The sound of footsteps grows heavier outside my door—deliberate yet hesitant, as if their owner can't decide whether to approach or retreat. Finally, a tall figure materializes in the doorway, shoulders squared but hands fidgeting at his sides.

He wears a long ivory coat, its surface alive with golden embroidery that curls across the chest, cuffs, and hem. Beneath it, a high-collared white shirt frames his features with quiet refinement. A wide leather belt, etched with delicate designs, cinches the coat at his waist, while dark trousers and tall black boots ground the brilliance of his attire. The look strikes a balance between nobility and practicality.

"What is happening?" His voice carries authority wrapped in gentleness.

"Athene, you've woken up. How do you feel?" His eyes meet mine, then dart away.

"And why is everyone gathered here?" His words sound practiced.

I should know this man, shouldn't I?

"Your Grace..." Zoey's voice breaks. "Our lady... she seems to have lost her memories."

His face remains a careful mask, but his knuckles whiten as he grips the doorframe. He studies me, then the others, then back to me—like a man trying to solve a puzzle while hiding that several pieces are missing.

"Really..." He kneels beside us, his voice low but his eyes sharp with suspicion. "Athene, do you know where you are? Do you remember me?"

I hesitate, almost letting the truth slip before catching myself. "No... I don't..." I shake my head softly, clinging to my innocent facade while my heart pounds against my ribs.

"Do you know who you are then?" The question hangs between us like a trap.

"Everyone calls me Athene, but..." I swallow hard, torn between maintaining my lie and the sudden urge to confess everything. "I don't know who I really am."

He studies my face for a moment too long, then stands abruptly. His fingers twitch at his sides as he surveys the room, clearly wrestling with some internal decision. Zoey and Nina's sobs have quieted to muffled whimpers.

"What should we do, Master?" Nina's voice breaks on the question.

He runs a hand through his hair. "Call the physician—no, wait." He shakes his head. "Yes, call them. We need to discuss Athene's... condition."

Nina scrambles to her feet and hurries out, relief and worry battling across her face.

He kneels beside me again, closer this time. "Zoey, bring something to eat. Something... restorative." His words sound certain but his eyes betray doubt.

When Zoey leaves, we're alone, and suddenly I have this urge to pure him all my curiosity hoping he would answer it is at peak but somehow I manage to keep calm under my innocent facade.

"Athene, so you don't remember anything from the past?" He asks, his voice gentle but his eyes sharp.

"No," I say, then hesitate. "I mean—there are shadows, but..." I trail off, unsure if I should mention the flashes of light, the fragments that don't fit together.

"I see. You don't have to be scared of me. I'm your brother, Therasu." His smile seems genuine.

His aura feels gentle, yet my skin prickles. I want to believe him—need to believe someone—but how can I trust when I don't even trust myself? If he's my brother, he has answers, but what if they're the wrong ones?

I nod slowly, my throat tight.

"I feel... lost. When I opened my eyes, nothing was familiar. Then this stranger appeared, offered help. I went with him because— Because I had no choice?and I fell asleep...then I woke up here."

He leans forward. "Did he tell you his name? What did he look like?"

The question hangs between us. My instincts pull in opposite directions—tell everything, tell nothing.

..... Ethan ....

"No... he was just a farmer who found me wandering in the forest. He asked where I came from, how I got lost so deep in the woods. I told him I didn't know, so he brought me to the village, hoping someone would claim me," I reply, my fingers twisting the fabric of my sleeve.

"I see. Don't worry, sister, brother is here now. Do you remember anything about our past? Our family?" he presses, leaning forward.

I look at his familiar-yet-strange face. My innocent demeanor slightly switches to detective.

"I don't... quite understand what you mean. Are you certain I'm the Athene that belongs to your family?"