The Misadventures of Anastasia Collins

The first thing that Anastasia saw when she open up her eyes is a huge mirror and her reflection looking straight at her.

'Where am I?' She's certain that this place doesn't look like a hospital. And certainly its not like heaven or hell even. But what she's really sure, is that...her reflection is far too different from her original face.

What happened? As far as she remember, she was hit by a truck and based on its speed, there is no possiblity of survival. So why the hell is she still breathing like nothing happened?

"Lady Doreen? The chauffeur that would bring you to the party will arrive soon." Anastasia was interrupted from her dilemma by a woman who is dressed like a maid.

But what did the woman just called her? Doreen? Since when did she change her name?

"A party?" She ask instead.

"Yes my Lady. Lord Gilbert is expecting you to come down soon." Anastasia was about to ask more questions when the maid exited and closes the door.

What was that?

She faces the mirror once again and notice that she is indeed wearing a classic gown with her hair fix and a make up.

She looks nice. But feels so different.

Anastasia let out an exasperated sigh and decided to go outside to gather information on the place she is currently into.

"Lady Doreen, you took so much time." Anastasia was suddenly greeted by an old man who is wearing a black tuxedo once she's already downstairs.

"Yes...uhm..Im sorry about that?" She apologized with uncertainty, thinking it is the safest answer in this situation. But the old man just gape at her like she grew two heads.

"Since when did you learn how to apologize Lady Doreen?" The old man ask in amusement.

But Anastasia was taken aback. Is there any person who doesn't really know how to apologize? Now that's cruel. Whoever the owner of this body must be a cruel person.

Anastasia thinks she need to do something so she cleared her throat to hide her uneasiness then raise her left eyebrow to the old man. Once again, she thinks this is the best thing to do in this situation. And also base on the old man's antics, the real owner of the body must have an awful attitude. So she think she need to act like one according to her analyzation.

Well, she doesn't read mystery books for nothing.

"Im trying to be nice here old man." She stated in a rude way. She tried her best not to feel bad or to feel any guilt.

"Now that's more look like you." Lord Gilbert stated, still looking suspiciously at her. "Anyway are you ready to execute our plan?" He continued that made Anastasia frown in confusion. What plan?

"Oh right! the plan. Ofcourse Im ready." She answered instead, thinking that the old man will be more suspicious at her if she suddenly ask a question.

She find it out by herself.

"Alright. Lets take our leave then." And as if on cue, the vehicle that would bring them to the party arrived.

Lord Gilbert and Anastasia entered the vehicle and got greeted by the chauffeur but Anastasia stop the urge to greet back.

Meanwhile, Anastasia started to think on what will happen once they arrive. Base on the maid earlier, they will going to attend a party. But the thing is, she doesn't even know why are they heading there. Another thing is the plan that the old man's talking about. She doesn't have any idea about that.

Anastasia shook her head and try to maintain her calmness. There's no use in freaking out afterall. 'I just need to act according to the situation. I can definitely do this.' she tried to convince herself.

To stop overthinking, she looks outside and notice that the surroundings is looking exactly like a place from the past. Its vintage and classic and the people also wearing an old clothes. Even the mansion earlier looks old. 'So her soul was transported in the body of a woman from the past?' she concluded. 'Maybe I'll gather information after the party.'

After an hour, the chauffeur informed them that they have finally arrived.

Anastasia fix herself and once the chauffeur opened the door for her, she get outside the vehicle and doesn't bother to give some gratitude.

"Let us head inside Lady Doreen." Lord Gilbert invited and Anastasia complied. She sling her left hand into the old man's arm before they went inside.

Anastasia got intimidated right away once they are inside the hallway of the huge mansion.

"Lord Gilbert! Im glad that you finally arrived." Lord Gilbert and Anastasia stop on their track when a sophisticated old woman greeted them.

"Señorita Laura! Its our pleasure to be invited here." Lord Gilbert kiss the back of Señorita Laura's hand as a respect. Then they started to chat but Anastasia didn't even understand what are they saying.

"Anyway Señorita Laura, may I introduce my niece, Doreen Garcia." Anastasia gasp when the elders are now giving their attention to her. She tried not to panic and plastered a stiff smile.

"Its very lovely to finally meet you Señorita Laura. Im Anast-I mean Im Lady Doreen Garcia madamé. I would like to give you my gratitude also for having us here." Anastasia wanted to give herself around of applause for mastering how to speak formally. Then she tried the cheek to cheek greeting like what she always saw on the classic movies and silently wish that she said the right words and do the right thing.

"Ofcourse I would love to invite you here Lady Doreen and Lord Gilbert. After all, the Garcia's is one of the richest family in our country." Anastasia tried not to gasp in surprise on what she have just heard.

Richest?!

Anastasia doesn't have a time to collect herself when another old man greeted them. "Señior Victor! Its nice to see you again." Lord Gilbert greeted back. Anastasia concluded that the other old man is Señorita Laura's husband.

'But Señorita Laura and Señior Victor? It seems familiar.' Anastasia thinks, trying to remember it.

The elders chatted and Anastasia tried not to talk so much until they are called inside to finally join the party.

Anastasia gaped in awe once they are inside. A chandelier that lights the whole surroundings, the tables that is neatly place at the center, candles, flowers and a buffet. If Anastasia doesn't saw that this place is a mansion, she will thought that this is a palace or a castle.

Then she secretly scan the whole room. For now, there are only 10 people in total inside, including them and the married elders. There are other four elders and another two couple in their mid 30's. The guests are wearing expensive gowns and coats, jewelries and have a presence that screams power, this party is indeed for high class people only.

Anastasia feels so dizzy whenever someone is greeting them. She have no choice but to greet back out of respect.

'Being a high class person is too much tiring.' she thinks.

Lord Gilbert is chatting with Señior Victor and Señorita Laura once again when someone interrupted them.

"Señior Victor..Señorita Laura, forgive our tardiness. There are some circumtances that causes to delayed our arrival." A guy that Anastasia thinks the same age as her said.

"Scholar Francis, you arrived. Where's your highness?" As if on cue, another guy made its appearance wearing a royalty coat.

"Prince Alistair! Its our pleasure to have you here." The three elders bowed their heads and Anastasia immediately copied their movements.

"Its my pleasure Señior Victor. Even though, we're sorry that we are late." The prince greeted firmly.

Anastasia doesn't stop herself to stare at the prince since its her first time to see a real one. 'I cant believe im really seeing a real prince now. And he's so handsome. Maybe transferring here is not that bad.' Anastasia thinks.

"Lady Doreen?"

"...."

"Lady Doreen?" Anastasia got interrupted from her thoughts when Lord Gilbert shakes her shoulder.

"What?"

"You're spacing out." The old man stated and Anastasia notice that all of them are now staring curiously at her.

Now that's embarassing.

Anastasia cleared her throat and tried to gain her composure again.

"I apologize. I was just thinking of something." She excuses.

"While staring at me?" The prince questioned and Anastasia doesn't know if it is in amusement or in annoyance.

"Why? I cant?" Anastasia ask back earning a light poke in her shoulder from Lord Gilbert.

"Forgive my niece for her rude behavior your highness. She doesn't know what she's saying." Then Lord Gilbert bowed and glared at her.

"That's right. It was such a rude of me to say that. Forgive me your highness." Anastasia bowed her head once again.

'Now earning a bad impression is not a good thing....' Anastasia thinks.

"That's fine. Just try to hide your desires next time my lady, if you dont want to get caught." Then the prince gave her a playful smirk and Anastasia never have a desire to smack someone until now.

"I'll take that in mind your highness." Anastasia said blankly and force a smile.

"Anyway, I think I need to greet everyone else. Can you accompany me?" The prince ask the elders and they agreed easily.

"Ofcourse your highness." Señorita Laura said.

"You'll come?" Lord Gilbert whispers at her.

"I rather not." She replied.

Then the three elders accompany the prince, leaving Anastasia. The prince give her one last look that the latter doesn't notice.

"That was so bold of you Lady-?" The other guy that is left with her said. They called him Scholar Francis earlier if she's not mistaken.

"Doreen. Im Doreen Garcia." She introduce herself to the other guy.

Unlike the prince, this guy looks polite.

"Doreen. Lady Doreen. What a gorgeous name. It suits you." Scholar Francis compliments.

Anastasia smiled, not force this time.

"Thank you." She thanked sincerely.

Then they started to chat and surprisingly, Anastasia is comfortable to have him.

"What's the meaning of being a scholar?" Anastasia ask curiously.

"Let just say, as a scholar the palace will take care of my future and in exchange, I'll serve the royalties with all of my life and now im assigned to prince Alistair." Anastasia snort hearing the prince's name that didn't go unnoticed to Scholar Francis.

"How about you? What are you doing in life?" The scholar changes the topic but Anastasia cant find a word to answer him.

Because she doesn't know.

"Oh?...just helping our family in you know, some stuffs." She answered unsure.

The scholar nod and Anastasia was so thankful that he didn't ask any further.

"But I spent a lot of time reading books." She added, pertaining to her real self.

"Really? Do you perhaps read novels then?" Anastasia feels like her eyes are now glistening hearing her favorite pastime. She really loves talking about books.

"Yup!" She answers with excitement.

"Yup...?" The scholar ask in confusion.

Then Anastasia rethink on what she have just blurted out and almost slap her forehead.

'Idiot.'

"Oh I mean. Yes! I love reading novels." Thankfully, and once again, the scholar doesn't ask any question.

They started to share their knowledge about novels and Anastasia feels so happy that she can still talk about to someone about her hobbies even in this kind of situation.

"Lady Doreen." Anastasia look to the one who called her. It is no other than Lord Gilbert.

"Your back." She said in a stern voice. Lord Gilbert then look at Scholar Francis.

"Scholar Francis, the prince is looking for you."

The scholar look at Anastasia and bowed.

"Its nice to have a chat with you Lady Doreen but I think the prince is looking for me." Scholar Francis said politely.

"Thank you for your accompany Scholar Francis." She smiled then the scholar take his leave.

Anastasia notice the look that Lord Gilbert is giving her but she just ignored it.

After a minute, they are reunited with Señior Victor and Señorita Laura once again. Lord Gilbert is chatting with them when Anastasia notice someone. There is another woman who entered the room looking so exhausted.

"Im sorry im late Señorita Laura and Señior Victor. I just have so much things to do." The woman that looks like her age said when she approach the elders.

"Its fine Alice. We're glad that you made it." Señorita Laura dismisses.

Anastasia tried to remember the another familiar name. She must have seen it somewhere.

"Anyway, Lord Gilbert..Lady Doreen, I would like to introduce you the person who helps us in our son case, Detective Alice Potter."

Alice Potter.

Then it finally sinks in.

The party, the high class people, the plan, Detective Alice Potter. Now it makes sense.

'My soul was not transfered from the past. But I was transmigrated in my favorite book entitled 'Book of Murder' but not as Detective Alice Potter but as Doreen Garcia.

....the murderer.'