In the courtyard, the agonized cry of a newborn shattered the stilness.servants hurried about their faces paled with fear,after three hours grueling labour one of the emperor concubines had finally given birth.

The air grew colder as the tyrant emperor known for his merciless reign entered the courtyard .his dark robes bellowed like a storm cloud,and the mere sight of him sent the maids trembling to their knees.

"Your Highness "a maid said with a barely audible voice"concubine edith has given birth to a princess"

The emperor's eyes narrowed " what is the colour of her spirit root?"his voice was sharp and cold like the edge of a blade

The maids exchanged panicked glances their heads bowed low "Y..your Highness" , one managed to say with a quivering voice " the Princess.....sh...she has no spirit root"

Silence fell,heavy and suffocating,the emperor eyes darkened his fingers tightening around the hilt of the sword,for a moment he said nothing ,his silence more terrifying than an outburst . Then like a thunderclap the emperor roared, "Impossible!a royal child without a spirit root..abomination!!"

He gestured sharply "bring her to me.Now"

A trembling maid hurried forward ,cradling the infant.the emperor snatched the baby from her arms,his piercing gaze scanning her tiny form .his fury grew as he confirmed the truth .

"This is unheard of,completely absurd!"He bellowed his voice echoing in the courtyard passing dread to the people present ."dispose of her at once,take her to the wilderness..let the beast eat her flesh and her cries as their feast "

"Please do not take my child away"a feeble voice was heard ,concubine edith who just gave birth kneeled directly in front of the emperor "do not kill her please ,you can send me away to a far away place never to be heard or seen just don't kill my daughter "

Tears streaked down her bloodless face as she crawled to the emperor feet clutching his robe with trembling hands "she is your blood"she whispered ,her voice breaking she look at the man she once loved deeply ,looking at the face she anticipated its arrival but was so heartless to throw her child to the beast, she lost herself ,blood dried from her face.

Thr tyrant emperor only responded with a sneer he unsheath his sword and beheaded her right there on her kneels ,concubine edith eyes was wide open as the head rolled.

The maids gasped but before they could react ,the emperor turned his wrath on them.

"And you,"he sneered "who dared to witness this disgrace and humiliation". Commander!he pointed a gloved hand at the terrified servants. "Kill them all,let no word of this mockery leave this four corners of wall".

Blood stained the cobblestones as screams pierced the night ,the emperor voice was calm now, cold and calculating "tell the court that concubine edith gave birth to a stillborn and she bled to death in grief."

He swept from the courtyard ,his dark robes trailing behind him ,leaving only death and silence in his wake .

rustle of the forest leaves. His heart ,hardened by the years of serving the tyrant emperor, wavered .he could not bear to leave this innocent life to the mercy of wild beasts.

He glanced over his shoulder, the shadows of the Palace looming in the distance " you will be safer here" ,he pulled out a small wooden pendant ,a relic from his childhood and placed it beside her saying softly"may the gods protect you better than we did "

He whispered ,placing the baby gently beneath a tree in a small forest near the kingdom border ,he left her there with her soft cries accompanying him .

The wind seemed to pause as her cries softened ,a gentle filtering through the leaves to bathe her fragile form .it was as though the forest itself held its breath awaiting her fate.

Author's note

Note all places or people mentioned in this novel are fictional and the spirit root mentioned is in three colours crystal, green and red ,red is the lowest, green is medium and crystal the highest ,this spirit root is the establishment of the royal family omnipotence and hierarchy having a child without one in the royal family is unheard of and considered a shame.