Chapter 51 - XXIII

The Shattered LoveWhen Darcey learned of her father's death at Theo's hands, her world shattered. The love they had shared was tainted by the blood of her family. Yet, Theo, the mighty ruler and revered king, was reduced to a desperate man before her—every day, kneeling outside her room for hours, begging for her forgiveness. His heart ached with the weight of his actions"Darcey, please..." His voice would break through the silence, but the only reply he ever received were her muffled sobs from the other side of the door."I never wanted this," Theo would plead, eyes burning with anguish. "I love you more than anything." His love for her was unwavering, yet the tragedy hung between them like a thick, impenetrable fog.Days passed, and Darcey, conflicted and hollowed out by her grief, finally stood before him. She looked down at Theo as he knelt at her feet, his strong hands trembling with guilt."You killed him, Theo," she whispered, her voice brittle. "How can I ever forgive you?""He tried to kill us all, He attacked my people in the mask of treaty and peace . They were innocents i tried to hide from this entire bloodshed. " Theo argued, pain lacing his words. "It was him or my people . Please, Darcey, don't let his hatred destroy what we have."But Darcey's heart was frozen with sorrow. "You talk like you never took an innocent's life Theo . your hands are covered with the same blood that his was . " Her words hung in air as he bowed his head to her ashamed not able to answer her .".... ""He was my father, Theo. I cannot forget that your hands, the same hands I once held, took his life."The Fragile ReconciliationTime moved forward, even as Darcey's wounds remained fresh. Slowly, the kingdom healed under Theo's rule. He restored peace and prosperity, offering equal opportunities to all, even to the people from the rival cities he had once fought. The world outside seemed to forgive him, but within, Theo still carried the guilt like a burden too heavy to bear.Darcey, at last, made a decision that brought Theo hope—she forgave him, or so it seemed. They were planning to marry in a grand ceremony, a union meant to symbolize peace between their broken worlds. The kingdom rejoiced, the festivities unmatched by anything seen before, but beneath the surface, darkness festered.As the wedding day drew near, the air was thick with both celebration and an underlying tension. Theo stood tall, his heart heavy with guilt he still carries towards Darey despite her forgiveness . He hope that this union would finally bring peace to their fractured kingdom. Their marriage was meant to be the ultimate symbol of reconciliation, a bridge between their two broken worlds.But beneath Darcey's outward smiles and graceful demeanor, her heart beat with a dark resolve. She had played the part perfectly, gaining Theo's trust while hiding her true intentions.As the ceremony took place, Darcey's people, who had been hiding in the shadows, waiting for the right time, began their silent approach. The festivities were lively, filled with music and laughter, but Darcey's mind was consumed with thoughts of her father. The images of his death, at Theo's hands, haunted her, stoking the embers of her vengeance until they blazed into a fire that could not be quenched.Theo, unaware of the storm brewing around him, watched Darcey with love and relief, believing that the worst was behind them. He looked at her with the one of the brightest smile he ever gave her as he mouthed - " I love you " to her . He walked softly and sneakingly towards her to ask her for a dance But then, the sound of steel clashing shattered the peaceful atmosphere. Chaos erupted as Darcey's people launched their attack, and Theo, filled with concern, rushed to her side, shielding her from the onslaught."Stay behind me!" he shouted, his voice filled with fear for her safety. He fought bravely to protect their people and her , his love for Darcey pushing him to defend everything they had fought for. He didn't see the betrayal in her eyes, not until it was too late.As Theo turned to check on her, Darcey took her chance. With trembling hands, she drew the dagger from her sidelaced with poison, the blade gleaming ominously under the moonlight. Time seemed to slow as she raised it, her heart pounding in her chest. Theo looked at her with concern, his guard lowering as he stepped toward her, believing she was in shock from the violence around them.But instead of the embrace he expected, the cold steel of the dagger met his chest. Theo gasped, his breath hitching in disbelief. He staggered back, eyes wide as he looked down to see the dagger buried in his heart. He looked up at Darcey, his expression a mixture of shock, heartbreak, and something else—sad acceptance."Why, Darcey?" Theo whispered, his voice thick with sorrow, his strength failing. "Why?"Tears filled Darcey's eyes as she forced herself to speak, her voice barely audible above the noise around them. "For my father... for my people," she choked out, though the words felt hollow on her tongue. Her vengeance had been her guiding light for so long, yet now, as she looked into Theo's eyes, the weight of her actions began to crush her.Theo smiled—a sad, broken smile that shattered whatever remained of Darcey's resolve."Then... I owe you nothing anymore," he whispered, his voice growing weaker with each breath. "I loved you... until the end." His knees buckled, and he collapsed into the grass, his blood staining the ground beneath them.Darcey dropped to her knees beside him, the dagger falling from her trembling hands. Her mind raced as she watched the life drain from his eyes, a scream building in her throat. She cradled his body, sobbing uncontrollably as she rocked him back and forth, her hands stained with his blood."No... Theo, no," she wept, her voice breaking. "I'm sorry... I didn't—" But it was too late. The reality of what she had done hit her with the force of a tidal wave. She had killed the man she once loved, the man who had given her everything. And now, in his death, she realized the hatred that had fueled her for so long had been nothing but a mask for her buried love.She whispered his name over and over again, as if saying it would bring him back. But Theo was gone, his body cold in her arms. Her heart shattered completely, her mind numb with grief and disbelief. How could she have done this? How could she have let her hatred blind her to the love she still held for him?Unable to bear the weight of her guilt and sorrow, Darcey took up the bloodied dagger once more. With a final sob of despair, she plunged the blade into her own heart, joining Theo in death. Her body collapsed beside his, her hand still gripping his even in the throes of death while the cries of other people echoed in back .The Legacy of PainTheir tragic story became a legend, a tale of love and betrayal that echoed through the ages. Theo's words as Lucifer, haunted the living: "I have remembered you for longer than I have known you, Darcey."Their love, doomed from the start, became a poignant reminder of the cost of power and the destructive nature of vengeance. The human kingdom, once ruled by fear and bloodshed, slowly began to heal, but the memory of Theo and Darcey remained—a testament to a love that transcended even death, yet was forever marred by the tragedies of life