? Be My Princess 2: Sleeping Mirror ?

Ivan's POV

It's strange..I've been having odd dreams for the past weeks.  I dreamed about a girl that I am completely clueless about. I've never met her before in real life, yet I'm having such a strong emotional attachment to her. She never showed me her complexion but she has above waist-length, dark hair with bangs covering her eyes.

At some of my dreams, we stayed together. Sat next to each other watching the emerald glimmering lake that is in front of us. We didn't dare to utter a word. We just sat there, enjoying the silence surrounding us. Sometimes, although I can't see her face, I have the feeling that she's telling me something. To help her.

Today seems different... She was crying, but I couldn’t hear her sobs, it’s as if she had no voice. I have no idea why but I hope I could comfort her. But, when I was about to mutter a word, a light appeared out of nowhere blinding me, and it was continued by a sound of something glassy shattering. Something was shattering into pieces and when it felt like it was gone, the girl already mysteriously vanished.

Every time I woke up from my slumber. I felt furious at myself for not being able to help her.

"Your Highness."

Mikhail, my butler, called me softly after he placed the teacup on top of the wooden table. He gave me a concerned look mixed with a little bit of suspicion.

"Yes, What?" I replied to him and he slightly sighed.

"You're acting unlike yourself. You should be more focused you're going to the battlefield front line soon. I'm sure you don't want to be dead there." Mikhail reminded me harshly. For a moment, I didn't say anything back and only stare at him like I'm not really paying attention to what he said.

"Is something bothering you?" Mikhail asked again and I shook my head. I don't want him to think that I have gone insane.

"No. Not at all." I muttered with my usual straight face.

"Very well. Anyway, the Praelia family sent you something earlier in the morning."  Mikhail said, informing the unusual news.

"Oh?"

"It's a vintage looking mirror. I can bring it to your private chamber later if you want to." Mikhail added.

"Sure. I'd like that." I answered with a somewhat uninterested tone. It's not that I hate the gift or present from the Praelia family. It's because of the dream I had last night. It felt like it was real.

I know it isn't.

But, I wanted to see her again. This time, if I had one more chance. I'll do it right. I'll try to speak to her.

What am I thinking?

I shouldn't be like this... I'm really going to be insane.

I slowly took a sip of the tea that Mikhail made for me hoping that it could distract my thoughts. To stop thinking about the lady who appeared in my dreams. She is nothing but a creation I made for my dreams. She isn’t real.

Today's tea was a bit bitter in my tongue compared to the usual, weird. But, I really don't mind. In fact, I'd be more annoyed if it was sweeter.

However, the bitterness of the tea today reminded me of the bitter smile that the girl showed me in my one of my dreams. A bitter smile that made me wonder about her story.

I glanced at the paperwork I needed to do. Only 3 papers are left. Most of the papers were given to me so I could sign them. What took me so long was that I needed to read them carefully before signing it. One small mistake can affect many things greatly. I took a deep breath and tried to distract the thoughts of the dreams by focusing on work. But, several minutes after I had finished all of the paperwork, I got nothing to do for the rest of the day.

Maybe I should check the vintage mirror after this and then I'll write a letter of gratitude to the Praelia family.

"Mikhail, I'm going to check the mirror now." I stood from my chair and headed straight to my room. Mikhail didn't follow me because he had to fetch the mirror from somewhere in the castle.

Once I'm in my room, I sat on the edge of the bed and started to ponder. Why in the world would they give me a mirror? It's an unusual gift. Are there deeper meanings to the gifts they sent me or was it just their random picks?

Could the mirror be related to the dreams I had before? Related to the sound of glassy object shattering to pieces and felt like it vanished into the abyss? Could the glassy object be a mirror?

Of course, that's unlikely. That is very unrealistic and the most naive idea I have ever made.

What has gotten into me? Dear Lord...Why am I acting like this? Why do I keep having those odd dreams?

"Pardon me." I saw Mikhail entering with something quite large in his hands. I think I'm too lost in my thoughts that I didn't hear him knocking on the door.

"Is that the mirror you're talking about?" I stood from my bed and walked closer to the mirror he's holding. Mikhail nodded while placing it down on the floor near me. He then pulled the velvet fabric that covers the mirror revealing the mirror.

It was a medium sized mirror, a silver framed mirror. I can tell it's an old mirror once I touched its surface. Modern sheet glass is typically smooth and free of bubbling. But this one isn't. The frame is carved beautifully too. Dust is covering the mirror a bit but it makes the antique atmosphere surrounding it more visible. My eyes studied the mirror for a while before I noticed that there's a sculpture of sleeping wolf on the lower part of the mirror.

Overall, it is a unique mirror.

"Your Highness, I'm going to get a duster first." Mikhail excused himself and I continue staring at the work of art in front of me.

I gently place my palm on the surface of the mirror and stare at my own reflection. I stared at my eyes and question whether this antique mirror has magical powers. That's so unlike me but the dreams I had already affect me too much.

"Who are you?" I mumbled before my lips let out a sigh. I closed my eyes, feeling stupid. But, not long after that, I felt a warm sensation caressing my fingertips. My eyelids unconsciously opened but then it was blinded by a familiar light. As my orbs adjusted a bit something appeared and I saw..

Her.

The lady in my dreams.