23 years ago
Velcan Palace, Eldrid
The king's words hung in the air like a guillotine, poised to sever Sarah's fate. She collapsed onto her knees, her hands clasped together in a desperate plea. Her silver eyes, once bright with hope, now brimmed with tears as she begged for mercy.
"Your Majesty, please... consider the life of our unborn child," she implored, her voice cracking with emotion. Her hands cradled her stomach, as if shielding the innocent life within from the king's cruelty.
The king's expression remained impassive, his garnet eyes cold and unyielding. "You shall not breathe a word of this to anyone," he warned, "Or I'll personally ensure you're cast into the depths of Eldritch."
He turned to leave, but Sarah grasped his garments, her fingers clutching at the fabric like a lifeline. The king's gaze fell upon her, his eyes filled with disdain, as if she were nothing more than a discarded plaything.
The memory of his whispered promises, of his vows to make her queen, now seemed like a cruel jest. Sarah realised, with a crushing sense of despair, that she had been blind to the truth. The king had never truly loved her; how could he, when she was just a commoner, a maid with dull eyes?
As the reality of her situation hit her like a tidal wave, Sarah's grip on the king's garments faltered. He shoved her hand away, and she fell, her body crumpling onto the cold, unforgiving floor.
The king's parting words cut through the air, a harsh reminder of her newfound reality, "To show my kindness, I'll arrange a ferry for you. Never speak of this to anyone."
As the door closed behind him, Sarah lay alone, her body wracked with sobs, her heart shattered into a million pieces.