You Are The Reason ( Prince x Reader )

Chapter 48: After the War

I recommend putting the song on a loop.

The wind was soft as it blew by, sweeping up the ashes of the fallen town. The citizens gathered materials to start rebuilding their homes, and children ran around the streets without fear. Some had already started working on their homes, while others had to rebuild their house. There was laughter in the streets and sorrow for those who had died in the war. Families gathered around the new cemetery and mourned for those they lost. Mothers cried, fathers wailed, and children sobbed into their parent's clothing. The graves were neatly organized, and every grave had its own space and tombstone. But there was one grave that was not in the cemetery. Instead, by a lone pink cherry blossom tree, there was a grave sitting in front of the trunk. The cherry blossom tree was not far from the castle or the town, but it was on its own. The gravestone was slim; at the top, there were three bumps, the middle being the largest. The Harding Crest sat at the top, in the middle of the large bump. At the base of the cherry blossom tree, you sat in front of the grave, reading the words you had memorized.

Here Lies the Body of
Quinn Harding
Son of
Queen Aileen Brite
and
King Francis Harding
"He is now free, and will be
forevermore. May his story
live for as long as he
should have."

You couldn't cry as you sat there and stared at his grave. You felt melancholy, sitting in the warmth of the sun. After the war, Aileen heard the news of her son's fate. With Mariella, they cried over Quinn after you had your time mourning. He was buried now underneath the cherry blossom tree, where only his stone would remain, with no one to join him. Quinn's death brought the end of the Harding name, as Mariella would soon marry her love, and Aileen had taken her maiden name back. The Harding family died with no other son under Francis Harding's name. So, it was decided that Quinn would have his own area on a hill overlooking the kingdom, where his grave could watch the kingdom rise from the ashes and grow. Francis's body was burned so that his soul would never rest, and he would receive the same torture he had shown everyone else. 

Aileen had started to rebuild her kingdom, with the help of old citizens finding their way back to her kingdom. She welcomed everyone into her home, and together, the Kingdom of Silv would rise again, with Aileen as the rightful queen.

Mariella planned to live with her mother until after her pregnancy was over. Then, once her child would be in her arms, she planned on traveling with Brice to his home, far away from Madrathia. Mariella mourned her brother and promised to visit, but she said she couldn't live where everything was almost taken from her.

Jin still had an eye patch, but he was now the war general for Madrathia. He served the new king, and he came with you sometimes to visit Quinn's grave. Genevive was healthy and helped you mourn. She still worked in the palace but helped clean and repaired everything. She now works in the kitchen, getting at least one burn on her skin from being clumsy and bumping into a hot pan. Jin sometimes is caught sneaking in there and blushing when he leaves.

Quintin was now the Ruler of Madrathia. There was no one else that could fill the position better than he. Quintin initially wanted you to take the throne, but you handed it over to Quintin. Quintin accepted, and with his wife, they lived in the palace, where he would rule for years under kindness.

   " Everything's changing Quinn. . .We are starting to rebuild, and Quintin is a good ruler. He's also going to be a father soon, which is exciting. . ."

A single tear slipped down your face as you smiled at Quinn's grave, and the wind blew by, kissing your face.

   " I. . .have no idea what I'm going to do now and. . .I just wish you were here with me. . .but I know you're watching me from up above. And I'm doing okay. "