Inside the box, two simple yet mesmerizing silver earrings rest beside a delicate necklace, its ruby gemstone gleaming like a drop of frozen fire.
The moment my eyes land on them—
My head spins.
A surge of emotions crashes over me, an overwhelming tide of something—a deep ache, a strange nostalgia, an unshakable sense of longing. Sadness flickers at the edges, tangled with a whisper of hope.
I snap the box shut.
My hands tremble as I clutch it, struggling to steady the frantic rhythm of my heart.
The room suddenly feels smaller. The air, heavier. The walls, closer. It's as if the weight of these forgotten memories is pressing down on me, suffocating.
Eris notices.
She sits beside me without hesitation, her presence grounding me amidst the storm.
"Felicia, are you okay? You look so pale…"
Her hands envelop mine, warm and steady.
That simple touch jolts me back to reality.
"Oh—sorry!" I force a weak chuckle, willing my voice to steady. "I'm just… a bit overwhelmed."
Eris watches me carefully. "Did anything come back to you? Any memories?"
I shake my head, exhaling slowly. "No… nothing."
Nothing tangible, at least. No clear images or recollections.
But the ache in my chest lingers.
And that's even more frustrating.
Even with the box closed, my heart still throbs.
"I see…" Eris murmurs, giving my hands a reassuring squeeze. "But that's alright. Sometimes, feelings are all we have to guide us. I believe your memories will return soon."
"Thank you… I hope so too."
I hand the box back, watching as she carefully places it inside the chest alongside the dress, locking away the beautiful yet perplexing remnants of this mystery—this past that still eludes me.
Eris sighs, tapping the lid thoughtfully. "Even if you don't remember anything, I do know one thing for sure…"
I glance at her, puzzled. "What is it?"
She turns to me, grinning. "Felicia, you must be from a prestigious family. A noble house, maybe? Or the daughter of a wealthy merchant?"
Huh?
I blink, caught off guard. "What makes you say that?"
Eris gestures toward the chest. "Come on, can't you tell? The dress alone was stunning—elegant, masterfully crafted. And the fabric! I've never seen anything quite like it! Not to mention the jewelry—top-tier craftsmanship. Hmmm…" She crosses her arms, narrowing her eyes as if deep in thought.
Then, suddenly, she gasps. "Wait… isn't it usually royalty who wear clothes like that?"
Her eyes widen. "Felicia, could it be… are you a princess?"
"Oooooooh!!!" I gasp dramatically. "A princess…! I see!!!"
Could that be it? The real identity of this catgirl body?
Eris laughs, shaking her head. "Well, whether you're a princess or not, don't worry. I'll keep everything safe until your memories return—or until you decide to take them."
Her sincerity catches me off guard.
If she had any ill intentions, she could have easily sold the dress and jewelry for a fortune. Instead, she locked them away, protected them—for me.
This simple act of kindness touches me in a way I can't quite put into words.
The doubts I had about her—the lingering suspicions—fade, dissolving like mist under the morning sun.
"Eris…" I murmur, hesitating before speaking my next words. "I have a favor to ask."
She tilts her head. "Hm? What is it?"
I swallow. "C-can I… stay with you? At least for a few days? I—I don't know where else to go… I need some time to figure things out."
Eris blinks, then breaks into a wide grin.
"Oh, of course!" she exclaims. "You can stay as long as you need! As long as… you're okay with my tiny little room, hehe."
I let out a relieved sigh. "I don't mind at all. But… are you sure? I don't want to be a burden…"
My gaze drops to our still-intertwined hands.
"Hey, what are you talking about?" Eris lets out a warm laugh. "I don't have much, but at the very least, I have a heart! I refuse to let a young, beautiful girl like you wander around this world alone. If I did, there's no way I could sleep soundly at night!"
The sincerity in her voice shakes me to my core.
I shoot up, bowing deeply. "Thank you, Eris! Thank you so much!"
She chuckles, reaching out to pull me upright again. "Hey, what are you doing? No need for formalities! We're friends, right?"
Friends…?
I blink, startled by the word.
Then—
A smile breaks across my face, the first genuine one since waking up in this world.
"Yes! Friends!"
The tears that had been lingering finally spill over, but this time—
They're tears of relief.
Because in this vast and unfamiliar world, I've found my first true ally.