Chapter 1Where Goodbyes Bloom

I was Princess Seraphina, the most revered royal in all of Eldoria. They whispered that whoever won the Princess's hand would claim the throne.

Yet, three years ago, I was abducted and subjected to unspeakable horrors, left to be defiled in the shadowed alleyways of the city’s underbelly. Stripped of my honor, I became a pariah, whispered about by all. When everyone shunned me, only Lord Arthur, a brilliant scholar who had risen from humble beginnings, bravely sought my hand in marriage.

For three years, our union bloomed with harmony. He ascended to become the unchallenged King of Eldoria. But then, one day, he brought a woman from outside the palace walls. From that moment on, his nights were spent in her chambers. He adored her, indulged her every whim, allowing her to tear apart the winter roses in my garden—our special token of affection—and even letting her deliberately cause the death of our unborn child.

When my hope in him finally withered, and I entrusted my shattered heart to another, he knelt before me, begging me to return, vowing he wished to spend an eternity by my side.

* * *

It was the Midwinter Festival of Lights, and Sunstone Palace blazed with vibrant candlelight, alive with joyous revelry. Only my chambers remained eerily silent, cloaked in a chilling sorrow. In Eldoria, there was a cherished tradition during the Midwinter Festival: lovers would release wish lanterns together, seeking a lifetime of togetherness, a bond that would last until their hair turned white. Yet, for two years, I had pleaded with Arthur, and each year he had offered excuses, claiming affairs of state. I never knew if these were genuine duties, or simply his reluctance to share a future with me.

I forced a bitter laugh, picking at a cold, greasy dish. The food tasted like ash in my mouth, leaving only a bitter aftertaste. Tears welled in my eyes, large drops falling relentlessly, refusing to be stopped. Suddenly, a pair of small, soft hands gently cupped my face, tenderly wiping away my tears. The words spilled from his lips, still forming clumsily, yet he tried his best to comfort me.

"Mama... why cry? Is it… because Papa didn’t… come to be with Mama?"

"Don't cry... Lionel's here, don't cry."

Perhaps it was, or perhaps it wasn't. Arthur had not visited my royal chambers since his coronation. In the beginning, I used to gaze at the threshold daily, yearning for his arrival. When he didn't come, I would always feel a profound sadness, secretly wiping away my tears. But as the days turned into weeks, and disappointment accumulated, I suppose such things no longer caused me grief.

Yet, looking at Lionel’s innocent face, I didn't know how to answer. I simply found an excuse to deflect his innocent question.

"Sweet Lionel, Mama isn't sad. Mama is just thinking how wonderful it would be if Mama's own Papa and Mama were still here."

At least, then, my chambers wouldn't be so desolate during the holidays.