Doppelganger 

Yohana's mind reeled with confusion. She died. She should. At least, that's what she thought because no one would survive a throat slit like that. So how was it possible that she still existed?

The slashing pain in her throat seemed to have vanished, leaving no trace. It felt as if she had awoken from a deep slumber, gasping for air. Her trembling fingers instinctively reached for her neck, only to encounter smooth, unblemished skin.

The harrowing incident appeared to be nothing more than a haunting memory.

Amidst her bewildered thoughts, a chilling cry rang out through the air, commanding attention. "Hang the traitors!"

Yohana had experienced this exact situation before. She looked around and found herself in the square, which was brimming with armed soldiers, their swords ominously drawn. The sky above grew darker as a restless crowd of commoners gathered, their jeers filling the air.

A bearded man, dressed in tattered garments, and his equally disheveled wife were being escorted toward the scaffold. The executioners wasted no time in fastening the noose around their necks, and with a sudden release, the floor beneath them gave way.

Confusion clouded Yohana's thoughts as she whispered to herself, "But this happened months ago."

A hushed voice broke through her reverie, jolting her from the haunting scene. "Your Highness, we have to go!" The urgent whisper drew closer, and a hand gently grasped her arm, shaking it with concern.

Yohana turned her gaze toward the person who had grabbed her arm, and to her surprise, it was Madam Geneviere.

Baffled by the unexpected encounter, she scanned her surroundings, wondering if the madam had mistaken her for someone else.

Amidst the sea of people and the turmoil surrounding her, Yohana's eyes caught sight of a figure with striking silver hair.

The familiarity of that appearance startled her, and she couldn't help but mutter, "Isn't that... me?"

As if sensing Yohana's gaze, the distant figure turned her head, mirroring Yohana's confusion. Their eyes met for a brief moment, but before Yohana could react, the other 'Yohana' vanished from her sight.

"Wait!" Yohana stretched out her arm, attempting to call out to her mysterious doppelganger, but Madam Geneviere firmly grasped her, preventing her from pursuing further.

"Your Highness, I understand the turmoil you're experiencing. Witnessing the wrongful execution of one's parents is a heavy burden to bear. However, we must leave this place immediately before anyone recognizes you," the madam urged, guiding Yohana out of the crowd and toward Nanty Narking.

During their journey to the red district, Yohana noticed that she was dressed in unfamiliar attire. She adorned a dress that didn't belong to her, and even wore a hooded cloak that she had never laid eyes on before. It was a small clue that shed some light on what might have transpired.

Examining her palms, she discovered an absence of scars from her countless encounters with poisons and herbs. Instead, her hands appeared soft and unblemished, devoid of any signs of labor or past injuries.

To confirm her suspicions, Yohana realized she needed to confront her reflection in a mirror. And Nanty Narking's secret room had a big one.

She halted at the side of the building. Madam Geneviere expressed her surprise at Yohana's knowledge, remarking, "How do you know, Your Highness? I'm certain you've never visited Nanty Narking before."

Although Yohana harbored doubts, she chose to maintain an air of ambiguity until she unraveled the truth. "I don't," she replied, leaving her true intentions veiled for the time being.

"Oh, alright, Your Highness. Please pardon me for asking, but have you ever climbed before?" Madam Geneviere gestured toward the ladder.

Yohana couldn't reveal that she had climbed the ladder just the night before to assassinate the real Ramona. She feigned deep thought and replied, "I may have done so as a child. Perhaps my body still retains some muscle memory from those days."

Madam Geneviere regarded her with a fond expression. "I will ascend first and lower a rope for you. Please secure the rope around yourself so I can assist in pulling you up."

The madam climbed the ladder with skill, reminiscent of Yohana's observations during her stakeout. Once she reached the top, she threw the rope down to Yohana. Grasping the rope tightly, Yohana secured it around her waist.

To maintain her pretense, she purposely struggled while ascending the ladder, feigning slips and instability for a more convincing performance. Madam Geneviere extended her assistance, aiding Yohana in ascending the ladder. Once they were both on the third floor, the madam proceeded to provide an explanation about their surroundings as they entered the hallway.

"The third floor is separate from the first and second floors of the brothel. It used to serve as the training center for my girls. However, when Duke Froehlich requested my assistance in accommodating you while he resolved the misunderstandings surrounding the royal family, I swiftly transformed this floor into your sanctuary," Madam Geneviere explained as she guided Yohana to the bed chamber.

"I hope the chamber is to your liking. Although I understand that it cannot compare to your previous chambers in the palace, I hope you find your stay here comfortable," she added.

As Yohana surveyed the secret room, her suspicions grew stronger. The opulent rug, ornaments, and chandelier were present, but there were no scattered gift boxes in sight.

She provided a brief tour of the floor, revealing that there was only one door aside from the window. "For your safety and convenience, the entire third floor is at your disposal, Your Highness. The only access point to this floor is through the concealed window, conveniently hidden by the adjacent building. I have closed off all other entryways to deter any unwanted intruders."

The floor itself was quite spacious, especially considering that Yohana would have it all to herself. The bedroom, bathroom, and dining room were all interconnected, creating a seamless living space.

The first thing Yohana sought out was the mirror on the dressing table. Standing in front of it, she reached out and touched her reflection.

To her astonishment, the stranger staring back at her was none other than Ramona, the person she had intended to assassinate the previous night.

"I shall excuse myself now, Your Highness, so you can rest comfortably. Please don't hesitate to call for me if you need anything."

Madam Geneviere pointed at the bell rope beside the bed and said, "This bell is connected to both my room and my office in the brothel. If you ring it, I will attend to you immediately."

***

So far, Yohana had gathered several pieces of information. First, she came to the realization that she had somehow taken over Ramona's body instead of perishing.

Second, it became apparent that Ramona was not who she portrayed herself to be. Despite the rumors of her being the renowned and exclusive prostitute of Nanty Narking, she was not a prostitute at all.

Third, it seemed likely that Ramona was actually Princess Viktoria Runa von Schauenstein, the escaped former princess. She may have adopted the name Ramona to conceal her true identity.

That would explain Madam Geneviere's insistence on swiftly removing Ramona from the town square. She must have been afraid that Ramona's true identity would be discovered, which could lead to Yohana, now inhabiting Ramona's body, being exposed and facing the same fate as the former king and queen.

It seemed likely that Madam Geneviere had connections with the Rotschild, a clandestine organization dedicated to supporting the previous monarchy. This was evident from the way she addressed Ramona and her protective actions.

While Ramona remained hidden in an unexpected place, her supporters would occasionally visit her, bringing gifts as a show of loyalty. This would explain the sightings of noblemen and the mysterious nature surrounding Ramona's existence.

Now that she had regained her footing, Yohana needed to uncover the identity of her killer and the motive behind her death.

There were a few individuals who were aware of her mission: The Shadow, her employer; Ramona, the woman whose body she now inhabited; and the person assigned to monitor Yohana's movements.

One of them was likely the culprit.

To uncover the truth, Yohana would have to immerse herself in her new identity and play along. Fortunately, assuming different identities and pretending to be someone else was not a challenge for her, as she had done so countless times in the past as part of her missions.

About a week after the public execution, a significant event took place. Madam Geneviere paid Yohana a visit, accompanied by a guest. "Your Highness, someone is here to see you," she announced.

Yohana granted permission for Madam Geneviere and the guest to enter. The visitor was a well-groomed gentleman in a frock coat, with polished leather shoes and gloves. He removed his silk top hat and placed it on his stomach as he bowed.

"Greetings, Princess Runa. I am Count Yannik von Berger. There is something I would like to discuss with you. I'm afraid, your parents were falsely accused of treason."