My body felt light for a moment. After I felt my weight return, I open my eyes. In front of me was a large black door.

I furrowed my brows, trying to remember the castle's features in the game.

This is not the castle in the game. From what I remember, royal palace doesn't have a wall with black door. Where is this?

Damarius let go of our intertwined hand, then looked at me. "Come in. This is the private residence of the crown prince, don't be noisy. I have a meeting with grand mages. And take this." He gave me a... pebble?

I looked at Damarius with raised eyebrow. "What's this for?"

"Call me. Just put it down, don't need to break it, and I'll pick you up."

Huh? This pebble contains magic? And you say as if this pebble could break-

Wait.. everything possible with magic.. can this pebble break?

"Take care of her, I'm leaving." Damarius said to Helios before disappear.

I looked at Helios curiously. "This pebble contains magic?" I asked, showing it to Helios.

"That's right, the crystal that lady think is pebble, contains young master's magic. It's precious for young master. As far as I know, young master only made 7 pieces because the method used is very difficult."

...this pebble is crystal?

I was silent for a moment, staring at the crystal ball- or should I call it the marble- in my hand, then nodded my head.

It does look precious and hard to make.

Helios opened the door, letting me in. I stepped inside without questioning the whereabouts of the guard who was supposed to be on guard.

I was surprised when I saw the situation behind the door. A forest- no.. a garden that looks like a forest. The path greeted me with a pile of dry leaves that almost covered it.

I walked down a path that seemed endless. In the middle of walking, I realized that all the plants that were here didn't exist in my world. Everything is peculiar and unfamiliar.

Well, there is a tree that looks like an apple tree, but the color of the fruit is blue, while the leaves are bright orange. There is also something like a grape tree but the fruit is green and the leaves are purple. There is another that looks like a mango tree but the fruit looks like gold and the leaves are grayish white.

I'm curious about how these trees photosynthesize so they can become big and sturdy like this... is its chlorophyll content of these tree high?

I tilted my head slightly and thought.

Ah- I forgot that this world is a fantasy, and all that is impossible can happen.

"Lady Lavenia, we have arrived. You are the only one that allowed to enter, I will wait for you here" Helios' voice that sounded like a whisper interrupted my thoughts. I looked at a door made of hanging vines.

I took a deep breath then exhale slowly and nod. Helios pulled the plant aside, makes it easy for me to enter.

I looked around, and saw a wide hall with brown walls and cream-colored abstract motifs. There are only two doors here, the one I just went through and the black door on the other side.

Empty... I don't see any decoration here. There were only a few decorative lights surrounding the hall.

This is the crown prince's residence right? Did they send the wrong address? Or did Damarius misled me here? They didn't sold me, right...?

I shook my head.

Ugh... snap out of it Melina! Your mind would run wild if it's continue, and it would be troublesome.

I stepped forward, but immediately stop when I felt my foot stepping on something that very soft. Surprised, I looked down. A green carpet that resembled grass covered the entire floor in this hall.

Ah... this is going to be troublesome... how can I who wear heels walking on this carpet...

I decided to carry my heels and walk without them. I felt the softness of the carpet when it touched my feet directly.

After arriving in front of the black door, I knocked lightly three times, considering the sound would echo in this empty room if it was too loud.

"Enter." a low voice came from behind the door.

I slowly opened the door and went inside, and didn't forget to close the door again.

This room looks like a small library. It's just that there's a bed in the corner, in front of a large glass window. There were no lights, only lighting from the sun shining through the large glass.

"Come close." I turned my attention to someone, who I assumed was the crown prince, sitting back and reading a book on the bed. He wore a white coat.

I walked closer nervously. Right beside him, I bowed slightly. "I, Lavenia Alfaret, greet your highness the crown prince." I said following the words in the game.

"You may raise." he said. I straightened myself and looked at the crown prince who was still reading his book.

His skin is pale white and looks soft. His hair is straight, black and looks shiny in the sunlight. His lips are soft pink. And his eyes are ruby red mixed with golden brown at the bottom, its locked on the book he was reading.

Ok, so far the response to me is decent, there are no guards or sword around either, meaning I'm safe. I waited for him to speak.

One minute passed.

Two minutes passed...

Three minutes..!

Ugh! My heart feels like it's about to burst! Hey! Put the book down and quickly say what you want!

I let out a small cough to get his attention, and it worked. He glanced at me out of the corner of his eye.

His gaze was intimidating, causing me to look down and squeeze my dress.

He closed his book. "You know what you did?"

Damn, this is scary! I feel like an interrogated suspect!

I shook my head slowly.

He sighed. "I heard you lost your memory. Is it true?"

I nodded.

"Lady Alfaret, I'm not suggesting you lie in front of me." He warned me in a low voice.

Once again I shook my head. "I dare not do such a thing." I said reassuringly, even though it would be useless to convince him because of the trust issues he had.

He chuckles. "You really are a stubborn woman. Now look at the consequences you get."

I looked at him, blinking twice. "Pardon?"

He brushed his hair back with five fingers. "Reckless. I've never seen a woman so reckless as you."

I who was called like that felt annoyed. "I will take it as a compliment." I put on a forced smile.

If you're not the crown prince, I would have slapped your disrespectful mouth now.

He put the book aside and looked at me. "Do you regret it?"

Regret? "I don't quite get it. Your highness saying something that I didn't know. Could your highness tell me the meaning of that?"

He sighed. "No, forget it. How are you?"

"Uhm... I'm fi-" I stopped my words and furrowed my brows, confused.

Wait... he got stabbed, not me. Why did he ask how I was? I don't think he cares about other people...

I widened my eyes when I realize something. "Ah! I'm sorry for being inconsiderate! How are you, your highness?" I slightly raised my voice unconsciously.

He covered his ears with both hands and hissed slightly in pain.

Oh no... Melina, you really are stupid! He has hyperacusis! Why are you raising your voice?!

"Keep your voice down, my hearing is a little sensitive." He glared at me.

"My apologies..." I froze, sweating on the spot.

"Sigh.. forget it." He reached into a pocket inside his coat, took out two round white object, and put it to his ears.

He got up from his bed and put down the book he had been reading to the shelf. "Now, what do you want?"

...what? "Uhm.. pardon?"

He walked towards me with one eyebrow raised. "What do you want? Money? Power? Fame? Or something else?"

Out of nowhere? why are you behaving like this? You'd been talking non sense from the beginning.

I looked at him in confusion.

He stopped in front of me, looking at me seriously. "You really lost your memory?"

What does my wish have to do with me lost my memory?

I frowned. "Your highness, I don't understand what are you talking about. And I'm not lying about my memory loss."

He paused, looking into my eyes. "Okay, I believe." he said, then paused before speaking again. "Me and you, that day made a bet. You win, one wish. I win, quit."

...your explanation is very good. Even babies can understand what you are saying.

Sigh... I don't know what quit means, but I do know that I win and you will grant my one wish.

"I understand a little. May I know what the bet are?"

He backed away, sitting on the side of the bed. "You'll know when your memory returns."

Really, can't you stop being annoying for once?

I put on my fake smile. "Then, can I postpone my wish until my memory returns?" He nodded.

He looked at me, making me sweat drop. "Uhm.. is there anything else you need from me?"

He smiled and quickly covered it with his hand as if coughing.

Ok, I'm sure that he just smiled. What is so funny?

"You are a peculiar person."

...aren't you the peculiar one here? And why are you laughing?

"What do you mean by that?"

He looked at me, removing his hand. I saw a small smile etched on his face, making him even more handso- quite pleasing to the eye.

"No woman holds her heels when she meets the royal family."

I widened my eyes slightly, spontaneously dropping the heels I was carrying.

I forgot! Ah!!! This is embarrassing...! I want to disappear right this moment...

Notes:

Trust issues is a condition in which a person has low trust in others. Usually this is caused by several things, such as having experienced betrayal and unfaithfulness.

Hyperacusis is a condition in which a person's hearing becomes too sensitive when picking up sound. People with hyperacusis will receive sounds at a louder level.