Facing the ceiling while laying on my bed, I remembered the dinner and the conversations that I had with my parents tonight.

Turning on my side, there was a smile on my face. It seemed like it had been forever since I last had a normal interaction with them. With us being a happy little family.

Closing my eyes I drifted off to sleep while being content and happy for the first time in my adulthood. I wanted to experience this feeling for the rest of my life, the one of pure calmness and peace within my heart.

~×~×~×~

The sunlight hit right on my eyes making my eyes squirm with pain. I pulled my blanket to my face; the darkness relaxing my eyes.

"Wake up Brianna. It's morning."

I heard my mother's chirping the way she used to wake me up before.

Please don't wake me up now. I wanted to see my mother in my room waking me up even if it was a dream.

I felt someone shaking my shoulders. "Wake up Brianna."

Oh please don't wake me up. I did not want to tell the maid this or even make a movement because then I would be fully awake and not able to re-enter this dream.

The pulling of the blanket off my face made the sunlight fall onto my eyes again. This time it did wake me up.

I was not going to leave the maid. She would be paying for this.

Getting up with rage filling my mind, a growl escaped my throat. How would I see my mother again?

"What happened dear?"

Wait who's voice was that?
Was that really -

Opening my eyes I saw the dream that I wanted to be in.

There was my mother standing in flesh and blood right in front of my eyes in the real world.

"Finally! Took you long enough to wake up Brianna."

I was still sitting wide eyed staring at her. Pinching myself to actually believe that it's reality an ouch escaped my mouth. This was really real.

"What happened?"

"Nothing Mom, just a mosquito."

"Mosquito? Over here? How did it came inside and where's the repellent?" Her eyes were now fixed on the maid staring with the intensity that I would never like to be on the receiving end of.

"It's alright mom. Don't worry the mosquito's gone." I hastily spoke to spare the poor maid from my mother's piercing gaze.

"How come you're here today? Did Dad allow...?" I left the question trailing off.

"I'll be here from today onwards. Your Dad too and you're given the freedom to come and go out of this room at your wish."

My eyes were gleaming with joy at those words. "Really?" This was the best news I'd ever got.

She nodded in agreement.

I jumped with joy. My life was finally getting back to how it used to be. I was able to express my emotions, talk to everyone else and also roam around the palace.

This was the best day of my life.

~×~×~×~

Coming back after having breakfast at the table, I found myself sitting back again in front of the mirror.

"Congratulations Bridget. You've been selected for the second round. This is a great opportunity for you to talk to the Shadow and know about him but more importantly convince him to marry you."

The words of my uncle Richmund were now roaming in my head like a toddler in a park.

Why was I chosen for this torture once again? I thought he had no interest in me. At least that's what it seemed during our first and what I had hoped; our last meeting.

Well guess I was wrong because now Mom was tying up my hair in a bun. I was just grateful that it's mom this time around and not Rowena.

Letting some of my loose curls fall at the side of my face, Mom was now doing the last touch ups.

She had refused the maid to dress me up. She said that she wanted to dress up her little princess for her prince.

Prince? Hmfh. More so a confused person whom I'd never seen with all the princesses of Algora ready to die to marry him. How could you even marry a person if you were already dead?

Placing my tiara Mom spoke like a teen girl excited for anything, "Look at you Brianna! You look so pretty my dear."

"Thanks mom. This is your doing."

Coming near, Rowena spoke to us, "Your Highness, if you would... It's time for her grace to meet the Shadow."

"Sure! Of course you may."

Turning towards me, Mom spoke again, "Listen dear, do not be afraid to ask him anything that you want to know but just remember to not force any answer out of him. If he's not comfortable with answering, leave the question alright?"

I nodded and then went with Rowena to meet him, again.

This time I would be the one getting the answers.

Who was the person behind the Shadow that had been hidden since his birth? What was he like?

It'd be the day of revealing the person behind the mask of Shadow.

We reached the same chamber as yesterday and entered it.

This time there was no curtain dividing the room and I saw a door on the opposite side of the room too. Were we going to see each other this time?

My question was answered as Rowena handed me a mask.

Looking at her for an explanation she stated, "You can still not see each other. That'll be for the third and the final round. Hence the mask."

I slowly nodded looking back again at the mask in my hand. Putting the  mask on I tried breathing with it.

It felt weird with my warm exhale coming back to my face. It sure felt suffocating at first but after loosening it up a bit, it felt much more comfortable. Although the exhales still annoyed me.

Seeing that I was comfortable, Rowena went back and exited the room.

First the questionnaire and now this mask. This was turning out to be annoying more than anything.

Having my parents back I now had not a single wish to be with him. Yet I was standing in this room waiting for him; again.

Argh.

I opened my mouth to try to speak with the mask on but before I could utter a word, the door on the opposite side opened.

There we go.