"Halt! Who dares to steal from the royal palace?"
The sharp command shattered the silence of the grand hall, each word like a blade cutting through the quiet. A shadowy figure froze in the corner, her hands trembling as they lost hold of a golden jar, which clattered to the ground and rolled away, echoing against the walls. She fell to her knees, the strength in her legs drained, and lowered her head, her voice shaking with desperation and shame.
"I... I'm sorry, my Queen. I am just a starving citizen. I didn't mean to harm anyone," she whispered, her gaze fixed on the cold stone floor, her voice barely audible.
The silence that followed was dense and cruel. The queen's voice rang out, her tone as sharp as steel.
"Cut her throat."
Flashback
The dim, cramped room smelled faintly of smoke and mildew, a place where warmth was fleeting and hope was lost. On a makeshift bed lay a small, frail figure, hidden under a worn blanket that barely covered his wasted frame. Once a bright, lively child, he was now gaunt and skeletal, his cheeks hollow, his skin pale and drawn. Sickness had consumed him, leaving him a mere shadow of his former self, as if his very essence had been stolen away.
In the corner, a woman moved with quiet, frantic urgency. Her face bore the marks of exhaustion, worry carved into her brow, her lips pressed into a thin line that masked her fear. This was her younger brother—her only family—and she had watched helplessly as he wasted away, unable to find anything to ease his suffering.
She had tried everything she knew, from humble herbal remedies to prayers whispered under her breath, but nothing seemed to help. Each passing day, he grew weaker, his shivers worsening even as she tried to keep him warm. Desperation gnawed at her heart, a constant ache that echoed with every cough, every shudder.
Tonight, she tried again, kneeling before the small iron stove in the corner. Her hands shook as she fumbled with the logs, striking a match and nursing the fragile flame that sparked to life. The heat was faint, a mere breath of warmth in the chill of the room, but she watched it intently, hoping against reason that it might somehow make a difference.
But as the fire burned, her brother's small body continued to tremble, his face pale and clammy, his breathing shallow. Her own hands grew cold with fear her mind racing as she searched for something, anything more she could do. How many nights had she spent like this, watching over him, praying to gods she no longer believed in, begging for a miracle that never came?
A thought flickered in her mind maybe, if she could find something valuable to trade, someone might have a medicine or remedy that would work. She knew it was foolish, that she had nothing left to barter, but the thought grew stronger, stirring a wild, desperate hope. Her brother's life was slipping away, and she couldn't just sit back and watch him suffer.
With nothing else left to try, she carefully warmed a cloth with the small amount of heat she'd managed to muster, wringing it out and pressing it gently to his forehead. Her hands lingered there, trembling, as she tried to pass whatever warmth she could, her heart heavy with a silent plea.
"Please," she whispered, her voice breaking, her fingers brushing his sunken cheeks. "Please, hold on. I'll find a way."
The thought of losing him was too much to bear, and yet, each time she looked into his hollowed eyes, she could feel time slipping away. Her mind raced with desperation, already forming a plan she knew was reckless, a plan that had brought her here tonight. She had no choice she couldn't let him fade away without fighting for him, no matter what it cost.
Maya's POV
The guards gripped my arms tightly, their fingers digging into my skin as they dragged me through the vast, dimly lit hallway. My head hung low, my hair falling over my face as I stumbled along, my body limp with exhaustion. Each step echoed like a drumbeat, a grim reminder that every inch brought me closer to the dungeons—closer to my end. The cold, damp air of the cells seeped into my bones, and the weight of despair pressed down on me like a stone.
Memories swirled through my mind, bright and vivid, filling me with a bittersweet ache. I saw the warmth of our small home, the way light danced across the walls as the fire crackled in the hearth. I remembered my father's laughter, a rich, joyful sound that filled every corner, his strong arms lifting me up as he spun me around. And there was Javier, my little brother, his chubby cheeks glowing with delight, clapping his tiny hands, the pure happiness in his eyes lighting up the room. Those were the days when we felt safe, untouched by hunger or loss, shielded by the strength and love for family. Happiness the last time my brother smiled was when my Dad carried him on his arms spinning with him . I wonder what it will take to be happy.
But then, like a storm that swept in without warning, it all changed. War took my father, his life gone in a distant battlefield, leaving a gaping void in our family. Without him, our home grew cold and silent, the laughter fading to whispers, the light dimming. My mother held on for a time, she would hold us close pretend she was okay but at night while alone in bed she would let the tears fall , my heart fell for every tear she had my heart crashed with her heartbreaking screams , then one day she woke up giving us kisses and left, her footsteps silent as she disappeared, leaving only a note—a few words I couldn't bring myself to read.
It was just Javier and me then. I was barely old enough to understand the weight of responsibility that had fallen on my shoulders, but I stayed close to him, encouraged to keep him safe. He was all I had left, and I became his caretaker, his protector. But then, sickness crept in, a cruel thief that slowly stole the life from his small, fragile body. The brightness in his eyes faded, his laughter grew weak, and soon he could barely move. Every day, he grew thinner, weaker, slipping further from me. I had tried everything I could think of—herbs, prayers, borrowed remedies—but nothing could stop the relentless march of his illness. And each night, I watched him struggle for breath, helpless as the sickness tightened its grip, threatening to take him from me too.
The thought of losing him twisted like a knife in my chest. The pain was a gnawing, hollow ache that drove me to desperation. I couldn't let him die, not while I still had the strength to fight.
As the guards dragged me forward, I felt their grip loosen, their attention drifting as they exchanged careless words. My heart pounded as an idea took shape—a reckless, dangerous idea. Javier needed me, and this was my only chance.
Summoning every ounce of strength, I tore myself free from their grasp. I stumbled forward, barely catching my balance as I threw myself at the queen's feet. The grand hall fell silent, every eye on me as I knelt there, my hands clasped, trembling, my voice breaking with raw desperation.
"Please, my Queen!" I cried, lifting my face to meet her gaze. The words spilled from me, torn from the depths of my soul. "Please, have mercy on me—for my brother's sake. He is just a child, and he's dying. He's too sick to move, too weak to care for himself. Without me, he has no one. I beg you… please, don't let him suffer."
The queen's gaze was cold, her eyes a piercing blue that seemed to look straight through me. She didn't speak, didn't move, and the silence around us grew heavy, suffocating. My heart hammered, each beat filling me with a rising fear, but I forced myself to hold her gaze, to let her see the truth in my eyes. I was on my knees, pleading for mercy—not for myself, but for Javier. My hands trembled, my fingers digging into my palms as I clung to the last shread of hope, this is the only way ,I have to for Javier sake.
My gaze didn't waver, even as the queen's eyes hardened, her lips pressing into a thin line. My heart sank, fear curling in my stomach like ice. But then, her expression shifted, the barest flicker of something—pity, perhaps, or curiosity—in her eyes. She leaned forward, her voice soft but sharp, like the edge of a blade.
"Why should I spare you, thief?" she asked, her tone as cold as the stone beneath my knees. "You broke into my palace, sought to steal from me, and yet you ask for my mercy. What could you possibly offer in return?"
The question hung in the air, a challenge that sent a shiver through me. I swallowed, my mind racing. I had nothing—no wealth, no power, no favor to trade. But I had my life, my will, and the love that bound me to Javier, and with the Last of my strength I muttered.
"My life is yours, my Queen," I whispered, my voice barely more than a breath. "Take it, use it however you see fit. I'll serve you, repay every coin I tried to steal, work until my hands bleed. Just… let me live, so I can care for my brother. He is innocent, and he doesn't deserve to suffer."
The queen's gaze held mine, her expression unreadable. I felt a flicker of hope, fragile and trembling, but dared not let it grow. She was silent, her eyes searching mine, and for a moment, I thought I saw a shadow of understanding there—a brief glimpse of something human behind the mask of royalty.
Then, with a slight nod, she spoke, her voice softer, though no less commanding.
"You will repay your debt in service to me, and if you fail, the punishment will be swift and final. But for your brother's sake, I will allow you to live." She paused, her gaze turning icy again. "Do not test my mercy."
Relief flooded through me, so powerful it almost took my breath away. I bowed my head, whispering my thanks, feeling the weight of her command settle over me. I had been spared, but my life was no longer my own. Still, as I thought of Javier, waiting for me, my heart filled with hope.
Relief washed over me, filling me with a flood of emotions so intense that, for a moment, I almost felt dizzy. I had been granted mercy, and more than that, a chance to be there for Javier. The queen's words had saved my life—and more importantly, his. I would be enslaved, bound to this palace with no hope of freedom, but he would have the care he needed. He would have a future.
As long as he could heal, I would endure anything.
But then, the queen's voice broke through my thoughts, as sharp and cold as a blade.
"You will live here in the palace, and you will never leave," she declared, her gaze locking onto mine with an intensity that made my relief flicker with fear. "Your brother will be placed under the care of the kingdom's finest physician, away from here. This is your final chance to say goodbye."
The words hit me like a blow, stealing the breath from my lungs. My mind reeled, struggling to comprehend. I would… never see him again? I stared up at her, my mouth dry, feeling the ground shift beneath me.
"No," I whispered, barely audible. But she heard me.
"You belong to me now," she continued, her voice smooth, unyielding, as if she had rehearsed this speech a hundred times. "And you will follow my rules without question. The only thing you will leave behind is him."
Her words settled over me like a suffocating blanket, each one extinguishing the spark of hope that had kept me alive through so many dark nights. I had come here, risking everything, to steal for Javier's sake—to save him, to care for him. And now, though he would have the best medical care, I would lose him anyway.
My brother. My only family. The one person I had left in this world.
The queen's voice was final, her expression closed, but I clung to the last shreds of hope, my voice trembling as I forced myself to speak.
"My Queen… please," I said, my heart pounding so fiercely I thought it might shatter. "I can't leave him. He's all I have. I'll follow any rule you ask, serve you without question, but please, let me be with him while he heals."
But the queen's gaze hardened, a warning glint in her eyes.
"You will see him now, and then that will be the end of it," she said, her voice unyielding. "A goodbye is more than many receive."
The finality of her words crashed over me, and I felt the weight of my helplessness settling like iron chains around my heart. My hands clenched into fists, my nails digging into my palms. There was nothing I could say that would change her mind; I was powerless before her.
Two guards came forward, their faces blank, and one of them gestured for me to follow. Numbly, I rose to my feet, my body moving on its own as I stumbled after them, my mind too dazed to process anything but the dull ache that pulsed in my chest.
They led me down a series of hallways, their heavy footsteps echoing around us as we finally reached a quiet, dim room. There, in the center of the bed, was my brother, Javier, his small form swallowed by the blanket, his face pale and thin. He looked so small, so fragile, and as I crossed the room to his side, the ache in my heart deepened.
I sank down beside him, reaching out to gently brush a stray lock of hair from his face. He stirred, his eyes fluttering open, and when he saw me, a faint smile appeared on his lips.
"Maya," he murmured, his voice weak, but filled with a warmth that I hadn't heard in so long. "You're here."
Tears burned in my eyes, but I forced a smile, gripping his hand tightly. "I'm here, Javi. I'm here."
For a few moments, we sat in silence, the rest of the world falling away. I tried to commit every detail of his face to memory—the way his eyes sparkled, the curve of his small smile. I wanted to remember this moment, to hold it close in the dark days that lay ahead.
But all too soon, a shadow fell over us. The physician had arrived, his expression solemn as he approached. And then the guards stepped forward, signaling that my time was up.
"Maya?" Javier's voice was tinged with confusion, his small hand clutching mine as I reluctantly loosened my grip. He looked up at me, his eyes wide, searching for answers.
I leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead. "Be strong, Javi," I whispered, my voice breaking. "You're going to be okay. You'll have the best care, and… and one day, we'll see each other again."
He frowned, a shadow of fear crossing his face, but he nodded, trusting me as he always had. "Promise?" he whispered.
I forced myself to smile, even as my heart shattered. "I promise."
The guards stepped forward, pulling me away, and as they led me out of the room, I couldn't stop the tears that streamed down my face. I glanced back one last time, seeing Javier's small, pale form disappearing from view as the door closed between us.