I woke to a weight pressing down on my chest, pinning me to the mattress. Not the familiar heft of my comforter or even the usual anxiety that sometimes visited my dreams—this was something else entirely. I couldn't move, though strangely, I felt no pain.
My eyes fixated to a ceiling that belonged in a museum exhibit—gold leaf catching the light, carvings of lions and dragons twisting across the plaster. I'd never seen this place before, yet something about it bugged me, like it was my home.
"Your Highness! You've awoken!"
The voice beside me rang like a silver bell. Your Highness? If my memories serve me right, I was just a guy who'd been holed up in his bed, scrolling through a web novel my buddy had insisted I read. Then... what exactly happened?.
Now I found myself in sheets that felt like liquid money, with wide-eyed strangers hovering and bowing around my bed.
"Who's... Highness?" I whispered, my throat sandpaper-dry.
The servants exchanged glances, the color draining from their faces. "Prince Sorrel," one finally whispered, "please don't jest about such matters..."
Prince? Me? I didn't have a royal bone in my body.
Christ, my world didn't even have royalty anymore.
The door banged open before I could even figure out which way was up.
"What's with all the noise?"
She stood in the doorway like she owned the place—dark hair brushing her shoulders, tall enough to make the servants look like kids. I almost remembered her name when—
"Lady Liona!" one of them blurted.
Ah. Thanks for the save.
Her eyes locked on me. "Prince Sorrel. Finally decided to rejoin us?"
The way she said it made me feel like she was annoyed I'd woken up at all. Honestly, if looks could kill, I'd be back asleep in seconds.
Could you maybe stop glaring at me like I kicked your dog?
One servant leaned in and whispered,
'Your Highness, please don't mind Lady Liona's attitude. She's probably still mad about the way you kicked her dog before you were in a coma."
Whaaaat???
"Two years gone and you probably don't even know where you are," she said flatly. "Come with me."
I hesitated. She was a complete stranger, but the servants straightened up like she was some kind of holy figure. Hard to argue with that kind of authority.
I pushed myself off the bed. My legs wobbled, and two servants rushed in, hands out like I was a delicate flower. A little much, but… not the worst feeling either.
Shaking them off, I picked up the pace to catch up with Liona's long strides.