I looked around me as I woke up in my unfamiliar bed. Everything around me was different. The whole room was extravagant, even more so than my room in the mansion. The bed I was in was silky and smooth. Everything just felt... expensive. Before I had time to think about the situation I was in, the bedroom door opened.
Maid: "Princess, are you alright?"
A girl with long curly white hair and red eyes looked at me. She was wearing a maid outfit and had a purple flower in her hair.
Mahale: "Wait... Princess? What are you talking about?"
The girl stayed silent for a moment, then she showed a look of worry on her face.
Maid: "Oh... oh no... Princess... please be joking..."
Mahale: "I honestly have no idea what you're talking about. Am I a princess?"
Maid: "An amnesia spell... oh dear..."
The maid shook her head and took a deep breath.
Maid: "Okay... I suppose I should explain everything then..."
Maid: "Your name is Mahale Eterna and you are the Princess of the Kingdom of Eterna."
Mahale: "That would explain the room."
Orchid: "My name is Orchid and I am your trusted maid."
Orchid did a small bow.
Mahale: "You don't have a last name?"
Orchid: "I'm afraid not. The maids in this kingdom are called based on the flower they wear in their hair."
Orchid gestured toward the flower she was wearing.
Orchid: "Mine is an orchid, therefore I am called Orchid."
Mahale: "That's... unique."
Orchid: "It's an old tradition in Eterna."
Mahale: "Again... unique."
Orchid: "But anyway, I'm not important right now. A peace treaty needs to be signed with the Kingdom of the Oddities."
Mahale: "Question. What's an Oddity?"
Orchid: "An oddity is any person which is not a human. Someone that... differs... from humans so to speak. Some have capabilities to do things which humans can not do, and some have differences in appearance like beast ears or wings."
Mahale: "Okay... I see."
Orchid: "I apologize if this is too much to take in, but there's not much time before your meeting with Queen Eliza."
Mahale: "I'm guessing she's the Queen of the Oddities?"
Orchid: "Exactly."
Mahale: "So, I need to go to this kingdom and sign a document right? Isn't that all there is to it?"
Orchid: "Unfortunately no. You will need to discuss things with her and make sure that she signs it as well. If she does not, then the tension between our two kingdoms will remain."
Mahale: "But why wouldn't she sign the treaty?"
Orchid: "The Oddities have a much larger number than humans. If Queen Eliza wanted so, our kingdom would be reduced to nothing but rubble. "
Mahale: "Then why don't the two kingdoms unite?"
Orchid: "Humans and Oddities have a... complicated past. The two kingdoms aren't exactly on the best of terms. You were hoping that the peace treaty could lead to better connections."
Mahale: "So... all I need to do is go to this kingdom and convince her to sign a document right?"
Orchid: "If you simplify things, yes."
Orchid: "You should probably get some rest now. I can explain the rest at breakfast."
Mahale: "Yeah... I'll do that."
Orchid curtsied and walked out of my room. I fell back down on the luxurious bed and quickly went into a deep sleep.
...
...
...
"Time to wake up now, princess."
My eyes slowly opened and I saw Orchid standing in my doorway.
Orchid: "Normally I would wake you up a tad later, but I need to... introduce? Is introduce the right word? No matter. I need to introduce you to your brother, Kano.
Mahale: "That name... it sounds familiar."
Orchid: "Oh! Maybe the amnesia spell is wearing off. That's good."
Orchid gave me a comforting smile.
Orchid: "I'll let you get dressed then."
She gently closed the door.
I got up out of the bed and entered a doorway. It let to a large walk-in closet with countless beautiful dresses all around, but my eyes locked onto a plain white dress. It was just like the one I was wearing in Paradox. I took the dress off its hanger and walked back to my room. I quickly changed clothes and opened the door to the hallway where Orchid was waiting for me.
Orchid: "Ready?"
Mahale: "Yep."
Orchid led me down a complicated series of hallways, each seeming to be even more prestigious than the last. A couple of steps later, and I find myself seated at an extravagant table. Everything just looked... fancy. I appeared to be the only one at the large table.
Mahale: "Where's everyone else?"
Orchid: "I'm afraid all of the servants are off-duty today."
Mahale: "What about you then?"
Orchid: "I am here to make sure you are prepared for the meeting."
Mahale: "Where's Kano then?"
Orchid: "The soon-to-be-king never comes out of his room. The servants would have to leave plates of food in front of his door so he could eat."
Mahale: "Why does he stay in his room?"
Orchid: "The King and Queen... your mother and father... were assassinated ten years ago. It didn't seem to have a lasting effect on you, but your brother was very close to them. Your brother is twenty-three, but still acts like a child. As he is old enough he needs to be king, but with the situation he is in that is simply impossible."
Mahale: "So did I inherit the kingdom?"
Orchid: "No. You are the younger child at twenty-two, so it is forbidden for you to rule Eterna."
Mahale: "Then who's been leading the kingdom for ten years?"
Orchid: "The Executive Council of Eterna. It's quite self-explanatory what that is."
Orchid: "I'm going to go wake up the prince now, then you can get started with breakfast."
Orchid vanishes beyond the hallway and leaves me alone at the table. I patiently wait for her return.
...
...
...
I see Orchid re-enter the dining room, but nobody is with her.
Orchid: "I... I have very unfortunate news."
Mahale: "What? What happened?"
Orchid: "It appears that... the prince has run away."
