Paralysis and Profound Slumber

I wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it all, but Alexa's serious expression kept me in check.

"What really happened?" I pressed, needing more context to make sense of the situation. Why would someone curse another without any wrongdoing? Did Amelia simply desire it? If so, she truly was insane.

Alexa studied me intently for a moment before sighing. "The lands of Fortunalia is unlike others. It requires four kings and four queens to thrive," she began, rising to fetch another basket of food, this time full of bread. "The Faes are elemental beings, capable of controlling water, air, land, and fire." I nodded, recalling my observations. "Most Faes can only control one element. However, some are born with multiple Faerie bloodlines. For instance, if their father is a Land Fae and their mother is a Wind Fae. Typically, they can only harness one element due to the strain on their bodies, but there are exceptions—those like Liam, who possess extraordinary power and can wield two elements."

Leaf had mentioned that Liam was the son of the late king's brother, who was a Fire Fae, while his mother was a Water Fae.

As Alexa continued to speak, she effortlessly consumed her meal, her ability to eat and talk simultaneously leaving me in awe. "Fortunalia's vitality depends on the unity of the four kingdoms," she explained between bites. "Each kingdom possesses a pair of the Ones, embodiments of their respective elements. The Fire Faes have the Aureate Flame, the Land Faes have the Tesseract, the Wind Faes have the Raging Gale, and the Water Faes have the Pearl Scepter." She paused briefly to take a sip of water.

"Whoever possesses the Ones wields an extraordinary power, but it's not easily attainable by just anyone. The Ones have stringent criteria. If you lack royal blood or the Fate of royalty, the Ones slowly consume your body. Each pair of Ones is inherited by the Kings and Queens. Ludwig's father, King Helios, held half of the Aureate Flame, while his mother possessed the other half. Upon his mother's demise, there arose the need to find another Queen capable of safeguarding the Ones. Ideally, passing the throne to Ludwig and aiding him in discovering his destined Queen would have been the best course of action. However, the Council disagreed. The Ministers doubted Ludwig's ability to effectively manage and govern the kingdom."

A furrow formed on my forehead as I processed this information. Ludwig possessed considerable power, so why did they doubt his capability to rule the kingdom effectively?

"All of the King's siblings have passed away, and Liam, despite being the rightful successor to the throne after Ludwig, has no intentions of assuming the role of King. Consequently, the King found himself compelled to seek out a new Queen. Given that Ludwig's parents were not Fated, the King faced little resistance in remarrying. Unfortunately, his choice fell upon none other than the infamous Amelia."

After devouring the two baskets of food, Alexa returned to gently brushing Hiyasmin's face with the towel, all the while continuing her narrative.

"From the moment I laid eyes on her, I sensed her malevolence. Yet, I couldn't fathom why the Council remained blind to it. I repeatedly cautioned Minister Isaac, but my words fell on deaf ears. Despite our royal lineage, nobody heeded our warnings. It's ironic how the very person the Council once despised now holds sway over the kingdom. You might think being the children of royals afforded us an easy life, but you'd be mistaken." With the towel now set aside, Alexa began delicately combing Hiyasmin's silky hair.

"Despite being the son of the former King, Ludwig faced resistance in his bid to become the King of Fire Faes and their kingdom. Among King Aurelius's grandchildren, Ludwig was the sole inheritor of his formidable power, which foreboded ill for some. His status as a Ascendant further fueled their reluctance to accept him as their ruler. Similarly, there was little support for Liam's ascension to the throne. His mother's lineage not only diverged from Prince Apollo's Fate but also traced back to slavery, a fact that left her deeply scorned by the Council."

I paused, processing this newfound knowledge. "Liam's mother was a slave?" I repeated, my thoughts racing. "Is that why he refused to be addressed as a prince?"

"Indeed," Alexa affirmed, her expression somber. "Liam's brutal actions quelled the derogatory remarks about his lineage. However, his proficiency in water manipulation overshadowed his mastery of fire, further complicating matters. As for myself, despite my parents' Fated union, my mixed heritage as both Fire Fae and Witch renders me an undesirable candidate for the throne. Hiyasmin, on the other hand, garnered acceptance from the Council due to her lineage—both parents were Fated, and her mother hailed from a respected family. This acceptance likely fueled Amelia's jealousy and subsequent curse upon her. She's adamant about retaining her grip on the throne, especially after she orchestrated the demise of Ludwig's father."

I paused, the pieces of the intricate puzzle falling into place. "Wait," I interjected, a gasp escaping me, "Princess Hiyasmin is also your cousin?" Realization dawned on me. "That means she wasn't truly Ludwig's fiancée."

"Well, yes," Alexa affirmed with a decisive nod. "Liam and she are half-siblings on their father's side."

Alexa's confirmation left me momentarily speechless as I processed the revelation. The intricate web of familial connections and political dynamics unfolded before me, weaving a complex tapestry of alliances and rivalries. For several minutes, I remained lost in thought, grappling with the implications of what I had just learned.

"We've been aware of Amelia's involvement in the King's demise, but our claims fell on deaf ears," Alexa recounted solemnly. "Six months ago, when Amelia cursed Hiyasmin, Ludwig's fury knew no bounds. He lost control and unleashed his power, causing widespread devastation throughout the kingdom. Despite his efforts to vanquish Amelia, she managed to escape with injuries. Ludwig seized the throne, proclaiming himself as King. However, until he secures his Queen and retrieves the Aureate Fire from Amelia's grasp, his reign remains unofficial."

With Alexa finished attending to Hiyasmin, we finally departed from the room, carrying the weight of the revelations that lingered in the air.

As we walked through the silent castle hallway under the cover of night, curiosity burned within me. "And what curse did Amelia cast upon Hiyasmin?" I inquired, my mind grappling with the implications.

"Paralysis and a profound slumber," Alexa responded solemnly. "Hiyasmin is unable to move her limbs or even feel her body. She remains in a state of deep sleep, awakening only briefly for one to two days before succumbing to slumber once more."

A wave of sadness washed over me as I absorbed the gravity of Hiyasmin's plight. Her circumstances, I realized, were far more dire than I had initially comprehended.

"We exhausted every possible solution," Alexa lamented, her voice heavy with worry. "Liam rallied all the kingdom's medicine men, and even sought aid from those in Primotheus Capital, but Hiyasmin's condition remained unchanged. It's as if only miracles or Amelia herself, the one who cursed her, can offer a remedy. I attempted every spell I knew, only to worsen her condition. Ludwig spared no effort, consulting the greatest witches in an attempt to lift the curse, yet to no avail. With each passing day, Hiyasmin's strength wanes, and our concerns deepen."

As Alexa recounted the kingdom's plight, it became increasingly apparent that the challenges we faced were far more daunting than I had initially realized.