Chapter Fifteen
Prince Eryx sat on the porch, his gaze lost in the stars above. A bottle, almost empty, lay beside him—its contents long since consumed in his sorrow. The weight of Tara's death pressed down on him, a heaviness he couldn't shake. He couldn't believe she was gone, just like that.
As he watched the stars, his mind wandered back to another night long ago, one filled with the same sense of disbelief. It had been years since he lost his parents, but the memory still felt fresh. He had just returned from Tara's 10th birthday celebration. His father, King Valenon, had taken him there, but they left him behind at the House of Everly when word came of the poisoning in the palace. His mother, Queen Ether, had been one of the victims, unable to attend the birthday party due to the sudden illness that struck the royal household.
Eryx had spent what felt like hours at the House of Everly, the sounds of the night outside muffled by the grim silence within. When he finally arrived back at the palace, the sight was one he could never forget: servants lying lifeless, their faces contorted in agony, some foaming at the mouth. His parents—his beloved parents—were in the same condition. Blood oozed from their mouths, their bodies shaking in their final moments. He had stood frozen, unable to move, unable to process the horror in front of him. It was only when Lord Everly had found him, gently pulling him away from the nightmarish scene, that he had been able to tear his eyes away from the carnage.
And then there was Tara. Tara, who had somehow pulled him from the depths of his grief. She had been the light in his life, the one who cheered him up even when he thought he couldn't go on. He remembered the nights they rode horses together, galloping through the mountains that lay between the palace and the House of Everly. They'd return from their rides and lie in the garden, staring up at the stars, their faces lit by the faint glow of the moon.
Eryx blinked, his vision blurry as he looked up again at the sky. The stars seemed so far away now.
"Tara..." he murmured, his voice breaking. "How could you leave me... all alone? How am I supposed to do this without you by my side? How do I carry the weight of the kingdom's responsibilities now?"
A bitter laugh escaped him, and he ran a hand through his messy hair, staring hard at the distant lights above. "Hope you're up there, among the stars like you always said you would be... watching over me now. Watching, like I'm watching the stars."
For a few moments, there was only silence.
Then, Lord Alistair's familiar presence behind him broke through the stillness. Eryx could hear the soft footsteps as he approached, and he didn't need to turn to know who it was. Lord Alistair was always there—like a shadow, but never quite as comforting.
Alistair didn't speak at first, letting the silence stretch between them as he stood for a few minutes, just watching the prince. Then, with a quiet sigh, he sat beside Eryx, his presence heavy yet composed.
He nudged the empty bottle out of Eryx's reach, a gesture that was both subtle and firm. "I know this is hard for you, Eryx," he said, his voice low and calm. "But remember... your duty to the kingdom must come first. You can't afford to let personal matters distract you right now. We need to focus on the bigger picture."
The words stung, sharp and unwelcome. Eryx's fists clenched, and he spun around to face his uncle fully, fury and grief reflected in his eyes. "The bigger picture, huh?" he spat, his voice trembling with barely contained emotion. "Which bigger picture is there without Tara? How am I supposed to focus on that, with her gone?"
Tears welled in his eyes, but he refused to let them fall. He'd cried enough for one night.
"Uncle... how did this happen? Tara was fine before she left the palace. She was okay, and now—now she's gone, poisoned. First my parents... and now Tara. Why? Why would someone do this?"
His voice cracked, and for a moment, his shoulders trembled with the weight of his sorrow.
Alistair let out a long breath, his face softening as he placed a hand on Eryx's shoulder. "Eryx... dear boy. You need to control your emotions. Don't let yourself fall apart like this. It's important to stay strong, to suppress what you're feeling. Life doesn't always give us answers, and sometimes... sometimes we just have to accept things as they are."
Eryx wiped his eyes, frustrated, as he spoke through gritted teeth. "I need to investigate this, Uncle. I want to know the truth. I want to know who did this to Tara—who took her from me. I don't want to be told what happened after the fact, like I was when my parents died."
Lord Alistair's gaze softened further, and he gently squeezed his nephew's shoulder. "I know, Eryx. I know. But listen to me—this court is a web of lies. It's hard to trust anyone here. There are many with their own agendas, and I've always been the one looking out for you. I won't let anything happen to you. Let me handle this. Trust me, I know how to deal with these things. You don't need to worry about it. Not now."
Eryx stared at the stars again, his gaze distant, as his uncle's words settled in. The reassurance in Alistair's voice was hard to ignore, but the pain in his heart still throbbed. Slowly, he nodded.
Lord Alistair stood up and gave his shoulder a final reassuring touch. "Go and get some rest, Eryx. You don't want to make yourself sick."
For a moment, the prince remained silent, still gazing at the sky. Then, with a final deep sigh, he stood.