Barbara entered the prince's chamber once more, her heart weighed down by a mix of worry and faint hope. The room was softly illuminated by flickering candles, casting long, dancing shadows on the walls. The air was heavy with a sour smell mingled with the lingering scent of illness.
She walked across the room with slow, deliberate steps, her eyes locked on the prince, who lay motionless on the grand bed. His face was marked by pain, the signs of his suffering evident even in the dim light. The physicians had departed for the night, leaving behind a silence that seemed to deepen the gravity of the situation.
