Inside the box rest a pair of silver earrings and a necklace set with a red gemstone.
The pieces are simple in design, yet finely made. The silver holds a soft polished shine, while the ruby hanging from the necklace catches the moonlight with a deep crimson glow, like a frozen drop of blood. Even without knowing anything about jewelry, I can tell these pieces are valuable.
But at the same time, the moment I look at them, my chest tightens painfully.
A rush of emotions washes over me so suddenly that it leaves me breathless. Sadness rises first, deep and heavy, followed by a strange longing that I cannot explain. Beneath it all lingers something warmer, almost hopeful, like the faint memory of sunlight after a long winter.
The feelings are so intense that my thoughts become unsteady.
I quickly close the box and lower my head, drawing in several slow breaths while trying to steady my trembling hands. Somehow, the small room feels different now. Smaller. Heavier. As though the air itself has thickened around me.
The worst part is that I still remember nothing.
No faces.
No voices.
No memories.
Only emotions remain, clinging to me without explanation.
Eris notices my discomfort immediately. Her expression softens with concern as she quietly moves closer and sits beside me on the bed. Then, without hesitation, she gently takes my hands into hers.
"Felicia… are you alright?" she asks softly. "You suddenly went pale."
Her hands are warm and rough with calluses, and the simple contact helps pull me back from the storm inside my head.
I swallow before answering.
"I'm fine. Just… overwhelmed, I guess."
"Did you remember something?"
I hesitate before shaking my head.
"No. Not really."
I let out a quiet breath and glance down at the closed box resting in my lap.
"When I saw those things, it felt important somehow. Like they matter to me. But no matter how hard I try, I still can't remember anything."
The ache in my chest remains even now, lingering stubbornly beneath my ribs.
Eris listens before giving my hands a gentle squeeze.
"Hey, maybe that's still a good sign," she says. "Sometimes emotions return before memories do. My grandmother used to say the heart remembers things long before the mind does."
I give a small nod.
"I hope you're right."
Carefully, I hand the jewelry box back to her. Eris places it inside the chest beside the black dress and locks everything away once more, treating each item with surprising care.
After fastening the chains, Eris rests her hands on her hips and looks thoughtful.
"You know," she says, turning toward me, "even if you don't remember your past, I'm certain you came from somewhere important."
I blink at her. "What makes you say that?"
"Well… look at those belongings." She gestures toward the chest. "That dress alone must cost a fortune. I've never seen fabric like that before, and the jewelry was clearly made by a master craftsman. Ordinary people don't own things like that. Honestly, I think only nobles or royalty would dress that way."
"Oh wait a minute!" she then gasp. "Felicia… could you actually be a princess?"
"A princess?" I repeat, staring at her.
The idea sounds absurd.
And yet, as ridiculous as it is, I cannot completely dismiss it either. The dress, the jewelry, the strange emotions tied to them… none of it feels ordinary.
"Don't worry," Eris says. "I'll keep your belongings safe until your memories return. Or until you decide you want them back."
"Thank you," I reply.
And I truly mean it.
The more I think about everything she has done for me, the more grateful I become. If Eris wanted money, she could easily have sold those belongings already. Instead, she protected them and returned them to me without hesitation.
That simple kindness means more to me than she probably realizes. And thus, the last of my suspicion toward her slowly fades away.
After sitting in silence for a while, I gather my courage and speak again.
"Eris… can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Would it be alright if I stayed here for a few days? At least until I figure out what I'm supposed to do. I don't really have anywhere else to go right now…"
The moment the words leave my mouth, I feel embarrassed. Even asking makes me feel pathetic.
But Eris answers without hesitation.
"Of course you can stay."
Her response is so immediate and sincere that I look up in surprise.
Then she scratches the back of her neck awkwardly and laughs.
"Though I should warn you… this room isn't exactly luxurious."
"That doesn't matter!"
Relief spreads through me so strongly that my shoulders nearly sag. I hadn't realized how tense I still was until now. And regarding the room, I'm just glad that I won't be sleeping on the street today.
"But are you really sure? I don't want to become a burden." I ask her again, just to be sure.
Eris laughs and shakes her head.
"Hey, you worry too much. I might not have much money, but I'm not heartless!" Her expression softens as she looks at me. "There's no way I could leave a frightened girl alone in a place like this."
For a moment, emotion catches in my throat. I stand quickly and bow toward her.
"Thank you, Eris," I say, my voice trembling. "Really. Thank you for everything."
"H-Hey, don't do that." Eris immediately grabs my shoulders and pulls me back upright, looking flustered. "You don't need to be so formal with me."
Then she smiles, and the sight of it makes my heart flutter.
"We're friends now, aren't we?"
"Eh? Friends?"
"Yes. Friends!"
At her words, I let out a small chuckle, and all the tension in my chest suddenly melts away.
Friends.
The word settles in my heart.
I look at her for a moment before smiling back.
"Yes, we are friends."
This time, when tears gather in my eyes, they no longer come from fear or confusion.
They come from relief.
Because for the first time since waking up in this unfamiliar world, I finally feel like I am not completely alone anymore.
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Character art: Eris Wilfang