The Lost Empress

Prologue

"Uwah! Uwah!"

A baby's cry broke free from the inside of a busy room. 

"Your Highness! It's a healthy girl!" A handmaid woman said, ushering the Emperor inside. The Emperor nervously headed inside, excited to see the baby girl.

"Axel.." The Empress, Viviana, weakly called out.

Axel quickly rushed to her side and held her hand. 

"You did amazing, love. They said she's healthy, great job." He complimented her whilst showering kissed on her face.

"Axel.." Viviana repeated, her voice frail. 

"What's wrong, dear?" He said, pulling back and looking into her eyes. They looked so full of life that seemed to be flickering by the minute.

"What's happening to you?" Axel said frantically, realizing what was wrong. He turned to the doctors in the room before she could respond.

"What is happening to my wife?! Someone explain-!" They stood silently, gazing down at the ground while a soft hand weakly cupped his face to turn back to her.

"I can't go on. I'm sorr..." Her voice broke at the end rendering her unable to complete the word. A tear falling down her face as her lips trembled. She too was afraid of death. 

"No, no, no. Don't be sorry, dear. Please, you can't go. We haven't named her yet! We haven't..." He himself, the daring and confident Emperor, also trembled at the sight of his wife's state.

"I-I'll bring the best doctor from Trivilar! They can help you!" He pleaded, gripping her hand harder as he felt her lose grip. 

Viviana shook her head and smiled letting loose more tears.

"The daughter..name her... Acelina." Viviana took separate breaths in between her sentence, feeling death approach her.

"I.." Her eye lids fluttered close and her hand fell from Axel's cheek.

"No!" He hugged her close breathing in the last of her scent. He murmured hushed words of refusal, not wanting the moment to be real. The room was coated with grief as the doctors and maids silently witnessed the moment, many weeping.

Acelina seemed to know that her mother was gone for she started crying as well. Axel felt the last of breaths of Viviana's body and stayed with her until all life was gone, before picking up the child.

He held Acelina close to his chest as she quieted down in the warmth of her father's embrace.

"I will treasure you." He whispered softly, affection laced in his voice.