The prince's hand hangs in the air, trembling with anger. For a moment, we stare at each other, locked in a battle of wills. Finally, he lowers his hand and releases my neck. I gasp for air, my heart racing in my chest.
"You are lucky I have more important matters to attend to," he hisses, turning on his heel and striding out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
I slump back onto the bed, trembling with relief. The nurse rushes over to check on me, but I wave her away. I need a moment to collect myself.
As I lay there, my mind races with questions. Who is this prince, and why does he seem to have such a personal vendetta against me? Or is he just that of a narcissist? And why can't I remember my origins, even though I remember everything else?
I realize that I need to find some answers, and fast. But for now, I am stuck in this hospital room, at the mercy of a mysterious kingdom and a dangerous prince. I close my eyes and try to calm my racing thoughts, but I know that sleep will not come easily tonight.
As the night drags on, my thoughts drift to my family and friends, or at least the ones I hope I had. I wonder if they are looking for me, if they even know I'm missing. It's a strange feeling, to know so much about yourself yet have no idea where you came from or who you belong to.
Hours pass before I finally drift off to sleep, but even then, my dreams are haunted by the prince's piercing blue eyes and his cruel grip on my neck. It's not until morning that I wake up, still feeling drained and achy from the events of the previous day.
The nurse comes in to check on me and offers me breakfast, but my stomach turns at the thought of food. I ask her if I can leave the room and explore the hospital, hoping to find some answers about my situation. She hesitates, but eventually agrees to accompany me.
As we walk down the sterile hallways, I can't help but feel like a prisoner in this strange place. I see other patients and staff, but no one seems to take much notice of me. It's as if I'm invisible.
We reach a central area of the hospital, where there's a large bulletin board covered in notices and flyers. I scan the board, hoping to find something that might jog my memory or give me a clue about my past. But all I see are announcements about upcoming events and reminders for staff meetings.
Just as we're about to leave the area, my eye catches on a small flyer that's partially hidden behind a larger one. It's for a local festival, and the picture on the flyer sends a shiver down my spine. It's a drawing of a young woman with long dark hair, and there's something about her that feels familiar.
I ask the nurse if she knows anything about the festival, and she tells me that it's a yearly celebration that takes place in the nearby town. She seems hesitant to say more, but I press her for details. She eventually tells me that the festival is rumored to have some connection to an ancient legend about a powerful sorceress who lived in the area centuries ago.
As we leave the bulletin board behind and continue down the hallway, my mind races with possibilities. Could this festival be the key to unlocking my memories? Or is it just a coincidence? Either way, I know that I need to find out more.
The next day, the nurse tells me that I am allowed to leave my room and explore the hospital grounds. I am grateful for the opportunity to stretch my legs and see more of the kingdom, but I can't shake the feeling of unease that has settled over me since my encounter with the prince.
As I wander through the halls, I notice that the hospital is strangely empty. There are no patients or visitors, and even the staff seems to be scarce. I try to ask the few people I encounter about the prince and my situation, but they either ignore me or seem to be genuinely confused by my questions.
Frustrated and feeling more alone than ever, I wander outside into the courtyard. The sun is shining and the birds are singing, but the beauty of the scene only serves to heighten my sense of isolation.
Suddenly, I hear footsteps behind me, and I turn to see the prince approaching. My heart skips a beat as he strides up to me, a look of disdain on his face.
"I see they've let you out of your cage," he sneers. "Don't get too comfortable. You are still a prisoner in this kingdom."
I clench my fists, my frustration boiling over. "Why won't you tell me what's going on?" I demand. "Where did I come from? What are my origins? And why do you seem to hate me so much?"
The prince stares at me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, he speaks. "You may call me Prince Alaric," he says. "As for your questions, I will answer them in due time. But for now, you must trust that I have your best interests at heart."
I scoff. "How can I trust you when you've been nothing but cruel and evasive?"
The prince's eyes flash with anger. "You would do well to watch your tongue, prisoner," he growls. "I am not a man to be trifled with."
I stand my ground, refusing to be intimidated. "I may be a prisoner, but I still deserve to know the truth," I say firmly. "And I won't stop asking until I get it."
The prince regards me for a long moment, as if weighing his options. Finally, he sighs. "Very well," he says. "But you must promise to keep what I am about to tell you a secret. If anyone were to find out, it could mean the end of both our lives."