👑 The Prince's Heart ❤

☆The Grim Message☆

(Izana's POV)

Days had turned into a blur of frustration and despair. The search for my mother and Evelyn had consumed my every waking thought, but every lead we followed led to dead ends. We scoured the villages, interrogated anyone who might have information, and scoured the forests surrounding the kingdom. The longer we searched, the more hopeless it felt, as if the very ground beneath us was conspiring to keep the truth hidden.

The sun hung low in the sky on that fateful day, casting an eerie glow over the castle grounds. I stood on the balcony of my chambers, gazing out at the horizon, wishing for a glimmer of hope, when a commotion at the castle gates caught my attention. My heart raced as I turned, half-expecting good news—a scout returning with information, perhaps a clue that could lead us to my loved ones.

But as I descended the staircase and approached the crowd gathering at the gates, a sinking feeling settled in my stomach. The guards were surrounding a dark wooden box, their expressions grim and uneasy. I pushed through the throng, my heart pounding in my chest.

"What's going on?" I demanded, forcing my way to the front.

One of the guards, pale and shaken, looked up at me. "Your Highness... it came addressed to you."

My throat felt tight as I knelt down to the box, an ominous presence radiating from it. I could sense something was terribly wrong. With trembling hands, I reached for the latch, my instincts screaming at me to turn away, but I had to know.

With a heavy clang, the lid creaked open, and I recoiled in horror. Inside, nestled among the dark velvet lining, lay a head—my mother's head. The bloodstained hair was still familiar, the regal features now frozen in a macabre expression of terror. My heart dropped to my stomach, a sensation so intense I thought I might collapse.

"No! No! This can't be real!" I gasped, feeling the world tilt around me. I fumbled backward, my back hitting the wall behind me as I struggled to catch my breath. This was not how it was supposed to end.

The guards around me flinched at my outburst, their faces pale. I felt the bile rise in my throat as I forced myself to look back at the box, and there it was—a note, stained with crimson, lying beside her head.

With shaking hands, I picked up the note and read it aloud, my voice barely above a whisper. "One gone, one left."

My blood ran cold. The message was as clear as it was sinister. They were toying with me, flaunting their cruelty and threatening what remained of my world. My mother had been murdered, and now, Evelyn's life hung in the balance.

The whispers among the guards grew louder, panic spreading like wildfire. "What do we do, Your Highness?" one of them asked, his voice trembling. "We can't let them take anyone else!"

I slammed the note down onto the box, my heart pounding with rage. "We will hunt them down! We will find whoever did this and make them pay!"

My voice was steady, but inside, I was unraveling. I could feel my grip on reality slipping, the pain of loss clawing at my insides. I had failed to protect her. I had failed to protect them both.

Kakucho pushed his way through the crowd, his face ashen. "Izana!" he called, rushing to my side. "What happened? I heard commotion."

I gestured toward the box, unable to form words. The horror of what lay inside was suffocating, wrapping around me like a noose. Kakucho's expression morphed from confusion to horror as he knelt beside the box, the weight of the situation crashing down on him.

"No," he breathed, shaking his head in disbelief. "This can't be. What did they do?"

"They killed her," I said, my voice trembling. "And now they're taunting us. They think they can break me. They think they can win."

Kakucho's gaze hardened as he stood up, his fists clenched. "We won't let them. We'll gather the men and set out. We'll find her, Izana. We'll find Evelyn. We will not let her be next!"

As the reality of my mother's death settled into the marrow of my bones, something deep inside me ignited. I couldn't afford to crumble—not now, not when Evelyn needed me.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stand tall. "Gather the men," I ordered, my voice resolute. "We ride at dawn. I won't rest until I find her and put an end to this madness."

The guards nodded, determination spreading through their ranks as they set off to prepare. I turned back to the box, my heart heavy with grief. My mother was gone, but I couldn't afford to dwell on that now. I had to focus on Evelyn.

"What could they want from her?" Kakucho muttered, more to himself than to me.

"I don't know," I replied, my jaw clenched. "But I won't let them take her from me. I'll tear this kingdom apart if I have to. I'll find her, no matter the cost."

With that, I turned away from the grim sight of the box, steeling myself for the fight ahead. The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting an eerie glow over the castle, but I refused to let darkness take hold of me.

I would not let them win. I would not let fear consume me.

Evelyn was still out there, and I would bring her home.

♡♡♡♡♡

As night fell, I made my way back to my chambers, the weight of my mother's death still pressing heavily on my shoulders. The castle felt hollow, the laughter of my childhood memories echoing in the empty halls. I thought of my mother's smile, her kindness, and her unwavering support. It felt like a lifetime ago.

I closed the door behind me, leaning against it as I tried to steady my breathing. I glanced around the room, seeing the remnants of my life before the attack. The books on the shelves, the maps of the kingdom spread across my desk—they all felt so trivial now.

But there was one thing that caught my eye, glimmering in the low light. My mother's pendant, the one I had given her on her last birthday, hung on the wall. I moved closer, running my fingers over the intricate design. It was a reminder of her love and strength, and I needed to hold onto that as I prepared for what lay ahead.

With renewed determination, I took the pendant in my hand and clasped it tightly, channeling my grief into resolve. I would not let her memory fade. I would fight for her and for Evelyn.

Tomorrow, we would ride. Tomorrow, I would take back what was mine, and I would make those responsible for this nightmare pay. The winds of fate were shifting, and I would ensure they blew in my favor.

The battle for my kingdom and the lives of those I loved had only just begun.

(1191 Words)