MAYA, my love.

CHAPTER 37

A hush enveloped the room. The king fell silent, his expression inscrutable. Maya stood resolute, her gaze locked with his, embodying unyielding determination. John, rendered speechless, remained an observer, witnessing the emotional tumult before him. Maya's strength was palpable, yet he could perceive the disappointment and sorrow she fought to conceal. She hastily wiped away the few tears that dared to emerge. John felt an unfamiliar longing stir within him.

Mey continued"If your love serves merely as a means to constrain me, then what value does it truly possess? It is as frail as the spirit you now embody. I refuse to be ensnared by this farce. Once, I revered you, Your Majesty; you were the very embodiment of strength and majesty when we first met. Yet now, you appear diminished, and the once-fiery spark in your eyes has faded. You cannot bring yourself to sacrifice one girl for the many. I possess the knowledge to heal your people, yet you would rather see them perish than save your daughter through me."

"I may be weak, but I am also advanced in years, at a stage in life where I long for tranquility and the closeness of my family. I recognize your disdain, yet you remain family to me," the king replied slowly, his voice heavy with emotion. Her words struck him deeply, revealing an uncomfortable truth. He had become unjust and weak. The anguish etched upon his face momentarily wavered Mey's resolve.

"Your Majesty," Mey said, her voice now imbued with sorrow and melancholy which was much more obvious, "Arthur is gone. Every corner of that castle will remind me of him. I yearn to leave; there is nothing left to bind me. This cause is now my sole purpose. I cannot bear for anyone else to endure the loss of their Arthur. If you truly love me—me, Maya, and no other—then you must understand what must be done. Grant me the freedom to live with purpose. Otherwise, I shall wither away, devoid of meaning."

"Maya, can you not remain?" the king implored, his tone pleading.

"No, I cannot. I must depart. Your Majesty, thank you for all your efforts for me who is always miserable. Yet you are not a person but a ruler. Make a decision for the sake of your nation, not for your own desires or mine. I follow you only because you embody justice and equity. I cannot pledge my loyalty to a ruler who is less than the sovereign I once admired." With this declaration, Maya bowed deeply before the king. "My wise Majesty, be the sun you claim to be. I expect to witness the beauty and fairness that the divine has bestowed upon you. You are neither weak nor aged; you still radiate the magnificence I first beheld in you. It may be a daunting task, yet I have faith that you will make the wisest choice. I know you will." With that, Maya stood tall, her countenance glowing, illuminating the chamber with an almost ethereal light. Her tear-streaked cheeks, juxtaposed with her smile, painted a poignant tableau. Anyone would be captivated by her beauty—and indeed, they were.

Maya spoke no further, casting one final glance at him before departing without awaiting formal leave. John and Alexander remained in stunned silence. What had just transpired? The intensity of her presence had rendered them breathless. Only in her absence could they finally draw a full breath.

She was nothing short of breathtaking. John stood in awe. He had previously regarded her challenging nature as foolishness, yet even if it was folly, how beautiful and full of live it was. She embodied the strength and resolve of the ideal he aspired to be. Her boldness ignited within him a desire to live with such audacity and purpose. He had grown complacent in his role, stifled by the need for meticulousness that had suppressed his true self. The vitality in her eyes made his blood run hot, setting his heart ablaze with fervor.

"She possesses an uncanny ability to pierce the heart of this old man with pain, she succeeds every single time. Yet her audacity is fitting for her. Is it not, John?"

"Will you share the tale of your daughter with me now?" John stepped forward toward the candlelight; his face was now illuminated, and his gaze was resolute. The king fell silent, leaving John without an answer.

"Your Majesty, she—that girl—she speaks the truth. Your love may just be a gilded cage, concealing confinement behind a façade of affection. You cannot even address my simple inquiry, and I still remain ignorant of the names of my mother and sister. Were you ever going to tell me? "

The king regarded him but remained mute. John awaited a response, but none came.

"I perceive the situation clearly. You disappoint again Your Majesty. Perhaps I shall not be able to call you 'father' anytime soon. I must take my leave now. I must go after her." With that, John bolted from the chamber, propelled by the strength he had witnessed in her—was it this very strength that inspired him to confront his father? All he desired at that moment was to see her once more.

Back in the chamber, the king reamined speechless. The youngsters had dared to challenge him in a manner both irreverent and profound, yet within their boldness lay an undeniable truth. As king, he was meant to be impartial, yet their courage resonated deeply within him. Alexander was no longer the same; love had rendered him vulnerable and biased. How profoundly sorrowful it is to grow old