Chapter 3: Death Strikes Again

Lya’s P.O.V

6 months later

Life with Jack and Emma is joyful, peaceful, and sweet. Their love has softened my sadness and calmed my nightmares. I quickly learned that the couple never had children. I've somewhat become their surrogate daughter. And as such, they spoil me despite my protests. To the point that I eventually gave up. I let them do as they please, and that's just fine.

I embarked on an artistic career under a false identity. The couple, who worked for the royal family, wanted to help me gain recognition, but I prefer to make a name for myself. One day, as we stroll through the streets of the city, I see a predominantly female crowd gathered. The young women seem excited.

"Well, what's happening now?" Jack grumbles irritably.

"Oh, come on, old grouch, let the young ones do as they please!"

"Lya knows how to behave."

"Wait until I know what's going on. I might be worse than them," I say with a laugh.

"You? Surely not!"

"Oh, I'm curious now!"

Emma pulls me into the crowd by the arm, under Jack's disapproving gaze. The Lycan woman is as tall as me, but the crowd is so dense that we can't see anything. She starts elbowing her way through to get closer. Finally, she exclaims in surprise upon realizing the reason for all this.

"The King! It's King Soren," she whispers in my ear.

"The King?"

I observe the young man carefully. He is handsome. Taller than me, he was slender but muscular. He has a handsome face with a tan complexion and a square jaw. All framed by medium-length black hair and piercing eyes. He stands tall and doesn't seem to pay much attention to the crowd around him.

His cold indifference makes him somehow unsympathetic. But maybe I'm not in the best position to judge. My parents, on the other hand, were always smiling and warm. They liked being approached, and the crowd didn't scare them.

A woman stands by the sovereign's side. And she, too, leaves a bad impression on me. Yet, she is a very beautiful Lycan wearing a dress that accentuates her feminine curves. Her blonde hair is short and slightly wavy, and she has very beautiful green eyes.

Soren eventually sees Emma and walks towards us. Emma bows, and I follow her example.

"Emma, how are you?" he asks in a flat tone.

"Very well, Your Majesty. Thank you."

Soren's gaze shifts to me, and he has a slight smile to which I feel obliged to respond.

"Let me introduce you to Lya. A friend we're hosting who brings a bit of youth into our daily lives."

"Emma..."

Soren stares at me more and more insistently. He seems about to say something, but the woman accompanying him prevents him with irritation.

"Soren! Let's go! It's hot, and I'm tired!"

"Yes, you're right, Claire. Let's go. I was pleased to see you again, Emma. Please give my regards to Jack."

"With pleasure, Your Majesty!"

Emma bows once again, and the couple moves away, the crowd trailing behind them. Emma sighs.

"He was so much nicer when he was a child. I wonder what happened to him!"

"At any rate, his girlfriend is right. It's hot. We should go back, Emma. You look quite pale; I'm worried," I say with concern.

"Oh, do you think so? You're worrying over nothing, Lya! But yes, let's go back. Jack will surely be happy to hear that we met dear Soren."

But nothing I know about their health prepared me to call for help a week later! Now, I pace back and forth in front of the room where the couple is, anxiously awaiting the doctor's verdict. When he finally exits the room, I can see in his eyes that it's the end. My stomach knots and my eyes begin to shine with contained tears.

"I'm sorry, miss," the doctor says wearily.

"I understand," I reply, shaking my head.

There's nothing he can do anyway.

"Can I go see them?"

"Yes. You should say goodbye to them. It will be over very quickly now."

"Okay."

I enter the room, and my heart breaks seeing them, each in a bed, but side by side. A chair separates them, and I sit down, taking their hands in mine.

"Thank you. Thank you for helping me find the taste for life again. Thank you for helping me find my way here, my place. I hope you can reassure my family on the other side. Can you do that for me?"

Tears stream down my face as I squeeze their hands tighter. This pain... This pain I feel isn't as strong as the one that broke me when my family died. But it reopens wounds I thought were almost healed.

I want to scream. I want to tell them not to leave me. That I still need them, their affection. But I bite my tongue and continue to cry silently until the continuous beeping of the machines indicates that they're gone. I'm alone again.

I hesitate to stay in their house. It's my inheritance, but every room and every smell reminds me of the old couple. I can still hear their laughter; I can see them bickering on the couch because they disagree on what program to watch. I can hear Emma grumbling at Jack in the kitchen because he tastes all her dishes as soon as her back is turned.

Eventually, I decide to sell it and buy a small apartment in the city center. Internally, I apologize to the couple as I hand the keys to the new owners.

But it's the right decision, and I quickly settle into my new home. I turn the second bedroom into a studio and immerse myself in painting wholeheartedly.

Liguen’s P.O.V

I rub my eyes. Since she left, I can't seem to find sleep. My goddess has abandoned me. Without hesitation, she left me after throwing her hatred in my face. Why doesn't she understand that everything I did, I did out of love for her?

Her parents were against the idea of a union between us. In their eyes, it was wrong because I had seen her grow up. So what? Our lifespan is such that age difference doesn't matter, right?

"Counselor Liguen, revolts are sweeping through our largest cities, leaving them in flames and bloodshed. We need to do something!"

The man looks at the former counselor with fear. Since the princess ran away, Liguen has been obsessed with repairing the portal to find her. He neglects everything else, leaving the kingdom in neglect.

Quickly, mayors have seized power over regions, large and small. Some are still loyal to the disappeared royal family, while others have rallied to Liguen's cause. The fools! This man's only concern is himself and Princess Lya, nothing else. In reality, he couldn't care less about what happens to the kingdom.

"Do what you have to do. The rest doesn't matter to me. What about the portal research?"

"We haven't made any significant discoveries. The princess has modified the spell so much that no one can restore it to its original state. As soon as we manage to repair one part, another changes."

"Then put more people on this subject! I want her back here! Once she's here, by my side, everything will be fine!"

The man bows and turns away. Crazy, this guy is completely crazy. Once the doors to the throne room are closed behind him, he rubs his temples, overcome by weariness, before walking away.