ARIA POV
My fingers dug into the silk sheets, the soft fabric bunching under my grip
The Princess Who Lived Twice. My book. My escape. It lay open on the velvet chair, a silent, impossible witness to what was happening
This couldn't be real. My mind screamed for it to be a dream, a very detailed, very strange dream caused by too much shouting and too little sleep but the smell of lavender was too strong, the silk too real against my skin, the woman kneeling beside me too solid, her tears too genuine
"You remember nothing?" the lady asked again, her voice soft, worried
She looked at me with such deep concern, like I was the most precious thing in the world. It was a look I hadn't seen directed at me in… well, ever
My parents looked at me with annoyance, or sometimes, just nothing at all
I swallowed hard, trying to get my voice to work. If I told her I was Aria Lane from a small, tired house, that I had no idea who she was or why I was wearing a fancy blue dress, she'd think I was crazy. Or worse, she'd send me back
Back to the noise, back to the loneliness. A tiny, desperate spark of hope flickered inside me. What if this wasn't a dream? What if this was my wish, finally coming true?
"I… I feel a little fuzzy" I managed, trying to sound confused, not completely clueless
"My head aches" It wasn't a lie. My head did ache, probably from the shock of it all
The lady's face softened even more
"Oh, my dear, of course it does. You've had quite the ordeal. The healers said it might take time for your memories to fully return"
She reached out and gently stroked my forehead, her touch cool and soothing
"We were so worried. For days, you just… slept"
Days? I'd only gone to sleep last night, after the big fight. Or had I?
My mind felt like a tangled ball of yarn. If I'd been asleep for days, where was Aria? Was she still in her bed, or was she… gone? The thought sent a shiver down my spine
"What… what happened?" I asked, trying to sound like I was genuinely trying to remember, not like I was fishing for clues
The lady sighed, a sad, soft sound
"It was the fever, Princess. A sudden, terrible fever. It came on so quickly, and you were so weak. We thought… we truly thought we might lose you" She squeezed my hand, her eyes glistening again
"But the gods are merciful. You are here, you are awake"
Fever. That was a good cover. It explained why I didn't remember anything. And it explained why I felt a bit weak and disoriented. I could work with this
"And… who are you?" I asked, my voice still a little shaky
I knew she was a lady-in-waiting, like in the book, but I needed her to tell me. I needed names, details
She smiled, a kind, gentle smile that reached her eyes
"My apologies, Princess. It's Lady Elara. I have been your lady-in-waiting since you were a little girl. And this" she gestured around the huge, beautiful room
"is your chamber in the Royal Palace of Eldoria"
Eldoria. The name of the kingdom in The Princess Who Lived Twice. My heart did a little flip-flop. This was it. This was really happening
"Eldoria" I repeated, testing the word on my tongue. It felt strange, yet familiar, like a half-forgotten melody
Lady Elara nodded, her smile widening
"Indeed and you, my dear Princess, are Princess Lyra"
My breath hitched
Lyra
The heroine
The quiet girl who became a princess. I was her. I was her. The girl I'd wished to be, the one who mattered
A wave of dizziness washed over me, a mix of disbelief, wonder, and a terrifying sense of being completely out of my depth
"Lyra" I whispered again, trying to make it sound natural. It felt like trying on a dress that was far too grand for me
"Yes, Lyra" Lady Elara confirmed, her voice full of warmth
"You must be hungry. I will fetch you some broth. And then, perhaps, a bath? You've been in bed for so long"
A bath. The thought of warm water, of truly being clean, sounded wonderful
My old house had a leaky shower and a perpetually cold bathroom
"Yes, that sounds… lovely" I said, trying to sound regal, like a princess. It probably came out more like a mouse squeak
Lady Elara rose gracefully, her golden skirts rustling
"I shall return shortly. Do not worry about anything, my Princess. Just rest" She gave me another gentle, reassuring smile before turning and sweeping out of the room, the heavy door closing softly behind her
As soon as she was gone, I let out a shaky breath I hadn't realized I was holding
My hands flew to my face, covering my mouth. I was Lyra. Princess Lyra. In Eldoria. This was insane. This was impossible. This was… everything I had ever dreamed of
I threw off the silken covers and swung my legs over the side of the bed. My feet touched a thick, plush carpet that felt like walking on clouds
I stood up, my legs a little wobbly from lying down for so long (or from the sheer shock)
The blue gown flowed around me, light as air. I walked over to a tall, ornate mirror set in a silver frame
My reflection stared back at me. It was me, Aria. My same brown hair, a little messy now, my same wide, hazel eyes, a bit dazed. But something was different
My skin looked clearer, softer. My eyes seemed brighter, less tired. And the gown… it transformed me
It made me look taller, more elegant, less like the girl who hid in hallways at school. It was still me, but a polished, slightly ethereal version of me. A princess version
I turned, taking in the room again. It was even more stunning than I had first noticed. Beyond the huge bed, there was a sitting area with two velvet armchairs and a small, carved table
A large fireplace, unlit, dominated one wall, its mantelpiece adorned with intricate carvings of mythical creatures
Sunlight, now breaking through the gray clouds I'd seen earlier, streamed through tall, arched windows, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air
The blue curtains, I realized were made of silk embroidered with silver threads that shimmered like tiny stars
Every piece of furniture was made of dark, polished wood, gleaming softly. There were no cracks in the ceiling, no peeling paint, no worn-out carpets
Everything was perfect.
I walked over to the velvet chair where my book lay. I picked it up, my fingers tracing the familiar golden crown
This was the book that had brought me here. Or, rather, my wish. Could a wish really be this powerful? To transport me from my miserable life to the world of my favorite story? It felt like magic. Real magic
I opened the book to a random page. It was BLANK??
Frantically I flipped through each page all was blank….like the words never existed and just when I thought nothing could be more insane
Words started to appear…..The beginning of the book but thy were different from what I remembered
My eyes widened in shock as I read them…it was writing what had just happened…my words…Lady Elara words….The Queen's words
Was I REWRITING THE STORY???
I dropped the book back on the table and shifted back in shock but that was the least of my concerns
What did Lyra know? What was she like? The Lyra in the book was quiet, kind, a bit shy, but brave when she needed to be. Could I be that? Could I pretend to be her?
A knock at the door startled me
"Princess? May I enter?" It was Lady Elara's voice
"Yes, Lady Elara," I called out, trying to keep my voice steady
The door opened, and Lady Elara entered, followed by two other women, also dressed in elegant, simple gowns
One carried a large, steaming basin, and the other had an armful of soft towels and what looked like a small bottle of scented oil
"The bath is ready, Princess" Lady Elara announced, her smile warm
"We've prepared a special blend of herbs to help you relax"
I felt a blush creep up my neck. Having people wait on me, especially to help me bathe, was incredibly awkward. I was used to doing everything myself
"Oh, thank you" I mumbled, feeling like a clumsy imposter
They led me to a separate part of the room, behind a beautiful carved screen, where a large, claw-footed tub had been filled with steaming water
The air was thick with the scent of lavender and something else, something sweet and calming
One of the women, a younger girl with bright, curious eyes, helped me out of the blue gown, her movements quick and efficient
I tried not to stiffen under her touch, reminding myself that this was normal for a princess
The bath was pure heaven. The water was perfectly warm, the scent relaxing, and the women gently washed my hair and skin
It felt like all the tension, all the grime from my old life, was being washed away. For a few minutes, I almost forgot I was pretending
I just closed my eyes and let myself float, feeling lighter than I had in years.
When I emerged, wrapped in a huge, fluffy towel, I felt like a new person
They helped me into a fresh gown, this one a soft, pale green, made of the same light, luxurious fabric as the blue one. It felt amazing
"Now, for some nourishment" Lady Elara said, guiding me back to the sitting area
A small table had been set with a delicate bowl of steaming broth, a plate of fresh bread, and a cup of what smelled like herbal tea
I sat down, feeling a little more confident after the bath. The broth was rich and savory, the bread soft and warm
It was better than anything I'd ever eaten at home. As I ate, Lady Elara sat opposite me, watching me with that same gentle, concerned expression
"Your father, the King, has been asking about you constantly, Princess" she said softly
"He was beside himself with worry. He'll be so relieved to hear you're fully awake"
My father, the King. Another jolt. I had a king for a father. Not Arthur Lane, the man who yelled about bills. This was… overwhelming
"He… he must have been" I said, trying to sound suitably grateful
"I'm sorry to have caused so much worry"
"Nonsense, my dear" Lady Elara said, waving a dismissive hand
"Your health is paramount. The entire court has been in a state of unease. Your brother, Prince Theron, has also been very anxious"
Brother? Oh, right. Lyra had a brother in the book. Theron. He was brave and a bit reckless, but fiercely loyal to Lyra
This was getting complicated. I had to remember all these details
"Theron" I repeated, trying to recall his description from the book. Tall, dark hair, a scar over one eyebrow
"He's… well?"
Lady Elara chuckled softly
"As well as he can be, with his sister so ill. He's been training relentlessly, trying to distract himself, I imagine. He'll want to see you the moment he hears"
I nodded, trying to look thoughtful. I had to meet a King and a Prince
My new father and brother. This was going to be harder than I thought. I couldn't just be a quiet girl anymore. I had to be Lyra
"Lady Elara" I began, choosing my words carefully
"This… this fever. It has made things… a little hazy. Could you perhaps… tell me a little about… about my duties? My schedule? Just to help me remember?"
Lady Elara's eyes softened even more
"Of course, my dear Princess. It is perfectly understandable. For now, your only duty is to recover your strength. But normally, your days are quite full. There are lessons in history and diplomacy, studies of ancient languages, practice with the court musicians, meetings with the royal advisors on matters of state, and of course, your charitable work in the city"
My eyes widened. History, diplomacy, ancient languages, court musicians, royal advisors, charitable work
My life back home consisted of school, reading, and trying to stay out of the way. This was a whole different world of responsibility. Lyra was busy. Very busy
"And… the magic?" I asked, trying to sound casual, like I was just curious about a forgotten detail
The book was full of magic, but Lady Elara hadn't mentioned it
Lady Elara paused, her smile faltering slightly. Her gaze flickered to the side, almost imperceptibly
"Magic, Princess?" she asked, her voice a little too even
"Eldoria has its ancient legends, of course. But true magic… it is rarely seen these days. Not since the Great Silence, centuries ago"
My heart sank a little. The Great Silence. That was a key plot point in the book
It was when magic had supposedly vanished from the world, leaving only whispers and legends. But Lyra, the real Lyra, was destined to bring it back
If I was Lyra, did that mean I had to bring it back? And how? I didn't know anything about magic. I just read about it
"Oh, right" I said, trying to cover my disappointment
"Of course. Just… a hazy memory, I suppose"
Lady Elara seemed to relax slightly
"Indeed. Now, if you are finished, perhaps a short walk in your private garden? The fresh air would do you good"
The private garden. Another luxury I couldn't imagine. I nodded, eager to see more of this incredible place
We walked through a large, archway, and I gasped. The garden was breathtaking. Flowers of every color bloomed in neat beds, their scents mingling in the warm air
A small, bubbling fountain stood in the center, its water sparkling in the sunlight
Birds chirped from the branches of ancient-looking trees. It was like stepping into a painting
As we strolled along a gravel path, Lady Elara continued to talk, filling me in on small details about Lyra's life
She spoke of Lyra's love for reading (a relief!), her quiet nature, her kindness to the palace staff, and her dedication to her studies
It was all so familiar from the book, yet so strange to hear it applied to me. I tried to absorb every detail, filing it away, building a mental picture of the girl I was supposed to be
The sun was beginning to set as we returned to my chamber. The golden light streamed through the arched windows, painting the room in warm hues
Lady Elara helped me settle back into the enormous bed
"I will send for the King in the morning, Princess" she said, pulling the covers up to my chin
"He will be overjoyed"
I nodded, a knot forming in my stomach. Meeting the King. My new father. This was the biggest test yet
Lady Elara dimmed the lights, leaving only a soft glow from a magical orb on the bedside table
"Sleep well, my Princess" she whispered, her voice full of affection
She paused at the door, giving me one last gentle smile, before leaving me alone in the vast, silent room
As the door clicked shut, the silence returned, but it was no longer calm and beautiful. It was heavy, filled with the weight of expectation
I was Lyra. I was a princess. I had a king for a father, a prince for a brother, and a whole kingdom that expected me to be someone I wasn't
I had wished for this, wished to be anyone else, anywhere else. And now I was. But the quiet girl from the book, the one who was destined to bring back magic… she was also destined for something else
Something I hadn't fully understood when I was just reading the words
I reached for The Princess Who Lived Twice on the velvet chair, pulling it onto the bed with me
I flipped through the pages, my eyes scanning for clues but still the same blank pages
The story was about Lyra discovering her true power, about facing a great darkness that threatened Eldoria
A darkness that had stolen the magic. A darkness that, in the book, was still lurking, waiting for Lyra to awaken and challenge it
I wasn't just a princess. I was the princess who had to save the world. And I had no idea how
My old life, with its constant noise, suddenly seemed simple, almost peaceful, compared to the terrifying silence of this new, grand reality
I closed my eyes, clutching the book, the weight of a kingdom settling on my shoulders