I couldn't leave the room. No, it wasn't because of the books, though they played a small part in my reluctance. Their familiar weight, the crisp sound of pages turning, and the steady rhythm of words had a way of soothing my racing thoughts, anchoring me to the present. But that wasn't the main reason. The truth was simpler, and far more difficult to admit—I didn't like what the world outside the door had to offer. The outside world felt like a storm, unpredictable and full of chaos, with its constant demands and shifting expectations. Inside, however, felt safer, almost like a sanctuary. It had books and, more importantly, less confusion.
In here, I had control, or at least the illusion of it. Every shelf, every item had its place, and no surprises lurked in the corners. The world outside… it was too loud, too fast. Here, in my little cocoon, everything slowed down. I could breathe without feeling like the walls were closing in on me. I could disappear between the pages of my books, letting other stories distract me from my own. In here, I wasn't forced to confront what I couldn't understand. And lately, there was so much I didn't understand.
A knock on the door shattered the quiet, a sound so abrupt that it sent a tremor through me. I froze, staring at the door as if willing it to stay closed, to keep the world at bay. The knock, soft but insistent, was a signal that my peaceful morning was over, and a terrifying noon awaited me. My pulse quickened as the door handle turned. I wasn't ready for what was waiting on the other side. I never was.
The door creaked open, and the book in my hand slipped from my fingers, landing with a soft thud on the floor. My breath hitched, heart pounding as if it were trying to escape my chest. For a moment, the world tilted, disorienting me. Then I saw her.
Lucy.
The shock hit me like a wave, and before I could process it, I was moving. I jumped out of bed, my legs feeling weak beneath me, and ran straight into her arms. I clung to her, the familiar scent of her hair flooding me with memories—good ones, the kind I didn't think I'd ever feel again.
I had already decided that he was lying. I had convinced myself that it was just another cruel trick, another manipulation to keep me off balance. But Lucy—*my* Lucy—was standing right in front of me. She was warm, real, and alive.
"Lucy," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion as I hugged her tightly. I didn't know what else to say. The words felt tangled in my throat. All I wanted was to hold onto her, to never let go, because maybe if I held her tight enough, she wouldn't disappear again.
Tears welled up in my eyes, but I blinked them away. "You're…" I started, but the words faltered. *You're here. You're alive. I missed you.* None of it seemed enough to capture the storm of feelings churning inside me.
Lucy pulled back slightly, just enough to meet my eyes. "Kael said you thought I was dead," she said softly, her tone gentle but laced with concern.
I hesitated, swallowing the lump in my throat. "The person..." The doubts crept back in, whispering at the edges of my mind. What if she wasn't really Lucy? What if this was just another illusion? "Are you really Lucy?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Her smile broke through, familiar and warm, like sunlight cutting through a cloudy sky. "No, my name is Linda, and I'm good with disguises. His Majesty asked me to pretend to be your sister to deceive you. Your sister is really…" she began, but then her words trailed off as she burst into laughter.
I blinked, confused for a moment before I realized what was happening. "You… hmm, like I wouldn't recognize you," I said, feeling my face flush as I looked away, half-embarrassed, half-relieved. It was her, my sister, and she was teasing me just like old times.
"You're still doubting me," she said, a knowing smile playing on her lips. She knew me too well.
"A sign I've been reading too many villain books," I muttered, sinking back onto the bed. I couldn't help the slight grin tugging at my lips as I teased, "You've aged, you know."
Lucy rolled her eyes, a smirk playing at the corners of her mouth. "Look in the mirror," she shot back. There was a lightness in her voice that hadn't been there before. Lucy never used to smile this much. What had I missed?
I looked down, feeling worse. How could I have been so easily deceived? How could I have let Callum trick me?
"Lili, I know you're confused right now, but believe me, you can trust Kael," Lucy started. "The first time you lost your memories, he told me. I even got that letter you wrote," she said, laughing. What letter? Why is she laughing? "I'll explain everything, so turn off your imagination for a few minutes." I felt a bit offended by that statement.
"You're married," she said. To Callum? "To Kael." To Kael? That extremely beautiful man who looks like he stepped out of a novel? Him? Me? How? "Say it," Lucy sighed.
"How? When? Me? Seriously?" I asked, and she shook her head. "He looks like the male lead from a novel," I added.
"He is," she replied, giving me a knowing look. I know I act like my life is a novel, but it's fun—I can't help it.
"You were saying?" I prompted.
"You've been married for two years," she continued. That's the same thing Callum said. Who is Callum?
Lucy told me everything that happened after that night and how I ended up marrying Kael. None of it rang a bell, but I was glad to hear I had an interesting story.
"Why did you think I was dead?" she asked.
"Well…"
"You were the first to pass out. How could you even think I was dead?" she asked, shaking her head.
"Sorry," I said, looking down. "But Garhian and Erries are on good terms now? Seriously?" I asked, and she nodded. So, I'm a hero? I helped build a relationship between our nations. *As expected of the female lead.*
"I just hope you can remember everything. Why would you forget your happy memories?" she asked.
"I'm happy right now because you're here," I said, hugging her.
"I am too. I was so worried," she said, patting my head.
"I don't want to forget anything else. I don't want to forget again," I mumbled.
"I know," she whispered.
"Can you stay with me?"
"Look at you, acting like a kid," she teased. Lucy had really changed. She used to be much more reserved, but now she was so free. Was I free? Was I genuinely happy? Did everything go my way? Did I really have happy memories? I want to remember… if I did.