Vol 1 Chapter 4: Dreamless Sleep

That morning, the Arclight skylight still weaved its light between the towers and pillars, as if the world didn't yet know that something was about to change forever.
In the palace, sunlight filtered through the stained glass and spread like a whispering rainbow across the white marble. The scent of jasmine tea lingered sweetly, like a memory that refused to leave. The footsteps of the servants, the birdsong in the garden, even the rustle of dresses against the floor—all combined to form a perfect morning symphony.
But that morning, the notes of that symphony… broke.

—

Anna Meets the King and Queen

Small footsteps sounded from the end of the hallway. They weren't the footsteps of ordinary servants. They were hurried, broken—like a heart unable to carry the weight of the news it held.
“Your… Your… Majesty…”
The voice shattered in the air.
The magnificent throne room—with its gently swaying mauve curtains and dancing lights on the crown of the walls—suddenly fell silent. It was as if the entire room had frozen. Even the wind refused to move.
Amidst all the silence, a girl stood.
Her green hair was unkempt, as if it hadn't been tidied up since morning. Her golden eyes—usually calm and demure—were now watery and fragile, like jewels cracked from within. The maid's dress she wore swayed gently with her unsteady breathing.
Anna.
Prince Lune's exclusive maid.
Words spilt from her lips like dried petals blown by a storm.
"I beg your pardon… but… Prince Lune…"
She bit her lip, trying to hold back the tears.
"…cannot be awakened."
Time collapsed.
Queen Eleanor—sitting on her throne in a mauve gown and a sapphire crown that sparkled like the twilight sky—froze. It was as if all the blood in her body had stopped flowing. Her eyes widened, then narrowed with piercing anxiety.
"Cannot be awakened…?" Her voice trembled, caught between anger and fear. "Anna, this is no joke. This is not playtime."
But Anna didn't answer.
She simply lowered her head, her hands gripping her skirt tightly at her thighs. Her body shook. But she didn't fall.
"Your Majesty…" she whispered, "I… tried. Many times. But… Prince Lune remains asleep. Remains… still."
A muffled clink echoed, like glass cracking under the weight of tension.
Queen Eleanor stepped forward, her steps quick, almost running—but before she could reach her beloved son, a hand gently but firmly caught her arm.
It belonged to King Aldebaran.
A tall figure with eyes as sharp as a winter night. In his silence, there was the rumble of a mountain resisting an avalanche. He didn't scream. He didn't shake. But from the look in his eyes… it was clear that his heart was trying to contain something more than just worry.
"Calm down, Eleanor," he whispered lowly. "Lune has just returned from the border. Three months without rest… perhaps his body is giving out."
"But… he always wakes even before the first rooster crows…" the Queen said, as if trying to convince herself that everything would be okay.

—

Summoning the Doctor

The King stared at Anna.
One word escaped his lips—sharp, undeniable:
“Summon the Royal Doctor.”
Anna nodded immediately. But her body was still trembling as she turned.
And as she ran out—her black and white dress fluttering like the last shadow of a perfect morning—the sound of her footsteps echoed for a long time, piercing the shifting silence.
Something had broken in the morning symphony.
And the Arclight palace… had just heard the first crack of a song that could no longer be sung as usual.

—

In Lune's Chamber

That chamber was once the most peaceful place in the entire palace.
A place where mornings began with the scent of jasmine tea and the gentle smile of a prince who never liked the rigidity of protocol.
A place where the blue sky seemed brighter, simply because Lune opened the window and greeted the sun with a cup of tea.
But this morning… all light seemed reluctant to touch the space.

Silence filled the room like a sacred mist from a forgotten altar.
A silence that wrapped everything in a stillness that was too neat.
Too perfect. Like sleep… that would never be ended by dreams.

In the middle of the large bed, covered in silvery blue sheets, lay Prince Lune.
His silver hair hung softly, spread across the pillow like a moonbeam broken from the sky.
His face was serene. Too serene.
A small smile graced his lips, as if he were dreaming of a secret garden among the stars.
But… there were no dreams behind those closed eyes.

Anna stood in the corner of the room.
Her frame was small, her shadow falling long on the plush, silent carpet.
Her tiny hands clenched tightly against her chest, as if trying to hold back something cracking inside her, as if trying to hold back time.
She wanted to cry… but even her tears were afraid to disturb the silence.

Queen Eleanor clutched the hem of her sleeve. Her mauve dress trembled, not from the cold, but from a fear beyond words.
Her gaze was locked on her sleeping son, but her heart had already been thrown far away, far beyond the reach of a mother's love.
And then, the door opened slowly.

—

The Arrival of Doctor Reiss

Entered was Doctor Reiss, the most senior healer in the palace.
His hair had turned white, and his golden robes reflected the sunlight with a regal grace.
Pinned to his chest was the crystal insignia of the royal healer.

As the most senior doctor, he was the only royal healer who had witnessed more births and deaths than anyone else in the palace.
His old face was calm, but the lines on his forehead held unspoken anxiety.

He began the examination calmly, but his expression couldn't hide his unease.
The hot crystal was pressed against his chest.
Pupils checked. Pulse counted.
Muscle reflexes. Blood pressure.
Stimulating magic spells flickered in the air, but produced no movement.
White light fell over Lune's body… then faded.
No complaint. No reaction. No change.
Just… sleep.
Too perfect a sleep.
A sleep that resembled eternal stillness more than simple exhaustion.

“This… this is impossible…”

Doctor Reiss murmured, his voice cracking like a mirror.

“Medically… he's healthy.
Pulse, temperature, mana flow, everything is normal.
But—he won't wake up.
Not even dreaming.”

—

The Queen's Anxiety

Queen Eleanor slowly backed away, clutching her tight chest.

“No… It's impossible.
Lune wouldn't fall asleep for no reason.
Not like this…”

Her voice began to crack, ageing in an instant.

Anna lifted her head. Her eyes were unblinking as she stared at the prince she loved. The face that once greeted all the servants regardless of status. The face that once said, “Anna, you make the best tea in the world.”

That face now felt as distant as the sky… and as calm as the ocean hiding a storm beneath.

King Aldebaran stepped forward.
His eyes were sharp. His thoughts moved quickly. His voice came out like a stone striking the surface of still water.

“If not medical…” he said, as if digging the truth from beneath the ground.

“…then we must summon someone who understands magic.”

He stared at Anna, his eyes leaving no room for doubt.

“Summon the Grand Wizard.”

Anna nodded slowly.
Then she ran out—this time carrying more than just a message.
She ran carrying the kingdom’s last hope.
She ran… so that the prince wouldn’t sleep forever on this all-too-silent morning.
And in that room… time continued to move.

But it felt like everything had stopped.
Because there is nothing more terrifying than a person sleeping…
…without dreams.