Chapter 5 THE QUEEN'S SACRIFICE

The sun was barely rising as the crowd gathered in the town square. Lyanna stood in the center, her hands bound behind her back, the weight of the royal crown she had once worn gone. The people watched in eerie silence, their faces a mixture of fear, grief, and disbelief. It was hard to believe that the once proud and powerful Queen, the heart of the kingdom, would now meet such a brutal end.

Macus stood off to the side, his eyes cold and unfeeling as he watched the scene unfold. His reign was now solidified. The death of Alaric would show the world that the old royal bloodline was truly gone. The people would have no choice but to accept him as their ruler. No one could stand in his way now.

Lyanna lifted her chin, her eyes defiant even as the executioner prepared to do his job. Even if she being out her son ceaclum his life would be at risk and she hope he is still alive and safe, same with the twin. The rope around her wrists was tight, but she barely noticed. Her thoughts were elsewhere, mostly on the twin. She hoped they were safe, that the servant had gotten them away in time. She couldn't allow herself to break, not now.

The crowd was still, like the calm before a storm. The only sound that could be heard was the soft wind rustling through the leaves of the trees, as if nature itself was holding its breath. Macus gave a signal, and the executioner stepped forward.

Lyanna's heart pounded in her chest, but she held her head high. "You may kill me, Macus , but you will never kill the bloodline." Her voice rang out, strong and unshaken. Macus lips curled into a sneer, he didn't know about the were about of ceaclum and don't know anything about the twin. "Your bloodline is finished, Lyanna. You failed. This is the end."

With those words, the executioner's blade flashed in the morning light, and Lyanna fell to the ground, her life slipping away in an instant. The crowd gasped, some turning away in horror, others watching with an uncomfortable silence.

As her body was dragged away, the kingdom seemed to lose its soul. Hope died with Lyanna, and victory was complete. But what Macus didn't know was that his reign was far from secure. Even in death, Lyanna had left behind something powerful-something that would outlast him.

Earlier that day, in the shadows of the citadel, a loyal servant had made a secret promise. The servant, an older man who had been with the royal family for years, had always sworn to protect the royal bloodline. When the chaos of the coup unfolded, he had quietly moved Caelum to a hidden location, away from Macus reach.

The servant's promise was clear, He would ensure the young heir's survival, no matter the cost. As the news of Lyanna's death spread, the servant remained hidden with Caelum, carefully choosing the safest path to take him far from the citadel. He knew the dangers they faced, but he also knew that as long as Caelum lived, there was still hope for the kingdom.

The servant's heart was heavy as he looked down at the young heirs , who had no idea of the dark turn their lives had taken. The twin was still too young to understand the full weight of what had happened, but the servant could see the quiet sadness in his eyes. The boy would grow up in a world ruled by Kael, but he would also grow up with the knowledge that his mother had given everything for them and that the royal legacy was still alive.

"Rest, young masters," the servant whispered, his voice gentle. "We have much work to do. You will be safe. I promise."

As the days passed, the kingdom slipped further under Macus oppressive rule. The streets once filled with hope and laughter now echoed with silence. The people moved through their lives like shadows, afraid to speak out, afraid to do anything that might anger Macus and his men.

The markets were quiet, the vibrant colors of life replaced by the dull gray of fear. The soldiers patrolled the streets, their eyes searching for any signs of rebellion. Macus reign was harsh, and any who dared defy him were swiftly dealt with. His power was absolute, and the kingdom had become a place of despair.

Yet, in the midst of the darkness, there were whispers. Whispers of the young heir, of the royal bloodline that had not yet been extinguished. Some believed that Caelum had been taken into hiding, that the child was alive and well as most people never knew about the twin. Others feared that the child was dead, just like his mother.

But no one knew for sure. Macus , despite his growing power, couldn't shake the suspicion that something was not right. He had seen the loyalty in the eyes of the servant, the way the man had acted when Lyanna had been executed. It was subtle, but it was there. Macus mind raced, wondering if the servant had done something to protect the boy.

He couldn't afford any loose ends. If Caelum was alive, mascus needed to find him before the child grew stronger enough to challenge him.

One night, in the dim light of his chambers, Macus sat alone, his fingers drumming on the armrest of his throne. His mind was consumed by thoughts of the young heir caelum though he wasn't a child but not fully an adult. There were rumors, rumors that Caelum had been taken by someone loyal to the royal family. Macus had his spies everywhere, but they had found nothing. He had searched the kingdom high and low, but the boy was nowhere to be found.

But Macus was clever. He had been planning this for years, and he wasn't about to let some child take away everything he had fought for. He knew the boy had to be out there, somewhere. And if there was one thing Macus was not willing to let slip away, it was his throne.

"I will find you, Caelum," Macus whispered, his eyes narrowing. "You will not escape me."

As the kingdom settled into the cold grip of Macus's rule, the servant continued to protect the young heirs. Every step they took was careful, calculated. The servant knew the danger that Caelum and the young master might faced, and he would do whatever it took to keep them hidden from Macus grasp.

But even as they moved deeper into the shadows, the servant knew the time was coming. Sooner or later, Kael would suspect the truth. He would start to connect the dots. The rumors, the whispers, they couldn't be ignored forever. And when Macus began searching for the heir, the servant knew the real fight would begin Macus has hear rumours that the queen has twin too.

Macus stood in the darkness of his chambers, his mind turning with suspicion. The young heirs? How come he never knew. They are hiding somewhere, and Macus could feel it. It was only a matter of time before the guard was found and when he was, Kael would stop at nothing to ensure the royal bloodline was truly erased.