I've just opened my eyes. I am panting heavily, sweated, and with my heart beating as fast as it can.
My head's killing me. I have a terrible headache that makes me feel dizzy.
"W-Was that...a dream...?" I think out loud, nervously and desoriented.
The moonlight breaks through a small window on the wall, painting the room with a thin but visible blue.
I can't recognize anything, and there are no hints avaliable to help me out to at least relate this place to something I know.
I've tried to look around me again, wishing to recall on the second attempt where I am. But it isn't easy, because I can almost see nothing, which is almost the same as what there is in this tiny room.
I am on a freezing cold and dirty floor made of stone, in a room where the coldness of the air is in abundance. This two factors produce the most deductible of all things: I am shivering.
The only one piece of clothing that I possess is a white dress, which covers most of my legs and just a little of my arms from below my shoulders. It brings a small sensation of warmth to my body, meanwhile my feet are somewhat purple, because of me being barefoot.
There is a small window with iron bars on the wall made of stone bricks at my left, which lets an small amount of light come in to this place.
The one at my right is just a plain, dirty, and muddy wall made of bricks of stone, as well.
The closed wooden door in the wall on front of me makes the final detail for the complexity of this place. It has no window, and it is apparently clean, surprisingly.
There is nothing else to look at, an empty room with me and the moss as residents.
I am confined what seems to be a prison's cell, maybe I am some sort of criminal...wait...If I was a criminal, wouldn't I know it? Why wouldn't I know what I am...?
"No...it's not just why I am in here...w-why can't I...!" I say to myself, as I fall into the perplex realization of me being incapable of remember not only my lifestyle, but my whole identity.
"N-No! Th-This can't be...! I-I am...WHY CAN'T I EVEN SAY MY OWN NAME?! What's happening...why-why, JUST WHY?!" I exclaim, getting really anxious and severely stressed due to my memoryless mind.
"I can't even think of ANYONE I know, not even one person, not that I can remember a single place; let alone something I have done." I say, maintaining my anxiety levels.
This reality is quite horrible. My mind is blank, unable to think of past experiences of any kind. No matter how much I try, I simply can picture none.
"Dammit..." I curse, frustrated because of how futile it is to think.
This amnesia is yet to be understood, and hopefully, resolved.
I am done with failing to remember, it is too much stress.
It is time to make use of that petite fenêtre, and try to see something from outside, maybe that will help me out to localize this jail of rock and desolation.
"Oh, but of course..." I say, after noticing the disgraceful fact of my body feeling heavy, as if there was something over me restricting my movements.
I am unable to move much due to my body's tiredness, so I will leave standing up for later...
If I can't move from this stance and walk to that window, I may as well look at myself to get hints of who I am.
Well, the first thing that I can analyze is my clothing, which is composed by my dress alone. It is a white dress, looks like it is made of the most gorgeous and precious of silks. A white dress that shows elegance and prestige. It has some leafs on it, and it has some dirt stains all over it.
It doesn't tell me why I am in here but, I can assume that whoever I was, that woman was someone with class. She could have been rich, or at least middle class.
She could have also been poor but, then, a dress like this shouldn't be affordable. if it wasn't and I am wearing it, maybe it is stolen.
I have a pale light skin. My arms have some scratches on it but, nothing so bad.
Both of my hands are dirty, making a contrast with the well-maintained nails. They are trimmed, with the perfect short length, what a curious detail.
I can't see much of my legs, and I wouldn't dare to uncover them, for the coldness of this room is torturing me enough.
I am no looking at my hair. Its length reaches my shoulders, and looks like the previous owner almost didn't wash it...
It has leafs on it too, like the dress, which makes me think that I have been in a forest or a place with lots of trees.
The only one fact of my body that I have discovered, and is concerning me, is the thin line around my neck. It burns when I touch it, so I didn't give it too much focus, but it still is weird.
There isn't much more I can see of myself as I am right now.
Several minutes have passed since I woke up in here, just for the headche's pain to be aceptable. And the cherry on top of this disgrace is that I am really hungry. So hungry, that it makes me think that I may have not eaten anything for at least one day.
"I am starvi-" I say, but repent murmurs from the other side of the door interrupt my speech.
I got quite tense because of it.
I seem to be imprisoned, so, they must be this prison's guards. What could they possible wish to do? Could it be that they want to feed me? No, it can't be. I am starving, so feeding clearly must be out of their priorities.
I can hear two voices outside, arguing about something that I can't hear well. The sound of keys being tossed is heard. They are going to open the door.
Abruptly, there is silence. The sound of a lock being unlocked, resonates in the cell.
A light starts to enter the room, illuminating it more and more as the door opens.
Two guards are getting inside, one is porting a candle in a silver plate and a gray blanket, and the other is holding a plate with what looks like meat and smashed potatoes.
Both of them are wearing a black plated armor. They have purple badges in the left side of their chestplates, and a sword on their waist's left side.
One is at the front of the door, and the other is standing on its frame. The one at the front is looking at me with a face of what looks like amusement and joy, as tears have started to run down of his face. He is smilling at me, with an expression that appears to portrait relief and happiness.
A black gentleman, with hair long enough to reach his shoulders. He looks young, and he is notably handsome.
"Oh, dear lord! I-I cannot believe it...! You are alive...! R-Renesse!" He said, while smiling even more, with a tone that made me think that maybe he hadn't seen me in quite some time. Such a pity that I can't remember who he is.
Wait a minute..."Renesse"? Is that my name? And of course I am alive, am I not? Why wouldn't I be? Did something happened to me which made this guy think that I was dead? Did we know each other? Is that why he is crying?
So much that I wish I could know, but asking a lot of questions out of nowhere doesn't seem like a good choice.
"Who are you? What am I doing in here?" I asked, hoping for his answers to help me out. I believe that to ask these two questions wouldn't cause me any trouble, or at least that's what I expect.
His expression has changed dramatically to one of discomfort. Judging by his face, what I asked may have made him feel disgusted. I accidentally made things more complicated.
"..." He remained silent. The silence is awkward, and the more seconds he lets pass, the more anxious that I become.
I am preparing myself for the scenario in which he gets violent. I am absurdly weak right now, so, any punishment could be very dangerous.
NO, wait, what if he uses his sword to-
"Y-You can't remember me...my lady?" He asked, interrupting my inner crisis.
He has a face that gives me the impression that he, actually, is sad and not angry.
Thankfully, I didn't cause any trouble.
"No, I can't! And no matter how much I try, I also can't remember a single thing about-Wait...did you just call me "lady"?" Am I something like...a noble?" I asked, getting less cautious of my speech, and even more confused about who I am, and my current situation.
He sighed profusely, disappointed by what I stated. He is now staring at me with soulless eyes, looking really affected by what I said.
"Enough Thomas, please give lady Renesse what we brought for her." Said the second guard, now stepping foward, while showing a emotionless face and eyes that stare at me in the same way a dog does when its owner leaves it alone.
Who I believe is named Thomas, is colocating the candle which he brought, two meters to my right, on the floor. It makes to see much easier. He also reaches his arm to hand me the gray blanket, which is really soft and thick.
I've just putted the blanket around me, covering from the coldness in here, and the sensation of comfort that invaded me, is quite likable.
The second guard, who is apparently in a higher command position, is putting the plate on the floor, as he hands me untensils.
"The Madam ordered us to provide you of these. I'm sorry lady Renesse, I know that it isn't the best, but we made our best to at least give you a warm meal." He said, with what I interpreted was a sad tone.
He is sitting on my left.
Madam? Who is she? Why did she command this two to give me these things? What could be the purpose?
These new doubts are stressing me out, but I have to reply to his negativity first.
"I am most grateful for the food, I was starving and thinking about when will I eat just moments before you two came in." I said, attempting to be polite for the favor they have done to me.
"Ha ha ha...by your pale and apathetic face, you must be really pissed off...aren't you? I am deeply sorry, my lady..." He said, looking even sadder than before.
I am confused, why did he said that? Did my face express angriness? But I was only being grateful for the food...this misunderstanding could be dire, I need to clarify it.
"Don't be sorry...I am really satisfied with this meal. We could talk while I eat, if you wish. And the blanket that your companion gave me is helping me a lot to feel more warm." I said, wishing for him to not misinterpret my words, and leaving room for a conversation which I could make good use of.
"I am happy that it is helpful, my lady!" Said Thomas, now regaining a child-like face of happiness, irradiating sunshines and rainbows with his teeth.
His black straight hair and dark skin make quite the pair. He possesses a nice personality. He is now getting closer.
"Then, if everything is okay, let's start! You said you couldn't remember my name, well then, first goes first, my name is Thomas, my lady." He said, smiling ear to ear, having an even happier expression, if that is even possible.
"Alright Thomas, nice to meet you." I said, after what I extended my hand to him, to shake hands.
"No, I can't!" He said, after what he took his hand away.
"A knight can't shake hands with a lady, that's inappropriate!" He said, looking quite serious about his negativity against touching hands.
"Even so, nice to meet you, again, lady Renesse!" He said while smiling ear to ear. Such emotional and charismatic boy, it is helping with the stress I was in just minutes ago.
"I suppose it is now my turn. Salutations my lady, my name is Gerard. I am in charge of the security of this mansion. I fulfill the rol of commander, giving orders to young lads such as this dummy here." Said Gerard, after what he pointed at Thomas.
A serious superior and his silly companion, what a combination it is.
Gerard is a tall white man, with a black frondy beard, and black hair. He has a fine haircut, with a medium length all over his head. He also has a scar on his left cheek, maybe produced in a combat he had fought.
The smell of the meat, spiced and well condimented, is taking away all my focus. And even though I want to reply to Gerard, resisting the temptation of having such an appetizing dinner in front of me, is impossible.
I have just cutted a slice of the pork-like meat, and it looks just...so yummy.
I am chewing it, and the flavors explosion inside of my mouth is erradicating all of my burdens. This pleasure is addictive.
The salty smashed potatoes are making me lose any stress left in my body.
I am devouring and guiding this warm, and delicious, piece of culinary art to its final destiny.
It is gone...
I should have eaten more slowly, since nobody was planning to take it away from me...
Such a shame that there is no other thing to eat...
Thomas is taking out of his bag a leather mug, while he is getting closer to me.
He is reaching it to me.
"H-Here! I almost forgot about this, I am sorry! Drink this water if you are thirsty, my lady" He said.
I am drinking it, finally getting over my thirstiess.
"Hey, Thomas, HOW COULD YOU FORGET TO GIVE THE LADY THE WATER?! DID YOU THINK SHE SHOULDN'T HAVE DINNER WITH ANYTHING TO DRINK?!" Exclaimed Gerard, with what seemed like an angry tone and face. A vein is visibly popping out in his forehead.
I've choked, not expecting a reaction like this. I need to interfer.
"It is not a big deal..." I said, after what I maintained my mouth shout, beacuse Gerard had already started to reprimand Thomas.
The headche is gone, making the whole situation of me and my body, less stressful.
The soreness isn't as severe as before, but I still have some complications when moving.
I feel a simple sensation of tranquility, nothing is bothering me much, so I could say that I am okay.
The verbal punishment is finally over.
They are both sitting in front of me, after what felt like an eternity.
"Ehem! Well, lets continue where we left it, my lady." Said Gerard, with a serene expression.
"What is that which you wan to know? Do ask me, my lady." Said Gerard, now smiling with a more positive energy.
"Well...at first, I would like to know, who am I. I heard that you called me Renesse, but, do I have a surname? Do I have a family? That kind of information would be what I need the most, if you will..." I said, now accommodating myself over the wall, resting my head on it.
"But of course! I will help you, my lady.
Well, you are Renesse Rinvalley, daughter of the baron Lethe Rinvalley. He is in charge of administrate the Barony of Dembeth.
So yes, that makes you a noble my lady, the sole heir of your bloodline." He stated.
Wow. I AM a noble. How does one normally reacts to a revelation like that...?
That leaves me with the second most relevant question.
"So I am "Renesse Rinvalley", huh?
I have another question then, Gerard. If I am the daughter of a baron, and his heir, then why am I in a prison's cell?" I questioned, curious and incapable of thinking of a way in which those two facts would relate.
"...there is no easy way to explain this, my lady." He said, looking somewhat angry, and looking to the wall at our right.
"I can't go anywhere, can I? We have plenty of time, so, please, do explain." I said, wishing for him to give me an explanation of this nonsense.
"Lord Lethe has been absent for almost 2 years now. He is commanding the barony's army in the frontlines of the territorial dispute of the kingdom in which it is situated, the Kingdom of Aurzallen. Our kingdom is fighting over the possession of the city of Wunderfahën with our western neighbor, the Cyrus Kingdom." He said, dead seriously.
"So my father is helping and giving aid with this place's troops? I get that he is busy, but, what does that have to do with me being imprisoned...?" I questioned.
"That disgusting wrench." Murmured Thomas, with an enraged face.
"You know that you can't talk like that Thomas, but yeah...she is the one that made hell to you." Replied Gerard.
"Who? Who is this "she"?" I asked, confused.
"The only one that has the power to pull off something so outrageous like this, your stepmother, madam Madelda." Said Gerard, looking quite sad, like before.
I am processing all of this new information, still don't understanding why would my stepmother do this to me, and how does this relate to the fact that I lost my memories, and that I woke up feeling like a corpse.
I guess I should ask the-
"Since lord Lethe has been absent, she has taken the all the power of management as the baroness. But instead of doing things as the lord has done them for years, she used this position of charge, to fulfill her dark and terrific objectives. Things such as increasing the taxes of the citizens, or to send to prison for torture or execution people who didn't like her greedy ways.
Among all the absurdities that she has done, this is one of the most condemned. And nobody can help you...
Most of the higher-ups are on her side, assisting her for the profits and goods which come in such robbery.
She uses her connections to hide the fact that you are captive in here, from the lord, killing those whom attempt to tell on her.
A few men remain loyal to you and the Rinvalley's Linage, but there is not much to do..." Said Gerard, visibly sad and hurt by what he just told me.
"I must confess my lady...that after what happened yesterday, all of us whom where in the duty of bringing you back, where incapable of stop crying...
Me and and another knight of the mansion, were the ones that bridged you down...all of us who were searching for you, were speechless all the way to here." Said Thomas, watching my hair, for some reason, now gaining a deep soulless look in his eyes.
What? Searching for me? Did I go missing? And what does he mean by "bringed you dow-
"I won't judge you lady Renesse, after all the calamities that you had to endure...that decision is comprehensible. I just wanted to tell you that if you need anything, you can call us anytime that you need anything. Even if the madam would make sure that what you recieve is nothing but shit, we wil try to serve you, and if you need help..." Said Thomas.
"Yeah, just say our names and we will be here in an instant." Said Gerard, with a fake smile on his face, visibly trying to hide his sadness.
"I am thankful to know that I can count on you but...I don't get it, what happened yesterday...?" I asked, in confusion.
"...you had hanged yourself, my lady." Said Thomas, with a expression that exposed his inner pain and suffering.
Oh...so that's why I have this line around my neck, it is a rope burn.
Well, fuck.
This explains why they are in such a negative mood, and everything makes much more sense now...
Wait...if I hanged myself, and they took a lot of time to find me, how am I alive?
Could it be that...THAT wasn't a dream?
But, that doesn't make any sense, does it?
"That creepy smiling man..." I thought, aloud.
"LADY RENESSE, DID YOU SEE HIM?!" Questioned really loudly Thomas, with a face that shows preoccupation and a little of fear.
"Whom...?" I asked, confused.
"ÖLISE!The "creepy smiling man"." Said Thomas, now getting closer to me.
"His manners may not be the best...but yeah, the man you described is, without a doubt, Ölise. There is no one else who could be called the "creepy smiling man"." Said Gerard, looking mad at Thomas for his screaming.
"Ö-Ölise...?" I asked, after what I started to lose my mind.
Everything is spinning, and my eyes are closing on their own.
It is difficult to maintain my eyelids open, and I can feel my consciousness leave my body, as I start to fall asleep...