"Brother?"
Reality slapped Astraea across the face at that moment. Her father was no longer alive, and it was clear that her brother had murdered him. "Why?" she managed to inquire, her voice trembling and cracking on that one word.
Selene stood frozen, unable to tear her gaze away from her husband. She couldn't move to comfort her daughter, who desperately needed it.
Astrophel lowered his head, turning to face the last remaining members of his family. He donned his customary charming grin, despite his clothes being stained with their father's blood. When he approached Astraea, she neither flinched nor moved as he wrapped his arms around her.
"It's a dream, right? Just a bad nightmare, brother?" Astraea choked out between sobs, even though she knew deep down this wasn't a nightmare. How could such a lovely day turn like this? she wondered.
As Astraea gazed at her brother, she noticed his hand moving. She heard her mother gasp, then a thud, followed by something warm and liquid brushing against her fingertips as they touched the floor to help her retain balance.
Astraea didn't want to turn around; she didn't want to see what had happened. She didn't want to ask, but the words spilled out before she could stop them. "Are you alright, Mother?"
There was no response. As Astraea's tears began to cease, the room fell into a heavy silence. "Brother, what happened to Mother?" she asked, dreading the answer yet unable to stop herself.
"I murdered her," he replied, his tone flat and indifferent, as if he weren't discussing his own mother's death. Astraea couldn't force herself to cry, so she asked the question that burned in her mind.
"Why did you kill them?" Her eyes welled up again, but she didn't blink them away as she awaited his response, desperate to understand why he had slain those who had loved and cared for him since the beginning.
"Their reign has come to an end. It's my time now." His voice was muffled as he hugged her, his mouth pressed against her back.
Astraea sobbed at his reasoning. "Even if you didn't murder them, you were going to obtain the throne." Tears streamed down her cheeks, and cries escaped her lips, but she refused to leave her brother's warm embrace.
"Shh, shh, don't cry, sweetie," Astrophel murmured softly. Despite his hatred for their parents, Astrophel would always adore his sister with all his heart. "They were taking much too long to abdicate the crown. They thought I was too immature."
As she listened to his selfish justification for killing the people who had brought him into the world, Astraea's sobs grew louder. For what purpose? Power? Why couldn't he be patient? She had so many questions, but before she could voice them, a man entered the room and exchanged a glance with Astrophel, a silent message only they could understand.
"I'm sorry, sister; I'll be back shortly." Her brother stood up and walked out, locking the door behind him after giving Astraea a look that screamed, don't even try to follow me. Even without the warning, she wouldn't have dared to follow, not with the two imposing guards stationed just outside.
Left alone, Astraea lay on the floor, staring blankly at her parents' lifeless bodies, soundlessly absorbing the horror of the scene. She was sure that even if she witnessed someone die right before her eyes, it wouldn't affect her as deeply as this.
She jerked her head toward the door, hearing the handle rattle—a familiar, irritating sound that had interrupted her thoughts. Her eyes returned to her parents, and her mind flickered back to her brother. She was certain he would soon be crowned, but this wasn't right. He wasn't meant to be crowned in this way. The crown was to be placed on his head by their father.
Understanding the gravity of the situation, Astraea realized she had to stop her brother at any cost, even if it meant forcibly removing him from the kingdom. She had no desire to enter the political arena her parents had occupied, but she felt it was her duty to protect the people they cared for.
Finally, the door, which had been difficult to open, swung open, and Astraea turned to see who had entered. It couldn't be her brother—he wouldn't have had any trouble getting in.
She was startled to see her maid, Charlotte, along with David, the guard who had accompanied her to town earlier. The sight of them brought a glimmer of hope amidst the tragedy. As the door opened and the guards collapsed outside, it marked the second most significant event of her day.
"Are you okay, princess?" Charlotte sobbed, rushing to Astraea, who managed a small, comforting smile. Charlotte didn't care that she was overstepping her bounds as a maid; she drew Astraea into a tight embrace.
Charlotte's gaze wandered into the hall for the first time, and upon seeing the murdered king and queen, she screamed in horror, squeezing her eyes shut. She turned away, holding Astraea closer as if to shield her from the pain. "I'm so sorry," Charlotte whispered, her voice shaking. Despite the small smile Astraea managed to give, it was clear to anyone that it was a facade—her eyes were on the brink of spilling tears.
David exhaled deeply, his heart heavy as he glanced at the bodies. Though the king had been a stern ruler, he had also been just and kind. The queen was beloved by all, making the sight a tragedy too great to bear. He turned his gaze away, knowing they had to act quickly.
"I hate to interrupt this moment," David called out to the girls, "but we need to go before his highness returns."
Only moments ago, they had heard the prince declare that he had killed their parents. Now, David and Charlotte had rushed to find Astraea, knowing she would be in the dining hall at this hour. David couldn't fathom that someone with whom he had laughed and trained could commit such a heinous act.
Charlotte pulled Astraea to her feet, and they hurried out of the room. David led them down a corridor, navigating a series of twists and turns. Astraea lost track of how many doors they passed through; nothing felt familiar. After what felt like an eternity, they finally stepped outside. Even having grown up in the palace, it felt like David and Charlotte, who had only been there for a short time, knew it better than she did.
Noticing Astraea's bewildered expression, David explained, "This is the exit and entrance used by palace workers. Someone your age wouldn't know about it."
They approached two horses tethered to a fence, deciding Astraea would ride with David while Charlotte took the other horse. Inside, David silently celebrated the arrangement.
Astraea noticed Charlotte's frown as she fidgeted with her fingers. She approached her friend, grasping her hand in a show of compassion. "What's the matter?" she asked gently.
David observed the two girls, his gaze lingering on Astraea. He had harbored a crush on her ever since her brother wouldn't stop speaking about her during their training sessions. He had secretly visited her, intrigued by her lively spirit. He remembered watching her play with a bunny, admiring her joyful demeanor and her maturity when the situation called for it.
Charlotte finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm afraid I can't go with you." She pulled something from her skirt pocket and handed it to Astraea—a small, spherical object. "Take this, remember me, and I'll be able to speak to you," she said with a heavy sigh. "There's a village not far east. A man named Nox will help you."
Before Astraea could voice her many questions, especially the one that echoed in her mind—Who exactly is she?—Charlotte fled into the darkness, leaving her with a sense of loss and uncertainty.