The morning light, soft and golden, streamed through the arched windows of my new, impossibly grand bedroom
It painted the golden stars on the ceiling with a warm glow, making them seem to twinkle
I blinked, trying to shake off the last whispers of sleep, and for a split second
I expected to see my old, cracked ceiling, to hear the familiar creak of the floorboards as my parents started their day downstairs
But instead, there was only the vast, luxurious space, the scent of lavender, and a silence so deep it almost hummed
I was Lyra. Princess Lyra. In Eldoria. The realization hit me again, a dizzying wave of disbelief and a strange, thrilling excitement
I wasn't Aria Lane, the invisible girl from the small, noisy house. I was someone else, somewhere else
And this time, it wasn't just a wish whispered into a pillow. It was real
I sat up, the silk sheets sliding down my body. The pale green gown I'd slept in felt like a second skin, light and soft
My eyes immediately went to the velvet chair where The Princess Who Lived Twice lay. It was still there, a tangible link to my old life, and the reason for my new one
I reached for it, pulling it onto the bed. Its worn cover was a comfort, a reminder that this wasn't just some random dream
But then, a new thought, cold and sharp, cut through my wonder. What did I actually know about Lyra?
I knew her from the book, her quiet nature, her kindness, her destiny to bring back magic
But what if the book wasn't the whole story? What if there were parts of Lyra's life, big parts, that weren't written down?
The thought made my stomach clench. The book was my only guide here. If it was wrong, even a little, then I was truly lost
A soft knock at the door broke my thoughts
"Princess? May I enter?" Lady Elara's gentle voice
"Yes, Lady Elara" I called out, quickly placing the book back on the chair, trying to look like a princess who hadn't just been frantically checking her own life story
The door opened, and Lady Elara swept in, her golden gown shimmering in the morning light. She had that same kind, worried smile on her face
"Good morning, my Princess. Did you sleep well?"
"Very well, thank you" I replied, trying to sound calm and regal. It was hard. Every interaction felt like a performance
"Excellent" she said, her eyes crinkling at the corners
"The King is eager to see you, but I told him you needed a peaceful morning
We have a busy day ahead, but nothing too strenuous for your recovery"
A busy day. My mind raced. What kind of busy? More lessons?
More walks in the garden? I needed to find out more, discreetly
Two other ladies-in-waiting followed Lady Elara in, carrying a fresh gown and a tray with a light breakfast: fresh fruit, warm rolls, and a steaming cup of herbal tea
They helped me get ready, their movements practiced and silent. I chose a gown of soft lavender, hoping it would make me look calm and collected, even if I felt like a bundle of nerves inside
As they braided my hair, Lady Elara began to chat, her voice soothing
"The entire palace is buzzing with the news of your recovery, Princess. Everyone is so relieved. Especially… well, especially Prince Kaelen"
My hands which had been resting calmly in my lap, suddenly stiffened
"Prince… Kaelen?" I asked, trying to keep my voice light. The name didn't ring a bell. Not from the book, anyway
Lady Elara nodded, a small, knowing smile playing on her lips
"Indeed. He has been quite insistent on seeing you. He arrived yesterday, the moment he heard you were stirring"
My mind raced. Kaelen. No Prince Kaelen
in The Princess Who Lived Twice
Lyra's story, as I knew it, was about her journey, her discovery of magic, and a slow-burn romance with a kind, honorable knight who helped her on her quest
There was no Kaelen. No other prince
"Oh" I said, trying to sound like I was just remembering
"Right. Prince Kaelen. From… where is he from again?" I hated how clueless I sounded, but I had to know
Lady Elara's smile didn't falter, but her eyes held a hint of something I couldn't quite place – perhaps a touch of pity, or maybe just understanding for my "hazy" memory
"He is from the neighboring kingdom of Veridian, Princess. Prince Kaelen of Veridian. You know, your betrothed"
Betrothed
The word hit me like a physical blow. It echoed in my ears, louder than any plate crashing downstairs
Betrothed
Engaged To a prince
A prince who was not in the book. My stomach dropped, a cold, heavy stone
"My… my betrothed?" I whispered, the words barely audible. My carefully constructed princess facade was crumbling
Lady Elara's brow furrowed slightly
"Yes, Princess. The engagement was arranged many years ago, when you were both children. It is a very important alliance between Eldoria and Veridian. Are you truly so hazy that you've forgotten this?"
Her voice was gentle, but there was a hint of concern, a flicker of doubt in her eyes.
I forced a shaky smile
"No, no, of course not. Just… the fever, you know. It's like a fog. I remember the alliance, of course. Just… the details are a bit blurry" I was a terrible liar. My heart was pounding, a frantic drum against my ribs
This was a massive, terrifying detail that was completely missing from my sacred text
This changed everything. The book was supposed to be my map, my guide through this impossible new world. But if it didn't mention something as huge as an engagement, what else was it leaving out?
What other dangers or surprises were waiting for me, completely unannounced? The world of The Princess Who Lived Twice had suddenly become much more unpredictable, much more dangerous
"Prince Kaelen is… quite eager to see you"
Lady Elara continued, her voice softening, as if trying to cheer me up
"He was very worried during your illness"
I tried to picture him. What would the prince who wasn't in the book be like? If he was
Lyra's betrothed, he should be kind, perhaps a little charming
But the way Lady Elara said "quite eager," it sounded… forced. Like she was trying to convince herself as much as me
"What is he… like?" I asked, trying to sound like a princess who was simply curious about her fiancé after a long illness, not a girl desperately trying to piece together a new life
Lady Elara hesitated, just for a moment, before answering
"Prince Kaelen is… well, he is a strong leader. Very decisive. And very proud of his kingdom, Veridian. He is… quite handsome, in a striking sort of way. Dark hair, sharp features. He carries himself with great confidence"
Strong leader. Decisive. Proud. Strikingly handsome. Great confidence
Those words, put together, painted a picture that was far from the gentle, kind knight from the book
They sounded like… well, they sounded like an egoistic, rude, proud prince
My stomach clenched again. This was worse than I thought. The knight in the book was Lyra's true love, her partner in bringing back magic
If she was engaged to this Kaelen, what did that mean for her destiny? For my destiny?
"He can be… direct" Lady Elara added, almost as an afterthought, her gaze flickering away from mine
"But he means well, I'm sure. He is very devoted to his duties"
Direct. That was a polite way of saying rude, I bet. My mind raced, trying to remember any mention of Veridian in the book
Nothing. It was like this entire part of Lyra's life had been erased from the story I knew