Chapter 2 Did He Just Say Princess

My head hurts. A dull throb that pulses behind my eyes, making it hard to think. I don't know how long I've been out, but the softness under me is a relief. Not cold. Not like before.

I try to open my eyes, but the light is too bright. I wince, squinting, and slowly, the world comes into focus. The room is warm, bathed in golden sunlight streaming through the tall windows. The walls are painted in soft, calming colors-pale blues and greens. It feels...safe. But I don't recognize it.

And then I hear them.

Voices. Low, murmuring, but too loud to ignore. I turn my head and see them. Three men standing by the door, all of them with their backs turned, speaking in hushed tones. They're tall, broad-shouldered, and similar in a way that's uncanny. But it's not just their size. There's something else. A connection I can't explain.

I blink, trying to sit up, but my body feels like it's made of lead. The movement catches their attention, and they all turn at once. Three pairs of eyes lock onto me, and I freeze.

The first one to move is the one with dark hair, cropped close to his head. He's the tallest, with a sharp jawline and eyes that seem to pierce right through me. His steps are measured, careful, like he's afraid I might break.

"Trice?" His voice is deep, rough like gravel, but there's something tender in the way he says my name.

I open my mouth, but no sound comes out. I just...stare.

The second one follows, a smirk playing at his lips. His hair is slightly longer, messier, like he couldn't be bothered to tame it. His eyes are a striking blue, sparkling with mischief even as they soften when he looks at me. He's a bit shorter than the first, but still tall enough to tower over me.

"Little sis," he says, and there's a skip in his tone, playful, teasing. "You're awake. Good. We were starting to think you'd sleep forever."

"Shut up, Leo," the third one snaps, rolling his eyes. His hair is somewhere between the other two-neat but not too neat, a deep brown that catches the light. He's the one who looks the most worried, his brow furrowed as he takes a cautious step closer.

"Don't listen to them, Trice," he says softly, his voice a soothing balm. "I'm Lysander. It's okay. You're safe."

Safe. The word echoes in my mind, but it doesn't feel real. How can I be safe when everything feels so wrong? I stare at them, these three men who look at me like I'm the center of their world, but I don't know them. I should know them. I should remember them.

But I don't.

"Who...who are you?" My voice is weak, barely more than a whisper.

The smirk fades from Leo's face, replaced with something sadder, deeper. The one they called Lysander looks like he's been punched in the gut, but it's the first one, the tallest, who speaks.

"I'm Lucian," he says, his voice steady, but I can see the cracks in his calm. "And these two idiots are Leo and Lysander. We're your brothers, Trice. Your triplet brothers."

Brothers. The word doesn't make sense. Nothing makes sense.

"But..." I shake my head, trying to clear the fog that clouds my thoughts. "I don't... I don't remember."

Lucian steps closer, his hand reaching out to gently cup my face. His touch is warm, grounding. "It's okay. You've been through a lot. You don't have to remember everything right now. We're just glad you're back."

I want to believe him. I want to feel that warmth, that safety he's offering. But the fear, the confusion, it's all too much. My hands tremble, and I clench them into fists to stop the shaking.

"How?" The question slips out before I can stop it. "How did I get here?"

The brothers exchange glances, as if silently conversing in a way I can't decipher. Leo sighs, running a hand through his messy hair.

"We found you," he says, his voice unusually serious. "In the forest. You were...in bad shape. But you're here now, with us. That's what matters."

"Bad shape?" I repeat, my mind spinning. "What happened to me?"

Lysander sits on the edge of the bed. His presence is calming. "You were running from something-or someone. We're not sure who yet. But when we found you, you were unconscious. We brought you back home."

Home. The word feels foreign. Strange.

"I don't understand," I say, my voice trembling. "I don't remember any of this. How do I know you're telling the truth?"

Lucian's hand drops from my face, and he steps back, his jaw tightening. "Because we're your family, Trice. We're your blood. We've been looking for you for years, ever since you disappeared. You were lost to us, and we never stopped searching."

My heart aches at the pain in his voice, the desperation I hear under his calm appearance. But it's all too much. Too fast.

"I... I need time," I stammer. "This is... It's too much."

Lysander nods, giving me a small, understanding smile. "Of course. We'll give you all the time you need. But know this-we're here for you, Trice. Always."

Leo grins, the sadness gone from his eyes, replaced with that familiar spark of mischief. "And don't worry, we're not going anywhere. We've got years of sibling bonding to catch up on. Just wait until you hear all the stories we've got."

Despite everything, a small smile tugs at the corner of my lips. There's something about Leo's carefree attitude, Lysander's gentle nature, and Lucian's strength that makes me want to believe them. That makes me want to feel safe here.

But the memories are still missing. The fear still lingers. I don't know if I'll ever truly feel safe again.

Lucian nods toward the window, the sunlight pouring in. "Come on. Let's get you out of this bed. There's a lot to talk about, and we can't do that if you're cooped up in here."

I hesitate, but something in his voice, in the way he looks at me, makes me want to trust him. Slowly, I push the covers off and swing my legs over the edge of the bed. I'm wearing a decent topez-coloured gown, but the way it fits on my body makes me know it's not just decent but expensive. My body is weak, my legs shaky, but I stand.

Lysander is by my side in an instant, offering his arm for support. "Easy. You've been out for a while. Take it slow."

I nod, leaning on him as I take a few unsteady steps. The room spins slightly, but I keep going. They're here. My brothers. It feels strange to think of them like that, but a part of me-a small, distant part-feels like it's true.

Lucian leads the way out of the room, and I follow, with Leo at my other side, his presence a comfort I didn't know I needed. As we step into the hallway, I catch a glimpse of myself in a large mirror. My reflection stares back at me-pale, tired, but alive.

"Welcome home, Trice," Lucian says softly, and for the first time since I woke up, I feel a flicker of hope.

Maybe, just maybe, I can find myself here.