In the sleeping quarters of Windsor Castle, the candle flame burned extremely slowly, as if pulled by some invisible force, flickering intermittently in the air.
The sky outside was pitch black, like a velvet curtain that absorbed all starlight and hope, tightly wrapping the entire castle, making one despairingly believe they would never see the light of dawn again.
A layer of dew gathered on the windowsill, and even the sound of the wind had disappeared, as if it too could not bear to disturb Queen Adelaide, who had kept vigil by King William IV's side for ten days without taking a step away.
Queen Adelaide kept watch by the sickbed, leaning on a chair beside the bed, her body almost engulfed in the creases of a disheveled blanket.
