The Castle

As the car arrived at the castle, I was fast asleep, lost in a restless slumber filled with nightmares . Each time I closed my eyes, I relived the moment over and over again.

The driver gently tapped my shoulder to wake me up, but in my daze, I flinched hard, screaming out in fear.

"Whoa, your majesty are you okay?" the driver asked, concern etched on his face as I struggled to catch my breath.

Slowly, I looked around, recognizing the familiar sights of the castle. Trying to shake off the remnants of my nightmare, I managed a weak smile at the driver.

"Your majesty ," he said softly, "You were crying and whimpering in your sleep. Are you sure everything is alright?"

I nodded, trying to reassure him, but my shaky breaths betrayed the feelings that were raging inside me. Stepping out of the car, my eyes met the warm gaze of the queen, who stood waiting for me with open arms. Without hesitation, she enveloped me in a tight hug, welcoming me with genuine warmth and affection.

"Elena, my dear," she said, her voice filled with maternal care, "it's so good to see you. Welcome back to the castle."

I returned her embrace feeling safe and warm , grateful for the comfort her presence offered. But even as her arms encircled me, I could sense her concern, her keen eyes searching mine for any sign of distress.

"Is everything alright, dear?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.

I hesitated, the weight of my troubles pressing down on me, but with a forced smile, I replied, "Oh, it's nothing, Your Majesty. Just a little tired from the journey, that's all."

Though her expression softened, I could tell that she saw through my façade. But rather than pressing further, she simply nodded understandingly, respecting my need for privacy.

"Alright, dear," she said gently, "we'll talk more later. For now, let's get you settled in."

With a grateful nod, I followed her inside the castle, as the servants unloaded the car of my luggage. I was grateful for her unwavering support in the face of my silent struggles.

As the queen led me through the halls of the castle, introducing me to the staff and emphasizing the importance of treating me with utmost care and respect, I couldn't shake the memories of Mercy from my mind. Her absence weighed heavily on me, she was the only person and friend I had , at that point she was like a sister I wished I had , she was my rock and now all that's left is a constant reminder of the life I had left behind.

But as we passed by a staff member , my heart skipped a beat until I was brought back to earth.

There stood a young woman who bore a striking resemblance to Mercy, a pang of longing swept through me. For a moment, I was transported back to our last encounter, her tear-stained face etched into my memory.

The queen noticed the wistful expression on my face and paused, her eyes filled with understanding. "Is everything alright, dear?" she asked gently.

I swallowed hard, forcing a smile as I nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. "Just... remembering someone from back at the mansion."

The queen's expression softened, her hand resting reassuringly on my shoulder. "I understand, Elena," she said softly. "But know that you're not alone here. We'll take good care of you."

At the end of her grand castle tour , I was escorted to my room . As I entered my room in the castle, I was struck by its vastness. The space seemed to stretch out endlessly before me, the grandeur of the furnishings echoing the emptiness I felt inside. A large bed dominated the center of the room, it was as though it was meant four or five people to lay in . It's pristine sheets inviting yet somehow cold and impersonal.

Despite the beauty surrounding me, I couldn't shake the overwhelming sense of loneliness that washed over me. The room felt cavernous, each corner a reminder of the solitude that awaited me in this unfamiliar place.

Sinking onto the edge of the bed, I let out a heavy sigh, the weight of my emotions threatening to overwhelm me. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I grappled with the reality of my situation , I was all alone, adrift, and far from the comforts of home.

Closing my eyes, I allowed myself a moment to mourn the life I had left behind, the familiar comforts now nothing more than distant memories. But even as the darkness threatened to consume me, a small voice whispered in the recesses of my mind, urging me to find the strength to carry on, to face whatever challenges lay ahead with courage and resilience.

With a deep breath, I wiped away the tears and forced myself to stand, determined to confront the loneliness that loomed over me. Though the room may be empty and the silence deafening, I refused to let it consume me entirely. For even in the darkest of moments, there was still the possibility of finding light and companionship.

Startled by a knock on the door, I quickly wiped away my tears dry and composed myself before calling out, "Come in."

As the door creaked open, I was surprised to see the girl who resembled Mercy standing before me. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of her, memories of my dear friend flooding back to me.

"Hello," she said softly, her voice gentle and familiar.

"Hi," I replied, my voice tinged with a mix of surprise and curiosity. "Can I help you?"

She stepped into the room, a tentative smile on her lips. "I'm sorry to disturb you," she began, "but I couldn't help but notice that you seemed a bit upset earlier. I just wanted to make sure you're okay."

Her words touched me deeply, and I felt a lump form in my throat. Despite the strangeness of our encounter, her concern felt genuine, a small ray of light in the midst of my darkness.

Tears threatened to well up in my eyes once more as I nodded, unable to find the words to express my gratitude. But in her presence, I felt a glimmer of hope, a reminder that even in this vast and lonely castle, I was not entirely alone.

"I'm sorry, but you look familiar," I said, studying the girl standing before me.

Her eyes widened slightly, as if she hadn't expected me to recognize her resemblance to someone else. "Oh, um, I get that a lot," she replied, a hint of uncertainty in her voice. " I'm Mary , I'm sure you know about my older sister Mercy."

I took a step closer, feeling a surge of curiosity. "Wait a minute... Mercy... My Mercy?" I asked, the realization dawning on me.

The girl's expression softened, and she nodded. "Yes, your highness ," she confirmed, a small smile playing on her lips.

My heart skipped a beat at the mention of Mercy's sister. "Mercy's sister!" I exclaimed, feeling a rush of emotion at the connection.

She nodded again, her smile growing wider. "That's right. I heard about what happened to you from Mercy , and I just wanted to check in and make sure you're okay , she gave me instructions to make sure you are well taken care of and safe."

Tears welled up in my eyes once more as I looked at Mary, feeling overwhelmed by her kindness. "Thank you," I whispered, my voice barely above a whisper. "It means a lot to me."

Mary reached out and took my hand in hers, offering me a reassuring squeeze. "Anytime," she said softly. "You're not alone, Elena. I'm here for you."

In that moment, surrounded by the warmth of Mary's presence, I felt a glimmer of hope flickering to life within me. Though the road ahead was uncertain, I knew that with friends like Mary by my side, I would find the strength to face whatever challenges lay ahead.