Part 1.

The day was passing fast , all week has been stormy and windy , causing Elaine to shiver in her shallow bed underneath thin layer of cover .

It hadn't helped with her fever , which she knew was caused by poisoning and she knew it was one of the maids her step mother Vivienne hired .

The never ending grudge of step mother continued as she always found ways to get maids do the abusive work for poor Elaine ,while her father as generous and kind as he was , he was to busy with research of ways how to keep all citizens of kingdom feeded and the palace warm , loan sharks he owned for paid as well .

But None of it helped much and Elaine knew it was a dead end .Maybe for better sake she'll be spared and die in bed instead of seeing how her father struggles until the last days .

With those thoughts her head was yanked upwards by the old maid as she held the top of her hair clutched hardly .

"-Ow... please not again ..im not even hungry "

Elaine voice was a small plead in dark room as none witnessed the cruel attitude of her servant. But she only earned a slap across her cheek for begging.

"-Shut your mouth with whining brat " another slap followed on her face again and the hot tears filled her eyes even if she held it against the painful sensation, She could struggle with her last remaining energy but it would drain her even more as her limbs was already barely bones and skin from being poisoned and sick , deprived of sleep and physically abused daily for months .

"-At last you stopped struggling ,Come on time to drink your soup , Duchess Vivienne hopes for your best recovery " Lies , Mouthful of lies as the maid laughed forcing Elaine to open her mouth with both hands at last and pouring hot soup into it as she tried to struggle away at last to tormented to endure it further .

Her throat burned and mouth been filled with new burn marks she could feel easily as she coughed the terrible taste of soup turning away from the maid ,dim light from window gave Elaine a chance to see she coughed blood on edge of her bed as the maid grabbed her by the neck again and wiped her face with towel from any evidence what happened at the moment.

Perfectly timed, a knock followed on the door and she immediately stood nearby it to open it politely and scatter all the bowl and spoon from bedside table .

As the door was opened King Ramus entered ,still in his usual outfit and cape but covered in fur ,as age painted his face along with tiredness,lack of sleep as well from dealing with diplomatics.

"-How are you feeling my dear ? is there anything I can get you " He dismissed the maid as she rushed out of room looking over her shoulder .But King Ramus ignored it as he he walked across the room and sat on bed edge , laying his bare palm on Elaine forehead.

"It's still same father..I don't know when I'll heal ..but I think it's getting worse "

She had hard time speaking as her mouth still burned and the poisoning caused slow nausea but she hid the blood on other side of bed with her blanket ,afraid her father will worry even more or worse ,Face the wrath of his step wife who currently still provides finance to him from her country .

"Yesterday you said you're getting better Elaine ,How is it turning worse ? should I call a royal doctor ...I don't want to lose you as I lost your mother " his voice was turning barely into a whisper as he checked her temperature and tucked her with the blanket , Watching over what remained of his healthy strong girl , It was almost as a remaining disguise laying in her bed , a ghost of what she used to be after all month of being sick . Lacking color ,and the shade of her red hair not as bright as it used to be , her golden eyes dull ,robbed of any light they had and the once chubby cheeks been sculpted with clear cheek bones as if she been starving for ages .

"-No.. Father you know how expensive the royal doctor is , I'll get better ,just focus on repairing the castle and paying up rest of things ,once I'll get better..I insist to help you out " Yet she still smiled slightly and he leaned in to kiss her forehead . Feeling sorrow even more of what would have happened if his daughter biological mother saw their child at this condition.

"-My dear Elaine , you're truly the best miracle I could have ever asked in my entire lifetime ,Rest my little sun , I'll pray each day for you to get better soon and will send in food for you every day so you would recover faster " the bare whisper has became on verge of breaking but he held back as he looked once again at his daughter small smile still beautiful even if sickness attacked her viciously.He got up and left the room closing door as silently as possible not to disrupt his daughter peace .

Once silence filled up the room and there was no eyes to prey the girl in her tiny bed .

She couldn't hold anymore all the cries she held through week ,and so the room was filled with soft whimpers and sobs as she gasped for air , clutching her blanket and covering her eyes as much as possible for any ghosts prevention to see her vulnerable state .

She cried and cried for hours until there was no more tears left to strain her eyes

"I'm sorry Dad..I don't think I can make it" a barely audible voice was all there was left to hear yet no one heard the shattering hearts sound of it .No one knew ,The little caged hope was dying inside and out .