로그인A sharp knock on the door was enough to draw Adriana from her slumber.The knock came twice before the voice of the royal aide came right after."Are you in?"Adriana rubbed the remnants of sleep from her eyes, then cleared her throat before speaking."Yes." She got up and went to open the door.The royal aide didn't come in; instead, he gave her a stare she couldn't explain."The King asks for you.""Huh?""Your presence is requested."Adriana glanced down at the dress she was wearing. She hadn't changed from the dress she had worn earlier today. She hadn't even thought of it as her mind was occupied with something more trivial.She thought of changing, but the look on the royal aide's face didn't look like he would give her the chance to.So she reluctantly followed him as they moved towards the King's study.The attendant announced their presence before they went in.Kallias was leaning back on his chair with his eyes closed, but they snapped open the moment they stepped in, and he
The Western Minister rode through the palace gates without slowing. By the time he dismounted, several guards had already gathered."I need to see His Majesty," he said, his voice strained. "Now."One of the guards stepped forward cautiously."My Lord, His Majesty is currently occupied.""I don't care."The minister started toward the King's Wing."My Lord..."The guards exchanged uneasy glances but dared not lay a hand on one of the King's ministers.Before anyone could stop him, another voice rang out across the courtyard."Minister Aldren."The minister halted and turned.Prince Maxwell descended the palace steps with measured grace, dressed in dark royal robes. His expression carried just the right amount of concern."I heard there was some disturbance."The minister bowed stiffly."Your Highness.""What has happened?"For a moment, the minister couldn't speak. Then the words came out, heavy with grief."My son... He is dead."Maxwell's face fell. "I am deeply sorry for your loss.
The Royal Aide entered a quiet chamber inside the palace.An elderly artist was already waiting beside a table with fresh parchment, charcoal, and ink.Mira stood nervously near the door, twisting the edge of her worn shawl between her fingers."There's no need to be afraid," the Royal Aide said. "Simply describe the woman exactly as you saw her."Mira nodded.The artist dipped his charcoal onto the parchment."Let's begin."Mira took a slow breath. "She... she looked young."The artist's hand moved across the parchment."Her face?" he asked."It was soft," Mira answered. "Very beautiful, but not the kind that draws attention because of jewels or expensive clothes."The artist continued sketching."What about her eyes?"Mira frowned slightly, trying to remember."They were gentle.""Gentle?"She nodded. "They looked... sad."The Royal Aide remained silent, listening carefully."And her hair?" the artist asked.Mira's expression became certain."I'll never forget her hair." She looked
The royal aide walked down the streets till he came to the street closer to the Citadel and stopped.His eyes swept over stalls and sheds. Beggars were everywhere, both young and old, and he realized he hadn't asked for a description before coming here.He walked slowly, searching the faces of the beggars who stretched out their hands to him as he passed by, but the beggars he passed were mostly old.He went over to a fruit stall, and the woman selling the fruits looked up at him."Good day." He greeted."What do you want to buy?"He shook his head. "I'm not here to buy anything. I'm looking for someone."The smile on the woman's face vanished, replaced by a small scowl."I don't give directions." She said curtly.The royal aide brought out a small bag, took out some gold coins, and handed them over to her.The woman paused before she grabbed the coins and threw them into an iron container."Okay, who are you looking for?""A beggar." The royal aide said. "She has two children and is
The old woman scurried to one of the women selling handmade bracelets and beckoned to her.She was her daughter-in-law. She came forward and held the old woman's hand."Camila, what's wrong?" The woman asked her.Camila's chest heaved as she tried to regain her breath, and her daughter-in-law stood in patience; then she opened her mouth to speak."Sila, I saw something." The woman leaned in. "Something miraculous."Sila looked at her in confusion. "Miraculous?"Camila nodded. "I was in my shed when I saw a woman going towards the alley where those sick children and their mother linger to beg for crumbs; then she touched them, and they were healed instantly." She raised her hands dramatically, imitating Adriana."The children with the ailment?"Camila nodded her head vigorously. "Yes! The woman healed them!"Sila was quiet for a bit as if trying to process what she had just heard, then she suddenly laughed a little."That's impossible."Camila frowned. "You don't believe me?"Sila didn
Kallias sat behind his desk, surrounded by neatly arranged scrolls bearing the royal seal. Maps of the realm lay spread before him, marked with reports from distant villages and border territories.His attention rested on a freshly opened scroll.The deeper he read, the darker his expression became.A knock sounded."Enter."The heavy doors opened, and the Royal Aide stepped inside carrying another bundle of sealed petitions.He bowed respectfully before placing them on the desk."More petitions from the people, Your Majesty."Kallias glanced at the growing pile."It seems they no longer believe their voices are being heard."The Royal Aide remained silent. He knew the burden these scrolls carried.Kallias broke the seal on another petition. His eyes scanned the hurried handwriting.|Three more families have fallen to the ailment this week.|He reached for another.|Our harvest is failing. The sick can no longer work the fields.|Another.|The people grow restless, Your Majesty. Rumor
Adriana held the wall for support, feeling like her world had come crashing down.She couldn't deny what she had heard within this door.Xavier was having an affair with her sister.The realization hit harder than their words and her despair turned into rage.How dare they?How dare he deceive her
Footsteps echoed on the marble floor as people bustled around with trays of food, drinks, and flowers. The air was misty with the scent of the delicious food being prepared and mingling with the flowers hung on the walls.A woman with grey hair tied into a tight bun barked out orders and tapped her
Adriana's eyelids fluttered open and she opened her eyes slowly.The first thing she saw was the moon nestled between the clouds, its silver light shining down on her face. This was a beautiful night and on a normal day Adriana would have enjoyed gazing at it feeling at peace, but now peace was far
Adriana fought against the hand clamping heavily on her mouth but Ton was stronger and he succeeded in forcibly dragging her away.Adriana's hands came up to the hand on her mouth and tried to remove it but it came down only an inch and she bit down hard.Ton snatched his hand away mumbling curses







