The days leading to Mirelith's exile were a blur of heartbreak and betrayal, each moment cutting deeper into her soul. She had endured the stifling air of the courtroom, the relentless whispers that stripped away her dignity, and the icy detachment of the one person she had once believed would stand by her side.

The King's Summons

The morning of her departure, Mirelith was summoned to the throne room for a final audience with the king. The air in the grand hall was somber, the echoes of her footsteps bouncing off the cold stone walls. The nobles stood in clusters, their faces masks of feigned sympathy and concealed triumph. Caius was there too, standing near his father, his face a hardened mask. He didn't even look at her as she entered.

The king, frail and leaning heavily on his cane, regarded her with sorrowful eyes. "Mirelith," he began, his voice as tired as his aged body, "your service to this kingdom has been invaluable, but trust has been broken. To ensure peace within these walls, I have no choice but to honor the council's recommendation."

Mirelith held her head high, though her heart ached. "Your Majesty, I swear on my life that I am innocent. The letter was a forgery. The poison—none of it was my doing."

"I know I believe you," the king replied, his voice heavy. "But the evidence... it speaks otherwise. The seal of Elderglen is indisputable. And the maid—your own maid—has testified against you."

"The maid lied!" Mirelith's voice cracked, her desperation slipping through. "Someone coerced her. Please, Your Majesty, you must see that this is a scheme to ruin me."

The king's gaze softened, but he shook his head. "The burden of proof lies with you, Mirelith, and the court has spoken. I have chosen exile over execution. It is the only mercy I can offer."

Her knees nearly buckled, but she refused to falter. "Mercy," she echoed bitterly. "Exile for a crime I did not commit—how merciful indeed."

Caius shifted, his jaw clenching. Finally, he spoke, his voice cold and devoid of the warmth she had once known. "Mirelith, leave with what dignity you have left. Do not make this harder for yourself or the crown."

Her eyes locked onto his, a storm of anger and heartbreak swirling within them. "You dare speak of dignity, Caius? After standing by in silence while they tore me to shreds? While you tore me to shreds? For what? For a woman who isn't even your fiancée? After casting me aside as if I meant nothing?"

He didn't respond, his expression unreadable. The king raised a hand, silencing the exchange. "It is done. You will leave for Everspring by nightfall, under royal guard. The crown will provide for you there, but you are never to return to Aurelith."

As Mirelith's carriage prepared to depart, a crowd gathered in the courtyard. Some were there out of morbid curiosity, others to see the woman they once admired driven away in chains. Sophia stood among them, her face streaked with tears. Unable to bear the weight of the moment, she pushed through the crowd and reached Mirelith just as the guards opened the carriage door.

"Mirelith!" Sophia cried, clutching her friend's hand as though she could hold her back from the abyss.

Mirelith's resolve faltered at the sight of her red-haired friend. "Sophia, don't—don't make this harder than it already is."

Tears streamed down Sophia's cheeks. "This isn't right. None of this is right. How can they do this to you?"

"They already have," Mirelith replied bitterly. "You must take care of yourself now. And Mia—where is she? Why didn't she come?"

Sophia's expression crumpled. "I don't know. She disappeared the night before the trial. I—I think she's afraid."

Mirelith's chest tightened. Even Mia, the one who had always been bold and fearless, had abandoned her. "It doesn't matter," she said, though her voice wavered. "Sophia, promise me you'll stay strong. Promise me you won't let them break you too."

Sophia nodded, her grip tightening. "I swear it. But Mirelith, I will find the truth. I'll prove your innocence."

Mirelith smiled faintly, though it didn't reach her eyes. "You're too kind, Sophia. But some battles aren't meant to be won."

A guard cleared his throat, gesturing for Sophia to step back. Mirelith reached into her satchel and pressed the wooden box of medicine into her friend's hands. "For Marcus," the brother of Grace she said quietly. "Make sure he gets it."

Sophia took the box, her tears falling freely. "I will. I'll never forget you, Mirelith."

The Journey to Everspring

The road to Everspring was long and lonely. The guards who escorted her were silent, their faces devoid of any emotion. Mirelith sat in the carriage, her wrists still bound, staring out the window as the familiar landscape of Aurelith faded into the distance.

Memories flooded her mind—her father's proud smile as he spoke of her future, the laughter she shared with Mia and Sophia, the admiration from the court and the dream of a kingdom that Caius and she would rule together. All of it felt like a cruel dream now, torn away by betrayal and lies.

Her heart throbbed with pain as Caius's words from the courtroom echoed in her mind. "You're not my savior, Mirelith. You're my torment." The sheer cruelty of his declaration pierced deeper than any blade. Once, he had cared for her—back when they were just children. Or had even that been a lie?

She whispered to herself, her voice breaking, "I gave everything for him. For this kingdom. And this is my reward."

As the carriage rumbled on, the sound of hooves approached. Mirelith turned to see Sophia galloping beside the carriage, her face streaked with tears. Her heart clenched at the sight of her friend, but she quickly pushed the door open and called out.

"Sophia, go back!" she shouted. "You can't follow me!"

Sophia slowed her horse, reaching out to hand her something—a small locket. "Keep this," she said, her voice trembling. "So you'll remember us."

Mirelith took the locket with trembling hands, her vision blurring with tears. "I'll never forget you," she whispered. "Not any of you."

As Sophia rode away, Mirelith clutched the locket to her chest, her tears falling silently. The carriage rolled on, carrying her further from the life she had known and the people she had loved.

When the gates of Everspring came into view, Mirelith felt the finality of her exile settle over her. The once-proud daughter of Elderglen, the kingdom's brightest debutant, and the woman who had dreamed of being queen was now nothing more than a castaway.

She whispered to herself, "The moon needs the sun to shine. But the sun only cares for the Earth."

Her voice cracked, the words a bitter reminder of her unrequited love. The sun she had devoted her life to had turned away, leaving her in darkness. And as she stepped out of the carriage, the weight of everything she had lost pressed down on her like an unbearable shroud.

Perhaps, she thought, this was her fate. To be forgotten, to live in the shadows of a kingdom she had once dreamed of ruling. But deep within her, a flicker of defiance remained. One day, she swore to herself, she would uncover the truth. And when that day came, the kingdom would remember the name Mirelith of Elderglen.

But for now, all she had was the cold, lonely road ahead—and the echo of her shattered dreams.