𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐀𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 (𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐝)

30. Palace Chaos

Aiore's heart raced as he held Arielle in
his arms, her pale face contrasting
starkly against his cloak. "Physician!
Someone, please!" he shouted, his voice
echoing down the corridor of the palace.

Panic coursed through him; Arielle had
been lively just moments ago, and now
she lay lifeless, her body limp against
his.

The physician who was arranged to temporarily live next to Arielle's room rushed into the room, her
expression grave as she examined
Arielle. "She seems to be in perfect
health," the physician declared, a frown
creasing her brow. "I cannot explain why she suddenly fainted. It could be
fatigue, or perhaps something else
entirely."

Not satisfied with her vague diagnosis, Aiore's frustration boiled over. "You don't understand! This is not normal for her!" Without waiting for another word, he gently but urgently scooped Arielle into his arms and rushed out of the palace on horseback, headed toward the old woman who had once healed her from the deadly poison.

Meanwhile, in the palace, chaos reigned. The king decided to leave his throne, the weight of loneliness pressing down on him. He left the palace grounds, unaware that his actions would only serve to further complicate Aiore's tumultuous life. In the depths of the dungeon, the queen, unable to bear the humiliation of Aiore's accusations and her own biological son's ignorance, took her own life, hanging herself from the cold stone walls.

Aldith, still clinging to the remnants of
his mother's love despite her flaws,
discovered her lifeless body. Overcome
with grief, he arranged her funeral
himself, each task a painful reminder of the mother he had adored. He felt it was his duty to inform his father of her
death, yet when he returned to the
palace to find the king, he discovered
only a letter stating the king's abrupt
departure. The words sent a chill down
Aldith's spine.

He lost both his parents on the same day.

"Aldith," he muttered to himself, "now
your brother will be king." The thought
should have filled him with pride-Aiore
was more than capable-but the turmoil
in his heart left him feeling hollow. As
he prepared to face the court, a heavy
weight settled in his chest. He needed
someone to share the burden of his
sorrow. When he sought out Aiore, he
learned of his brother's absence with Arielle. The absence of both the King
and Aiore created a palpable tension in
the palace, and Aldith found himself
caught in the storm.

Back on the road, Aiore urged his horse
onward, desperation fueling his pace.
He finally arrived at the old woman's
cottage, its modest exterior standing in
stark contrast to the chaos of the palace. He carried Arielle inside, where
the old woman awaited him, her face
lined with concern.

"What troubles you, Prince Aiore?" she
asked, her voice steady.

"Arielle-she passed out! I need your
help!" His voice was frantic as he placed her gently on a mat.

The old woman examined Arielle closely, frowning as she felt her pulse and checked her breathing. "I do not
understand," she said, her brow
furrowing in concentration. "It appears
she is in a deep slumber, perhaps a
coma. I cannot explain why she has
fallen into this state."

"Can't you do anything?" Aiore pleaded,
his anxiety escalating.

The old woman shook her head, her
voice softening. "Sometimes, we must
allow the body to heal in its own time.
You must take her back to the palace
and wait. When she is ready, she will
awaken."

Though reluctant, Aiore nodded,
knowing he had no other choice. After a few moments of hesitation, he decided to offer, "Will you come with us?"

"Forgive me, your highness, but I cannot," she replied, her voice resolute. "My life here is peaceful, free from the palace's burdens."

With a heavy heart, Aiore returned to the palace, carrying Arielle back into the chaos that awaited him. Upon entering his chambers, he laid her down on the bed, tucking the blankets around her. The sight of her stillness filled him with dread. He was so absorbed in worry that he barely noticed Aldith entering the room until his brother's voice broke through his thoughts.

"Brother, you're back.." Aldith's voice
trailed off, his eyes widening in alarm as he took in Arielle's unconscious form. "What happened to her?"

"She just... collapsed without warning,"
Aiore explained, his voice tight with
frustration and fear. "I don't know why.
She was fine before." He paused, swallowing hard. "Why were you looking for me?"

Hesitating, Aldith took a deep breath, his expression somber. "Mother... is dead."

At those words, Aiore's face fell into an
emotionless mask. His stepmother-the
woman who had tormented him, who
had made his life a living hell-was
gone. He had long ago severed his need
for revenge; he had not cared about her
death when he had exposed her true
colors. Now, however, he felt nothing.

No anger, no relief-only an emptiness
that echoed in the silence between
them. "How?" was all he could manage
to ask.

"Suicide. She couldn't bear the humiliation," Aldith replied quietly, his
voice heavy with the weight of grief. "But that's not all. Father is gone too. He left the palace as well as the throne, saying he would never return. I don't know what's wrong with him..."

Aiore's brow furrowed, a sudden tension tightening his chest. He knew why his father decided to leave. He loved Queen Ezra despite her bad deeds. He must have felt terrible living without her. It was no wonder he decided to leave everything to gain a peace of mind.

"He took off without a word, just like
that. I found his letter. He's gone, brother," Aldith sighed, repeating his words due to his frustration. "The chaos this has caused in the palace is unbearable. I need you to take the throne. It's time for you to step into your role as king. Otherwise, I don't know how to handle the nobles."

Aiore turned away, staring out of the
window at the sprawling gardens below, now tainted with the news of his
stepmother's death and his father's
departure. The weight of responsibility
loomed over him like a dark cloud. He
turned back to Aldith, his eyes reflecting the resolve he had built over the years. "I never wanted this," he murmured, his voice low.

"You've always been destined for this,
Aiore," Aldith urged, stepping closer. "You have the strength to lead. You
always have. And you need to do it now, for our kingdom, for Arielle."

The mention of Arielle jolted Aiore back to reality. He turned to his brother, the urgency rising within him. "I can't lose her. Not now."

"You won't," Aldith reassured him,
placing a hand on his brother's shoulder. "You just have to be strong."

Aiore nodded, but his heart ached with
the uncertainty of the future. He
stepped back to Arielle's side, his
fingers brushing gently against her
cheek. "Please, come back to me," he
whispered, his voice breaking slightly.

As Aldith stood beside him, a silence
enveloped them, heavy with grief and
the burden of leadership. Aiore knew he could no longer afford to ignore the
reality of his situation. With both the queen and king absent, it was now
his turn to take command of the kingdom and its people.

"Let's get through this together" Aldith
said softly, his voice a balm in the storm
that raged around them. "We can face
whatever comes next as brothers."

With determination flooding through
him, Aiore looked at his brother,
recognizing the bond that would guide
them through the challenges ahead. He
turned back to Arielle, the one person
who had brought light into his life amid
the darkness. "I'll protect you, Arielle. I
promise..."

"Just wake up soon, okay?"