He then let go of her hand roughly, as if discarding something filthy.
The Emperor, who had been silently observing the situation, noticed the sweat pouring profusely from Adonis and the pallor that had spread across his face. He said with clear concern:
"Adonis, you are sweating so much. You don't look well. I will summon the physician immediately."
Adonis replied in a faint voice, barely audible amidst his heavy breaths:
"Thank you, Your Majesty, but I beg your leave now. Departure is all I need."
---
... Outside the palace ...
The night was cold, and the biting air lashed at Adonis's tired face, but he did not stop. His steps were heavy and unsteady, but he refused to collapse. Suddenly, he heard a voice behind him. It was Helibore catching up, a smile on his face that held as much arrogance as challenge.
"Looks like you were truly hurt, weren't you?" Helibore said with a mocking tone.
Adonis stopped without turning to him, his eyes fixed on the dark horizon. He said in a hoarse voice:
"What is it to you?"
Helibore took another step closer and said with a sneering smile:
"Well, because of your words, I will duel you. But not now, for I am not foolish enough to exploit your weakness. We will face each other when you are at your best, Adonis."
Adonis did not reply. He raised his head slightly as if Helibore's words were not worth a response, then continued walking at a slower pace.
His face reflected extreme fatigue, pale as someone whose soul had been drained. Lines of pain were evident around his mouth and eyes, which seemed to carry the burdens of the entire world. His long black hair was disheveled and wet with sweat and blood, sticking to his neck and forehead. His lips were stiff and dry, as if every word that escaped them was like an ember burning him from within. His right hand trembled slightly, and his injured shoulder bled slowly beneath the bandages that barely concealed his wound.
.
The Empress's luxurious robe billowed in the wind, its velvet edges quivering as if ablaze with her fury. She stood on the high palace balcony, looking down at the Emperor, who stood steadfast as a marble statue, yet his eyes held a coldness that could almost sever her limbs.
"Why do you insist on favoring him?" she said in a sharp voice filled with years of bitterness. "Adonis is the son of that woman who did not hesitate to betray you! How can you even think of him? Have you forgotten? Have you forgotten the shame she brought upon you?"
The Emperor did not look at her, his eyes fixed on the horizon, where the distant city lights danced beneath a sky full of clouds. He said with a calm tinged with indifference: "Amphitrite, enough with these repeated accusations. Adonis has nothing to do with what happened. Enough injustice has befallen him."
The Empress took agitated steps towards him, her gown trailing behind her on the cold floor. "What about Helibore?" she said in a tone that mixed anger with accusation. "Won't you give him a chance? He is your son too, your blood runs in his veins, yet you ignore him in favor of the son of a woman who betrayed you?"
The Emperor finally turned to her. His eyes were hard as stone, but his voice came out firm as if pronouncing an irrevocable judgment: "Helibore? A spoiled son who knows nothing but amusement! Only a year separates him from Adonis, yet look at the difference between them. Adonis fought in battles when he was barely a teenager. As for Helibore, he doesn't even know how to hold a sword. His time is spent between taverns and revelry."
He added, walking towards the edge of the balcony: "I have watched him for a long time. If he continues on this path, I will not hesitate to make him face the consequences of his actions. The title will go to whoever deserves it, and if Helibore does not prove himself soon, I will give my title to Adonis. It is done. Tell him this if you wish."
The Empress was silent for a moment, trying to absorb his words that were like a cold stab in her chest. She looked at him with resentment, but found nothing to say, and left with quick steps, her anger almost blazing in her eyes.
---
At Adonis's house, the night was heavy for Daphne. She sat alone in the living room, the faint light from the candle casting her shadows on the walls. Marshmallow, the small cat, was curled up beside her, while Yarrow, the loyal dog, lay in the corner, watching her with half-closed eyes.
She whispered to herself, "It's late... Adonis won't be back tonight either."
She looked at the door for a moment, as if hoping it would suddenly open. But she let out a long sigh, then reached out to pick up Marshmallow, saying to herself, "Well, little one, it's time for bed."
She approached Yarrow, who was watching her silently. She looked at him and smiled, patting his head gently, and said to herself, "Come on, let's go to the room." But he didn't move. He raised his head slightly, then looked at her with his wide eyes.
Daphne laughed softly and said to herself, "What's that look? Do you want me to carry you too? You know that's impossible."
She tried to lift him with all her strength, but she could barely budge his large body. She began to drag him slowly, believing she was carrying a large part of his weight. Yarrow, for his part, was enjoying what was happening, his tail wagging slightly, as if he was sharing a hidden game with her.
When they reached the room, Yarrow jumped lightly onto the bed without waiting for her help. She looked at him wearily, then said to herself as she placed Marshmallow beside him, "You spoiled dog!"
She lay down beside them on the bed, but sleep did not come quickly. Her eyes were fixed on the ceiling, and her thoughts swirled like waves. The image of Adonis did not leave her mind. Every night she waited for him, and every night she was disappointed. But despite everything, she did not lose hope. She whispered to herself before finally falling asleep, "He will return... I know he will."
Silence hung over everything. A cold wind caressed the windows, as if whispering the burden of a harsh day that had ended. The door opened slowly, and Adonis entered with heavy steps, barely able to stand. His eyes gleamed under the moonlight that filtered through the windows, but his gaze was laden with fatigue and wounds.
He paused for a moment at Daphne's room, where she was sleeping peacefully, surrounded by Marshmallow and Yarrow. He bent down slightly, as if seeing them gave him reassurance amidst the chaos of his thoughts. He murmured in a voice barely audible:
"Safe... that's enough."
He stepped towards his room, closing the door silently. As soon as he entered, he removed his heavy military coat, which clung to his tired body. He began to take off his blood-stained shirt, revealing a deep wound that stretched across his shoulder. He stood in front of the mirror for a moment, contemplating the wound as he whispered to himself:
"Do I deserve to return to them? Do I deserve to live after what I have seen?"
He turned on the cold water over his body, the feeling of ice on his skin a mixture of relief and torment. But the wound refused to yield, and began to bleed profusely. He pressed a piece of cloth against it, staring at his reflection in the mirror, before leaning weakly against the wall.
Daphne woke up suddenly to a faint sound, a strange feeling of danger spreading in her chest. She rose slowly, looked around to find Yarrow and Marshmallow sleeping peacefully. She picked up a pan from the kitchen, then advanced towards the source of the sound with hesitant steps.
She approached Adonis's room door, the sound of her breathing becoming clearer with each step. She pushed the door slightly open, to find Adonis standing in front of the mirror, his body laden with wounds telling the story of a battle she knew no details of.
She froze in place, the pan falling from her hand with a muffled sound. Adonis realized her presence, turned slowly, his tired features drawing a mixture of pain and relief. He said in a faint voice:
"Daphne... did I wake you?"
She rushed towards him without thinking, her eyes filled with tears, her small fist trembling as she placed her hand on his chest. She wrote nothing, but her gaze was a silent scream full of reproach and fear.
Adonis smiled despite his pain, and gently stroked her hair with his hand before saying:
"I'm fine... don't worry."
But his words did not convince her. She held his hand tightly and pointed to the wound. Her eyes said everything: "How dare you hide your pain from me?"
He took a deep breath and approached her, placing his hand gently on her face. He whispered in a voice barely audible:
"I knew you would worry... that's why I tried to appear strong. But I am... weak now."
She shook her head quickly, as if refusing his words. She wrote quickly in her notebook:
"You are not weak, but you are human... let me help you."
He read her words, then looked deeply into her eyes. She felt a special warmth in his gaze, as if he wanted to apologize for everything at once. He whispered:
"Your presence here... is the only thing that makes me resist this pain."
He moved closer to her and gently lifted her face with his hand. He almost said something, but suddenly lost his balance and collapsed into her arms.
Daphne dragged Adonis with difficulty to the couch, her breath coming in gasps and her eyes filled with tears. She opened his shirt to discover the deep wound and began to clean it despite her trembling hands. Her tears fell without stopping, but she did not allow fear to control her.
When he began to bleed again, she held his hand and whispered to herself, as if trying to reassure them both:
"It's okay... I'll find a way to save you."
Adonis opened his eyes with difficulty, staring at her as if she were a dream. He said in a weak voice:
"Daphne... don't cry. I promise you... I will be fine."
She wrote quickly in her notebook and showed him the words:
"If you are fine, why do you look like this? Stop lying."
He smiled gently, then raised his hand with difficulty to touch her face. He murmured in a faint voice:
"Because I don't want you to worry... you are the only thing I want to protect."
She could no longer control her tears. She took his hand, then bent down to kiss him gently on the forehead before writing:
"Let me protect you this time."
They heard loud knocks on the door. Daphne rushed to open it, to find the aunt standing there, carrying her medical bag.
"Is Adonis alright?" the aunt said with concern. "He seems to need help quickly."
Daphne looked at her with gratitude, then led her to the room where Adonis lay.
Aunt Izolda had known Adonis since he was a child. Her features spoke of her long years, but her sharp eyes held deep secrets, as if she saw things no one else did. Her presence always raised questions; she appeared at critical moments and disappeared before anyone realized her importance.
When she arrived at Adonis's house, her face was tight with worry, but she quickly hid it beneath a mask of firmness. She entered the room where Adonis lay, and her eyes expertly examined the wound with an eerie skill.
"Oh, Adonis, it seems I'll be taking care of you even if you become the leader of the army!" she said in a calm voice but with a tone that conveyed a deep knowledge of his character.
Adonis looked up at her, and despite his fatigue, a weak smile appeared on his face. "Izolda, you always appear when I'm about to fall... as if you know everything in advance."
She replied while preparing the tools: "Perhaps because I know you well. I was there when you took your first steps, and I see something in you... that resembles your mother." She paused for a moment, as if lost in distant memories, then said in a low voice: "But this is not the time to talk about the past. Now, let's make sure you live to see tomorrow."
Daphne, who stood beside Adonis, noticed the hidden tension between the two. Izolda's gaze was full of emotion mixed with caution, as if she feared to reveal a deep secret.
While she was stitching the wound, she said in a low voice: "This wound is deep, but it won't kill you. What will truly kill you is your stubbornness, just like your mother's."
Adonis raised an eyebrow despite his pain and said weakly: "Did you know her well?"
Izolda's hand stopped for a moment, then she looked at him with her piercing eyes. "I knew her more than you can imagine. But talking about that... its day will come, Adonis. Just make sure you are ready to hear the truth."
This mystery increased Daphne's anxiety, but she decided to postpone her questions and focused on soothing Adonis's fever, leaving Izolda to sink into her silence that carried the weight of years of secrets.
All the while, she held his hand, as if afraid he would disappear if she let go.
While the aunt was stitching the wound, Adonis murmured in a faint voice, a weak smile touching his lips:
"Daphne... you are stronger than I thought."
She looked at him with tear-filled eyes and wrote a single word in her notebook:
"You are the reason."
He smiled despite the pain, then closed his eyes to drift into a deep sleep, while Daphne remained by his side, holding his hand as if she would never let him go again.
The morning was quiet and filled with the warmth of the first moments of a new day.
Daphne woke up before Adonis as usual, as if she had become accustomed to starting her day by caring for those she loved. She went down to the kitchen, prepared food for Marshmallow and Yarrow, and quietly placed the bowls before them. Marshmallow yawned adorably, while Yarrow remained sound asleep, as if the whole world was of no concern to him.
Daphne returned to the room with soft steps. Adonis was still deep in sleep, his peaceful features concealing the pain he had endured. She sat cautiously beside him, and her hand slowly reached out to stroke the strands of his black hair, remembering how strong he was and how much pain he carried within him.
Moments later, Adonis stirred slightly and opened his eyes slowly. His face was bathed in the faint rays of the sun. He looked at her as if he couldn't believe she was there. He whispered in a hoarse voice:
"Daphne..."
She smiled gently and quickly wrote in her notebook:
"How do you feel? Are you alright?"
He tried to sit up, despite the weariness that was evident on him, and said:
"I'm fine... don't worry about me. But..."
He paused for a moment as if hesitating, then added in a voice full of regret:
"I'm sorry... for making you cry because of me."
She looked at him silently, his blue eyes carrying an indescribable weight. She smiled again and wrote to him:
"I am just happy that you are alright. That is all that matters to me."
The day was different.
Daphne noticed his frequent absentmindedness. He would stare into the distance as if seeing something he couldn't reach. His eyes were painfully empty. She approached him quietly and sat beside him on the couch where he was lying. She took her notebook and wrote to him:
"Adonis, what's wrong? You look like you're carrying the world on your shoulders."
He sighed deeply, then clenched his hands as if words were heavy for him. He said in a calm and guilt-ridden voice:
"I feel like a bad leader... I couldn't protect them all."
She didn't wait for him to say more. She moved towards him and hugged him gently. She knew that words wouldn't alleviate what was inside him, but she wanted him to feel that she was by his side and that he wasn't alone in this.
He remained silent in her arms, as if her presence alone was what he needed.
In the evening,
Daphne was engrossed in bandaging Adonis's wound. Her hands worked with precision and care, while he watched her silently. Her eyes were focused on the task, as if she was trying to care for him with all her might. After she finished, she raised her head and wrote to him in her notebook:
"I will sleep beside you tonight."
He smiled for the first time since morning and said jokingly:
"Really? It seems I am very lucky."
But she didn't let him finish. She took her notebook and wrote:
"I don't want to see signs of sadness on your face again. You are a great leader, and you know that. You tried to protect your soldiers with all you had, and you did not abandon them. That is true courage."
He looked at her silently, his eyes filled with a mixture of gratitude and vulnerability. That night, the nightmares did not leave him alone. But whenever he felt fear, he found her hand gently holding his, as if telling him that she was here and would not leave him alone.
The days passed, and Daphne became more attached to this world.
For her, returning to her old world meant losing Adonis. But she knew that the truth would one day emerge.
One day, Adonis approached her with a rare smile and said:
"There will be a celebration tonight for the founding of the Shambhala Empire. What do you think about joining? I want to show you many things, and there will be fireworks. I think you will like them."
She wrote enthusiastically:
"Of course! I am very excited."
.
The night embraced the city with a cloak of stars, and the celebration lent Shambhala a brilliance like a dream.
The golden lamplights reflected on the ancient stones lining the streets, and the luminous decorations danced like secrets between the alleys. Sounds of laughter and traditional music filled the air, while the scents of sweets and cakes wafted from every corner, as if inviting everyone to participate.
Daphne wore a simple sky-blue dress, her hair moving gently with the night breezes, and her eyes gleamed with the eagerness of children discovering a new world. Adonis, in his elegant military attire, seemed more at ease tonight. His face shone under the moonlight, and his blue eyes appeared to reflect the stars