Aden woke with a jolt, gasping for air. His chest heaved, his lungs struggling as though he'd just surfaced from drowning. The room was dim, the flicker of a nearby lantern casting shadows on the ornate ceiling above him. He blinked several times, his heart hammering in his chest. The details around him came into focus—a grand bed, intricate carvings on the furniture, silk curtains.
He sat up abruptly, his hands trembling as they pressed against his chest. "I'm alive?" he whispered hoarsely. His fingers ran over his arms, his face—everything intact, no pain. "Was it… just a dream?"
A timid voice shattered his thoughts.
"Y-Your Highness? Are you… alright? You were screaming…"
Aden's head snapped toward the sound. A boy—no, a teenager—stood by the bed. His blonde hair was slightly messy, and his wide purple eyes were filled with worry. He wore modest, historical-looking clothes that seemed out of place in this extravagant room.
"Your Highness?" Aden's thoughts screeched to a halt. 'What the hell did he just call me?'
He stared at the boy, his mind racing. This didn't make sense. None of it did. Aden glanced down at himself, his breath catching. He was wearing a silky, embroidered outfit—luxurious and alien, like something from a costume drama. The fabric was soft against his skin, too real to be a dream.
"No fucking way," he muttered. "This can't be real."
The boy stepped closer, his concern deepening. "Y-Your Highness, should I call for the maids? You look pale."
"What did you call me?" Aden's voice cracked, his throat dry.
"Your Highness," the boy repeated, his hands fidgeting nervously. "Are you hurt? Should I fetch the doctor?"
'This is a dream. This is definitely a dream.'
Aden didn't answer. Instead, he raised his hand and slapped himself, hard. The sting exploded across his cheek, sharp and immediate. He hissed, clutching his face.
"Fuck that hurt."
The boy gasped, horrified. "Y-Your Highness! Why would you—oh no! Please, don't hurt yourself!" He darted toward the door. "Someone! The prince is awake! Come quickly!"
Aden barely registered the words before the door burst open. Two maids rushed in, their skirts swishing as they hurried to his side.
"Your Highness!" one of them exclaimed, her voice soft yet firm. "Please, calm yourself! You're safe."
'Safe?'
Another maid approached cautiously, her hands raised in a placating gesture. "You've been unwell, Your Highness. Please, don't exert yourself. Let us help."
Aden staggered to his feet, his legs weak and unsteady. "I don't belong here!" he yelled, his voice raw. "I need to go home! You don't understand!"
'Is this...Is this a transmigration? The crap Kaz always reads?'
The maids exchanged nervous glances but held their ground. One stepped closer, her expression pleading. "Your Highness, please lie down. You're still recovering. If you push yourself too hard—"
"Stop calling me that!" Aden snapped, backing away from their outstretched hands. His breathing quickened as panic clawed at his chest. "I'm not who you think I am!"
'It must be...right?'
The maids froze, unsure of what to do. One turned toward the door and called out, "Fetch the doctor! Quickly!"
'But why? Why the fuck am I here?'
Moments later, an elderly man strode in, his fine robes and composed demeanor exuding authority. His sharp eyes swept over Aden, taking in his disheveled state. "What is the prince's condition?" he asked the maids.
The younger of the two replied, "He's… he's confused, Your Grace. He's saying strange things, and he refuses to calm down."
Aden's eyes locked onto the man. "Who are you?" he demanded, his voice trembling but forceful.
The doctor stepped forward, his tone calm and measured. "I am Doctor Lysander, Your Highness. I've been attending to you since your fall. You struck your head quite hard, and the resulting concussion has left you… disoriented."
"Concussion?" Aden repeated, his brows knitting together in confusion. "What fall? I didn't fall! I was hit by a car!"
"A car?" one of the maids asked, her tone a mix of concern and bewilderment. "Your Highness, what is a car?"
Aden stared at her, incredulous. "What? How do you not know what a car is? A car! A vehicle you ride to travel places!"
"Vehicle?" the other maid whispered, glancing nervously at the doctor. "He's speaking gibberish now. His condition must be worse than we thought."
The doctor's brow furrowed, though his voice remained steady and professional. "Your Highness," he began, "you slipped while attempting to climb the column near His Majesty's room yesterday. You've been recovering since then. The confusion you're experiencing is a common symptom of head trauma."
"No!" Aden shouted, his voice rising as frustration and panic clawed at his chest. "That's not what happened! I'm not this prince you keep calling me! I don't know who you think I am, but I need to go home!"
'Kaz needs me!'
The younger maid stepped forward, her voice soft yet insistent. "Your Highness, you've been here for a month already. You've never once spoken about wanting to go home. Why now?"
'A month?!' Aden's eyes widened, his mind racing as he shook his head violently. "No, that's not... That's not me. I have to get home to my sister! I need my sister!"
The maids exchanged worried glances. One of them reached out, her tone soothing but firm. "Your sister is safe in your kingdom, Your Highness. Please, try to understand. We know this must be troubling, but you need to listen to us."
'This can't be happening. It's all wrong. None of this makes sense.'
The doctor stepped closer, his hands raised in a placating gesture. His expression softened with sympathy. "Your Highness, please. This confusion will pass with time, but you mustn't agitate yourself further. Stress will only delay your recovery."
"I'm not confused!" Aden screamed, his voice cracking with desperation. "This isn't my life! I don't belong here!"
The maids flinched at his outburst, their concern etched into their faces. The doctor sighed deeply, as though carrying the weight of an unpleasant decision. He glanced at the maids, his expression grim, before giving a curt nod. "Hold him steady."
Aden's eyes widened in panic as the maids moved toward him, their steps cautious but determined. "No," he muttered, retreating instinctively. "No! Stay away from me!"
'I need to get back to Kaz.'
The maids reached him despite his frantic attempts to back away, their grips firm as they held his arms. Aden thrashed wildly, his voice raw with desperation. "Let me go! I need to go home!"
'I'm all she has left!'
The doctor approached, his hand outstretched and steady. His voice was calm but tinged with regret. "This is for your own good, Your Highness."
"No!" Aden's cries grew more frantic, his tears spilling freely. "Please, you don't understand! My sister—"
'Please, listen to me. I'm begging you.'
The doctor placed a cool hand on Aden's forehead and murmured a single word. "Sleep."
A sharp pain lanced through Aden's skull, cutting off his cries as his vision blurred. His body went limp, his voice fading into silence. The last thing he saw before the darkness swallowed him was the worried faces of the maids and the trembling boy standing in the doorway.
"I'm sorry, Your Highness,"