ughters, their chatter filling the air. Her mind, however, felt distant, preoccupied with the strange weight she

ickered toward his empty chair, and she frowned. It wasn't like him to miss

ore replying, "He's st

. Reluctance tugged at her, but concern won over.

curious eyes following her as she ma

e him. The sight of him lying on the bed, his features

Leaning down, she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Garet

didn'

tried again, shaking h

no res

est, searching for the rise and fall of his breathing. Relief flooded her when sh

embling as she shook him desperately. Tea

shed to the door, her voice ringing through the

***

an hurried to her call. The physician pushed through the

im examine Gareth. Time seemed to stretch endlessly as the

n carefully controlled. "His Majesty is alive, but he's

g. "What do you mean? He hasn't taken anything!

It could be natural, or it could be... i

churned. "Induce

s chambers for further examination, Margret stoo

heart pounding. She hadn't expected this. The potion was supposed to

reth's still body, their hands moving with urgency as they tried every remedy and technique to revive him.

ysicians with wide, terrified eyes, silently pleading for a miracle. Her swollen belly pressed against

, burst into the room, his usually calm demeanor replaced by sheer panic. "Margret!" he called,

, "he... he wouldn't wake up. The physicians are trying everything, but he's..." He

is own hands shook. He turned to the head physician. "Wha

r Queen Elira swept into the room, her regal presence commanding attention

nded, her voice cold and stern. "Wh

egan, her voice trembling. "I don't know. He was fine last nig

apped. "If anything happens to my son, Margret, I wi

alling anew. Kaelen stepped forward, his jaw clenched. "Mothe

gaze fixed on the physicians.

Majesty, we've done everything we can. His symptoms suggest h

ra demanded, he

ing the devastating news. "The King ha

heart-wrenching cry, her legs giving out as she collapsed to the floor. Kaelen cau

ing at Kaelen's arms. "This can't

"My son... my Gareth..." she murmured, her voice cracking. But her grief quickly gave way to anger as she

is full height. "Blaming Margret won't bring G

aid nothing, her chest he

firm. "Lock down the palace immediately. No one leaves until we find the cu

rders. The sound of heavy doors slamming shut ec

y. "Whoever did this will pay," he vowed, his voice

sed down on her like a crushing tide, threatening to drown her. She felt a small, comforting ha

ed, her voice shaking. "Wh

nto the child's hair. "I don't know," she admitted, her voice

go this far. The potion was supposed to bring Gareth closer to her, not kill him. But now, her actions had set off a chain of events

-