Elara multitasked, effortlessly keeping up with Lyric and Given's conversation, her mind trying to piece together the key elements she had just absorbed. 'Darius is the reason why I ended up here?' Her thoughts circled back to him, to the memory loss, and to the strange happenings surrounding her life.
She could hear her heartbeat loud in her ears as she turned and fixed her gaze on Given. He felt the weight of her stare, meeting her eyes for only a brief moment before quickly averting his attention to Lyric. He knew the princess could read a room with ease, and right now, she was reading him .
Elara's thoughts scrambled as she turned her attention back to the window. The world outside blurred as she asked herself questions that felt as foreign as the people around her. Do I even have children ? Who are these people ? Whose castle is this ? What am I doing here ?
Her breath quickened, and her eyes burned with the threat of unshed tears. She felt them pressing against her lashes but refused to let them fall. Not in front of these strangers. Before she could embarrass herself further, the carriage came to a stop.
"Yes ! We are finally here. Your Majesty?" Lyric's bubbly voice broke through Elara's spiraling thoughts.
Elara turned to look at her, her vision momentarily blurring white. "Huh?" she responded in a daze.
"We're finally here! Aren't you excited to see the new town?" Lyric asked, her voice bubbling with excitement.
New town ? Happy ?
"Yes, yes." Elara's response felt too loud in her own ears, and she quickly shook her head to refocus. "I'll be right outside with you. I just need some time alone."
Lyric's enthusiasm dimmed slightly, but she offered a soft smile and nodded. "Yes, of course, Your Majesty."
As Lyric exited the carriage, Given knew the moment he stepped out, he would be bombarded with a million questions from her—those bright, puppy eyes always wanting answers.
But before he could leave, Elara's voice stopped him.
"Do I know you?"
Given froze, turning around just in time to see her staring into nothingness. Her words caught him off guard, and he watched as she continued.
"It's just that I lost my memory, and... things aren't making sense lately." Her voice softened, vulnerable in a way he hadn't expected.
He hesitated, then walked back toward her, pausing to close the door just enough to shield them from the outside world. "What do you think, Your Majesty?" he asked, his voice calm but searching. "Do you think we know one another?"
Elara's gaze remained distant, but there was something in her expression—something wistful. "I think you know me. But I don't think I remember you. I just feel it... you know?" She closed her eyes for a moment, collecting herself before opening them to stare at him. "You radiate so much warmth, a familiarity that reminds me briefly of my past, but not fully." She paused. "And... the person you were talking with last night—"
Her sentence was interrupted by the sudden opening of the door. Harrison stood outside with a smirk on his lips, the interruption almost causing Given to slice Harrison's throat open.
"Your Majesty, the King is already inside having tea with the local people. They are waiting on you."
Elara blinked, the weight of the conversation temporarily lifted as she stood up, ready to face what awaited her.