-ALEXANDER-
Days bled into a second month, the routine of my desolate vigil unbroken. I continued to pour my energy into Lilian, a constant, silent plea for her to return to me. The healers remained, their movements quiet, their faces drawn. The castle, reflecting my somber mood, remained shrouded in a perpetual gloom, a silent testament to my lingering despair. My violent outbursts, while less frequent, were still swift and brutal, a dangerous undercurrent to my strained attempts at patience with Lilian.
And then, after what felt like an eternity, a new, tentative sign of her return emerged. A flicker of hope, agonizing in its fragility.
It was a cold, grey morning. Elara, ever the diligent caregiver, had painstakingly prepared a thin, warm broth. She had tried, every few hours, to spo
