Arin's eyes fluttered open, and he was met with an unfamiliar ceiling. Confusion fogged his mind as he struggled to remember his name, his face, and his surroundings. The last thing he recalled was... nothing. No memories, no thoughts, no emotions. Just a void.
As he sat up, a gentle hand on his shoulder guided him back down. "Easy, Your Highness," a soft voice whispered. "You're safe."
Arin's gaze drifted to the face above him, a gentle smile etched on her features. She was a woman with piercing green eyes and raven-black hair, dressed in a flowing white gown.
"Who are you?" Arin croaked, his throat parched.
"I'm Elara, your nurse," she replied, offering him a cup of water. "You're Prince Arin of Eldrador, and you've been... reborn."
Reborn? What did that even mean? Arin's mind reeled as he took the cup and drank the cool liquid. The woman's words echoed in his mind like a mantra: reborn. What did it mean to be reborn?
As he set the cup down, Elara helped him sit up again. This time, Arin noticed the room around him. It was lavishly decorated with intricate tapestries and ornate furnishings. A large window let in sunlight, casting a warm glow over the space.
Elara continued to talk in soothing tones, explaining that he had been reborn into this new world, Eridoria, after his previous life ended suddenly. She told him about his parents, the king and queen of Eldrador, who had arranged two royal marriages for him before his... passing.
Two royal marriages? Arin's mind stumbled over the information. He couldn't remember anything about these people or events. The only thing he knew was that he felt uneasy about these arranged marriages.
Elara's words trailed off as Arin's gaze drifted out the window, his thoughts racing with questions. Who were these princesses? What did they look like? Were they beautiful?
A shiver ran down his spine as a sudden realization hit him: he had no choice but to see them for himself.