The next few days were a blur.

I spent most of them in the lavish room I had woken up in, surrounded by servants and healers who treated me with deference and concern. They told me that I was recovering from an illness, though I still hadn't gathered any concrete details about the "curse" I was supposed to have endured. The more they hovered around me, the more I became frustrated with the lack of answers.

But as much as I tried to push the questions aside, I couldn't stop thinking about one thing: Who was I now?

Lady Astrid. That name had been drilled into my head, but the person behind it remained a mystery. I had no memories, no sense of self other than the strange awareness that this body wasn't mine. At first, I had assumed I would wake up in a fantasy world—something like the ones you read about in books or see in movies. But this was different. This was real. Or, at least, it felt real. The weight of the silken sheets, the scent of herbs from the healer's potions, the intricate designs of the tapestries—they were too vivid to be a dream.

And yet, I had no recollection of how I had arrived here.

After days of lying in bed with no real answers, I decided I couldn't wait any longer. I needed to take matters into my own hands. Maybe there was someone out there who could help me figure this out—someone who knew who Lady Astrid truly was.

That morning, I forced myself out of bed. The sunlight streamed through the tall windows of my room, casting long shadows across the marble floor. I still wasn't fully recovered, but I was determined. My body felt weak, but I could move.

A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. I barely had time to react before the door opened to reveal Eldrin, the man who had greeted me when I first woke up. His face was impassive, but his eyes were filled with concern as they met mine.

"My lady," he said, bowing slightly. "Are you feeling well enough to receive visitors today?"

I paused, considering his question. "Visitors?" I repeated. "Who?"

Eldrin hesitated, clearly unsure of how much to reveal. "Lady Selene is expected to visit today. She is quite close to you, my lady. It may help to speak with her. Perhaps she can provide some clarity."

"Lady Selene?" The name tugged at something deep within me, though I couldn't place why it sounded familiar. "I suppose I could meet her," I said, though I wasn't entirely sure what I hoped to gain from it.

Eldrin nodded. "Very well, my lady. I will inform her of your readiness."

With a final bow, he exited the room. As soon as the door closed behind him, I felt a gnawing sense of unease. A visit from a close friend? It felt wrong—like a piece of the puzzle was right in front of me, but I couldn't quite see it.

I glanced at the full-length mirror across the room. The face staring back at me was undeniably beautiful. Lady Astrid's face—my face now—was delicate, framed by long, flowing chestnut hair that cascaded down to my waist. Her eyes were a vibrant green, framed by long lashes, and her skin was smooth and pale, as though untouched by the sun. Everything about her appearance screamed nobility, but it felt like a mask to me. I didn't recognize the person I saw.

I turned away from the mirror with a frustrated sigh and paced across the room. The soft sound of footsteps outside the door told me that Eldrin was returning, and not a moment later, he re-entered the room.

"Lady Selene has arrived," he announced, his voice softer than usual. "Shall I show her in?"

I nodded, though a part of me still felt unsure. Whatever Lady Selene's role was in this story, I had to meet her. The uncertainty gnawed at me like an itch I couldn't scratch.

Eldrin stepped aside, and a woman entered the room. She was tall, elegant, with dark, flowing hair that contrasted sharply with Lady Astrid's golden locks. Her violet gown shimmered in the light, and she moved with an almost regal grace. But it wasn't her appearance that immediately caught my attention—it was the look in her eyes.

Lady Selene's eyes were intense, filled with something I couldn't quite place—concern? Fear? Or was it something deeper?

"Ah, Astrid," she said with a soft, knowing smile, her voice warm but laced with an edge. "You look better than I expected."

I stood there for a moment, staring at her. Was this someone I should recognize? My pulse quickened as she approached, but I felt nothing—no connection, no spark of recognition. I forced a smile, doing my best to mimic the behavior of someone who was at ease.

"Lady Selene," I said, unsure of the proper etiquette. "It's good to see you."

Selene's eyes softened as she walked toward me, but I could tell she was assessing me. "Are you certain you're well enough for a conversation, Astrid? You've been through so much lately…"

I nodded, though the way she said lately made me wonder if she thought I had gone through something more than just physical illness. "I've been feeling a bit... confused," I confessed, lowering my voice. "There's so much I don't remember."

Her gaze flickered, and I caught a hint of something—regret, maybe? She took a deep breath, sitting down beside me on the bed. "It's understandable," she said, her voice soft and careful. "After everything that's happened, you'll need time to regain yourself. But I'll be here to help you through it."

"Everything that's happened?" I repeated, heart pounding. "What do you mean?"

Selene hesitated, and for a moment, I thought she might withdraw completely. But then, she placed a hand gently on mine. "Astrid, you've been cursed."

The word curse hit me like a punch to the gut. "I—what do you mean?"

She looked at me with sadness in her eyes. "You've lost your memories. But that's not the worst part, Astrid. You've been marked for something far more dangerous."

The weight of her words settled over me like a dark cloud. The pieces were starting to fall into place, but the puzzle was still far from complete.