She woke up in complete darkness except for the sunlight that permeated the little cracks on the thick curtains.
Around her where dimly lit lights that gave off a cool tone which revealed the mural painting on the ceiling, having clouds and stars covering it and dropping down to all corners of the room.
In front of her a dresser, next to a vanity with a crystal ball that also produced a dim light, to her left a comfortable looking couch that was grey in colour and resembled a cloud distinctively with a small silver table in front of it, on the other side a silver door.
" Where am I?", she looked around the room curiously as the bed she laid on tried to sink her back in place.
[ Ehn!], it was just so soft and fluffy also resembling clouds in the night sky. "I must really be dead".
[Stupid Yoonah...], a look of sadness washed over her face as silence fell back in place, she shifted to have a look behind her to see the headboard of the bed she was on.
Her eyes widened to the intricately designed silver that was behind her all forming the shape of a crescent moon that illuminated more dimly than the other lights in the room.
[Oh! This room feels so grand and a little familiar, I have read of this room somewhere, but where?....].
She slowly got off the bed of clouds and walk towards the mirror on the vanity to see her reflection.
Long silver hair draped down her scalp onto her voluptuous breast, her skin as pale as a blooming white Lillies, her night wear was thin and barely left anything to the imagination, her hips curved in a splendid way, her lips were plumpy and juicy pink, her nose was small and pointed and her eyes....
" Ehhh!", she let out a loud shriek as she fell backwards landing at the foot of the bed, her hands land on a book that she hurled forward breaking the mirror.
[That's not me! That's not me!].
" Your highness!", a woman ran into the room alarmed, worry painted on her face as she rushed to throw open the thick curtains letting the golden sun rays bathe the room. All the pre-existing lights in the room vanished.
"Your highness, are you ok?", She looked distressed as she knelt down to her level placing her palm over her forehead.
She flinched visibly before relaxing to take in the woman's features.
Messy honey brown hair and warm, homely hazel eyes her eyes had some wrinkles under them and she seemed to be in her early thirties, a slight lavender scent lingered in the air.
[This may be a wild guess but...].
"...Larisa?".
"Yes your highness, are you hurt?", the woman responded immediately and quietly waited for her words.
[How is it even possible for me to be in this book I read a year ago?].
She leaned into her palm still on her forehead taken in her innocent warmth and attention that was given to only her at that moment.
[How long have I missed this kind of warmth].
"I'm not feeling too well, I want to sleep a little more?".
[Who wouldn't feel sick if they ever ended up in this twisted story], she restrained herself from sneering.
[The Emperor's Cursed Melody (T.E.C.M), this must be the universe bad attempt to pretend like my suffering never existed or maybe this is just a bad dream].
"Yes your highness", Larisa said removing her hand from her forehead as she glanced over at the shards of glass that littered the floor," I will clean this up now your highness and ask the steward to provide a new mirror for you".
She paused briefly before she continued, "Would you also like me to call for the physician? Your fever hasn't gone down for a week now, you mustn't over work yourself your highness", she stared at her waiting for her response.
"Don't worry Larisa I won't do it again and you don't have to call the physician nor bother the steward for another mirror".
"But your highness Selene...". "Don't worry Larisa, I'll be ok, if I don't get better after today you may call the physician", she reassured.
"Yes your highness", Larisa reluctantly agreed as she moved over to carefully clean up the glass shards.
[I'll have to think of a way to outsmart the physician if I ever meet him because I can't stand it if this story deviate from the original events, then I may not be able to predict a thing anymore].
Larisa quietly leaves the room after throwing one more long glance her way.
~~~~~~~~~~~
She walked through the corridor while looking a little thoughtful.
[Something is different about the princess, her eyes still look a little lifeless but she has changed somehow].
she stared at the palm that she placed on Selene's forehead.
[Maybe it's because she is unwell], she sighed deeply
[That must be it, my most cherished person is unwell].
She sighed again as she disappeared into the corridor holding the bag full of the glass pieces.
~~~~~~~~~~
"Phew! That was too close of a call".
[Was there any flaw with my acting, she didn't seem to notice though].
She landed back on her bed sinking down as she caressed her forehead with a lonely expression.
[Selene...Selene? It can't be!].
She sat up hastily on the bed and stared at her reflection in the silver boil of water on her bed stand.
Hand's trembling," I am now Selene Alessandra Estridsen? How did I get here? How...", she trailed off as she looked into the reflection of her golden eyes that stared back at her sombrely.
" It looks just like his...", her teeth grinded hard against her lower lip till it bled as tears blurred her vision and mucus dripped from her nose.
Her face contorted as her nails dug deep into her palms.
She sobbed, cried and whimpered so sadly like an animal forsaken by it's kin to be consumed by a predator.
She screamed into the sheets in agony as the blazing hot sun that towered outside her window gleamed in amusement.
She sunk deeper into the cloud like bed and cried till she fell weak," who am I?", she whispered, she clutched her chest as she drifted back to her dreamless sleep.
[I don't understand it anymore, my suffering is now like a dream but why do I still feel pain...]