The Four Princes Who Chose Me

The Day Everything Changed

Several months passed before Aria's life began to change.

What started as tiredness became difficult to ignore.

Elara had always worked through discomfort, so when she first complained that she felt weak, Aria assumed she only needed rest. But the weakness stayed. Then came the headaches and long spells of exhaustion that left her unable to finish the work she had brought home.

Aria finally insisted that they see a doctor. The news was worse than she had expected. Elara needed treatment, and the cost was far beyond what they could comfortably afford.

"We can manage it," Aria said when her mother saw the worry on her face.

"With what money?"

"I'll find a way."

"Aria."

"You've always found a way for me. Let me do the same for you."

Elara looked at her daughter for a long moment, then lowered her eyes.

The treatment began, and their savings disappeared quickly. Money Aria had carefully put aside for her education went next, and she

gave it up without hesitation. Her mother's health mattered more.

"You shouldn't have used that," Elara said.

"What was I supposed to do? Keep it while you went without treatment?"

"It was for your future."

"You are my future too."

Elara's eyes softened, but she had no answer to that.

As the weeks passed, Aria took on more responsibility. She continued studying, but school no longer had her full attention. Her

mother's condition determined everything. When Elara was strong enough, they both pretended things were improving. When she

wasn't, Aria tried not to let her fear show.

She had begun to understand that hope could be fragile.

Then, one afternoon, Elara asked for a sheet of paper.

Aria brought it to her and watched as her mother wrote slowly.

"Who are you writing to?"

"Someone in the city."

"The capital?"

Elara paused.

"Yes."

Aria looked at the page, but Elara folded it before she could see what she had written.

"Will they help?"

"I don't know."

That answer surprised her.

Elara had always spoken with certainty, even when life gave her very little reason to.

"Do you want me to send it?"

Elara nodded.

"Please."

Aria accepted the letter.

She wanted to ask who it was for, but something in her mother's expression stopped her.

The following day, she sent it.

After that, they waited.

No reply came.

Elara's condition continued to worsen.

Some mornings, she seemed almost like herself, and Aria allowed herself to believe they still had time. On other days, even speaking

seemed to exhaust her.

One evening, Aria returned from school and found her mother sitting by the window.

"You should be in bed."

Elara smiled faintly.

"You sound like me."

"That's because you're a terrible patient."

"I've noticed."

Aria sat beside her.

For a while, they watched the fading light beyond the window.

"Do you remember what I used to tell you when you were little?" Elara asked.

"Which part?"

"About surviving."

Aria smiled sadly.

"You used to say I had to learn how to take care of myself."

"And?"

"That no one is coming to save me."

Elara nodded.

"Not because you should expect the worst from people. Because you should know how to stand on your own."

Aria looked at her.

"You're saying this like I'm leaving somewhere."

"I'm saying it because life changes."

Aria reached for her hand.

"Then we'll change with it."

Elara smiled.

She looked down at their hands.

"Promise me something."

"What?"

"Don't let wealth impress you."

Aria frowned.

"Why would it?"

"Because there will always be people who believe money makes them more important than everyone else."

"I know."

"And don't mistake power for goodness."

"I won't."

Aria studied her mother.

"You've been saying things like this my whole life."

"Did something happen to you?"

Elara's expression changed.

Only slightly, but Aria noticed.

"I've made mistakes."

"That's not what I asked."

"No."

Aria waited.

Elara looked toward the window.

"I don't want you to repeat mine."

There was something in the way she said it that made Aria stop asking questions.

She had learned that there were moments when her mother wanted to speak and others when she simply could not.

This was one of the latter.

Days passed. Then one night, Elara could barely breathe without effort.

Aria sat beside her until the doctor came, but the look on his face was enough to tell her what he would not say.

After he left, Aria remained at her mother's bedside.

"You're going to get better," she whispered.

Elara opened her eyes.

"Aria."

"I'm here."

Her mother reached weakly for her hand.

Aria held it tightly.

"I should have told you more."

Aria's heart tightened.

"About what?"

"About my life."

Aria immediately understood.

"The palace?"

Elara nodded.

"About the things I left behind."

Aria leaned closer.

"Then tell me."

Elara closed her eyes.

"I don't have the strength to tell you everything."

"Then tell me what you can."

Her mother was quiet for a long time.

"I worked in the palace," she said. "You know that much."

Aria nodded.

"I knew people there who had great power. I learned what happens when ordinary people stand too close to it."

Her voice weakened.

"Some things cannot be undone once they happen."

Aria felt tears gather in her eyes.

"What happened?"

Elara looked at her, and for a moment there was something in her expression that Aria had never seen before.

Pain and guilt.

"I wanted to protect you."

"From what?"

"From a life you never chose."

Aria squeezed her hand.

"Mother, I don't understand."

Elara's breathing became slower.

"There are things you may learn one day. When you do, remember what I taught you."

"About trust?"

"About everything."

She paused.

"Think for yourself. Survive. Don't let anyone's position make you afraid to speak. Don't surrender your freedom because someone

offers you comfort."

Aria was crying openly now.

"And don't believe that belonging to someone powerful makes you safe."

"Mother..."

Elara looked at her daughter.

"You have to build your life with your own hands."

"I will."

"Promise me."

"I promise."

Elara's fingers tightened faintly around hers.

"Good."

Silence filled the room.

Aria wiped her tears and tried to smile.

"You'll still be here to remind me."

Elara looked at her for a long moment.

Then her expression softened.

"I wish I could."

Aria's smile disappeared.

"Don't say that."

Elara took a slow breath.

"There is something else you should know."

Aria leaned closer.

But Elara's strength was fading.

Her eyes closed.

"Mother?"

No answer.

Aria moved closer and held her hand against her cheek.

"Mother, please."

Elara opened her eyes one last time.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

A faint smile touched her lips.

Then she was gone.

Aria remained beside her, still holding her hand, unable to accept that the person who had been her entire world was no longer there.

Outside, the town continued as if nothing had happened.

Inside the little house at the edge of town, Aria's life had changed forever.