"I miss the orchard," I said, staring at Lilliana through the mirror. We had created a secret word for going to the village. Ever since the Crown Prince arrived at the country estate, everyone's movements were closely monitored.
"I'll go prepare an outfit," she said, winking at me.
I grabbed the bookmark I'd crafted from dried petunias and placed it on the page where I'd stopped reading.
Somehow, my book—the one I wrote when I was fourteen—had followed me into this world. It looked just as I remembered it. But near the end, a few chapters were different: rewritten in another font, with a story I hadn't penned. It felt like a prophecy. Like an oracle had borrowed my pages.
"The market where the peonies bloomed was the pathway, a door to you."
Was this a quest?
"A smile that brought a ring, shattered hearts, a mistake and a broken mind."
Maybe it was the key to recovering the memories I'd lost. I still felt like a stranger to myself.
"The Crown Prince is here to see you," the guard announced.
I stood quickly from the chaise, hiding the book behind a cushion. I straightened my dress just in time to see him step inside. It was the first time he'd come to seek me out.
He wore riding clothes—functional but refined. Polished boots, fine stitching, a maroon cloak draped over one shoulder, soft suede gloves. Everything about him screamed confidence, nobility.
"Your Highness," I greeted with a small curtsy. "I wasn't expecting you."
"I came to invite you for a ride," he said, fixing his riding cap.
"I'm not good with horses, Your Highness."
He chuckled and made himself comfortable on the armchair. "You forgot quite a lot. You used to be one of the best riders in the capital. William made sure of that."
The mention of William made my chest ache. I missed him.
"How did the acquisition go?" I asked, crossing my legs as I sat.
"It went well. Your predictions are still accurate," he replied. Then added, with quiet displeasure, "You're still useful—but I don't like this new you."
So honest. So direct. But the truth remained: I wasn't Penny.
I smiled nervously. "What was I like before the incident?"
"Join me for the ride, and I'll tell you," he said, rising and leaving before I could respond.
Lilliana returned with my market outfit in hand, her eyes bright with excitement—of course she'd seen the prince. Rumors were already spreading that I was his new favorite. Grace had gone quiet ever since the ordeal in his office.
"Change of plans," I said, rising. "I'm going horse riding."
---
My heart pounded as the tall chestnut mare approached me. Its ears twitched. It bowed its head, and instinctively, I bowed too.
The prince laughed behind me. A stable hand held the reins as I stepped into the stirrup and hoisted myself up. I settled into the leather saddle, fingers closing gently around the reins.
The mare started forward, hooves muffled against the padded green earth. I swayed with the rhythm, my posture adjusting naturally.
This... felt familiar. Calming. Penny had loved this.
"You seem to be enjoying this," the prince observed, riding beside me.
"It feels like I did... I can feel it," I said. "Thank you for bringing me here. I needed this."
He nodded and pointed ahead. The orchard stretched in the distance like a painted memory.
"That place holds a lot of meaning to me," he said, his voice softer. "This estate... it holds a lot of meaning for us. But you've forgotten even that."
"Have I been here before?" I asked, tugging the reins. The mare stopped.
He brought his horse to a halt beside mine. "I had this place built for us. You said you loved the country. Said it was the perfect place for... a digital detox."
My pulse jumped. I blinked hard. "I said that?"
He nodded. "You also said you missed your dog. Panya."
My breath caught in my throat. I choked, coughing hard.
He was off his horse in an instant, rushing to me. "Are you alright?"
"I'm okay," I managed to say between coughs.
But I wasn't. Panya. That was my dog. From my world.
How could Penny have known that?
Unless...
Unless I was Penny all along.