1 Rebirth

For how long did she wished for a peaceful night like this?

Her mind is already exhausted. Her body is on the verge of collapsing.

Alys merely wanted to spend her remaining time in this world in peace. Having the moon as the only witness when the light of fire in her eyes slowly wither away.

Yet the world is cruel. That 'man' is cruel.

She closed her eyes. Putting out her sense of sight made her other senses sharper in this chilly night, and made the sound of the shoes making contact with the marbled floor to become more distinct in this space of deafening silence.

Only if Alys has enough strength to open her mouth, she would tell this incoming woman off and let her die peacefully and alone. But her body will not let her. The even breathing is taxing.

Alys can only helplessly let the shivering incapable servant open the door to her room, and let that woman in.

"Alice ah, I heard that you're dying."

The sweet voice of a woman in her prime occupied the spacious and dim lighted room.

Seeing the weak woman lying on a wide snow white mattress, a flash of joy appeared on Eloise's face.

"His majesty was in my room a while ago and I was kind enough and told him about your situation." Eloise stood near Alys' face to clearly see her reaction when she mentioned about the emperor visiting her quarters. And as expected, though faint, she still saw her clenching her jaw.

"And his majesty was benevolent enough and told this servant to accompany you on your last moments."

"Alice ah, look at how cheap his majesty's love for you is. If it were me, it's really better to die than to receive such treatment from the man that I love."

Eloise sneered. "Look at you, with only a few insignificant words, you look like you might die out of anger." She said her face full of provocative smile.

No,

Eloise's taunting words is not enough to bring out an intense emotion from her dead heart. It's because at this moment, with the mention of His Majesty, numerous memories resurfaced on Alys' once tranquil mind. It was a memory that is full of adventure that slowly turned into a love story but ended as a tragedy.

Remembering those times, something brewed in her heart. It was regret. A bone deep regret. She regretted that she let her heart fall on a man who don't know how to turn his back to his origin. A man who is easily blinded by gold and beauty.

Your Majesty ah, are you happy?

Seeing how satisfied you are sitting on the golden throne, then I guess you are.

I loved you, accompanied you, and supported you. Yet you threw all of it away.

But it's okay. My heart is serene. Because at the least I won't be able to witness with my own eyes how the nation i helped build and protect to gradually crumble away.

With this, you won't be written as a hero in the history anymore, but as a ruler who caused the downfall of its own land. A ruler who personally poured the poison that gradually ate the life of the beloved queen of his people.

Alys treated Eloise as an air. In her mind, she will die alone and peacefully.

And she really did.

She can still remember the sensation of taking one's own last faint breath.

If that's the case, then why, why did she still be able to regain her consciousness?

Alys roamed her eyes around the familiar tattered hut. A big hand opened the curtain the serves as the entrance of the hut and a brawny man came in.

The familiar face of the man, made Alys' eyes to widen. And her mouth gaped after hearing his following words,

"Child, a new mission for you has arrived."

This... isn't this a normal scene for the her, 20 years ago?