The Day Of Truth And Sorrow

The air in Arcadia was thick with celebration. The city was alive with music, laughter, and the chatter of nobles and commoners alike, all gathered to witness the most anticipated union of the decade—the marriage of Cedric and Seraphina, the Queen of Arcadia. Banners of royal colors draped the streets, flowers bloomed in every corner, and the castle stood grander than ever, a beacon of power and prestige.

Yet, beneath all the fanfare, Cedric's mind was far from the joy of the day. The prophecy, Seraphina's words about his death, and the bitter truth she had revealed about the potion consumed his thoughts. He was marrying her, knowing that by the end of this day, he would likely be dead. And worse, he didn't even know if his love for her was real.

As Cedric wandered through the castle halls, taking a moment of solitude before the ceremony, he spotted someone unexpected. His father. The Duke of Valen, the man who had been absent in his life for so long, stood at the edge of the courtyard, preparing to leave. The sight of him—so cold and distant, as always—pulled something bitter from within Cedric.

Without thinking, Cedric approached. "Father," he called out.

The Duke turned, his sharp, weathered features unchanged. His eyes, usually void of any warmth, fixed on Cedric with a distant curiosity. "Cedric," he greeted him, as if they were mere acquaintances.

Cedric felt the weight of all the unspoken words between them. His father's indifference had followed him all his life, but today, of all days, he couldn't let it go. "Why?" he asked, his voice cutting through the air. "Why are going to the Central Kingdom? When Today everyone is going to visit from there to here, You will be the only person who will visit there. Why do you always ignore me?"

The Duke's eyes darkened, and for the first time in years, there was something in his gaze other than cold dismissal. "How can you ask me that?" he replied, his voice low and bitter. "When you are responsible for your mother's death."

Cedric froze, his heart pounding. "What?"

The Duke's expression remained hard as stone and his father's gaze grew harder, and his voice dropped to a low, almost dangerous tone. His father clenched his fists, the anger he had kept buried for so many years bubbling to the surface.

"The day of the fire at the Rosewood Estate. You were playing near the forest, weren't you? You wandered into the estate, and the fire broke out. Your mother... she went in to save you. She saved you, but she..."

The rest of his words faded, but Cedric heard enough. His chest tightened, the weight of his father's words suffocating him. The fire. The one that had destroyed Rosewood Estate—the same fire that had haunted him in fleeting memories but had never made sense. He remembered flashes of it now. The smoke, the heat, the sound of his mother's voice calling out to him as she pulled him from the burning wreckage.

But he had never known... it was because of him.

Cedric's breath caught in his throat, the memory rushing back in fragmented pieces. He had been so young. He remembered the estate, the forest, the panic... and the day his mother never came home. But he had never been told the full truth.

"I..." Cedric stammered, the weight of his father's words crushing him. "I didn't know. No one ever told me."

His father's voice broke through his shock. "She died because of you, Cedric. I lost her because of you."

Cedric stumbled back, his mind spinning. His mother had died because she had saved him. And his father—his cold, distant father—had been punishing him for it all this time.

The Duke's gaze didn't soften. "How could I not ignore you, Cedric? Every time I look at you, I see her. The woman I loved more than anything. Gone. Because of you. I never wanted you in the first place. Your mother alwssy wanted a child of her own. She is the only reason you were born and alive. Or I swear to gods Cedric, I would have killed you right at that moment when you took away the person I loved the most in this damn world."

Cedric's memories rushed throghout and his heart ached with a pain he hadn't felt since his childhood. He had spent his life trying to earn his father's respect, his approval. And now, in this moment, he realized it had been futile from the start.

His father took a step toward him, for the first time in years, standing close enough to see the faint traces of humanity behind his cold demeanor. "But you are getting married today," the Duke said, his voice hollow. "To a queen, no less. You've done what most could only dream of." He paused, his gaze distant. "So, for the first and last time, Cedric... congratulations."

And with that, his father turned, walking toward the carriage that awaited him. Cedric stood there, stunned, as the man who had never been a true father to him vanished from sight, leaving behind only the hollow echo of his words.

As the carriage rolled away toward the Central Kingdom, Cedric found himself lost in the weight of his father's confession. His mother's death—something he had buried deep within his memories—now resurfaced as the cause of everything. The coldness, the distance, the lack of love from his father. All of it rooted in that single, tragic event.

And now, on the day of his wedding—the day of his supposed death—he was faced with the truth that he had always been a reminder of loss. Of failure.

But Cedric wasn't a child anymore. He had fought battles far greater than the one inside him now. And as much as his father's words tore at his heart, they also steeled his resolve. He wasn't that boy anymore—the one who had lost control and lost everything. He was the man who would face the prophecy head-on, no matter the cost.

As the bells tolled in the distance, signaling that the ceremony was about to begin, Cedric took a deep breath, his mind refocusing. Seraphina awaited him. The prophecy awaited him. And so did his death.

But no matter what happened, he would face it. For her.

And for the man he had become, not the boy his father had abandoned.

Cedric left the palace after the confrontation with his father, the weight of the truth pressing down on him like a suffocating blanket. His steps carried him with a quiet urgency to Matilda's secluded shop. If there was any place where he could find the answers or clarity he needed, it was with her.

The shop was dimly lit, filled with the scent of herbs and potions simmering in the air. Matilda stood behind the counter, her sharp eyes noticing the strain on Cedric's face the moment he entered.

"You know you are about to get married in a few hours right. You are not going to ask me at the last moment are you?" Matilda asked, her voice soft but knowing.

Cedric nodded, his usual calm exterior cracking ever so slightly. "I need the potion. The one that lets me dream of her."

Matilda raised an eyebrow but didn't question him further. She reached for a vial on a high shelf, its contents swirling with a faint glow. Handing it to him, she met his eyes. "Are you sure you want this? The potion is not a softdrink you know—taking it twice will risk your life."

"I Am already gonna die today but I need to see her again," Cedric said, his voice steady, though a storm raged inside him. "I need to face her."

Matilda gave a brief nod, understanding more than she let on. "Just remember to die when you are married and not before that alright? Drink it when you're ready."

Without another moment of hesitation, he uncorked the vial and drank the potion in one swift gulp. The liquid was cool and bitter, but he didn't care. He lay back, closing his eyes, waiting for the familiar pull of the dream world.

His visons brought him back in the quiet solitude of his room, Cedric sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the vivid images. His mind buzzed with everything he had learned today—the revelation of his mother's death, his father's rejection, and the burden he had carried unknowingly for all the life. The room around him faded, and the familiar figure of the mysterious woman appeared before him—her face hidden behind a gentle veil, just as it always was. It was face Of Seraphina, but it was not truly Her, and was a very vividly masterful disguise out of this world.

But this time, Cedric was ready.

"I know who you are," he said, his voice steady, yet tinged with emotion. The woman remained silent, watching him. "You're my mother, aren't you?"

The woman's form shimmered, and slowly, the veil dropped. Beneath it, a face Cedric had long forgotten appeared before him. It was her—his mother. The face he had only seen in faded memories, now standing before him in clear detail.

She gave him a soft, sad smile. "I didn't want you to remember, Cedric. Not like this."

Cedric's breath hitched, the emotion building in his chest. "You took the disguise so I wouldn't remember... that I was the reason you died."

His mother's eyes softened, and she took a step toward him, her hand reaching out. "No, Cedric. You weren't responsible. You were a child. It wasn't your fault."

Tears filled his eyes, and for the first time, Cedric felt the weight of his guilt, his grief, and his shame wash over him. "But... I caused the fire. I made you come for me. If I hadn't been there—"

His mother shook her head gently, cutting him off. "I would have done anything to save you, Cedric. I loved you more than my own life. No mother would regret that choice."

The first tear slipped down Cedric's cheek, and then another, and before he knew it, he was crying openly, the weight of years of guilt breaking him apart. He had spent so long being the calm, collected mastermind, always in control, always one step ahead. But here, in front of his mother, he was just a son—a boy who had lost too much and never allowed himself to grieve.

"I'm sorry," he choked out, his voice trembling. "I'm so sorry."

His mother stepped closer, wrapping her arms around him, pulling him into a warm embrace. It was the first time he had felt this kind of comfort in years, and he let himself fall into it, sobbing into her shoulder.

"There's nothing to forgive, my dear boy," his mother whispered, her voice soft and full of love. "You've carried this pain for too long. Let it go."

Cedric clung to her, feeling her warmth, her forgiveness washing over him. For the first time in years, he allowed himself to feel vulnerable, to feel the depth of his emotions. His mother's gentle hands stroked his hair as she whispered soothing words, her presence calming the storm inside him.

After what felt like an eternity, Cedric finally pulled back, wiping the tears from his face. His mother smiled at him, her eyes full of love and pride. "You've grown into a man, Cedric. A strong man, but you don't have to carry everything on your own."

Cedric nodded, the weight in his chest easing. He had spent so long thinking he had to bear everything alone—his plans, his secrets, his guilt. But here, with his mother's forgiveness, he realized he didn't have to carry it all anymore.

"I love you, Mother," he whispered, his voice steady this time.

"And I love you, my son," she replied softly.

As the dream began to fade, Cedric felt lighter, the burden of his past finally lifting from his shoulders. He had found forgiveness—not just from his mother, but from himself.

When he woke, he felt a strange sense of peace. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a soft light across his room. For the first time in a long time, Cedric allowed himself a small smile.

He wasn't free from his responsibilities, and he still had battles to fight—but now, he knew he wasn't alone. And with that knowledge, he felt ready to face whatever came next.