A Hidden History

We walked through the vast halls and finally reached the kitchen. It was massive, which, given the size of the mansion, wasn't a surprise.

Two men, who both wore crisp white uniforms with a toque on their head, were already busy preparing a few dishes…

My mouth watered at the aroma of food, I was starving…

I turned to look at Vlad, trying to appear composed, though it took every ounce of willpower not to devour everything in sight.

"May I..have a seat?" I asked.

I didn't wanna appear like a starved beast already, this was his house, so I must show respect.

At my question, Vlad nodded, "Ah, you don't need permission for that. Have a seat, food will be served in a few minutes."

I sat down on the chair, my legs dangling from above. A young server approaches me with a tray. Serving the mouth-watering dishes in front of me.

They served a perfectly seared steak, its rich aroma wafting through the air. The tender cut, adorned with a delicate glaze, rested atop a bed of roasted vegetables.

I stared at the dish, wiping the drool from my mouth. I slowly picked up my cutlery, ready to dig in.

"Thank you for the food…." I whisper, my voice barely audible as I cut through the steak, taking the piece to my mouth.

The moment I took my first bite, the tender steak practically melted on my tongue! The rich flavors burst across my palate, If it wasn't for my self control, I would've devoured everything!

I finished eating, picking up a glass of water to quench my thirst and wiping my mouth clean.

Vlad approached me, amused by the way I ate everything on my plate clean.

"I hope you enjoyed the food..?"

I nodded, I felt so refreshed after finally being able to fill my stomach. I looked up at him.

"Thank you, it was really good! I was just…so hungry…I didn't even know when I finished…" I said, a bit embarrassed.

Vlad chuckled, taking a step closer to me.

"I'm glad. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like you to come with me to the study. I'm sure you're still curious about what caused your memory loss, and the relationship between us."

That's right…I completely forgot about it all. To be honest, I couldn't remember a single thing when I woke up at the hospital…

I nodded at his words, Vlad got up and signaled me to follow me.

We walked through some halls before we finally found the door to the study. He took out a key, unlocking and slowly stepping inside. He motioned me to follow.

We both entered the study, it was a bit different compared to the rest of the mansion…one of the windows was shattered and boarded up. He took out a small album, before sitting down on a wooden chair, placing it on the table.

"Come, sit next to me." He said.

I nodded and took a seat next to him. He opened the album, flipping it to a page..

There's two people in the picture…it's me…and Vlad..

I was in a long, flowing wedding gown with a veil draped over my head. While Vlad was in a white suit, his black hair slicked back. The photograph captured us mid-kiss. A moment that was supposed to be filled with love and joy, but it all seemed too foreign to me.

My cheeks flushed as he flipped through more pictures of our wedding day. I could feel a sense of intimacy from the photos, but it was hard to connect with them.

I glanced at Vlad and noticed his expression falter as he turned the pages. There was a sadness in his eyes, though he quickly forced a smile when he looked at me.

"I know you don't remember anything, but…"

He gently takes my hand, leaning down to press a gentle, yet tender kiss on my knuckles.

"I knew you were my bride ever since our first meeting."

I let out a quiet gasp at the sudden intimacy, I slowly pulled my hand away, my cheeks flushed up, avoiding his gaze due to embarrassment.

But I'd be lying if I said I didn't like it.

I turn my gaze away, when I notice a dusty door tucked into the corner of the room, covered with all sorts of locks on it. I point at the door in curiosity.

"What's in there?" I ask, my voice filled with wonder.