Thethia: Aster Palace

• Elizabeth •

Following behind her father, Elizabeth arrived in front of Mother's bedchamber and her attendant, Marie bowed to greet them, "Your Majesty, Your Highness." 

"Leave us alone," Father said, dismissing Marie.

Elizabeth looked towards Mother, her face was impassive but serene. Most of the time, she would stare emptily at somewhere and speak almost minimally.

Today, Mother sat upright in her bed, her gaze was fixed low and thick lashes shielded her eyes. Her soft brown hair stretched along the length of her back with its ends splayed on the pillows behind her like calm waves cascading down into the pale white sheets of her bed. Mother's beauty never failed to awe Elizabeth. Father always described her to be uncommon and ethereal, especially with the pair of beguiling amber eyes which shone brighter than jewels. That was a pair of eyes that belonged uniquely to Mother and no one else would have that, even Elizabeth herself.

Her small arms extended towards Mother, placing them close but never touching her. Since she understood things, she realised that their relationship was built on glass, fragile and brittle. All it would take is a single careless move on her end and everything would shatter into nothingness.

She would do nothing to compromise that. Hopefully, her deliberate attempts would bring her closer to Mother each time. There was only one out of the many visits that Mother had addressed her by her name. It may take a long time before her already frozen heart would warm up to her, but until then, she would wait.

She would be patient.

Because she had hope that things could change between them. 

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• King of Thethia, Wynston •

"Nadia."

Wynston had heard from the royal doctors that her condition had been deteriorating and her state was becoming more unstable with each passing moments. Nadia had closed herself up entirely becoming cautious and unforgiving, especially towards Elizabeth. She refused to hold this child and rejected her touch. Even when she had stayed as such all these while, it would be a lie to say that he had grown used to it. There was no way he could get used to seeing his wife losing herself, after all, he had loved her too much.

But other than being a reasonable spouse to her, he had the responsibility of the entire Thethia weighing on his shoulders and he would choose Thethia over her. 

"Nadia, I have brought Eli here," Wynston attempted once again. This time, she responded. It was as though the word had a magic to it because she would remain nonchalant to everything else except for that name.

Her head turned towards the small child sitting on her bed who was starting anticipatingly at her. Her eyes narrowed on her before a frown appeared between her brows and she spoke coldly, "She's not her."

"Mother?" Elizabeth gasped, not understanding the situation. Her small hands reached out to attempt to hold onto Nadia's arm but Nadia pulled back, avoiding her touch. The child closed her hands and returned her arms to her side, disappointment and sadness was apparent in her expression. 

"Nadia, do you have to do this? Elizabeth is your daughter!" Wynston resented. 

"You want me to take pity on her? Then, who's going to take pity on the other child of mine?!" Nadia shouted, pointing towards Elizabeth who had begun crying. "While she lives lavishly and surrounded by many others who adored her, who had thought of my poor child who suffered alone with nothing! Have you ever thought of your sister, Elizabeth?" 

The child who stood by the bed was shaking and trembling as tears continued to roll from the corner of her eyes. Nadia didn't stop, continuing to hurl relentless words towards her, "Have you ever thought of her while you continued to take from her? She gave you the royal title of a princess, she gave you wealth and comfortable life, she even gave you her blood! But what have you given her?!" 

Wynston could no longer tolerate her ridiculous outburst as he reacted immediately, carrying Elizabeth up in his arms. The frightened child couldn't stop sobbing as her hands wrapped tightly around his neck and her small body trembled violently with all the confusion and fear that overwhelmed her. Frustration surfaced and washed over his expression and he yelled at his wife, "Nadia, you went overboard!" 

His wife only turned away from them, refusing to face them as though they had disgusted her. Wynston sighed in exasperation before carrying Elizabeth up in his arms and strode towards the door. He handed the crying child to her maidservants before slamming on the door. 

"That's your daughter! How could you say those things to her?" he bellowed, turning around to face Nadia. Wynston could understand her resentment towards him but what he couldn't make sense of was the differential love given to her children. She only cared about that wench that he had disposed of, leaving none of her love for the child who would stand above the millions in Thethia in years to come.

"Get out." Nadia pointed towards the door. "I don't want to see you again." 

Her words pierced right through. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. He suppressed the hurt in his voice and he said, "Nadia."

"Leave!" she screamed.

Vexed by his wife's constant hostility, he walked towards her and gripped on her wrist, yanking her off the bed and towards him. He snarled, "Who do you think you are to talk to me in this manner?"

His gripped tightened so much that she winced and attempted to struggle out of his hold. Her other arm swung aimlessly and toppled a glass flask off her bedside table. A deafening crash followed and glass shards flew in all directions. Nadia managed to grab a sharp piece of broken glass and aimed it at her wrist.

"I'd rather die than to love a monster like you," she spoke through clenched teeth, her hands clutched tighter into the glass and it cut through her skin. Blood dripped from her hand onto the ivory carpet below her, staining it crimson.

"Nadia, why are you doing this?" His voice softened, sighing hopelessly.

"Then, why did you do all these to me?" she questioned. Her voice was hoarse and desperation marred the melodic quality of her voice. Nadia pushed the sharp end into her wrist and he panicked when her arm and his hand was nothing but a bloody mess of scarlet.

Running out of options, he cast a spell on her to restraint her as he twisted her wrist to force her to drop the glass shard. Turning around, he shouted for his knight and commanded, "Go to Heather Palace and bring her here." 

Very well. If that child mattered so much to you, I'll hold her over you.

━━━━━━━━━━

Thethia: Heather Palace, Main Entrance

• Elianna •

When several guards came marching their way into Heather Palace, Lylia quickly hid Elianna behind her. Elianna could hear Lylia's voice trembling when she asked, "What's your business here?"

"You're not in the place to ask questions, servant. So, move." The guard straightened his arm and grabbed onto Lylia's shoulder before shoving her aside. A painful shriek sounded when her body impacted the ground.

"Lylia!" Elianna shouted, trying to run towards her but a strong arm had already snaked around her small body and hauled her up.

Instead of thrashing mindlessly, she focused the strength in her arm and landed a blow on the back of his head with her elbow. He immediately dropped her and she rolled to prevent an injury. But her movement remained unnoticeable and well-concealed to prevent raising suspicions within the guards. She faked a cry and dragged herself towards Lylia, wailing like how a child would do in these situations. Lylia looked at her and knew understood immediately so she played along.

"Let me go with her," she pleaded the guards.

"Whatever," the infuriated guard threw his hands upwards and commanded his lackeys behind. "Take them both."

They were thrown into the carriage and it was the first time Elianna had ever left Heather Palace. The trip was tense when they sat in the carriage with a knight and Lylia had wrapped her arms protectively around her, shielding her away from everyone else. When they arrived at the Royal Palace, the guards brought them through the hallway towards the Queen's bedchamber.

"Lylia, I am scared," Elianna murmured.

"Princess, I am here with you," Lylia reassured her even though she could hear that Lylia was shaking through her words.

Elianna looked around, her head turned to observe a different scenery since it was the first time she got to leave Heather Palace. The entire passage was decorated with expensive gold statues and the marbled ground below them shone with no cracks tarnishing its radiance. Guards flanked on both sides, squaring their shoulders as they stood proudly in their positions.

On the other hand, the sun had never shone so brightly into the hallways of Heather Palace. There were also no statues and no guards. Just empty and dusty hallways which Lylia and her would travel through every day.

The end of this extravagant hallway stood a large door and several people. Lylia gasped from behind her, "Madame Marie."

"Lylia," the middle-aged lady nodded and turned herself towards her. Elianna looked towards her as she bowed and addressed her, "Your Highness, I'm Marie. It's an honour to finally meet you." 

"You're Marie!" Elianna whispered, her eyes widened in surprise.

"Yes, Your Highness. Please be careful when you enter," Marie cautioned and the frown between Marie's brows bothered her. 

"Alright." Elianna shifted her gaze towards the closed doors and hesitated to enter. She wondered what awaits her and why for the first time since she was born had her presence been requested by the King himself. She stepped forward, bringing her small frame towards the door and she pushed against the large doors with all the strength she could find in her arms.

"Let go of me!" A loud screech was what she heard at the first moment when she entered through the doors.

Elianna watched the happenings in front of her and the first thing that blurted out of her mouth was, "Mother?"

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