In the grand kingdom of Eldoria, where secrets whispered through palace walls and power was everything, a young princess stirred from a restless sleep.

Princess Liora blinked against the soft glow of dawn, her mind clouded, her heart racing. The familiar scent of lavender drifted through her chambers, but nothing felt right. Her gaze fell upon the shimmering engagement ring on her finger—its presence foreign, its meaning unknown.

Engaged? To whom?

Her head throbbed. Try as she might, the memories of the past year remained locked away in the shadows of her mind. She could recall her childhood laughter echoing through the palace halls, the gentle touch of her mother's hand, and the warmth of her embrace. But everything beyond that was a blur.

Her mother.

A pang of sorrow gripped her chest. The queen—Liora's beloved mother—had died mysteriously. No one spoke of the details, only offering hollow condolences. But Liora remembered fragments: her mother's worried glances, whispered conversations with an old woman in the dead of night, and a tearful promise.

"You must forget... for now."

Her mother had known something—a dangerous truth. And just when she was on the brink of revealing it, she died. Some said it was an illness. Others whispered of betrayal. But deep down, Liora knew it was more.

The door to her chamber creaked open.

Liora stiffened as her stepmother, Queen Selene, glided in—a vision of beauty with a heart as cold as the northern winds. Selene's eyes gleamed with something unreadable, and her crimson lips curved into a smile that never reached her eyes.

"Awake at last, dear Liora," Selene purred. "Your prince awaits. The kingdom rejoices for your upcoming union."

The prince?

Liora's stomach twisted. A hazy image of a grand wedding flashed before her—a crown too heavy for her head, vows spoken with trembling lips. A stranger beside her.

Who was this prince? Why couldn't she remember marrying him?

Her stepmother leaned in, lowering her voice. "You must prepare. The prophecy draws near."

Liora's blood ran cold. Prophecy?

The old woman from her memories... her mother's warnings... the lost year... It was all connected.

But danger lurked in every shadow. The truth about her mother's death and the prophecy could destroy the kingdom—and her. Someone powerful didn't want her to remember.

And as the walls closed in, with her stepmother watching her every move and a prince she couldn't trust by her side, one question remained:

Who would save her from the coming storm?

Would it be the prince she never chose?

The mysterious old woman who still watched from afar?

Or would Liora save herself—unlocking the memories that could either redeem her kingdom or doom it forever?