"There is no greater sorrow than being betrayed by the person you love the most"
The sound of birds chirping echoed from the open window. The fragrance of flowers filled the room, bringing a sense of peace that touched the heart.
Arina looked at her face in the mirror, accompanied by Lisa, her personal assistant and best friend. A soft ruffled white dress covered her body, while her makeup highlighted the elegance of a queen. Her golden hair was pinned with a simple, yet charismatic tiara.
"It's done, my Queen Alina," Lisa said softly.
Arina opened her eyes slowly. Her sky-blue irises were glowing, although the worry was hidden behind her smile. She adjusted the strand of hair in her left ear.
"I told you, just call me Arina. The coronation ceremony hasn't started yet." She took a deep breath. Her white-gloved hands were tightly clasped. Her heart was restless.
For some reason, she felt uneasy. Did everything go smoothly?. She gently stroked her invisible belly. Yes, this fetus is only two months old. It doesn't feel like time has passed.
The meeting began with her handsome and dashing husband. The successor to the throne of the Archtokvia Kingdom. A beautiful meeting like the story of Princess Dongeng. Where they met at a Dance Dance ceremony of the Archtokvia Kingdom. Feeling like a dwarf to be with him at that time. Even though she was the Crown Princess of the Anvellion Kingdom, that didn't break her spirit in captivating him. Then, they established a relationship until now they are now husband and wife, the successor to the throne of the Archtokvia Kingdom.
But somehow something was wrong. She realized for a week or two before today's coronation ceremony, her husband seemed strange. Often invited to meet, he avoided meeting. I don't know what was wrong. She thought maybe he was busy with the coronation ceremony of the successor to the Archtokvia Kingdom which would take place soon.
However, wouldn't he be busy every moment? In fact, he was rarely in this palace. When asked by Alex, her husband's personal assistant, she said that military affairs had been handed over to the leader of the royal army. What is her husband hiding from her? In fact, every night he is often in his study which has been locked from the inside. Every knock is ignored.
Even her adopted child who is considered her biological child is not entertained even if she just meets him. If invited to play together, she must be ignored.
While he is most enthusiastic when playing with the little girl.
"Elyra is ready?" asked Arina. In addition to being her personal assistant, they are friends who always share their ups and downs.
Elyra is a little girl who is now 10 years old. Time doesn't seem to pass quickly. At the beginning, she and her husband met Elyra in a secluded alley. Elyra lost her family but unfortunately the girl lost her memory of the tragedy that befell her family. The process of adopting Elyra into this family was not easy. Not to mention that at that time their marriage age was still young. However, now Elyra is getting along better with this royal family
Lisa nodded. "She is in the Prince's study."
"Adrian's study?" Arina's forehead furrowed. "While I myself can't enter..."
Arina stood up. She was wearing white and gold glass heels, and her steps were elegantly arranged but her heart was beating fast.
The path to Crown Prince Adrian's office was getting closer. Lisa, who was following her from behind, stopped walking.
"Arina..."
Less than 5 steps, she arrived at Adrian's office door.
"Shhh..." She signaled to be quiet. She put her ear close to hear the details of the trial. Not loud enough but could be heard clearly.
Inside Adrian's office,
"What do you mean, daddy?" Elyra's tone trembled. Her pink eyes showed fear. Her tight hug on her teddy bear tightened.
Adrian's sturdy body was turned to face this little girl. He wanted to throw his thoughts away. He straightened the back of his hair.
"I think you're insensitive, Elyra. I'm the one who killed your family."
A sentence from a figure who was considered the savior of his life was quite suffocating in her chest. Her aunt trembled. The black memory of her parents' death that was lifeless rushed through her mind.
"No, daddy, it's lie right?." Her head, which was momentarily bowed, was slowly raised.
"Don't pretend, Elyra." He took steps to approach this girl. He didn't expect the traitor he was looking for to be in front of him.
"From the beginning, I felt strange about you. But apparently..." He took out the sword that was neatly sheathed in the scabbard on her right waist.
SRRIT....
The sound of the sword's hiss echoed And pointed right at the girl's neck.
Once a traitor's descendant, will always remain a traitor. They must be eliminated.
"You are from the descendant of traitors to this kingdom. You don't deserve to be here." The sharp tip of the sword was pressed firmly against her cheek.
Which had drained a drop of blood dripping on the carpet of this room.
"Actually...." Before Elyra could continue her true explanation...
From the outside, Arina who heard the conversation between her husband and the child felt even more strange. Fear began to envelop her. Instantly a mixed feeling of anxiety when she heard the sound of a sword. The steps were arranged slowly before she whispered loudly,
"Lisa, call Adrian's assistant Alex. " in a firm tone.
"But Arina...."
"Quick!" A sharp look was given indicating that she was serious.
Now they were in a critical situation. Which would bring about the division of this newly formed family.
"Traitor? What do you mean.." steps were arranged to approach the door.
Instantly her eyes widened at the scene of Adrian pointing a sword right at this girl's neck.
ELYRA!
As quickly as lightning she stepped towards Elyra to protect her. But time seemed to slow her steps.
"ADRIAN DON'T!"
And in front of his eyes, all the red blood crossed his vision. The girl's stiff, lifeless body stretched weakly in front of him.
His knees are weak. His hands crawled closer to the tiny, lifeless body. The tight grip on the girl's teddy bear also loosened.
"Elyra...hiccup...please hold on dear...hiccup..." a dam of warm tears started to drip. He looked at the girl's body and hugged her tightly to his chest.
"Mum.....my.....than...ks...you...uhuk...uhk.." he said, coughing and vomiting blood that had soaked his white dress. Now, the dress has changed color.
"Save your energy dear...please don't leave Mummy..." The tears flowed faster and faster. Lovingly caressed this girl's spring hair.
"Se...safe.....right...Elyra....sa...yang.....ma..ma....pa....pa" the breath was held forcibly. He felt his time was drawing near. Mom, dad....Elyra misses so much. Elyra is coming.
"No...No...Adrian!" Her eyes were sharp but sad at her husband.
Say this is a dream. Say this is not reality. Her brave husband will not hurt this child. A loving gaze was often given. A gentle voice.
If, true... all this time? Why has he changed? Has his love for Elyra been fake all this time? Is this the real face of her husband? Her head felt dizzy.
"You have seen what you should have seen, Arina." The desired voice was uttered cruelly. A blank stare was given. As if what she did was her freedom that she had been pretending to have.
"Mum....my...."
Just as she was about to respond, the weak call from this girl woke her up.
"Yes, dear. Please save your breath for me." She hugged her tiny body tightly, which was getting colder. Oh God, please don't take this child.
"C...an...change...the...future...of...this...kingdom...if...it...is...rewound...all...over...."
The future? Rewound?
"What do you mean?..." Her eyes widened. Elyra's breathing became more labored. No!
"Elyra! Elyra! Adrian, please save Elyra!" she really couldn't bear to part with this child. Even though her husband killed this child, she still begged for mercy. Give him the chance to give her full love to this child. Even though he wasn't her biological child, the bond between them was very strong.
However, the words that came out of her husband shocked her senses.
Is this really her husband? The Crown Prince of the Archtokvia Kingdom? The future successor to this Kingdom? The one full of the people's souls?
"She deserves to die."
This girl's beautiful eyelids had closed forever. Her pulse was fading. Her heartbeat had stopped pumping. Now, only a cold feeling fell on Arina's hand as she hugged Elyra tightly.
Unexpectedly, the girl she met with her husband was now gone. The cheerful and wise-spoken one is gone. There will be no day that can brighten the atmosphere of this palace. There is no more sweet smile, eyes shining with courage, and her spring hair gently waving. All that remains is a lifeless body.
"It's impossible...what...."
With anger in her chest, she said to Adrian. Her face became more tense in response to the desired and frozen face of this husband.
"What does all this mean, Adrian?!!"
For the first time she saw the face of a person she loved with all her heart without emotion. Desired. Cruel. Is there no conscience in her heart? As if the one in front of her was a stranger. Is it true that this is the husband she has married?
"He comes from a family of traitors. The descendants of this traitor to the kingdom must be eliminated. Likewise..."
"Traitor? Nonsense! He is not..."
"You must also be killed Arina. For bringing the blood of this traitor to this palace." and those words had stirred fear in her.
"No...maybe....Aarhk!"
And time seemed to pass quickly. The sharp edge of the sword used still had traces of blood returning to its last victim. The edge was pressed as deep as it could until it penetrated the body of the woman he loved. Love? It didn't exist. Just a mere illusion.