Ivor pauses to take a sip of water from a nearby glass of water. He savours the cool, refreshing taste before continuing.
"Did my mother meet Augustus again?" Casey asked with anticipation in her eyes.
Lane bends forward with the same energy as Casey and asks, "Did you help her go to school again?"
Elder Ivor chuckles at their excitement and continues, "As a member of the royal family, I have seen many things in my time. I have witnessed the birth of new mines, the construction of magnificent halls, and the forging of legendary weapons. But perhaps the greatest treasure of our kingdom is the unbreakable bond between our people. And maybe because of that, we are currently facing this disaster today."
As the Queen said, the princess was forbidden to walk outside. She rebelled, she cried, she begged her mother but nothing. She confined herself to her bedroom. A few days passed just like that. The Queen was busy with her work while the princess was making a plan to escape the castle in her room. The princess called Hugo to her room, and the little Ivor knocked on the door and silently slipped inside.
"How can I help you, Princess?" he said with respect.
She looked at him, her eyes full of tears, and she knelt down while digging her face into her palm. There was nothing more to say. Hugo understood it all. He embraced her in a tight hug, her head resting on his shoulder. He didn't need to say anything, the hug said it all. She felt his love and care and knew she was safe.
She whispered to him through all the crying, "Is there really no way?"
Ysabel and the prince of Azure were deeply in love. She rebelled just to see him. However, their families had been feuding for years, and any public interaction between them was strictly forbidden.
Despite this, the prince could not resist the urge to see the princess, so he concocted a secret plan to meet her. He enlisted the help of his most trusted servant, whom he instructed to discreetly deliver a message to the princess. He invited her to meet him in the palace gardens at midnight.
The prince waited anxiously, hidden behind a tree in the dimly lit garden, as the princess emerged from the shadows. She was breathtakingly beautiful, dressed in a simple white gown that fluttered in the gentle breeze.
As she approached him, the prince took her hand and led her to a secluded corner of the garden where they could be alone. They sat down on a stone bench and talked for hours. Their conversation was filled with laughter, flirtation, and whispered promises of love.
The moonlit garden was their magical kingdom, and they were the only two people in the world. They shared stories of their childhoods, their hopes and dreams for the future, and the challenges they faced in their respective kingdoms.
Eventually, the night grew late, and they knew they must part ways. The prince stood up and took the princess's hand, leaning in to kiss her softly on the cheek. He whispered words of love and longing, promising to find a way to be together again.
The princess smiled shyly and slipped away into the night, leaving the prince alone with his thoughts and the memory of their secret meeting. From that moment on, they both knew that their love was real, and they would do whatever it takes to be together, no matter the obstacles they may face. Hugo saw all this secretly through the window, feeling sympathy for the two. He secretly helped the princess slip at night so that she would be able to see him. But what can change the queen's mind about this?"
The elder Ivor expression grew darker as he took his glass and took another sip of water as he continued.
"It was a night like any other in the grand palace, with the moon casting a soft glow over the royal chambers. The queen was preparing for bed, but as she settled onto her luxurious feather mattress, she felt a sudden wave of nausea wash over her.
At first, she tried to shake off the feeling, thinking it was merely a passing discomfort. But soon, her body began to ache, and she felt a cold sweat break out across her forehead.
She tried to rise from the bed, but her legs refused to cooperate, and she collapsed back onto the pillows, gasping for breath. The room seemed to spin around her, and she felt a deep, throbbing pain in her stomach.
As the night wore on, the queen's condition worsened, and her attendants became increasingly concerned. They summoned a royal physician, who rushed to the queen's side and began to examine her.
It quickly became apparent that the queen was seriously ill, and the physician recommended that she be moved to a special chamber where she could receive round-the-clock care.
The queen was lifted onto a stretcher and carried through the palace corridors, her eyes closed and her breathing shallow. The sound of her attendants' worried whispers echoed in her ears as they hurried to find a new room.
Finally, they arrived at the chamber, and the queen was carefully placed on a soft bed. The physician began to administer various medicines and treatments, but it seemed that nothing could alleviate the queen's suffering.
As night turned into dawn, the queen's condition remained unchanged. She lay still and pale, her breathing laboured and her body wracked with pain.
The palace was thrown into a state of panic, with the princess and the queen's advisors frantically searching for a cure. But despite their efforts, the queen's illness continued to ravage her body.
Days turned into weeks, and still, the queen lay in the special chamber, her fate uncertain. The palace was cloaked in sombre silence, with everyone praying for the queen's recovery.
Eventually, after what seemed like an eternity, the queen began to show signs of improvement. Her colour returned, and her breathing became less laboured. Slowly but surely, she began to recover, much to the relief of all who loved her. Not knowing how long she could rule the land of Rothania, she called Ysabel to her chamber. Hugo, standing right beside the Queen, always served his master.
Princess Ysabel knew that her mother, the Queen, was not in the best of health. Rumours had been circulating for months about her declining condition, but the princess refused to believe them. Her mother was the strongest woman she knew, and she was convinced that nothing could bring her down.
She entered her mother's chamber to find her lying in bed, weak and frail. The sight of her mother, who had always been a towering figure of strength, reduced to such a state broke the princess's heart.
The Queen's eyes lit up as she saw her daughter enter the room. "Ysabel, my dear," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Come closer, I have something to tell you."
The princess approached her mother's bedside, her heart heavy with dread. She knew that whatever her mother had to say would not be good news.
The Queen reached out and took her daughter's hand, her grip weak but determined. "My time is drawing near, Ysabel," she said, her voice trembling with emotion. "I fear that I cannot take care of the kingdom any longer. Even though my health is improving little by little, the physician said that I can't work anymore."
Tears welled up in the princess' eyes, but she held her mother's hand tightly. "Please, Mother, don't talk like that," she said. Her voice choked on emotion.
But the Queen continued. "I have something important to tell you, my dear," she said. "I am abdicating the throne, and I am entrusting it to you."
The princess' eyes widened in shock. "Mother, I don't understand," she said. "Why would you do such a thing?"
The queen smiled weakly. "Because I know that you are the right person for the job," she said. "You have the intelligence, strength, and compassion to lead this kingdom, and I believe that you will do a wonderful job."
The princess felt a wave of conflicting emotions wash over her. She was honoured that her mother had such faith in her, but at the same time, she was terrified at the thought of taking on such a huge responsibility.
But as she looked into her mother's eyes, she saw love and pride shining there, and she knew that she could not let her down. With a nod of determination, she took her mother's hand and vowed to do everything in her power to be the finest queen she could be.
At that moment, as the sun began to set outside the window, the princess became the new ruler of the kingdom. And as she looked at her mother, she knew that she had some big shoes to fill, but she was determined to do her mother proud.
Within a month, the queen's health was much better. She was able to walk properly in the castle. Without any delay, she decided to hold a coronation ceremony. The news spread like a fire throughout the whole kingdom. Everyone doubted the Queen's decision. The princess was too young to rule the kingdom. She might take rash decisions, they believed. Guess they weren't wrong on that part though.
The Queen called Hugo and her secretary to guide the maids to prepare for the coronation ceremony.
"The upcoming queen should be announced soon!"