Excerpt
Chapter Six
Princess…
Prince Charles’s throaty whisper boomed in her head as he caught sight of her poised on the windowsill of his room. I’m so glad you came to see me.
Sure he was. Since he had fallen ill, Sophia Caldwell had locked him in his bedroom and kept everyone out. Not little Ylianor, though. She climbed through the window every day to visit him, sitting by his bed and holding his hand tightly. Most of the times, she did not even dare breathe, lest she disturbed him, for she could tell how weak he really was. That funny way his lights had of shutting down was something she had only seen in an old horse. And then the horse had died, so she presumed Prince Charles would, too. But she refused to think it would happen any time soon.
So am I, Father. Jumping down, she neared his bed.
He winced. You know I’m not your father. Yes, she knew the term disturbed him. John is your father.
I know, but… Ill at ease, she shifted her feet, staring at them as though they were the most fascinating things in the world. It just seems so right…
Truth was—her nine-year-old self lacked the proper word to express how deeply she felt about him.
His eyes flashed in disagreement, but he did not repeat what he had told her a thousand times already—about how wrong it was for her to think of him as her father.
And you know I’m right. She stomped her feet to prove her point. If he’s really my father, why can’t I talk to him like I can to you? Without opening my mouth, I mean.
Ah, Princess, it doesn’t work like that. He chuckled softly.
Then tell me how it works, Father. But this she had not shared seeing how exhausted he was, more than any of the previous times before.
Suddenly, a noise at the door had her scurrying away, after placing a soft kiss on his cheek.
Gotta run now. Whatever happened, she dreaded Sophia catching her inside the room. It would mean the end of her stolen times with Prince Charles, and she did not have the heart to stand it. Someone’s coming, so I’ll see you tomorrow—
No, wait. Already balanced on the windowsill, one leg dangled outside, while the other was still inside, gaze locking on his burning eyes. Don’t ever forget that I love you, sweet princess.
No, Father, please don’t go! She rushed back, cold fear gripping her stomach as all his lights went off all together, all at once.
Just promise. After this final painful breath, his eyes closed, and the room went completely dark.
I promise, Father. Holding on bravely, she tried to stifle the pain threatening to swallow her whole. But how could she now that her world had gone eerily silent and empty?

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