The physician's words fell into the tent like a death sentence.
"Your Majesty, You must choose."
For a moment, no one spoke.
The rain outside struck the canvas roof relentlessly, thunder rumbling across the dark sky.
The lantern above the table trembled with every gust of wind, its light flickering over Eva's pale face.
Eyan stood frozen beside the table, still holding her hand.
His mind refused to accept what he had just heard.
"No…"
The word slipped from his lips.
Then louder—
"NO."
His head shook slowly, as if rejecting reality itself.
"Save them both."
The physician lowered his gaze.
"Your Majesty—"
"I SAID SAVE THEM BOTH!" Eyan's voice suddenly rose, breaking with desperation.
His eyes were wide with fear.
"You're a physician! Then find a way!"
The old man bowed deeply.
"I apologize… Your Majesty." His voice carried quiet sorrow. "But that… is impossible."
Those words shattered something inside Eyan.
His breath trembled as he looked down at Eva.
Her fingers weakly tightened around his hand. "Eyan…"
Her voice was soft… fragile.
Tears had already begun gathering in her eyes. Slowly, she guided his hand toward her stomach.
"Our child…" Her lips trembled. "Save our Leo."
Eyan's entire body stiffened.
The moment those words left her mouth, tears spilled down his face.
"What about you?." His voice broke completely. "I can't…" His hand tightened around hers. "I can't do that."
She watched him quietly, her own tears sliding down the sides of her face.
"If something happens to Leo…" Her voice trembled with pain. "I will never forgive you."
Eyan shook his head violently.
"No…"
His forehead pressed against hers desperately.
"I can't do this… Eva… I can't…"
But Eva slowly turned her head toward the physician. Her voice was weak— yet firm.
"Physician."
The old man stepped forward. "Yes, Your Majesty."
"Save the child."
Eyan jerked upright.
"No!" He grabbed her hand desperately. "I won't allow it!"
His voice cracked with raw panic.
"Eva, don't do this to me!" His tears fell onto her hand. "Please… don't—…"
Eva looked at him for a long moment.
Pain clouded her eyes, but there was something else there too. Peace.
Slowly… she lifted her trembling hand and placed it against his cheek.
Her fingers brushed away the tears running down his face.
"Honey…" Her voice was barely audible.
"Take care of our child for me." Her hand trembled slightly. "Give him my share of love too."
Eyan shook his head violently.
"Don't say that." He clutched her hand tightly. "Please… stay with us."
Eva's lips curved into the faintest, saddest smile.
"I have to go…"
"NO!" The cry tore from his chest.
But Eva had already made her choice.
With great effort, she turned her head toward the entrance of the tent.
"Knights…"
The tent curtain opened. Several Velmorian knights stepped inside immediately and knelt.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Eva's voice was faint, yet carried the unmistakable authority of their queen.
"Take His Majesty The Emperor outside."
Eyan froze.
"What…?"
"Bind him." Eva's gaze hardened slightly despite the tears still falling from her eyes. "Make sure he cannot move."
Her breathing trembled.
"That is your Queen's order."
The knights hesitated only a moment.
Then they slowly stood.
"Forgive us… Your Majesty."
The moment their hands touched him, Eyan snapped.
"DON'T TOUCH ME!"
He shoved one of them back violently.
"LET ME GO!"
More knights rushed forward.
They grabbed his arms.
"NO!"
Eyan struggled fiercely, fighting them like a wild animal.
"EVA!"
His voice broke into a scream that shook the entire tent.
"DON'T DO THIS!"
The knights tightened their hold, dragging him toward the entrance.
He fought them every step of the way.
"LET ME GO!"
"PLEASE!"
His voice cracked into desperate sobs.
But the curtain closed behind him.
Outside, the rain poured down mercilessly.
The knights forced Eyan to the muddy ground as he struggled violently.
They tied his wrists tightly with rope, binding him so he could not move.
Still he fought. Still he screamed.
"EVA!"
His voice echoed through the storm.
Inside the tent, the lantern light flickered softly.
Eva lay on the table, Tears slipped quietly from the corners of her eyes.
Outside the tent—
Eyan's voice broke through the storm.
"EVA!"
His scream was raw.
Desperate.
" PLEASE!"
The sound of him struggling against the knights echoed faintly through the canvas walls.
Eva closed her eyes slowly.
Her fingers curled weakly over her stomach. More tears slipped down her temples.
Forgive me…
Outside—
"LET ME SEE HER!" His voice cracked with agony.
Eva's breathing trembled.
Forgive me for leaving you alone…But this….This was always meant to happen.
__________________________________
(Flashback)
The dim chamber of Dravareth's palace.
Velco stood behind her, his voice low and poisonous.
Eva's hands were trembling as she asked him— "What will happen… in the future?"
Velco leaned closer to her ear. His breath brushed against her skin as he whispered.
"In the future…" A cruel smile curved across his lips. "You are going to die."
His whisper turned colder.
"Right after giving birth to Leo."
__________________________________
(Flashback Ends)
Back inside the tent, a tear slid slowly from the corner of Eva's eye.
Outside, Eyan's voice had grown hoarse from screaming.
"LET ME GO!"
Soldiers struggling to hold him down.
Inside the tent, the physician stood beside the table. His hands were steady, but his eyes held sorrow.
"Your Majesty…" He spoke gently. "The procedure will begin now."
Eva opened her eyes slowly. The lantern light blurred in her vision.
Her breathing had grown shallow.
"Physician…"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Make sure nothing happens to my child"
The old man bowed his head.
"I will do everything in my power."
Outside—
Eyan's voice shattered through the storm once more.
"EVA!"
Her chest rose weakly.
A faint smile touched her lips.
Eyan…Don't cry too much.
Another tear slipped down her cheek.
Live well…For both of us.
__________________________________
Inside the physician's tent, the air was heavy with blood and silence.
The procedure had just ended.
The physician's hands trembled slightly as he lifted the newborn child.
The baby was still small… fragile… his tiny body glistening, still connected to the placenta by the cord.
He turned gently toward Eva.
"Your Majesty…"
His voice was quiet with sorrow and respect.
"The Prince…"
Eva's vision was already fading.
The world around her blurred, her breathing shallow. But when she heard those words, her eyes slowly opened.
The physician carefully lowered the child closer to her so she could see him.
For a moment— Eva simply stared.
Then her lips trembled into a soft smile.
Tears rolled down the sides of her face.
Her trembling hand slowly lifted.
Her fingers brushed against the baby's tiny cheek.
"So small…" Her voice was barely a whisper. "Leo…"
The moment she spoke his name—
The baby suddenly cried.
"WAAAH—! WAAAH—!"
The sound filled the entire tent.
__________________________________
Outside the tent, one of the physician's assistants rushed out.
The rain immediately soaked his clothes as he shouted toward the soldiers restraining Eyan.
"YOUR MAJESTY!" The knights looked up. "A PRINCE HAS BEEN BORN!"
For a moment, the camp went silent.
The soldiers looked toward their Emperor.
But Eyan did not smile.
Not even slightly.
His clothes were soaked in rain, his hair clinging to his face, blood running down his wrists where the ropes had cut deep into his skin.
His eyes never moved.
They were fixed on the tent.
Waiting.
__________________________________
(Inside the tent)
The physician gently tied the cord. Then he reached for the blade.
"Your Majesty…" His voice was low. "This will separate the child now."
Eva's eyes were growing heavier.
But she still looked at her son.
Her lips curved into a weak smile.
"Live well… Leo…And take care of your father" she wishperd.
The blade came down.
Slice.
The cord was cut. For a moment— everything was silent.
Then suddenly—
Eva's body jerked violently. "
Ah—!"
A powerful shock ran through her.
The physician froze.
"Hold the child!" He quickly handed the baby to an assistant.
But before he could reach Eva again— Her body convulsed a second time.
Another violent tremor ran through her limbs.
Her chest rose sharply— then fell.
The lantern above flickered.
The physician's hands were still hovering above Eva when her body gave one final, weak tremor.
Then slowly… her chest stopped moving.
Her eyes closed.
Silence.
The physician stared at her for a moment in horror before shouting toward the entrance—
"YOUR MAJESTY!"
__________________________________
(Outside the tent)
The voice reached Eyan through the storm.
Something inside him snapped.
With a violent roar he pulled against the ropes binding his wrists.
The ropes dug deeper into his flesh.
Blood burst from his skin.
With one brutal jerk—
SNAP
The ropes tore apart.
The knights stumbled back in shock.
But Eyan was already running.
Through the pouring rain.
Through the mud.
Straight toward the tent.
He threw the curtain open so violently the lantern flame shook.
Then he saw her.
Eva.
Lying motionless on the table. Too still. Too quiet.
For a moment—
Eyan couldn't move. The world around him went silent.
"No…"
The word slipped from his lips.
Then suddenly he rushed forward and grabbed her shoulders.
"EVA!"
Her body was limp in his hands.
He shook her.
Harder.
"EVA!" His voice cracked violently. "WAKE UP!"
His hands trembled as he held her face.
Her head fell slightly to the side.
Unresponsive.
"EVA!" His scream tore through the entire tent. "WAKE UP!"
His breathing became ragged.
"DON'T GO PLEASE!" He shook her again desperately. "OPEN YOUR EYES!"
But she didn't move.
Didn't breathe.
Didn't answer.
The realization hit him like a blade. Eyan's entire body began shaking.
He pulled her into his arms desperately, clutching her lifeless body against his chest. His voice turned hoarse as he screamed again.
"DON'T LEAVE ME!"
His fingers gripped her shoulders tightly as if trying to pull her back to life.
"COME BACK" His voice cracked again and again.
Outside the storm raged. Inside the newborn baby cried loudly—
"WAAAH—! WAAAH—!"
But Eyan heard nothing except the silence of the woman in his arms.
"EVA!" His scream became desperate, broken. "DON'T GO!"
__________________________________
(Afterlife — The White Mist)
The mist of the afterlife drifted endlessly around them.
Within the silver haze, the vision of the war camp slowly faded… like a dying reflection in water.
The last thing Leo saw was his father clutching Eva's lifeless body, screaming her name.
Then the image vanished.
Silence swallowed the endless white space.
For a long moment, Leo did not move.
His small body stood frozen.
His eyes stared at the empty mist where the scene had been.
Then suddenly—
"No…" His voice trembled.
"Mother…" His voice cracked painfully. "Don't leave me again!"
Tears burst from his eyes.
"Mother!"
His small fists clenched as sobs shook his body.
"I'm sorry…" His voice broke completely. "it's my fault.."
Tears streamed endlessly down his face.
"If I haven't born…" His shoulders trembled violently. "You wouldn't have died…"
He covered his face with both hands, crying helplessly.
"Forgive me... mother!"
His voice echoed through the endless white void.
Behind him, Liora stood silently.
Her expression was the same calm, distant one she had worn the entire time.
Cold.
Unmoved.
But as Leo's cries grew louder— as the child collapsed on the ground sobbing for the mother he had just lost—
something inside her broke.
Her fingers slowly curled into her robe.
Her lips trembled faintly.
She tried to look away.
But she couldn't.
Leo's voice cracked again as he cried out.
"Mother… please don't go…"
His small body shook uncontrollably.
"I wanted to save you…"
"I tried…"
"I really tried…"
The sound of his broken sobs filled the endless realm.
Liora's chest tightened painfully. A tear slowly formed in the corner of her eye. She quickly turned her face away. But it was too late. The tear slid down her cheek.
She covered her mouth with her hand as her shoulders trembled slightly.
Watching a child break over the death of his mother… hurt far more than she expected.
__________________________________
(The Next Day — Road to Velmoria)
The storm had finally passed.
The sky remained grey and heavy, the clouds hanging low over the muddy fields where the Velmorian army had made camp the night before.
Everything was quiet.
Too quiet.
The soldiers moved silently, preparing to return home.
No one spoke loudly.
No one celebrated their victory.
Because the price of that victory lay inside the imperial carriage.
Eva's body had been carefully wrapped in clean white cloth by the physicians.
Her long hair had been combed gently and placed over her shoulders as if she were only sleeping.
But everyone knew. Their Queen was gone.
The carriage door slowly opened. Eyan stepped inside.
He had not slept.
His uniform was still stained with dried blood and mud from the night before.
Dark circles rested beneath his hollow eyes.
In his arms, their newborn child stirred softly, wrapped in warm cloth.
For a long moment he said nothing.
The baby made a soft sound.
Eyan looked down at him.
His tiny face was peaceful… unaware of the tragedy that had entered the world with him.
The carriage began to move as the army started its journey back to Velmoria.
__________________________________
Hours passed in silence.
Inside the carriage, the baby suddenly began to cry.
"Waaah… waaah…"
The sound echoed softly in the small space.
Eyan slowly looked down.
The child's tiny face twisted as he cried louder.
He gently touched the baby's cheek.
"Shh…" His voice was quiet. Hoarse. "Don't cry."
The baby continued crying.
Eyan glanced toward Eva.
His hollow eyes softened slightly.
He carefully shifted forward and laid Leo down beside her.
The tiny Leo rested against his mother's still body. Eyan adjusted the cloth around him.
Then he whispered softly— "Don't cry."
His fingers brushed Leo's small head. "Your mother is sleeping."
His voice trembled faintly. "You'll wake her up."
The baby's cries slowly quieted.
Eyan sat there silently.
His eyes never left Eva's face.
Empty.
Unblinking.
Outside, the army continued along the muddy road.
__________________________________
(Next Day)
(Near the Velmorian Border)
The road narrowed along the edge of a swollen river.
The storm from the night before had caused the water to rise violently.
The current roared below the cliffside path.
The carriage slowed.
"Careful!" one of the soldiers warned. "The ground is soft!"
The wheels rolled slowly over the soaked earth.
Inside the carriage, Eyan still hadn't moved.
His hollow eyes remained locked on Eva's peaceful face.
Then suddenly—
CRACK
The ground beneath one of the carriage wheels broke.
The carriage jerked violently.
The horses panicked, screaming as the carriage tilted toward the river.
Inside, Eyan immediately grabbed the edge of the carriage as it tilted dangerously toward the river.
Soldiers shouted.
"YOUR MAJESTY!"
The carriage door was pulled open.
A knight reached inside.
"Give us The Prince!"
Eyan quickly lifted the baby and handed him to the knight.
The soldier rushed away with the child.
But before Eyan could step out—the ground beneath the carriage collapsed completely.
The carriage slid toward the edge.
Inside, Eva's body shifted.
Her wrapped form slid toward the broken side.
"Eva." Eyan lunged instantly.
He caught her hand just as her body slipped from the carriage.
But the soaked ground beneath his feet crumbled.
He fell to his knees near the edge of the riverbank, gripping her hand desperately.
"Eva…" His voice trembled.
The roaring river rushed beneath them.
Mud slid from the cliff.
Still he held on.
His fingers tightened around her wrist.
His voice broke as he cried out toward the sky—
"Please!" His grip trembled.
"Please Goddess…" Tears blurred his vision. "Don't take her away from me again…"
The soldiers rushed toward him. "Your Majesty!"
But the soaked earth beneath him began to crumble.
Chunks of mud fell into the river below.
Still he refused to let go. His grip tightened.
But the current was already pulling at the cloth wrapped around her body.
Suddenly—
CRACK
The ground beneath him split apart.
Before he could react, the earth gave way completely.
Both of them fell.
Eva's body slipped from the broken road and dropped into the raging river below.
At the same moment, Eyan's body crashed hard onto the rocky bank beside the cliff.
THUD
His head struck a large jagged stone with a sickening sound.
For a moment the world exploded in white.
Then blood began pouring down his forehead, pooling beneath his head and soaking into the wet earth.
The soldiers shouted somewhere behind him, but their voices sounded distant… muffled… as if they were far away.
Still—
Eyan forced himself up.
His arms trembled violently as he pushed against the ground, blood running down into his eyes.
Eva's body was drifting away in the violent current, the white cloth around her moving like a ghost on the dark water.
"No…Eva"
A sharp ringing suddenly exploded inside his skull.
EEEEEEE—
The sound drowned everything else.
Eyan staggered slightly, his body swaying.
Blood covered half his vision now.
He collapsed onto one knee.
Still his eyes refused to look away from the river.
Eva's body was getting farther.
Farther.
His hand slowly lifted toward her.
Shaking.
Weak.
"Eva…" His voice barely escaped his lips. "Don't go…"
The ringing in his skull grew louder.
His strength faded.
His arm fell slowly back to the ground.
"Princess …" The whisper barely left his lips.
Darkness crept over his vision. The last thing he saw— was the river taking her away forever.
Then Eyan's body went completely still.
Blood slowly pooled beneath his head as unconsciousness claimed him.
__________________________________
(Royal Palace — Velmoria)
(Leo's Chamber)
The morning inside the palace was quiet..A faint breeze moved through the tall curtains of Leo's chamber as the door slowly opened.
Aranel stepped inside.
But the moment her eyes moved toward the bed—
She froze. The bed was empty.
The blankets were disturbed as if someone had gotten up. But Leo was gone.
Aranel's eyes widened.."Leo…?"
She rushed to the bed and pulled the blankets aside, searching as if the child might somehow be hiding beneath them.
Nothing.
Her breathing quickened.
"Leo!"
Panic flooded her chest. Without another second, she ran out of the room.
Her footsteps echoed loudly through the palace corridor.
"Luca!"
Her voice trembled as she rushed down the hallway.
She found Luca standing in the corridor and grabbed his arm urgently. Luca looked at her startled.
"Aranel, what happened?"
Her chest heaved as she struggled to breathe.
"Leo…!" Her voice shook violently. "He's not in his room."
Luca frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"
"He's gone!"
The words came out almost as a cry.
Luca's expression changed instantly.
"Gone…?"
Aranel's eyes were already filling with fear.
"I checked everywhere in his room… he's not there!"
Her voice trembled..
"Where could he have gone?"
Luca immediately stepped forward.
"Wait here, I'll go look for him."
But the moment he took a step—
A knight approached quickly from the end of the corridor.
The soldier stopped before them and bowed deeply.
"Master Luca."
Luca turned toward him. "What is it?"
The knight lifted his head slowly.
His expression was heavy… filled with grief.
"I bring news from the battlefield."
Both Luca and Aranel looked at him immediately.
The knight hesitated before speaking.
"His Majesty… has won the war."
For a brief moment relief flickered across Luca's face.
But the knight's voice continued.
"A Prince has been born." Then he lowered his gaze.
"And…Our Queen… has passed away."
The corridor fell completely silent.
For a moment—
Aranel didn't move.
Her eyes slowly widened.
As if she hadn't understood the words.
Then the meaning struck her.
Her breathing became uneven.
Tears filled her eyes instantly.
"No…" Her voice trembled.
"No… no…"
Then suddenly—
"EVA!" she screamed.
Her scream tore through the palace.
"EVA!"
Her voice broke into sobs.
"MY EVA!"
She cried uncontrollably, her scream echoing through the vast corridors of the royal palace.
Luca stood frozen.
His eyes filled with tears.
His hands trembled slightly.
Slowly he stepped toward Aranel and caught her as she cried.
But the grief crashing through him was too much..His vision blurred.
But still he held Aranel tightly
Then suddenly—
Her body went limp.
Aranel collapsed unconscious onto the cold palace floor.
__________________________________