My Silver Lover

Chapter10: The Hidden Bonds

Stephanie had lost consciousness and fallen to the ground, only to be scooped up by Leo, who carried her swiftly toward the village clinic. Everyone knew she had fainted, yet no one realized that elsewhere, another presence was aware of every moment she was experiencing at the exact second she fell.

##

Princess Oliva sat in her private chamber, her gaze fixed on the necklace that hung delicately on her chest. It glowed faintly, radiating warmth into her heart, hinting at something far beyond a mere piece of jewelry. The maid stood beside her, eyes fixed on her mistress, voice calm but laced with curiosity:

“My lady… why has the necklace begun to glow like this? Did you feel it?”

Oliva nodded gently, pressing the necklace between her hands, lost in thought:

“Yes… I felt it. It is the signal that tells me where my daughter, Avery, is.”

The maid raised an eyebrow in surprise:

“Your daughter… you mean Avery? It has been many years since she was taken from the kingdom. Have you never stopped sensing her?”

Oliva gave a sad smile, her tone filled with both grief and firmness:

“This necklace… is the only thing that connects me to her. Since I sent her away from the kingdom, it has been my sole guide to know what she experiences, where she is, and when she may be in danger. Everything I feel now… it means she is near the forest, near a place that could be dangerous for her.”

The maid leaned closer, trying to comprehend the weight of her mistress’s responsibility:

“But why did you keep her away all these years? Isn’t it enough that she is far from the palace?”

Oliva’s voice was resolute, yet laced with worry:

“I sent her away because I foresaw her future… I saw the village, the world she would face, and I knew that if she had stayed with me, she would be in danger. She would have a ruthless companion, and she would be vulnerable to what might come. That is why I kept her… far from the kingdom, far from the palace, far from the forest… all of it to protect her from any potential harm.”

The maid’s eyes widened as she whispered:

“So the necklace is the only link between you. Feeling it now… it means she is close to a sensitive place… and perhaps in danger.”

Oliva nodded, her eyes burning with intensity:

“Exactly… I have kept her away since birth. I never wanted her to face any threat. The necklace will always guide me. Whenever I sense it, I will know that the time has come to intervene or to remain vigilant. She will not approach anything that could harm her as long as the necklace is with me.”

Taking a deep breath, the maid said softly:

“You have done what is right, my lady. Every step you have taken since she was sent away has been to protect her. The necklace… it will guide you, and you will know everything that happens to her, no matter how far she is from the kingdom.”

Oliva smiled gently, pressing the necklace once more, whispering:

“My daughter… Avery… no matter how far you are from me… I will always know where you are, and I will protect you from every danger. This necklace… is our bond, and it will always remain so… no matter what happens.”

##

A full week had passed since Stephanie’s deep unconsciousness, and finally, she opened her eyes. The dim light streaming through the window illuminated her face slowly. Her heartbeat raced before she fully comprehended what was happening, and a strange mixture of confusion and anxiety filled her chest.

Her body was not weak; the doctor had conducted all the necessary tests and found no physical reason for the coma, not even her asthma. Every part of her body was healthy, yet her mind was unsettled, and her emotions were tense in a way she had never experienced.

She moved slowly, attempting to sit up, but the dizziness forced her back to lie down. Warm hands held hers gently: her mother, Mary, who had held her hand since the first day of her unconsciousness, trying to convey reassurance and calm through touch. Her father, Anderson, sat beside her in a chair, his eyes filled with deep worry, a mixture of fear and uncertainty. Leo stood at the door, observing her anxiously, fidgeting as if trying to find some way to ease his own helplessness.

Stephanie bit her lower lip, and tears began to flow uncontrollably. She felt fear, confusion, and an abrupt longing for something unknown… something mysterious… something missing.

Her voice trembled as she whispered:

“What… what happened… why… why am I here?”

Anderson looked at her carefully, pressing her hand gently:

“Stephanie… you are safe now. Do not be afraid. Nothing is threatening your life.”

But the words were not enough to calm her shattered heart. She felt as if she had lost a part of herself, as though she had awoken from a long, dark, mysterious dream, with no memory of what had happened the week before. Everything beyond her memory—the forest, her fall, every moment—was gone.

She suddenly sat up, trying to look around, tears streaming uncontrollably. She tried to breathe slowly, but could not. The sounds in the room, the voices of her parents, even the quiet presence of Leo in the corner… were not enough to make her feel safe. Everything around her was foreign, and everything within her was unsettled.

Mary spoke softly, her voice a mixture of concern and tenderness:

“My dear… do not try to remember now. Everything is alright… you are safe.”

But Stephanie could not stop crying; her sense of loss was stronger than any words could soothe. Her eyes searched for something she did not know, a mysterious emptiness, as if a crucial part of her life had vanished suddenly, leaving behind deep dread and ceaseless anxiety.

Leo approached cautiously, sitting beside her and placing his hand on her shoulder:

“My sister… I am here… do not worry. Everything will be fine. We are with you.”

Yet Stephanie did not respond. She stared at the sky through the window, crying, trembling, her sense of helplessness growing with every passing minute. She did not yet know that what she had lost was not only consciousness, but all the events that caused her current confusion, and that what she would discover later would change everything… that the forest, her fall, her necklace, and the entire mysterious world she did not yet understand, were waiting behind a veil of secrets.