บท 2: Tragic News
~This is a fictional world, setting is Early 19th- Early 20th century and fantasy no real events or places are mentioned in this book~
After hours of raging storms, the news of the deaths of the Sovereign Lady and the Major General spread across Verdaselles, Adrielle's country, and Rovensth, Norman's homeland. The tragic news devastated the citizens, especially the survivors of the shipwreck.
Azielle, the grandmother, was horrified when she heard of the loss. The shock caused her health problems to resurface, making her feel frail and overwhelmed. Despite her age, Azielle appeared youthful, but the weight of her daughter and son-in-law's deaths made her seem older overnight. With tears streaming down her face, she clutched her walking stick for support as she addressed the mourning countrymen and accepted the key symbolizing the loss of her loved ones.
Evangeline, unaware of the tragedy, rushed to join her grandmother. Seeing the servants weeping, she knew something was terribly wrong. Her heart pounded in her chest as she overheard whispers about the deaths of her parents and brother. Panic-stricken, she sprinted toward her grandmother, clutching Azielle's skirt tightly.
"Where's Mummy? Did she die?" Evangeline's voice trembled as tears welled up in her eyes. She clung desperately to her grandmother's clothes, pleading for answers.
Azielle was at a loss for words. She could not bring herself to explain the truth to her young granddaughter, who was already crumbling under the weight of the devastating news. The memory of Evangeline's laughter only days prior felt like a cruel joke in the face of this grim reality. Azielle knew she had to stay strong for Evangeline, who depended on her now more than ever. "Take her away…" Azielle ordered, her voice cracking under the strain of grief and responsibility.
Two guards stepped forward, gently lifting Evangeline as she struggled against them, her small fists pounding on their arms. "Where's Mummy? What happened to Mummy? She's not dead! Stop lying!" she screamed, her voice filled with pain and desperation, each word a reflection of her shattered innocence.
A few days later, on the last day of the month, Fatricia 5th, 1804, gravestones were erected for the deceased. The royal funeral was a grand affair, steeped in tradition. The procession moved slowly through the palace grounds, adorned with black banners and flowers that contrasted sharply with the mournful atmosphere. Dressed in a black gown that seemed too large for her small frame, Evangeline stood beside her grandmother, tears streaming down her face as she clutched her mother's locket to her chest.
The funeral rites included solemn prayers and the ringing of bells, echoing through the somber air as friends of Norman and Azielle attended, their hearts breaking for the young girl. Azielle, standing tall despite the weight of her grief, felt the burden of expectation pressing down on her. As she watched Evangeline's fragile form tremble with sorrow, a thought nagged at the back of her mind: she needed to secure Evangeline's future. The loss of her parents had left them vulnerable, and Azielle knew that in times of turmoil, alliances were crucial.
In the days that followed, Evangeline's world shrank. The once-vibrant girl was now a ghost of her former self, her laughter replaced by silence and longing. The locket she clutched had become a lifeline, yet it reminded her of the love she had lost. Every moment spent with her grandmother was tainted by the shadow of their shared grief. As Evangeline wandered the empty halls of Serenity Palace, she felt as though the walls themselves were mourning alongside her.
Azielle, however, was determined to act. She began to consider potential suitors for Evangeline, viewing marriage as a means of protection and stability. "We must ensure her future is secure," she confided to one of her advisors. "In these uncertain times, a strong alliance could safeguard what is left of our family." But even as she plotted, the sight of Evangeline's fragile spirit weighed heavily on her heart.
Evangeline, unaware of her grandmother's intentions, often dreamt of her parents. In her dreams, they were alive, laughing and calling her name. Yet each morning, she awoke to the harsh reality of their absence, feeling the ache of loss deepen with each passing day. The vibrant colors of her world had dulled, leaving only shades of grey, and the thought of being married off felt like another loss she couldn't bear to face.
As Azielle planned for the future, she couldn't help but worry that her granddaughter would never truly heal from the trauma they had endured. She resolved to protect Evangeline, even if it meant sacrificing her own dreams of a peaceful life. In her heart, she hoped that, one day, her granddaughter would find joy again, even if it was through the bonds of a new family.
Verdasalles mourned deeply for three months, with businesses and schools closed in honor of their lost leader. During this time, Azielle attended meetings to resume the position her daughter once held, all while diligently planning to secure a future for Evangeline. She believed that finding a suitable husband for her granddaughter would provide the companionship and support Evangeline desperately needed. Consequently, she began inviting noble children for potential engagements, hoping to strengthen alliances and restore stability.
However, Evangeline showed little interest in these matches. Consumed by grief, she struggled to eat, and her health deteriorated further. Physicians were called in to assess her condition, but despite their efforts, the emotional toll of her losses lingered. At just 12 years old, Evangeline continued to wear black dresses that seemed to swallow her petite frame, and she suffered from insomnia, wandering the quiet halls of the palace with a lamp in her hand, unable to sleep in her room, which felt achingly empty without her family.
In her distress, she ordered the servants to move her parents' belongings into a secluded tower, where she kept her cherished childhood items, creating a sanctuary where she could retreat from the world. With her grandmother often preoccupied with affairs of state, Evangeline spent her days alone, reading, painting, playing the piano, or simply staring out the window, lost in memories that brought her both comfort and pain.
As the years passed, Evangeline's grief settled into a quiet sadness that never truly left her. She struggled with insomnia and various health problems, each a constant reminder of the trauma she endured. Therapy became a regular part of her life as she sought to cope with her emotions, with Azielle ensuring her mental health was prioritized. Birthdays were subdued affairs, celebrated only with household members, as Azielle feared that larger gatherings would overwhelm Evangeline and exacerbate her fragile state.
Evangeline approached her martial arts training with determination, using it as a way to channel her grief into something constructive. Under the tutelage of skilled instructors, she learned to wield a wooden staff and practiced techniques that honed her agility and strength. These sessions became her sanctuary, a place where she could momentarily forget her sorrow and embrace her own resilience.
In addition to her martial arts training, Evangeline continued her education in ballet, finding solace in the graceful movements that allowed her to express emotions she often struggled to articulate. The art form became her escape, a way to transform her pain into beauty. Dance classes filled her days with structure and creativity, allowing her to connect with her body and find a sense of joy amid the lingering shadows of her past.
Despite her growing skills in martial arts and ballet, Evangeline's health remained a concern. The emotional weight of her losses manifested in various physical ailments, and she frequently battled insomnia, which affected her energy and focus. Nevertheless, she persevered, driven by a desire to honor her parents' memory through her achievements. Therapy became a regular part of her life, and with Azielle's support, she learned to navigate her complex emotions and gradually find a sense of stability.
By the time Evangeline turned 18 in 1810, she had grown into a striking young woman, her platinum blonde hair cascading like silk around her shoulders, and her grey eyes shimmering with both beauty and melancholy. She was known for her artistic talents, having established a gallery to display her mother's paintings, ensuring her mother's memory would live on in the hearts of the people. Despite her accomplishments, there were those who frowned upon her choice to pursue art rather than assume her mother's role as a governess, further complicating her feelings of self-worth.
As Zard's coronation loomed, it served as a constant reminder of the expectations placed upon Evangeline. Once destined for a coronation herself, Evangeline had declined the offer, choosing instead to carve her own path in the shadow of a royal legacy she could never quite escape.Meanwhile, Azielle continued to devise plans to marry her off to someone capable of handling the country's affairs, unaware that Evangeline's heart lay in her artistic pursuits and her dedication to martial arts and ballet, which she practiced diligently despite her health hindrances.
Evangeline felt torn between her grandmother's aspirations for her and her own dreams, caught in a web of expectations that threatened to suffocate her spirit. Each day was a battle against the weight of her past and the relentless pressures of her present, as she sought a way to forge a future that truly reflected who she was beneath the sorrow.
~CHAPTER END~
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