Chapter 19 : Between Life and Death
724 Words
The palace of Aurelion Kingdom had never felt so heavy with fear.
The battle outside had ended for now, but the tension inside the palace walls remained. Guards rushed through the corridors, carrying wounded soldiers to the royal infirmary.
Aria ran beside the stretcher as the guards carried Alexander through the long marble hallway.
Blood stained his shirt, and his breathing had become slow and uneven.
“Careful!” one of the healers called as they pushed open the infirmary doors.
Inside, the room was filled with the smell of herbs and medicine. Several injured soldiers lay on beds while royal healers worked quickly to treat their wounds.
The guards placed Alexander on a large wooden table.
Aria grabbed his hand immediately.
“Please don’t leave me,” she whispered.
The chief healer approached, her face serious as she examined the wound.
“This blade went deep,” she said quietly.
Aria’s heart sank.
“Can you save him?”
The healer looked at Adrian for a moment before answering.
“We will try.”
Aria stepped back as the healers began their work. They carefully cut open Alexander’s shirt and began cleaning the wound.
But the blood kept coming.
Aria felt helpless as she watched.
Adrian stood beside her silently.
“He’s strong,” he said gently.
Aria shook her head.
“He just came back into my life… I can’t lose him already.”
Adrian didn’t respond immediately.
Instead, he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
Across the room, the healers worked urgently.
“His pulse is weakening,” one of them said.
The chief healer frowned.
“We need to stop the bleeding.”
Aria suddenly felt something strange.
A warm sensation spread through her chest.
At first, she thought it was just panic.
But the feeling grew stronger.
Her hands began to glow faintly with a soft golden light.
She looked down in shock.
“What…?”
Adrian noticed it too.
His eyes widened.
“Aria…”
The light grew brighter.
The chief healer looked up suddenly.
“Your Highness… come closer.”
Aria hesitated.
“I don’t know what’s happening.”
The healer nodded.
“It’s your bloodline.”
Aria stepped toward the table slowly.
The golden light from her hands spread across the room, glowing softly against the stone walls.
Alexander’s breathing grew weaker.
Without thinking, Aria placed her hands over his wound.
The moment she touched him—
The golden light flowed into the injury.
The room fell silent.
Slowly… the bleeding began to stop.
The healers stared in disbelief.
The wound began to close.
Aria gasped softly as the energy moved through her body.
Then suddenly—
The light disappeared.
Aria stumbled backward.
Adrian caught her before she could fall.
“You’re okay,” he said gently.
Aria looked toward the table.
Alexander’s chest rose slowly.
The chief healer checked his pulse.
A moment passed.
Then she looked up in amazement.
“He’s alive.”
Relief flooded through Aria’s chest.
Tears filled her eyes as she laughed softly.
Adrian smiled faintly.
“You just saved his life.”
Aria stared at her hands.
“I didn’t even know I could do that.”
The healer stepped closer.
“Only members of the royal bloodline possess healing abilities like this.”
Aria felt overwhelmed.
“So… this power is part of being the princess?”
“Yes,” the healer said.
Adrian looked thoughtful.
“If Viktor discovers this ability…”
Aria nodded slowly.
“He’ll want to control it.”
Adrian’s voice hardened.
“Which means we must protect you even more carefully.”
Just then, Alexander stirred slightly on the table.
His eyes slowly opened.
Aria rushed to his side.
“Father?”
Alexander looked at her weakly.
A small smile appeared on his face.
“You saved me… didn’t you?”
Aria laughed softly through her tears.
“I guess I did.”
But far beyond the palace walls…
Lord Viktor sat inside his war tent, studying a report from one of his spies.
The message was short.
The princess has awakened her royal power.
Viktor leaned back slowly, a dangerous smile forming on his lips.
“Interesting…”
His eyes darkened.
“Then I suppose it’s time to capture her.”
The war for the throne had just become far more dangerous.
- Writer
