"Milady, your aunt requests your presence in her quarters," Raya said with a gentle smile.
"Alright. I shall be there shortly," I replied, returning her smile.
She bowed and quietly departed.
After some time, I rose and stepped out of my chamber.
"Azari…"
I froze.
The voice was distant… yet sharp enough to stop me.
I turned back.
No one was there.
Silence.
I continued walking.
Then it came again—louder.
"Azari!"
I spun around once more.
Nothing.
My heart pounded.
Am I losing my mind?
"AZARI! Azari! Where are you?!"
The scream pierced through me.
I clutched my ears and collapsed to the floor.
"No…" I whispered, squeezing my eyes shut.
But when I opened them—
She was there.
A woman stood before me.
Her face was bruised.
Her hands were stained with blood.
She stared at her trembling hands… and began to weep.
I could not move.
There was fear in her.
But there was vengeance too.
Her sobs slowly faded.
Then she lifted her gaze… and looked directly at me.
My breath caught.
She began to move closer.
I forced myself backward.
Then she lifted her gaze… and looked directly at me.
My breath caught.
She began to move closer.
I forced myself backward.
"Why didn't you save me?" she asked softly… before laughter twisted through her voice.
My body trembled.
"What are you talking about?"
"You… could not even do that… to your own…"
She stopped.
Then suddenly lunged forward.
Her fingers wrapped tightly around my throat.
"Die, Azari," she screamed. "Just die!"
(Tristan's pov)
I walked through the corridors of this house and stared at the intricate designs carefully carved in the ancient wall.
Though night had long fallen, the hall remained brightly lit. Torches were lit at every corner of the corridor
I walked through the corridors, staring at each carving and writing.
"You seem rather invested in them."
The old physician's voice broke the silence.
I did not turn immediately.
"I appreciate the stories they tell," I replied. "They are… intriguing."
I exhaled sharply
"Whay troubles you, your majesty?". The old physician asked.
"My heart has felt burdened ever since the accident," I said still staring at the carvings, my expression unreadable. "The feeling comes and goes as it pleases.
I then stared at him with uncertainty burning In my mind.
"Perhaps I have suffered some unseen injury to the head?" I said. " Or has my reasoning faltered due to pressure?"
"Your mind remains intact, Your Majesty," the old physician said. "But your heart… appears troubled. Perhaps you care for her more than you realize."
I said nothing.
Such thoughts were unnecessary.
I was certain of my own feelings—precise, controlled, unwavering.
I felt nothing.
"I shall retire for the night," I said at last.
Without another word, I turned and walked away.
The physician bowed before quietly departing in the opposite direction.
As I moved through the dim corridors, a faint sound reached me.
A sharp, uneven gasp.
I stopped.
The sound of someone struggling for air.
My expression hardened.
I followed it through the corridor, each step quicker than the last, until I reached its source.
The sound…
Was coming from the Princess's chamber
I pushed open the door
And the sight before me was quite unsettling.
"Princess."
I walked into the room quickly and reached her bedside.
Her hands were wrapped tightly around her own throat as though unseen fingers were forcing the life from her.
Yet her eyes remained shut.
"Princess," I called again, keeping my voice steady as I carefully tried to pry her hands away. "You are harming yourself."
No response.
Only desperate gasps.
Then, through strained breath, I heard it—
"Azari…"
The name left her lips like a plea.
Without thinking, I repeated it.
"Azari."
Her eyes flew open instantly.
She gasped sharply, clutching at her throat as though waking from something far worse than sleep.
"Calm yourself, Princess," I said, my voice quieter now. "You are safe."
She held onto me tightly and stared straight ahead, as though there were someone else in the room with us.
I followed her terrified gaze and turned.
Nothing.
Yet she continued to stare, trembling, terrified, and unmoving.
"Did… anyone come in here?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"No one was in here," I answered
"Someone was here," she said, staring at me with frightened certainty. "I know it."
Her breathing remained uneven.
"She called me… Azari."
The name trembled from her lips.
"And there was so much hatred in her voice… she… she…"
Her words faltered, terror overtaking them.
"Calm yourself, Princess," I said carefully, keeping my voice steady despite her fear. "There was no one here."
I paused.
"It was only a dream."
Gradually, her breathing steadied.
The trembling eased.
And for a long moment… she simply stared ahead, as though piecing together fragments of herself.
Then, quietly—almost like a realization whispered from somewhere deep within—she spoke.
"It's Azari…"
Her voice was soft, but certain.
"My name… is Azari."