Chapter-5

Auden sat in her room, her eyes fixed on the wall in front of her. She sat in a high-backed chair, her hands resting on her lap, her expression blank. She stared at the extravagant inscriptions and art on the wall and wondered what kind of person she was.

Eve burst into the room, her eyes flashing with anger. She marched up to Auden and scolded her, her voice rising with each word, much above the civil level.

"How could you just sit here, doing nothing?" she exclaimed. "I get it. You didn't remember who you were, but the last thing you should have done was run away and go to the Forest and be a willing lamb to the animals who could shred you before you got a hint of what struck you!"

Auden remained silent, her eyes still fixed on the wall. She seemed to be in a trance, completely detached from the world around her.

"What were you doing in the Abyss?" Eve questioned.

Finally, Auden's face showed some expression. With curiosity, she questioned back, "Abyss? Can you explain it to me?"

Eve took a deep breath and understood how confused Auden must have been. "It's also called the East Gate. Only Mages with Fire or Ice Mana can open that gate," Eve explained.

"Mana?" Auden asked.

"It's the energy of magic flowing in your veins. Your body holds the Mana of both, and therefore, you constantly have to maintain balance and energy flow. But you couldn't control your Mana yet, especially when your memory was lost, and open the gate," Eve sat down in front of Auden.

She continued, "Now, the important questions. How did you get out of the Abyss?" Eve questioned. "You were found near the lake, not Abyss. But I saw your traces there."

"I don't know. When I reached that big gate, it open itself. A man came and brought me out of it." Auden says.

"A man, you say? How did he look like?" Eve got suspicious.

"I don't trust you enough to tell you that," Auden said in a sharp and cold tone.

"Fine!" Eve stood.

"I would love to give you the time to process, but great perils lie ahead of us. For now, please get ready for the Ball. You'll have to meet the Queen in a while." And Eve left.

Auden looked outside her chamber. "The Queen?" She thought. "If they call me Princess, then the Queen must be my mother." Simple logic seemed a bit complicated to her right now. A maid entered the room shortly after.

"Who?" asked Auden.

"It's Flora, Your Highness. Your maid," Flora said as she bowed down.

Auden looked at the materialization of this new person. Flora wore a blue dress with gloves. Her hair was tied in a bun, and she spoke in whispers.

"Why are you here?" Auden asked without moving her eyes.

"You need to meet Her Majesty, Your Highness. I am here to assist you with your dress," Flora explained.

"I don't have a choice, do I?" Auden whispered.

As she made her way toward the linked dressing room, she could not help but notice its immense size and the abundance of luxurious clothing, shoes, and jewellery inside. She scanned through numerous gowns, attires, and even a warrior uniform before finally settling for a simple black dress, relieved that it wasn't overly extravagant.

Before Auden could reach out for the black dress, Flora interrupted.

"Pardon me for this disgrace, Your Highness, but the queen won't be pleased seeing you in the black color," Flora said, getting on her knees.

"Oh, get up! Don't kneel! I can just choose another dress!" Auden pleaded for Flora to get up.

"O-kay, what dress should I w-wear?" Auden got flustered and asked Flora.

As Auden dressed herself up, her mind raced with a flurry of thoughts. Was all of this just a dream? Was she in a coma and imagining everything? Was she doing the right thing by following their instructions? Was she in danger? She looked into the mirror and saw a girl who looked like her, but not quite.

The purple dress, heels, and purple earrings made her look like a Princess, even though she was not one. As she ran her fingers through her long brown hair, she finally looked into her eyes. They were blue, crystal-clear, but this time they looked dense and tired, like they wanted to hide away.

"I don't know!" Auden exclaimed to herself. She stepped out of her chamber, her eyebrows furrowed in worry. The guards bowed as she passed them.

"Where is the Queen's room?" she asked them.

"I will lead you," Eve's voice spoke from behind.

Auden nodded and followed her down the hallway. Along the way, they passed by numerous portraits of Auden, Eve, the Queen, and many other nobles unknown to Auden, for now.

"Do you believe now that you belong here?" Eve asked Auden.

"It is difficult for me to accept, even now, but I believe it must be the truth. The soldiers who pledged their allegiance to me, and the maid too frightened to observe a harmless custom, were merely indications that I must be the crown princess. However implausible it seems."

Auden gazed at the portraits with a contemplative air as she spoke.

Eve stood before the entrance, only to be obstructed by the guards.

"Tell Mother that we have come," Eve commanded imperiously.

"The Queen is currently occupied," the guard responds in a chilly tone.

"Mother, what's going on?!" Eve cries out in frustration. Auden chose to remain silent in this situation.

"You instructed me to bring Auden back. Here she is after all the royal guards worked tirelessly searching for her. Yet, you haven't said a word. Are you supposed to act so cold?!" Eve exclaimed.

"It's your responsibility," the Queen replied from behind the door, looking at Auden. "Come inside."

The Queen's stately chamber dwarfed even Auden's opulent chambers, with an imposing bed of gold that rendered Auden quite dumbstruck. A lady-in-waiting brings forth a tea service of the finest bone china and an aromatic oolong tea, as commanded by Her Majesty. Eve dutifully partakes of the tea, adhering to the Queen's orders, yet Auden remains silent and unmoving.

The sovereign's suite was furnished in a luxurious and grandiose style befitting a ruler of her eminence. Ornate tapestries adorned the walls, priceless artefacts from faraway lands filled every corner, and lavish velvet drapes framed the towering windows. An air of immense prestige and nobility pervaded the space.

"I understand if you're suspicious of me, my child," Queen Beatrice spoke humbly. "This medicine will slowly restore your memories. I know you may not believe me, but if there is any voice inside you telling you to trust me, then please believe me."

Auden gazed into Beatrice's eyes, and the Queen's sincerity won her over. She drank the tea, and within a few seconds, Auden was struck with a headache. She fell from her chair.

"Crown princess!" Eve exclaimed, trying to approach Auden, but was blocked by Beatrice.

"Prepare her for the upcoming ball and her coronation. Her memories will return soon," Beatrice commanded before departing.

Eve held Auden in her arms, shouting, "Guards! Get a healer!"