2 Years ago.

The night reeked of smoke and fear.

Crimson light painted the faces of the villagers gathered in the square. Their eyes ; some curious, others cruel ; reflected the flames that climbed higher around the wooden stake. Bound to it, a woman trembled but did not scream. Her long, silver hair caught the firelight like strands of moonlit silk.

Selena could not see the flames, but she felt them.

She felt the air tremble.

She felt her mother’s pain crackle through the night like lightning through her veins.

Her small hands gripped the rough stones of the alley wall as she pressed herself deeper into the shadows. The thin black cloth tied around her eyes kept the world dim, mercifully dull, yet every sound, every cry, carved itself into her heart.

“For practicing forbidden magic!” a soldier announced.

“For cursing our kingdom with her witchcraft!”

The crowd shouted, the torch fell, and the fire roared to life.

Selena’s breath caught. Her chest tightened so sharply she thought her ribs would break. Her mother’s faint gasp echoed across the square, and then, silence. The fire swallowed her final breath.

Something inside Selena shattered.

She ran away.

She didn’t know where her feet carried her. She just ran through the narrow streets, past the horrified whispers, away from the smoke that followed her like a curse. The blindfold clung to her tears. The cold air bit her lungs.

Her heart was breaking with every step.

When she reached the old bridge outside the city, her knees nearly gave out. The moon hung above, pale and merciless. The river below shimmered faintly, a silver path calling her to forget.

The wind rose, tearing at her blindfold until the knot slipped free. It fell from her face and for the first time, she saw. The light stabbed at her eyes like knives.

She stumbled forward, gripping her chest, gasping as her vision blurred between shadows and stars. Her tears caught the moonlight, her world spinning.

And then… she crashed into someone.

A man.

His cloak brushed her arm, fine fabric, not something villagers wore. His hand steadied her, but his eyes, cold and sharp like frost, stared down at her as though she were something fragile and strange.

“Watch where you’re going,” he said, his voice calm but distant.

He didn’t move to comfort her, didn’t ask why she was shaking, or why her clothes were torn. His expression was unreadable, composed, quiet, far too calm for the chaos burning in the city behind them.

Selena tried to speak, but her throat failed her. The light hurt, her legs trembled. The bridge spun beneath her.

“I—” she whispered, before her shoes slipped on the wet stone.

The boy’s eyes widened, only for a heartbeat before she fell backward into the river. The splash shattered the stillness.

For a moment, he only stood there, staring into the dark waters that swallowed her whole. His hand, the one that could’ve saved her in time, lingered in the air, uncertain.

And then something in his chest…  something he didn’t understand made him move.

Without hesitation, he jumped.

The cold hit him like ice, but he reached her pale skin, dark hair floating like shadow beneath the surface. He pulled her toward him, her body limp, her eyes closed. When they broke the surface, she didn’t move.

He laid her against the riverbank, chest heaving, water dripping from his hair and cloak. For a long while, he just stared at her. The girl who had appeared out of the smoke and fallen into his arms like a curse whispered by fate.

“Foolish girl,” he murmured, voice low and cold.

“If the world wants you dead… you shouldn’t make it so easy.”

But even as he said it, his hand brushed the wet hair from her face, and for a second, his expression softened, ever so slightly.

Her body ached as if it had been stitched back together by time itself. Her lashes fluttered open, and for the first time in what felt like eternity, she saw again, dim light tracing the edges of a dark, quiet room.

The ceiling above her was carved from stone, smooth and pale, veiled by shadows. The scent of vanilla lingered faintly in the air. Beneath her was a bed… soft, silken, impossibly large. The kind only nobles could afford.

Selena blinked slowly. Her heartbeat was faint, unsteady. How long has she been staying here?

Before she could gather her thoughts, a soft gasp broke the silence.

“Y-you’re awake!”

A girl, no older than Selena herself stood at the foot of the bed, her eyes wide with shock and joy. Her chestnut curls bounced as she hurried forward, nearly tripping over her own shoes.

She wore a simple servant’s dress, a little too big for her frame, and her hands trembled with excitement.

“Oh, thank the stars! I—I thought you’d never wake up!” she said, her words tumbling over each other in a rush. “You’ve been asleep for so long! Two whole years!”

Selena’s lips parted, but no sound came out. Her throat felt dry, her voice lost somewhere between memory and silence.

Two years. The words echoed inside her head like a dream that didn’t belong to her.

The girl’s eyes softened. “Do you… remember me?”

Selena only blinked.

“It’s me, Melody,” the girl said gently, kneeling beside her. “Your maid. Well—not really yours, but I’ve been taking care of you since you arrived here. The doctors said you might never open your eyes, but I knew you would. I knew it!”

She smiled so brightly that for a moment, the dark room seemed less heavy. But Selena couldn’t return it.

Her gaze drifted to the far wall, where a faint line of moonlight slipped through the curtains.  Everything felt distant. Empty.

“What do you want, miss?” Melody asked softly, her cheer dimming into concern. “Are you hungry? Thirsty? I can bring food, or water, or—”

Selena just stared at her, eyes hollow, her face pale against the silk pillow. “Miss…?”

Selena said nothing and stared at Melody, as she examined her her eyes drifted back toward the ceiling, where faint moonlight spilled across the stone.

Melody broke the silence. “You must be wondering… how you got here.”

Selena’s eyes lifted slowly, their green depths faintly reflecting the candlelight. She didn’t nod, but Melody went on, her voice small yet sincere.

“It happened two years ago… on the night of the fire. You were found by the river just outside the city walls. His Highness himself brought you back.”

Selena blinked, confusion soft as fog. “His… Highness?”

“The prince,” Melody said, lowering her tone as though the title itself carried weight. “Prince Cedric.”

The name stirred something faint inside her. A voice, distant. A pair of eyes that was cold, sharp, like frost on steel.

“He found you on the bridge,” Melody continued. “The guards said you fell into the river after you collided with him. He jumped in after you, even though the current was strong and freezing that night.”

Selena’s breath stilled.

“When they pulled you out,” Melody’s voice softened, “you weren’t breathing. The doctors said you’d hit your head on a rock beneath the water. There was bleeding… a clot forming under your skull.”

Selena’s fingers tightened around the sheets. Melody looked down, wringing her hands.

“The royal physicians performed a risky surgery to save you. The prince ordered it himself. He didn’t say why, just… that you were not to be abandoned.”

The words hung in the air like fragile glass.

Selena’s mind tried to reach back to the river, the bridge, the sound of his voice but everything blurred together in a haze of cold water and fading light.

“You were asleep for a long time after that,” Melody said softly. “The prince made sure you were cared for. When it became clear you might wake, he ordered that a personal servant be assigned to you. Someone who could match your nature, someone gentle.”

Melody smiled faintly, shy and proud.

“There were others who wanted the post, but… I passed the test.”

Selena looked at her, and for the first time since she’d opened her eyes, there was a flicker of something human in her gaze… curiosity, faint and trembling.

“Why?” she asked quietly. “Why would he save me?”

Melody’s smile faltered. “I don’t know, miss. The prince doesn’t explain his actions to anyone. He’s… not the kind who needs a reason.”

Silence settled between them. The rain continued its soft rhythm, and somewhere deep in the palace halls, a clock struck midnight.

Selena turned her face toward the window, watching the moon through the sheer curtain.

“He shouldn’t have saved me,” she whispered.

Melody froze, her expression falling. “Miss Selena—”

Melody bustled around the room, opening the curtains just enough for light to slip through. Dust motes danced in the glow. “We’ll start with a nice bath. Doctor’s orders. You need warmth in your bones again.”

Steam soon filled the air, rising from the marble tub like morning mist. The scent of vanilla and honey drifted upward, wrapping the space in a gentle sweetness.

Melody dipped her wrist into the water, testing the temperature with a thoughtful hum.

“There,” she said proudly. “Not too hot, not too cold. Just right for a lady who’s been asleep for two whole years.”

Selena sat at the edge of the tub, her bare feet brushing the warm surface. Her reflection shimmered in the water, dark green eyes glassy, distant, as though they belonged to someone else. Her own face felt unfamiliar, softened by time, blurred by memory.

Melody crouched beside her, her expression softening. “Come now,” she said gently. “You’ll feel better once you wash away the dreams.”

Selena hesitated, then nodded faintly. Melody helped her step in, the water embracing her with tender heat.

For a long while, neither spoke. The only sound was the soft ripple of water and the rhythmic hum of Melody’s voice as she began to wash Selena’s hair, careful and precise, as if she were tending to something fragile.

“You’ve got the prettiest hair,” Melody said cheerfully, working a comb through the dark strands. “Like midnight ink. If I had hair like this, I’d never stop brushing it.”

“You talk a lot,” Selena murmured, eyes closed.

“I do,” Melody replied brightly. “Someone has to fill the silence, right?”

A soft sound, not quite laughter, but close escaped Selena’s lips. It was the first warmth she’d let herself feel in years.

When the bath was done, Melody wrapped her in a thick towel, the fabric warm from the fire. “There,” she said proudly. “Almost human again!”

The dressing chamber awaited. A tall, airy room with wide windows and rows of gowns that shimmered like captured moonlight. Melody’s eyes practically sparkled as she flung open the wardrobe doors. “Now! Dresses!”

Before Selena could reply, Melody was already half-buried in silk and lace, holding each gown up against the light.

“This one makes you look like a goddess,” she mused, then discarded it just as quickly. “Too dramatic. Ah—this one! It’s softer, gentler. Fits your aura.”

Selena blinked, confused. “My… aura?”

“Yes!” Melody said with exaggerated seriousness. “You’re quiet, but not cold. Like a lotus on calm water. Mysterious, but kind.”

She held up a pale blue gown embroidered with silver thread, its fabric glimmering faintly like frost. “This one. It matches your eyes.”

Selena’s lips twitched… the faintest curve, half disbelief, half reluctant amusement.

“Oh!” Melody gasped dramatically. “You smiled! Quick, someone tell the prince! The silent lady of two years just smiled!”

Selena turned away, her cheeks tinged with color. “You’re ridiculous.”

“And proud of it!” Melody laughed, triumphing in her voice.

When Selena finally gave a small nod of approval, Melody clapped her hands. “Perfect choice. Let’s make you shine.”

The gown slipped over her shoulders like a whisper, cool silk meeting warm skin. Melody tied the ribbons at her back with practiced grace. When she stepped back, she let out a soft gasp.

“You look beautiful,” she said sincerely. “If the Queen sees you like this, she’ll think an angel wandered into her palace.”

At the mention of the Queen, Selena’s faint smile vanished. “The Queen…?”

“Yes,” Melody said, tone shifting just slightly. “She knows everything. Every guest, every whisper in these halls.”

They left the room together, walking through the grand corridors of the palace. Chandeliers hung above like frozen stars, their light spilling across the marble floor. Portraits lined the walls. Kings, queens, princes long gone, their painted eyes following in silent judgment.

Melody pointed eagerly as they passed each hall.

“That’s the library. I swear, it’s bigger than the ballroom. The prince practically lives in there! And that, oh, that’s the royal garden. The roses there bloom even in winter. The gardeners say it’s magic, but don’t tell the Queen I said that.”

Selena listened quietly, her fingertips grazing the polished stone walls. Everything here was so alive… light, color, laughter, things she had forgotten how to feel.

As they turned a corner, a soldier appeared, bowing deeply.

“Miss Melody. Miss Selena.” His voice was formal. “Her Majesty, the Queen, requests Miss Selena’s presence immediately.”

Melody froze mid-step, nearly dropping the hem of Selena’s gown. “The Queen? Now?”

“At once,” the soldier confirmed.

Selena’s throat tightened, her breath shallow. “She wants to see… me?”

Melody forced a smile, her usual cheer dimmed but not gone. She reached out, gently taking Selena’s hand. “Don’t be afraid, Miss,” she said softly. “The Queen isn’t cruel. She just… likes to see everything with her own eyes.”

Her thumb brushed against Selena’s knuckles, a small, reassuring gesture. “I’ll be with you the whole time. Alright?”

Selena hesitated, then nodded faintly. “…Alright.”