Xylon rushed toward the gathered soldiers and ministers, his heart pounding wildly in his chest as panic drove his every step.
"Where is Jade? Where is my wife?" the King demanded, his voice shaking with desperation.
A heavy silence fell over the crowd.
The ministers lowered their heads in sorrow, and unable to meet his gaze.
"Y-Your Majesty..." one of them began, his voice thick with grief. "Forgive us... the Queen is gone."
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!"
Xylon lunged forward and seized the minister by the collar, his crimson eyes blazing with disbelief.
"No! You're lying!" he roared. "Tell me where she is!"
"Y-Your Majesty..." the minister stammered, trembling in fear. "The carriage carrying Her Majesty and Lady Maddison was engulfed in flames. We... we were unable to save them."
The words pierced Xylon's heart like a blade.
His grip loosened.
The minister stumbled back as the King's strength abandoned him.
Xylon collapsed onto his knees.
"N-No..." he whispered.
Tears streamed down his face as he shook his head repeatedly.
"No... that's impossible..."
His voice broke.
"Jade is alive. She promised she'd come back..."
A soldier stepped forward, carrying two ornate urns.
The sight alone shattered whatever hope remained inside him.
With trembling hands, Xylon snatched Jade's urn and clutched it tightly against his chest as though he could still protect her.
His body trembled violently.
A broken sob escaped his lips.
"Jade..." he choked out.
The soldiers and ministers lowered their heads, unable to bear the heartbreaking sight.
"W-We are deeply sorry, Your Majesty..." they murmured.
For several moments, only Xylon's anguished cries echoed through the courtyard.
Then suddenly, his eyes widened.
"My son..."
He looked up at the minister, panic replacing his grief.
"M-My son... where is Viel?"
Before anyone could answer, a servant hurried forward carrying a baby wrapped in a blanket.
"We found the young prince near the forest, Your Majesty," the servant reported.
Relief flooded Xylon's chest.
"Viel..."
He staggered to his feet and reached out with trembling arms, desperate to hold the only family he had left.
But the moment his eyes fell upon the child, he froze.
His breath caught in his throat.
Something was different about his son.
.
.
.....
Many Years Later
"Big Brother! Dinner's ready!"
Akuma's cheerful voice echoed across the field.
Xerxes, who had been tilling the soil in their small vegetable field, looked up at the sound of his voice, and wiped the sweat from his brow.
In the distance, he saw Akuma standing outside their small home, waving enthusiastically.
Many years had passed. Akuma had grown into a fine young man, and true to the promise he had made to Luna, Xerxes had raised him to be kind, compassionate, and upright.
They now lived in a quiet rural province far from the bustling towns and cities. The two of them shared a modest home and a peaceful life.
There were no nobles.
No wars.
No schemes.
Just the two of them.
Ever since Luna's passing, Xerxes had cared for Akuma alone, raising him not only as his guardian but also as the older brother Akuma had always known.
As he entered the house, the warm aroma of freshly cooked food greeted him.
Akuma was already setting the table.
Akuma had always loved vegetables, and Xerxes made sure to encourage that preference. He carefully kept the boy away from meat, determined to prevent any attraction to blood. He worried that any attraction to blood might awaken the truth hidden deep within him.
Because Akuma knew nothing.
Nothing about his true nature.
Nothing about the bloodline that flowed through his veins.
To him, they were simply two orphaned brothers trying to survive in a quiet corner of the world.
"Big Brother," Akuma suddenly said between bites, "when are we going to town again?"
"Hmm... how about tomorrow?" Xerxes replied.
Akuma's eyes immediately lit up. "Really?!" his excitement was impossible to hide. "We're going tomorrow?"
Xerxes nodded. "I need to deliver some vegetables to the market. After that, we can buy whatever supplies we need."
A wide smile spread across Akuma's face. "Awesome!"
His eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Once again, he would get to see the magnificent buildings, busy streets, and lively atmosphere of the town he admired so much.
.
.
.
In the Throne Palace of Aznar
"Viel, you haven't touched your food," Aria said gently.
They were gathered around the dining table, but Viel remained unusually quiet, absentmindedly staring at the untouched meal before him.
"Where is Father?" Viel finally asked. "Isn't he eating with us today?"
Aria and Cedrick exchanged troubled glances.
"Viel, His Majesty is currently attending a meeting," Cedrick explained calmly. "He won't be returning to the palace until later."
Viel let out a disappointed sigh.
"It's always like that," he muttered. "Father is always busy. Sometimes... I feel like he doesn't love me at all."
"That's not true, Viel," Lilith quickly replied, her voice filled with concern. "Your father loves you more than anything."
The young prince merely shrugged.
Deep down, he wasn't convinced.
Once again, Aria and Cedrick exchanged worried looks but said nothing.
.
.
Meanwhile, inside the royal council chamber...
"Where is His Majesty?" one of the ministers asked impatiently. "Shouldn't he be attending today's meeting?"
"Our apologies," Xenon replied. "The King is occupied with other matters at the moment."
"More likely, he's locked himself inside his chambers again," another minister muttered.
The room fell silent for a moment before the Prime Minister finally spoke.
"The kingdom has been neglected for far too long. Ever since the Queen's death, His Majesty has never been the same. He barely speaks, spends most of his time lost in thought, and rarely concerns himself with court affairs."
The old minister sighed heavily.
"How much longer does he intend to remain chained to the past?"
"Please try to understand him," Xenon said. "What happened to Queen Jade was a devastating loss."
"But that was years ago," another minister argued. "Many years have passed since then. Perhaps it's time we begin searching for a new Queen."
"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!"
The room shook with the force of the furious roar.
Before anyone could react, Heberlin grabbed the minister by the collar and yanked him from his seat.
"Are you suggesting replacing Jade?!" he growled, his eyes burning with rage.
The minister immediately turned pale.
"M-My apologies, Lord Heberlin! I didn't mean any disrespect!"
"Tch."
Heberlin released him with a shove.
"Listen carefully."
His cold gaze swept across the room.
"No one will ever replace Queen Jade in the King's heart. Remember that."
With those final words, he turned and stormed out of the chamber.
An awkward silence followed.
Xenon cleared his throat.
"Ahem... today's meeting is adjourned. You are all dismissed."
Without waiting for a response, he stood and followed after Heberlin.
One by one, the ministers quietly left the chamber.
Years had passed since the tragedy that claimed the lives of Jade and Maddison.
Yet despite the passing of time, the pain remained as vivid as ever.
For those who had loved them, it felt as though the wound had never truly healed.