund? Don’t you know that a man and a woman mustn’t be so close together? I asked you a question. Where am I?!”

“Edmund” sighed helplessly, put his hands in his pockets, and sat on a chair by the side of the room. “This is a transoceanic freighter. We are going to Sunholde soon. Also, let me say it one last time, my name is not Edmund. My name is Elias, Elias Cole. Are you sure your brain is fine?”

Elspeth thought her head was going to explode.

Cole? Is

the details of how you found

and crossed his legs. “To be honest, this matter has nothing to do with me. You suddenly surfaced on the ocean. Maybe, you drowned and became unconscious somewhere. But when I found you, you

have

not far from Sunholde. The freighter will arrive in 10-14 days. So, this means that

Five days?

at this fact,

“Thank you. I see.”

get in touch with him as soon as possible. “Can

eyes. “Miss, do you have any common sense? This is the ocean. The signal here is really bad. How are you

could only

man in front of

talking about? Didn’t you say it yourself that a man and a woman mustn’t be so close together?

wrapped the

arrives in Sunholde, I

make arrangements for her. A trace of gratitude emerged in Elspeth’s heart as

save a life. I’m doing myself a

stood up and

a minute. I have another

room again, then asked curiously, “Why is this room built so magnificently?

clothes were private creations of internationally renowned designers she was familiar with, and they were outrageously expensive. As such, he must have an unusual identity. He was probably a friend or relative

that. My dad designed it this way himself. It’s really tacky to

Elias raised his eyebrows