Another morning...

I woke up feeling the weight of the world pressing on my chest. Every morning had started to feel heavier than the last. I looked at Elise, still fast asleep beside me, her small, peaceful face a rare light in my darkening days. I hugged her close, her warmth the only thing keeping me grounded under the sheets.

I tried not to wake her, but the quiet was soon broken when my door creaked open. A guard stood in the doorway, his expression grim as he motioned for me to follow.

Reluctantly, I slipped out of bed, carefully tucking the blankets around Elise. I dressed quickly, my hands trembling as I fastened the last button. Stepping out of the room, I closed the door behind me and followed the guard down the hall.

We stopped before the palace physician, his face drawn and tired, as if he hadn’t slept for days. He hesitated, drawing a deep breath before speaking. “I’m sorry, Your Highness, but your mother... she doesn’t have much time left.”

The words hit me like a sword to the chest. I staggered back, my mind racing, refusing to believe what I’d just heard. “What do you mean she doesn’t have much time?!” My voice cracked, my anger spilling out. “Aren’t you the best here? The one who’s supposed to fix this?!”

He lowered his gaze, unable to meet my eyes. And then he said it.

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“Her Majesty... your mother... she’s been poisoned.”

I froze. The floor beneath me felt as though it had vanished, and I was falling endlessly.

“Poisoned?” My voice came out weak, barely above a whisper. My thoughts immediately turned to Elise, still sleeping in my room. I clenched my fists and forced myself to ask, “What are her chances?”

The doctor’s shoulders slumped further. His voice was as bleak as his expression. “Low. The poison has already destroyed much of her body. She grew worse overnight.”

I could barely breathe. “Can I see her?”

He nodded, and I stepped into her room, the scent of herbs and stale air overwhelming me. There she was, lying motionless in her bed. The vibrant, glowing woman who had once been my mother now looked frail, her skin pale and sunken.

“Mother...” I whispered, tears already pooling in my eyes. I reached for her, desperate to hold her, to feel her warmth one last time. But the doctor gently grabbed my hand and shook his head. I pulled back, sobbing quietly.

I fell to my knees beside her bed, gripping the edge tightly. The tears wouldn’t stop. They poured down my face like an unstoppable flood, soaking the sheets beneath me.

“Is this the life I have?!” I cried out, my voice shaking with grief. “Is this what it means to be royalty? Is this my fate?!”

I looked at her face, searching for some sign of life, some hope. My voice broke as I choked out, “Did I do something wrong? If I did... I’m sorry. I’m sorry!”

Her lips trembled as she summoned the last of her strength. Her voice was barely audible, but it carried all the love in the world. “Kael... my precious Kael... I love you. I love you and Elise... so much...”

Her eyes closed, and the doctor lowered his head, silent tears rolling down his face. The room seemed to grow colder as her chest stilled, her final breath escaping into the stillness.

The world stopped. My world stopped.

“No!” I screamed, my sobs turning into howls of anguish. I clawed at the bed, my grief consuming me, tearing through every corner of my soul. I wanted to tear the pain away, to rip my skin from my body, to do anything to make this nightmare end.

But it wouldn’t. It couldn’t.

The last light of my world had gone out.