Chapter 106: The Last Night

The night stretched over the castle like a heavy shroud. Vaiolet remained in the highest tower, her gaze fixed on the horizon where the war had consumed everything. Victory didn’t have the sweet taste so many had expected.

The wind stirred her hair, cold and merciless like the reality that enveloped her. She felt she had lost more than she had gained. The kingdom was safe, her mother had been restored to the throne, but the sacrifice had been too great.

Kael was gone.

Tears streamed from her eyes without her being able to stop them.

Footsteps echoed on the stairs behind her. She didn’t need to turn to know who it was.

—Vaiolet…— Emera whispered her name cautiously.

The princess closed her eyes. She didn’t have the strength to speak.

Her mother approached and stood beside her, looking at the same horizon.

—We’ve been through so much… but we made it— the queen continued, her voice soft, trying to find a way to reach her daughter.

Vaiolet let out a bitter laugh.

—Did we?— she whispered. —At what cost?

Emera didn’t respond immediately. She knew any words would be insufficient.

—I didn’t want this for you— she finally said. —I wanted a future where you wouldn’t have to shed blood, where you wouldn’t have to know loss.

Vaiolet clenched her fists.

—But we did, didn’t we?— she whispered, her voice trembling. —We lost. We lost more than we gained.

The silence between them was as deep as the night.

Emera, for the first time in a long time, had no answers.

After a long while, the queen placed a hand on her daughter’s shoulder.

—Rest, my daughter. Tomorrow the kingdom needs its princess.

Vaiolet didn’t move.

—The kingdom can wait…

But her mother didn’t wait any longer. She left, leaving her daughter with her pain, with her internal struggle.

The moon illuminated her face as she lifted her head.

The night was beautiful… but also cruel.

And in her heart, Vaiolet knew her story wasn’t over yet.

The dawn barely illuminated the ruins of the castle. The air was thick with ashes and the iron scent of spilled blood. Vaiolet remained in the highest tower, her gaze lost on the horizon. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, memories, and guilt.

She had won. But at what cost.

Around her, the war had left indelible scars. The walls were cracked, the flags torn, and the banner of her family, which had flown proudly for generations, lay on the ground, covered in dust and blood.

The sound of footsteps interrupted her reverie.

—Princess…

It was Cedric. Her loyal knight was covered in wounds, his armor dented, but his gaze still reflected the same unbreakable loyalty.

Vaiolet didn’t turn to look at him.

—Tell me.

Cedric hesitated, as if the words were stuck in his throat.

—The queen has summoned the council. She wants you there.

Vaiolet nodded without emotion.

—I’ll be there in a moment.

Cedric hesitated. He seemed torn between leaving or saying something more.

—Kael wanted you to know something before…— his voice broke.

Vaiolet felt everything around her crumble at the sound of that name.

—Don’t— she ordered firmly, though her voice was brittle.

—He wanted you to know that his last thought was of you. That he never stopped believing in you.

The pain in her chest became unbearable. She closed her eyes tightly, as if that could stop the tears from escaping.

—Leave, Cedric.

The knight bowed his head and left without another word.

When the door closed, Vaiolet felt the weight of the world fall on her.

She had saved the kingdom. But not Kael.

And that was too high a price.

Her steps led her to the throne room, where her mother and the council awaited her.

Queen Emera watched her with a mix of pride and sadness.

—Vaiolet… It’s time to look to the future.

But for the princess, the future didn’t exist without Kael.

—The future…— she whispered.

Then she knew what she had to do.

The flames of the torches cast shadows on the walls of the grand hall. The royal council debated the future of the kingdom, but Vaiolet wasn’t listening. She felt her mother’s gaze on her, but she didn’t have the strength to meet it.

Kael’s empty throne was a constant reminder of his absence. Every corner of the castle brought back memories of him, of his laughter, his voice, his promises. But he was gone.

—Vaiolet— Queen Emera’s voice was firm. —We must restore peace. You are the rightful heir. It’s your duty to rule.

Vaiolet looked at her with tear-filled eyes.

—At what cost, Mother? How many more lives must be sacrificed in the name of the kingdom?

The queen didn’t respond.

Vaiolet stood with an air of grim determination.

—I’ll do what must be done.

She left the hall without waiting for a response.

That night, she walked through the dimly lit corridors of the castle. She stopped in front of Kael’s room and placed her hand on the door. Inside, everything was as he had left it. His sword, his cloak, the book he never finished reading.

The pain in her chest was unbearable.

With firm steps, she climbed to the highest tower of the castle. The icy wind whipped her face as she stepped onto the balcony. From there, she could see the entire city, illuminated by the moonlight.

She remembered Kael’s words, the time he promised they would be together, that they would find a way to defeat the darkness.

But he couldn’t keep his promise.

And neither could she.

The wind stirred her hair as she closed her eyes.

—Wait for me, Kael…

Without hesitation, she stepped into the void.

The fall was eternal.

And when she finally hit the ground, the entire kingdom knew their princess had fallen.

Vaiolet of Eldoria, the last heir, the warrior who defied her fate, had found her end on the coldest night of winter.

The kingdom survived. But its light was extinguished forever.

THE END.