Fearful Shadows

-PROLOGUE-

"Aaaaaaahhhhh!"

The maids were running down the palace's halls to were the screams of a woman came from.

It was from the Empress' chamber.

Two soldiers were standing to each side of the entrance with neutral faces even though the woman's screams from the other side of the room could have made even a deaf person hear them.

Once the soldiers saw the rushing maids, they opened the wooden door with a simple move revealing the luxurious bedroom.

The maids with quick strides reached the bed. The empress was laying almost unconscious on the big bed with three doctors by her side. Her most trustworthy maid was already there holding the Empress' hand talking to her to keep her awake.

"Your Highness just a little longer. The little prince is on his way, you have to keep pushing your Highness. Just a little more and there won't be pain anymore..."

The maid kept talking to the Empress while glaring at the maids that just entered the chamber. The maids nodded their head in understanding and took their place around the big bed.

"Noo... no... I can't! It hurts too much!" The Empress tried to say between her loud sobs.

"My lady please do not give up. You cannot stop now. The baby is almost here."

The Empress screamed in agony once again and her body fell back on the mattress. She glanced tiredly to her most loyal maid and smiled bitterly.

"I don't think I can make it." She said whispering with new tears in her eyes.

"Do not say this kind of words, your Highness. You.. You are the strongest person I know." A tear fell from the maid's face as she stared at the frail figure in front of her.

She couldn't recognise the woman before her. She was used to seeing the Empress' smiling face even in her hardest days but she had never seen her in such a vulnerable state.

She looked exhausted with dark circles under her eyes, her face and skin had a troublesome pale colour that was very different from her normal tanned complexion. Her eyes had a blood shot colour from the lack of sleep and her hair was messy.

The Empress' cold hand reached towards her maids crying face wiping her tears.

"If anything happens to me, please protect this child with your life.." She whispered to the maid.

"Your Highness, just one last push." The Imperial doctor said with a concerned voice.

The Empress averted her gaze to the ceiling before shutting her eyes with force and screaming once again.

Silence fell upon the room for a moment.

Then a chaotic noisiness boomed in the room.

The panicked voices of the maids, the doctors yelling orders and the shouts for the Empress to stay awake roared.

But the Empress could hardly hear anything. Her eyes were unfocused. Her mind and consciousness drifting away. Her body felt too heavy and numb to move even an inch. Her eyelids felt itchy and sore because she could not keep them open anymore.