Aira.
Time passed excruciatingly slowly in the castle afterwards, each day blending into the next like a never-ending cycle. Silence dominated every part of the castle, life sucked out of the long, winding hallways of the palace. It was as if everyone was mirroring the emotional state of their ruler. It was depressing.
As the person tasked with delivering the King's meals, I was the only one allowed to see him, but even my presence seemed to make little difference. The king remained shrouded in darkness, his chambers a constant, oppressive gloom that seemed to suffocate me. He rarely spoke to me, and when he did, his voice was laced with a deep-seated exhaustion that made my heart ache.
I couldn't help but wonder if everything was alright with him. The memory of Helen's words about th
