Anima

Chapter 1: Black Sea

Black cloth adorned every single window, signaling the feeling of loss. Weeps were heard in each corner of the streets, as the citizens of Nouvalle cried for their lost queen. Inside her family's carriage, Enyd rode with her brother, Yoongi, towards the palace. Both were dressed in black garments and a solemn look placed on both of their faces. The girl peeked through the curtain of the carriage, witnessing the sorrow of the inhabitants of her city. Never had she seen so many people mourn for someone, of course, neither had she ever witnessed the death of one of the most beloved rulers of the nation.

"They all seem so sad..." she muttered unconsciously.

Yoongi glanced briefly towards his sister, and said "Of course they are sad. The queen in the mother of the country, she was a good woman, loving and compassionate it seems."

Enyd frowned, she had seen the queen a few times during the gathering of the palace her parents took them to, but she had never interacted directly with said woman. From what Enyd could remember the queen was warm and loving, a good wife and a good mother. She couldn't fathom why the ruler had died. Was she sick? But she always looked very healthy. Perhaps she was killed? Then again, everyone loved her so she could not think of a reason why anyone would want to kill the queen. In the end Enyd gave up, huffing in annoyance.

The rest of the trip was silent, neither of the siblings spoke, only the sound of hooves and the chatter of people was heard. The chitter-chatter slowly started to disperse as the carriage got closer to the castle, which was located at the very end of Nouvalle. Despite the handful of times she had been at the palace, the beauty of it never ceased to amaze her. It was absolutely regal. Carefully trimmed bushes created a wonderful entrance, and at the foot of the place, flowers spread across, a magnificent fountain placed strategically at the center to complete the aesthetic of the entrance road. Tall, imposing walls towered over people, with great glass panes that allowed the sunlight to seep in. And four great towers were built in the corners of the palace. In short, the royal place was a breathtaking view.

So immersed in the beauty of the place, Enyd didn't actually realize they had arrived until her brother took her hand. The girl's gray eyes met her brother's soft hazel gaze. He did no smile, no, Yoongi rarely smiles, but the gentle squeeze of his hands was enough to reassure the young girl that she was safe. The intimidating gentleman stepped out first and extended his arm to help his sister out. Enyd climbed out, mindful of not stepping onto her long skirts, gravel crunched at each step the Min siblings gave. Both were greeted at the entrance by the palace's servants, and immediately went searching for their parents, who had arrived earlier in another carriage.

"Do you see them?" she softly whispered to Yoongi.

Hazel eyes surveyed the room before replying, "Not yet, no."

Min Yoongi took the lead, looking for the familiar faces of his parents among the people in the entrance room. He could feel his sister's tight clutch on his arm, making sure she never left his side. Min Enyd was his precious flower in all sense, she was beautiful and outgoing, but like a flower, she was delicate and anything could tear her apart.

The next room they entered was slightly less filled with people. High ranking officers, friends and family of the royals mingled about. Finally, a tall black haired figured besides a small petite women appeared before the kids eyes. Enyd sighed in relief and Yoongi's shoulders sagged slightly, tension leaving them. They made their way towards their parents, bowing once they arrived.

"You made it," the man voiced out in a gruff voice.

"Yes, the streets were quite crowded so it took us a while to get thru," Yoongi replied.

All he got in return was a nod. His mother smiled at them, gently squeezing Enyd's hands, with a soft reassuring gaze. Min Jaehyuk went back to talking with a uniformed soldier, and his wife Aera listening politely. Both siblings simply stood there besides their parents, this gave Enyd the opportunity of taking in the atmosphere.

The ambiance was solemn, but the distinct chatter made it less suffocating. It looked like a black sea in there, with all the people dressed with black attires similar to hers and her brother's. She didn't see the king anywhere, so Enyd assumed he had yet to arrive. Shuffling her feet a bit, she couldn't help but compare the difference between the current visit and her past experiences in the palace. The grand castle had always been bustling with life and warmth, laughs of the balls organized constantly filled the halls, now it was just...dull. It was clear that the absence of the queen had taken a toll on the inhabitants of the place, as if the entire structure had been ripped away from its happiness.

A sense of heaviness sunk in her chest, perhaps guilt, or maybe it was just grief, she couldn't tell. Enyd stepped closer to her brother's side, seeking comfort. This was definitely not the environment she was used to.