"It's so bright!" I mumbled as I tried to cover my sleepy eyes that were nearly blinded by a? bright light.
Screech!
From somewhere nearby, I heard a bird screech. "Did that eagle follow me?"
I opened my eyes, expecting to see myself surrounded by trees and plants, but I found myself staring at a familiar ceiling with a netted curtain hanging from it.
'Am I dreaming?' It was the same view I had been seeing for the past few days whenever I woke up. I found it difficult to fully open my eyes due to the bright sunlight coming inside through the window.
"Window?" What forest would have a window?"
The last thing I remembered was falling unconscious inside the forest, and it would be dangerous for me not to wake up soon. I closed my eyes and shook my head, trying to wake myself from this silly dream. I wanted this view to disappear from my sight. It was impossible for me to miss being inside the palace. If I were to dream, I would prefer to dream of some other place, any place but the royal palace.
However, when I opened my eyes, the view was still the same. My chest tightened.
'No, no, no….' In fear, I looked around and realized I was sleeping on my bed, inside my bedchamber... I sat up. "This can't be true."
I pinched my arm tightly. "Ouch!" I looked around, but I was still not out of the dream. "No, no, this is a dream...this is just a dream!" I tried to convince myself and looked at the eagle sitting on my windowsill. "I am even dreaming about this eagle. It is so real."
I was adamant on thinking it was nothing but a dream. It had to be, right? I could perfectly recall last night's encounter, how I suddenly appeared outside the palace, how I ran across the entire length of the capital, how I nearly crawled my way deeper into the forest...
Just then, there was a knock on the door, and the door opened. The same female servant who had been serving me ever since I dismissed the nurses entered my bedchamber. I stared at her as a terrible chill enveloped my body.
'This is a bad dream. Yes, I must be having a nightmare!'
"Greetings, Your Highness!" the servant bowed. "I am glad the Third Princess is awake. Shall I prepare your bath?"
'Bath!' It reminded me I fell down in the forest and my clothes must be dirty, my appearance a mess. I looked down at my clothes only to get another shock. 'This...this is not the dress I wore at that time...'
I looked back at the servant who had taken my silence as a yes and gone towards the side room connected to my bedchamber.
Everything was so confusing, and I didn't want to believe it was a dream. I buried my face in my palm. "Let me get out of this dream."
Disappointment crashed through me in heavy waves. I felt like crying my throat out, but I couldn't. Feeling the touch of my palm against my face, I realized something. They felt smooth. I remembered falling down when I was in the forest, and I remembered trying to break my fall with my hands. My palms should be scratched by the rocks and branches if not bruised, and my nails should at least have mud on them. However, both my hands were in pristine condition.
I pulled my nightgown up to see that my knees that should be hurt and bleeding were completely fine. I poked my knee with my fingers to check if I felt any pain, but there was none.
My mind felt confused. I could not tell which one was the dream and which one was the reality.
After a while, the female servant stepped out of the bath and informed me, "Your Highness, the bath is ready."
"You can leave," I instructed, and the servant obediently left.
I stepped out of bed and went towards the huge mirror in the room. I looked at the nightgown I was wearing. Last night, I perfectly remembered changing into a casual dress that would be comfortable outdoors.
"Why am I wearing this?" I observed my body. I looked perfectly fine when I was expecting to have several scratches and wounds on me. "What is happening with me?"
The way I forced my body last night, I should not even be able to walk properly, but contrary to expectation, I felt energized, as if everything that happened and the suffering I went through the night before was all just my dream.
With trembling hands, I covered my mouth through the veil. My chest felt suffocated, but I knew I had to keep it in. I could not cry. I went to the window where that eagle sat. "Tell me, is it a dream? Is everything really a dream? If it's not a dream, peck on my hand."
That eagle did so, and I said, "Again."
The eagle did it again. "You are a good bird even in my dream…or maybe, it is not a dream at all."
My thoughts were interrupted by the knock on the door. The servant re-entered my bedchamber. "Your Highness, Prince Cian will be here shortly to have a morning meal with you."
After dismissing the servant, I collected myself and went to the bath. By then, I had accepted that this was not a dream. Sitting inside the hot water tub, I was wondering what exactly had happened. I closed my eyes, and a flash of memory came to me. I remembered the last thing I saw before going unconscious in the forest.
"Red eyes!"
With a shock, I opened my eyes. "Is he the one who brought me back here?" He seemed to be everywhere. He had intruded in my room at night, and he was even there in the corridor. He was also the one to take me out of the palace and then disappeared.
"That mysterious red-eyed man, is he helping me, or does he want to harm me? If he helped me run away, then why did he bring me back to the palace? How can he enter the palace without anyone knowing? Who is he?"
As questions flooded my mind, my disappointment turned to confusion and then indignation. There was a realization so shocking that it left my eyes wide open in distress.
"Did he...did he change my clothes too?"