The First Loss

Like any other day, Leos was chopping wood while two children played nearby.
His wife, Lisa, sat on her chair, a faint, tired smile on her face.
His wife Lisa was sitting on her chair, a faint, tired smile coming across her face.
They lived in a quiet village within the Eastern Kingdom—one of the four great realms that ruled over the continent of Europe.
Each kingdom had its own laws, its own way of life, and its own place in the balance of power.
Far from the cities and the struggles of kings, the village nestled in peaceful hills, untouched by war or politics.
At the edge of it stood their home: a single wooden house apart from the rest, listening only to birdsong and silence.
Leo was playing with his little sister Lin, darting through the sunflower fields. Leos, their father, sat nearby in his chair, quietly watching.
While Lisa was preparing cakes with honey... that's the life Leos wished for.
But it didn't last for long.

After a few days, a strange feeling settled between the family as Lisa grew quieter than she usually was.
Something changed. It was subtle at first, Lisa paused more often while baking, her laughter faded quicker than usual.
The children didn't notice that, but their father did.
"Are you okay? Is there anything wrong?" His voice trembled with concern as he spoke.
"I am fine! I think I just need some rest."
Lisa paused, her voice growing unsteady.
"Can you take care of both of them... I can't... " Lisa's voice weakened, but Leos grabbed her hands.
"Don't worry about it. Just relax—don’t exhaust yourself, okay? I’ll take care of them. I promise."
But that day came... the day Leos had feared.
With her last breath, she spoke to her son: "Leo... save others. Stay kind, no matter how hard life gets." As Leo tried to respond to his mother, before he could open his mouth, her hand slipped from his grasp, leaving only her bracelet in his hands. Silence filled the room; her hands started to grow cold.
Pain and regret consumed Leos as he watched the life fading from his wife's eyes.
"I'm helpless." His fists clenched tight enough to bleed.
Leo didn't move, his expression unreadable but clearly shocked. Lin started crying, holding Leo's hand as she always did when she grew terrified.
In the weeks that followed, rumors of unrest stirred through the village. But Leos paid no mind—grief had closed his ears to the world.

After a few months of Lisa's death, a group of figures arrived at Leos' house to arrest everyone inside. Leos and Leo heard the sound of knocking, but they didn't pay attention.. …they didn’t respond. Grief had drowned them too deeply to care.
A heavy knock echoed through the wooden door.
“I knew this day would come," Leos whispered. Ever since Lisa passed, something had been shifting in the wind. an unease that never left.
Leo only saw his father's dry lips moving; both were sitting on the ground... If seen from outside, they might be mistaken for homeless people.
Before opening the door, Leos stared at the kitchen one last time, then turned back toward the door.
He pushed Leo behind him
"Who's there?" Leos asked, his tone deadly serious.
But then they crushed the door.
A group of horsemen approached the house.
"You're under arrest," one of the horsemen said, pointing his spear at Leos.
"You know who I am, don't you?" Leos lowered the spear, then pushed it forward until its tip met the horseman's throat.
"Don't underestimate me. I can put you all down if I want."
But Leos stared at Leo, then sighed.
"Okay, take me."
The horseman coughed.
"We are not coming for a poor old man like you."
"We take this child. That's the king's order."
"At least she's safe." A faint smile touched Leos' face as he scanned the empty house.
"Let's go." He turned to Leo.
Leo didn't refuse; he trusted his father's words, treating the moment like a small picnic outing.
Both Leo and Leos were shackled and taken to the Eastern Kingdom's castle.
As the horsemen took Leos and Leo toward the castle, the sun began to set.
The evening was ending. Fortunately, Lin had gone out to play with her friend in the village. It was time for her to return home—but she would come back to an empty house.
All three saw the sunset, but they might not see each other again

Meanwhile, far from the village, in the hills beyond the capital, two hidden figures argued beneath the trees.

"You have to do this," one of them said.

"You have to be the queen." She clenched her fists, her stare deadly serious.

"But—your highness... I—I can't. I'm only a teen. And that rotten king—"

"I told you not to call me that!"

A pause.

"Don't worry," she added, eyes narrowing. "That king won’t last long."

A rebellion will happen.