Note: Before reading this chapter, you might want to refresh your memory by reading the Prologue. XD
In the dim bedroom of an apartment in the city, a hardcover book lay closed on the bedside table. Its cover was plain except for the gold lettering stamped across it. Then the book moved. The cover lifted by itself. One page turned, then another. A pale light spilled from between the pages, bright enough to cast shadows across the bedroom wall.
A woman in her late twenties stirred beneath the blanket. She opened her eyes, still half asleep, and frowned at the strange light. "What the—?"
She pushed herself up and looked toward the bedside table. Something was moving inside the book. A wrinkled face rose between the pages. The woman stared. The old hag stared back. She had crooked features, a long nose and grey hair sticking out in every direction. For one absurd second, the woman thought of the cartoon witches she had seen in old Disney movies.
Then the hag spoke. "Princess! You must go home now!"
"What?" Before she could even sit up properly, something seized her. Her body lifted from the bed. "Wait—!"
The room tilted beneath her. She grabbed at the blanket, then the edge of the mattress, but her fingers caught nothing. The light from the book widened.
"No, no, no—!" She was pulled toward it. The last thing she saw was the old hag's face disappearing beneath the pages. Then everything went black.
***
I woke up with my cheek pressed against dirt. For a few seconds, I didn't move. There was something cold beneath my palm. Damp soil. Small stones. A twig digging into my sleeve. I lifted my head. Trees. Lots of them. Tall trunks surrounded me, their branches tangled overhead. Sunlight filtered through the leaves in narrow patches, and somewhere nearby, something chirped. I stared at the forest.
Then I looked down at myself. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me." I was wearing a dress. Not a normal dress. Not even something remotely practical. The fabric was pale and layered, with delicate embroidery around the sleeves and neckline. My feet were in shoes that looked suspiciously like glass slippers.
I touched my hair. Blond. I pulled a strand in front of my face and stared at it. My hair was black. It had always been black. Unless I'd somehow decided to dye it ash blond without remembering doing it, which seemed unlikely considering I had a business presentation tomorrow that I had spent two weeks preparing for.
I looked around again. No buildings. No roads. No cars. No signal. Just trees. The last thing I remembered was sitting in my apartment, watching anime and telling myself I would only watch one more episode. Apparently, one more episode had consequences. I pushed myself upright and immediately regretted it. Pain shot through my ankle. "Ah!"
I dropped back onto the ground and grabbed my leg. Okay. Great. Transported to another world and already injured. The forest was strangely beautiful, though I was in no mood to appreciate it. The trees were too tall, the colours too vivid, and the flowers scattered between the roots looked like something someone had painted for the background of a children's fantasy book.
A butterfly landed on a leaf beside me. I stared at it. It was bright blue. "Of course." Because apparently ordinary butterflies weren't enough.
I tried to stand again, slower this time. My ankle protested immediately, so I stayed where I was. I took a breath.
Think.
My apartment. My phone. Tomorrow's presentation. My boss. The promotion. I had spent weeks preparing for that presentation.If I missed it, someone else would probably take my place. And if I lost the promotion because I disappeared into a forest wearing a princess dress, I was going to be furious. Assuming I ever got back. Which brought me to the more immediate question. How?
I checked my surroundings again, hoping that somehow a road or a hiking trail would appear if I stared hard enough. Nothing. Then came the sound of branches snapping. I froze. Someone was approaching.
A man emerged from the trees wearing polished armour, a sword at his side. He looked around anxiously before his eyes landed on me. His expression changed immediately. "Princess Elysia!" He hurried over and dropped to one knee. "Thank goodness. I've been searching for you everywhere."
I stared at him. Princess who? He looked genuinely relieved. I looked behind him. Nobody else. Then back at him.
"I'm sorry," I said carefully. "Who?"
The knight blinked. "Princess Elysia."
Right. That explained absolutely nothing. I glanced down at my dress again. Fine. If everyone here thought I was someone else, correcting them probably wasn't the smartest thing to do while sitting injured in the middle of nowhere.
I straightened as much as I could. "I seem to have lost my memory," I said. "Could you tell me who I am?"
The knight's face tightened with concern. "My name is Sir Gregory Everhart. I am one of your escort knights."
Escort knight. Of course. Because apparently I was committed to the whole princess thing. He explained that I was Princess Elysia of Astoria, the kingdom's only princess and heir to the throne. I listened without interrupting.
Princess. Heir. Astoria. None of those words belonged to me. Yet some part of my mind accepted them far too easily. That bothered me.
Before I could ask anything else, Gregory's attention shifted toward the trees. His hand moved to his sword. "Your Highness, there's something else you need to know." His voice had changed. The relaxed relief was gone. "You were taken by a creature while travelling through this forest. A Yeti."
I stared at him. "A Yeti?"
He nodded. "Frostbane."
The name sounded ridiculous. Then the ground trembled. A low growl rolled through the forest. My mouth went dry. Gregory pulled his sword free. The sound of something heavy moving through the trees grew louder. Branches snapped. The leaves shook. Then it stepped into view. The Frostbane was enormous.
Its body was covered in thick, pale fur matted with dirt and leaves. Its shoulders rose above Gregory's head, and each step drove its feet deep into the soft ground. I forgot about the ridiculous dress. I forgot about the ankle. For several seconds, I could only stare.
Gregory moved in front of me. "Stay behind me, Your Highness."
The Frostbane opened its mouth. Cold mist poured from between its teeth. Gregory tightened his grip on his sword.
Then another voice came from behind us. "Move." A man stepped through the trees. He wore armour that was considerably less battered than Gregory's, a sword already drawn in his hand.
I knew that face. My brain supplied the answer before I had time to question it.
Prince Alexander. No.
That couldn't be right. Alexander was the male lead. The same Alexander from the novel. The same Alexander I had spent half my high-school literature assignment complaining about because I couldn't stand him.
And somehow, despite never having seen an actual photograph of him, I knew exactly who he was.
Alexander glanced at Gregory. "Can you fight?"
Gregory looked offended by the question. "I can."
"Good." Alexander turned toward the Frostbane. "Then keep it occupied."
The creature charged. Gregory met it first. Steel struck fur with a heavy crack. The impact forced him backward, boots scraping through the dirt. Alexander moved around the creature's flank, striking whenever an opening appeared.
I watched them fight. There was nothing graceful about it. The Frostbane was too large for that. Its claws tore through branches and gouged chunks out of the ground. Gregory barely avoided one swipe, stumbling sideways before bringing his sword up again. Alexander was faster. He ducked beneath another strike and drove his blade into the creature's side. The Frostbane roared.
"Left!" Gregory shouted.
Alexander moved just before a claw swept through the space where his head had been. They weren't fighting like friends. They were simply learning each other's movements quickly enough to survive.
I pressed myself farther back. Then the Frostbane turned toward me. My stomach dropped. "Alexander!"
He looked over. The creature lunged. Alexander reached me first. He shoved me aside and took the impact on his shield. The force sent him skidding several feet across the dirt.
"Are you hurt?"
I stared at him. He was talking to me. Actually talking to me.
"I'm fine." My voice came out quieter than I expected.
The Frostbane charged again. Alexander rose. "Stay behind us."
Gregory stepped forward beside him. The two men attacked together.
Gregory drew the creature's attention while Alexander moved toward its exposed side. The Frostbane swung at Gregory, leaving its flank open. Alexander didn't hesitate. His sword struck deep. The creature staggered. Gregory drove his blade forward. The Frostbane gave one final roar before collapsing heavily onto the forest floor.
For a moment, nobody moved. Then Alexander lowered his sword. Gregory leaned against his weapon, breathing hard. I realized I was holding my breath. I let it out slowly.
Alexander turned toward me. "Are you all right, my lady?"
I nodded. "Yes."
He stepped closer. There was dirt on his armour and a shallow cut along his cheek.
I stared at him longer than I meant to. This was Alexander. The Alexander. The character I had disliked for years. And now he was standing in front of me. Something strange stirred in my chest. Warmth. Recognition. Not mine. The thought arrived before I could stop it. He's here.
I frowned. What?
Alexander's expression softened. For one second, I had the unsettling feeling that I was supposed to be looking at him differently.
Like him. Trust him. Maybe even—No. I shook my head. What was that? I hadn't decided anything. I didn't even know this man. So why did my mind suddenly feel as though it had already made the decision for me?
I looked away. Something was wrong. Not with the forest. Not with Alexander. With me. I could still hear the thought in my head. He came for you.
I swallowed. That wasn't how I thought. Was it? I looked at Alexander again. He was saying something to Gregory, but I barely heard him. Another thought surfaced. You are safe now.
I stared at the ground. No. That wasn't me either. Then, almost without warning, words began forming in my mind. Words I hadn't chosen. As the forest witnessed their encounter, Elysia couldn't help but wonder what other twists and turns awaited her in this magical world...
I froze. I knew that sentence. Not because I had thought it. Because I had read it. My skin prickled. The forest suddenly felt much quieter. The sentence continued inside my head, smooth and certain, as though someone were reading from a page I couldn't see. With Sir Gregory by her side and Prince Alexander at her back, she was ready to face whatever challenges awaited her.
I shut my eyes. Stop. The thought vanished. I opened them again. Alexander was still there. Gregory was checking the Frostbane. Everything looked normal. But I knew what had happened. Someone—or something—had just written a thought inside my head.
And I had a horrible feeling it wasn't finished with me yet.