Cost of the Crown (UNREVISED VERSION)

Emerald

Cedric told Clara to put his sister on his bed. He doesn't know what happened, or even what to do.

Maria finally opened her eyes again but everything was pitch black. She could only hear her brother's voice filled with worry and she could also feel Clara's presence she was silent.

"Maria, what happened?" Her brother asked.

"Why can't I see the light?" She replied.

"You can't see?!" Cedric shook her.

"I... Can't... Like I'm wearing a blindfold..." Maria said as she felt her face.

"Lady Clara, what should we do?" Cedric asked in a panic.

"Your mom was the cleric, not me." Clara told the king.

"You know, you're not blind... I just cursed you to see the beauty in everything." Elise said cockily.

"What do you mean?" Maria asked.

"You saw everything in a blur just some time ago... Meaning, there was a streak of beauty in that scene. It was silent... It was beautiful." Elise hummed.

"What do you mean? My brother and Lady Clara are good people." Maria argued.

"They might be good in your eyes but your brother, the king, just killed the father of young boy." Elise smiled as she leaned on the cage.

"How about Lady Clara, she seems good..." Maria refuted.

"But people are not always what they seem..." Elise giggled. "Like Cassandra..."

"What about her?" Maria was confused at this point.

"You'll know when the time comes..." Elise smirked. "Have you made up your mind?"

"No... I need more time." Maria replied. "I need to see my brother."

"Before you go... There is one way to lift this curse. Look for the place where time never moves..." Elise glanced at Maria.

"Brother... Do you know the place where time never moves?" She asked as she held her arms out to feel her surroundings.

Cedric heard what Maria said then a picture flashed in his head. His father's picture with notes on the back saying:

My coronation: Look for a place where time never moves.

He let go of Maria then went to his journal again. He looked at the photo then noticed something unusual, the picture was taken in the garden, just like every other king except him.

"Of course! This was the queen's garden." He exclaimed. He put his hand on his forehead.

"What?" Maria asked, trying to walk slow and steady to his brother.

She tripped on the floor behind his brother. Cedric managed to catch her before she fell. "This is the queen's graden... The place where time never moves."

"Where's that?" She asked, confused as she clung to her brother's arm.

"Your garden." He pointed out.

"Oh! But how?" She asked.

"We're about to find out." Cedric looked into the window.

"I'll tend to the people... Go look for the kingdom treasure." Clara bowed before leaving.

Cedric nodded before glancing back at the photo. He carried his sister then they went to the garden. They opened the gate to the queen's garden which was hidden from the rest of the garden. It had roses and a tall tree in the middle supporting a swing.