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✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

To my beloved Warden

We are forever

Prologue

—In Merlida there were no such things as 'imperfection'. Everything had to be perfect. The castle and the city surrounding it. No matter where you looked everything was colorful. Life... was colorful. Kids were playing everywhere. Several businesses were thriving in the city. Festivals were common on the island. So much so that people from other kingdoms often came to Merlida. No one suffered kingdom. Especially when the royal family was charitable. If there was a problem the king immediately held court. Seeking out to find help to end that specific issues. 

Yet one day... all the color was drained from Merlida.The court found out that King Asher was suffering with a deadly disease attacking his lungs slowly killing him. Just like that the kingdom started crumbling. When Asher finally took his last breaths he left his kingdom to his oldest son Zachary to rule. Only for him to bring utter chaos to Merlida. The people of the kingdom started retreating back into their homes. Hiding from the shadows that would haunt them in the dark and faded kingdom. Nightmares plagued their minds and they couldn't escape, not until Zachary would do something. Or someone would overthrown him and take the crown...Saving the kingdom

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Chapter one

Eva➳

— Sleeping while there was a court meeting going in the background wasn't really ideal. Regardless in the past two years Eva did nothing in these meetings as the younger sibling in the family. Zachary carried the conversation with the councillors. Only one person could bother her in her peaceful sleep. 

"Eva..." Said a deep voice in the background. Too faint for her to hear. 

"Eva!..." This time she groaned wanting to ignore whoever wanted to steal her precious sleep and dreams. 

"For heavens sake Eva wake up!...." Zachary shook her shoulders a bit rougher than before. Jumping awake she fixed her hair and dress glaring at her brother. "Its rude to sleep in meetings...Especially when we're talking about something important..." He continued in a monotone voice. 

"Such as?..." She asked raising her eyebrows. Boredom sitting on every feature of hers. Her coffee brown eyes showing no interest whatsoever as she leaned onto her palms tapping her fingertips against her cheeks. 

"We're discussing the upcoming ball...Which reminds me" He turned his head towards her once more. "Have you found a partner yet? Even better would be a betrothed?" Zachary's fingers drumming on the wooden table. His expression betrayed nothing. 

"Of course... I will..." Eva smiled bitterly at her brother. "Eventually sure." She murmured under her lips so only she could hear it. Eva wasn't really interested in getting married to a prince. That would mean leaving her people behind. Besides...She didn't want to be treated like a trophy. Waving and smiling politely to people she didn't know. She wanted to stay in Merlida. 

Pushing herself away from the table she excused herself to the restroom. That wasn't where she was exactly heading no...She wanted to see someone. A girl with beautiful auburn curls that set ablaze in the scorching sun. Eyes brown as chocolate shining every day. Warden Kiryian was her kryptonite. A person Eva couldn't escape, not that she wanted to anyway.

The jester snuggled into Eva's heart from the start. In the moment she set her eyes on the girl Eva knew that she would do anything to befriend her. Get close to her. Sometimes she thought if her feelings were more than just platonic but everytime she just brushed it off as it just being purely platonic... Nothing more.

Watching Warden from the window while the jester was showing tricks to kids outside the Castle a warm smile immediately tugged on her cheeks. This was the only time Eva could truly feel any kind of warmth.

"If you're not busy would you mind coming back? We actually need you" Zachary's voice snapped her out of her thoughts. With a frustrated sigh she walked back into the chamber preparing herself for a headache and hours of long conversations with barons and lords. 

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Chapter two 

Warden ♠

— Warden Kiryian was a clever girl, always finding ways to be useful. An angel according to her mother. Yet everywhere she went countless tragedies followed her. When she was only seven getting ready for school on the first day someone died. She had nothing to do with the death of the old teacher. Or when she got her first job in a bakery. The building ended up burning down just a week later. After those accidents he was sure that she was cursed at some point in her life. 

Now her mother was getting old and sick. It was on her job to be the bread maker. Working in the court as a maid or court jester or whatever she needed to do she took on everything the royal family had to offer her. Let it be cooking cleaning or entertaining the court. Even if some members made her uncomfortable 

Her relationship with the princess went back all the way when they were just teens. Eva being fourteen while she e was fifteen. Eva alway eyed her. Always persuaded her like she was equally to her. Even when she wasn't the girl made her feel like she was more than just a jester or maid. 

Now that they were older Warden was earning just enough to pay for her mother's medicine. Though it was barely keeping her alive. Thus Warden took it upon herself to research her mother's condition. Even if she wouldn't find anything... she could try. 

In her break she would lounge in the royal library. Eating up books after books. Just like now, leaning against a bookshelf she was reading trough a book named 'Ancient diseases' . That was until someone pulled her back into reality.

"Found anything your royal jester?..." Eva's voice rang in the quiet library. Putting her hand on the book she pushed it down carefully. Earning Warden's full attention. Something Eva thrived in.

"No... Not yet your highness" She muttered quietly. The realisation that she haven't found anything useful throughout her research. It slightly disappointed her. Feeling like she was failing her only family member she had left.

"Come on Ward... we're alone..." Eva sighed and rolled her eyes in slight annoyance. "No need for such formalities... I never asked you to call me.. That.." Eva's eyes visibly twitched just thinking about her friend addressing her in her royal status.

"Regardless my dear jester!" Eva clapped her hands together and smiled sweetly. "Let's us do this little research of yours together!" Giggling Eva grabbed Wardens hand and started wandering around the library.

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"This is all useless... we're getting nowhere despite reading trough five books in a row..." Eva groaned banging her head into the table they were sitting by. 

"You don't have to waste your time Eva. I can do this alone you know. I'm sure there's other things you should be doing" Warden spoke up letting out a long sigh while flipping trough pages of texts. 

"Nonsense!" The girl with rose gold hair snapped up. The chair behind her almost falling back as she stood up. Both of her palms firmly placed on the round table. "I am going to help. Not because I need to bht because I want to help you Ward." She sighed and hugged her friend. Wrapping her arms around her neck. Auburn hair falling into Eva's eyes as she buried her face into Warden's neck. Holding her tight. The jester didn't know how much she meant to the princess.

"I promise I'll find something, we will find something and when we do... we cure your mother and you don't have to worry anymore." Eva whispered to Warden not wanting her to give up.

"Let's not dwell on our failure today though. Come on we could grab something from a local bakery!" She exclaimed with excitement clapping her hands together once more.

"Eva..." Warden sighed disappointed knowing that she had to decline her friends offer. "The nightlings are sworming outside!" She pointed out the window. It was already late at night. So nothing would be open anyways.

"Fine, then a tea perhaps? OOOOr we could play with Tarot cards." Eva offered feeling a bit helpless at the moment.

"Let's just get to bed....I'm tired anyway..." Standing up Warden pushed the chair back into its place and left the library. With Eva standing there feeling she let down her friend. Once again. 

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Chapter three

Zachary ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁

— Zachary Abelli dreamed about becoming the greatest king Merlida ever seen. He wanted to make the colors burn brighter than ever. The colors that kept nightmares at bay. Since the age of eight Zachary trained with his father. How to wield a sword and how to wield his power. He could make the darkest places light up just with the snap of his finger. He learned spells and hunted mythical creatures when he was only a teen.

Yet somewhere along the golden lines he managed to fail. King Asher... His own father got angrier and angrier as his sickness worsened. The king's fury would alway find him. Berate him and humiliate him. Bringing him down with every word.

"Did you bring feathers from the phoenix?..."   King Asher asked his son lying in his bed sickly pale. 

"N-No father... I haven't found the bird yet." Zachary apologised to his father keeping his head low.. Ashamed that he had not yet found the cure for his sickness. 

"Get out of my room boy...I'll send someone else to find that stupid bird" Asher groaned and looked away from his son making a gesture with his hand towards the door. 

Now that he was officially crowned as the king the colors didn't burn as bright as he wanted. They drained. Merlida lost it's colors and his own subjects suffered because of it. Kids didn't play in the streets. Festivals ceased to exist. Blue lights covered Merlida as the shadows and nightmares haunted the poor people. All because of him.

He tried to get better. God knows he tried...He tried to get back his own light but the more he tried the more he failed. He tried everything. Forbidden spells magic potions, he even went to the forest searching for witches to find an answer how to fix himself. So that he can be the king the kingdom needs. 

From a bright eyed boy only a grim picture remained. A tyrant cannot be fixed nor saved. Zachary would fail...And his people would fail with him. 

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Chapter four 

Eva➳

— Evangeline Abelli or as others often called her Ice bird. The name had a literal meaning. According to nurses inside the court Eva was born ice cold. People of Merlida were positive she was. Looking at her always purple hands feeling how cold they were people could always tell that something was different about her from the beginning. Not mentioning how her mother died after giving birth. Catching a fever they couldn't cure. 

Possessing different type of powers weren't rare in Merlida. Several royalties possessed such things. Before King Asher Great King Marcus could talk to animals. His wife could see the future. So on and so forth. Many great blacksmiths used their own flames to forge their weapons. 

Eva always considered her power as a curse. The thing that took her mother away from her. Something she had to live with. Cold followed her everywhere. Even in the warmest day of summer her hands freezed. Bones hurted to the point she had to put her hands under scorching water to feel them.

Until a girl showed up in the court... Warden Kiryian could manipulate the flames. Set everything ablaze. When the girl first touched Eva's hand she felt her skin burning...But her heart burned just as bright. 

"So...You can just summon fire?.." Eva asked once sitting in the Castles garden with Warden in front of her. 

"Basically yes. That's how I keep my mother warm at winter." The girl with auburn hair answered, smiling brightly. 

"But didn't you burn down a bakery?..." Eva asked suspiciously, tilting her head to the side while giving a puzzled look to girl infront of her. 

"It wasn't my fault I promise!..." A frustrated whine escaped her. Warden hated when people thought it was her who burned the building down. What they didn't know that she couldn't use her powers back then. 

Eva could never forget that smile. It was etched into her soul. The core of her brain. Warden plagued her mind night and day. Yearning for her warm touch when she would shiver underneath the thick blankets on her bed. Wishing she wouldn't have to freeze to death. 

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"You know...Maybe you just need to move out a little. Have some fun and all that. Would help your gloomy mood..." Eva grimaced at her tarot cards while talking to her brother. 

"It's not that easy Evangeline, you know that. I'm a king I have duties to perform. Unlike you." Zachary looked up with his cold blue eyes glaring at his little sister. Silently telling her to cut it out. 

"You always have 'The fool' amongst your cards. Why's that birdie?" He spoke up putting 'The lovers' card down on the middle of the table waiting for his sister to move. 

"I suppose I'm a fool." She chided raising her eyebrows looking up at her brother placing 'The Empress' down. "You suck at this game you know..." She smiled proudly that she beat her brother once again. 

"No but all seriousness Zachary, I am worried for you. Not just me but the people of Merlida!..." Eva sighed trying to take Zachary's hands that he quickly pulled back. Leaving her with a hurt expression and a suffocating feeling in her chest. 

"Leave." He told her firmly not leaving any room for arguments. Yet Eva decided to speak anyway. 

"I just—" She spoke up but he quickly cut her off with a harsh yell. 

"I said leave!" He yelled making Eva flinch. Her eyes were wide open looking at someone...Someone who wasn't entirely her brother. At least not the one she knew. 

With that she pushed herself away from the table she walked out of his chamber. Holding back tears she stormed down the castle halls. 

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Chapter five

Zachary ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁

—He didn't mean to lash out. Slumping in his own seat Zachary buried his face into his hands. This has been getting more and more common for him. To get irritated over things. Even if it was just small misunderstandings or accidents. 

Like when a maid accidentally splashed freshly brewed coffee on him. Not only did it burn his skin but coffee was hard to get out of white silk.

Regardless of his yelling later that day he apologised to the woman for raising his voice at her. Even when she apologised to him multiple times. 

Walking down the halls heading towards his sister's chambers he prepared to have his hair blown off by her. Taking a deep breath he knocked on the door. 

"Eva..." He called out getting no response. "Eva listen I... I didn't mean to yell at you— I just..There's a lot of things that frustrates me these days." He confessed leaning against the door with his back. His hands going trough his messy blond hair. 

"This doesn't justify what I had done, but you have to understand why I acted the way I did." He sighed while his voice wavered a little as he spoke. Still no answer. 

"I just wanted to say sorry..." He whispered and stood up with the last remaining piece of himself. Leaving her door. 

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"God when does it end..." Zachary muttered to himself hunched over the bathroom sink as he coughed up some black substance again that turned solid immediately. Almost like ice. 

Black Frost. 

Looking up into the mirror he could see his own reflection. Was it his own?... He looked nothing like he used to. His blond hair unruly and all over the place. Under his eyes bags had been piling up. He looked terrible, no wonder his own people were afraid of getting closer to him. Let alone talk to him. 

"Just for how long...How long will I'll be able to keep them at bay" He whispered looking back at the shadows. Seeping into the bathroom. 

His gaze hardened as Zachary lifted his hand. Light beaming in his palms as he aimed at the shadow. Purifying it. Until it would come back haunting him all over again. 

Groaning he gripped the counter tightly when a terrible headache tormented him. Zachary's knees went weak under him, sending him to the floor gasping for air. His head lolled back after his crown clattered on the tiled floor. 

The world began to spin around him. Sweat beads rolled down his forehead when he started losing his vision, darkness swallowing him as he passed out. 

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Chapter six 

Warden ♠

—Warden watched the princess pace up and down in the small room she had in the castle as the court jester. It was a small room with nothing but a simple bed, a dresser in the corner and a table in front of the window that looked down at the courtyard. 

"I-I just really don't get him! I mean okay fine I was a bit pushy..." Eva groaned walking up and down. Biting her nails while rambling about nit understanding her brother. 

"Eva I think you should sit down..." Warden sighed and grabbed her hand. "You walk so much there'll be a hole in my floor" She joked trying to ease her friend. 

Pulling her back to the bed Warden sat down trying to get Eva to sit next to her. Bunching her dress into her hands Eva slowly kneeled down. 

"What on earth are you doing?!" Warden whisper yelled. Suddenly her hands frozen in the air just above Eva's head.

"Get up dear lord!" She pulled on her hand that she was holding but the princess wouldn't budge.

"There are more comfortable places to be than your... unmade bed my dear jester." Eva smiled mischievously before putting her head into Warden's lap.

The jester just sat there too stunned. She didn't know where to put her hands. On her head or should she put on either of her sides?

"Nervous as much?" Eva chimed up wrapping her hand around Warden's waist looking up at her. The same smile still present on her lips. 

"Oh... you are flustered!" She laughed standing up and cupping Warden's cheeks into her palms. 

Pushing away Eva's hands Warden glared up at her earning another set of laughs from her friend. 

"I didn't know I had such an effect on you." Eva put her hand on her chest acting all high and mighty. 

"Don't misunderstand your highness. It's not your actions, nor your words or the stupid look you're wearing right now." Warden spoke up shooting a light glare at her. 

"It's simply our status. It's wrong for you to do that." The jester pointed at her and stood up with a sigh. Walking to the closet she pulled out a small worn out leather bag. 

"I was just playing..." Eva murmured pouting a little. Crossing her arms over her shoulder. 

"You're going away? The princess simply asked suddenly a bit worried. 

"I'm going to visit my mother yes." Ward simply answered packing up different kinds of herbs and a satchel of coins he had gotten for her works. 

"Should I go with you? Or would you like some of the royal guards to go with you?" Eva offered stepping closer. 

"God Eva...Please I can protect myself." Ward sighed feeling a tad bit underestimated. "Besides it's not like I'm going to the crooked forest" She went back packing with a shrug. 

Despite the inner turmoil Eva felt inside of her she said nothing and said goodbye to her jester after accompanying her to the door. 

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—The streets of Merlida were empty and dark. Fog had settled upon the kingdom as she walked down rhe streets. It was eerily quiet. Too quiet. Regardless Warden kept going with only one goal in mind. To get to her mother. But before that she needed to get her the medicine. 

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—After walking for a good half an hour, and getting the pills, Ward reached the outer edge of the kingdom. There stood a small blue colored house. The color on the walls had been fading away since King Zachary's coronation.

Entering the house it was just as quiet as outside. Everything was the same as when she left a few weeks ago. Every furniture had been collecting dust...Except for some pans and knifes in the sink.

"Mom! I'm home!" Warden called out with a smile, putting her coat down on a chairs back before walking into her mother's room.

Her expression turned grim immediately. She looked even worse than before. Christine's health was deteriorated day after day. To the point she couldn't even get out of bed. 

"Oh my dear child...why do you still brother with me?" She spoke up. Her voice raspy and barely even there. 

Walking closer Warden pulled a chair close to her bed, sitting down taking her mother's health. 

"I'll always take care of you, you should know that" She spoke softly not raising her voice. She never did. Not with her dear mother. The only one she had left. 

"I'll find a cure to... whatever this is." It was a promise. A promise to herself and to her mother too. 

"Now, let's get you to the bathroom" She smiled and helped her up taking Christine to the bathroom. 

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Chapter seven

Eva ➳

—After Warden left Eva walked down the halls of the castle. The castle was already quiet, and dark too, despite the fact that the candles were burning eagerly in their candlestick. The only sound were her heels knocking on the floor as she walked. 

Her eyes widened when a specific blond was limping down the hallway. 

"Zachary!" She yelled and ran towards him, catching him just in time before he could collapse. 

"What happened? Can you hear me?....Zach!" She panicked powering him to the ground. Holding his exhausted body in her arms. 

"It's spreading trough my body..." He whispered feverishly gazing at his sister. His whole vision is blurry and he was still dizzy. 

"Guards!" Eva cried out clutching her brothers head to her chest. 

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—"He'll be alright your highness, I can assure you" The doctor of the royal family assured Eva with putting a hand on her shoulder after doing a checkup on Zachary.

"Thank you, doctor. Really..." She muttered out looking down at her brother with a worried look. There were so many emotions swarming inside of her. Ready to just burst out. But Eva had to stay calm. She always did.

After the doctor had left the infirmary Zachary could feel Eva's gaze on his entire being. Finally he broke the silence. 

"Don't give me that look..." He groaned out between coughing fits.

"What look Zachary? The look of a worried family member?" Eva bit out immediately shooting him a glare. As much as she knew how irrational was to lash out she was teetering towards it.

Eva was met with another groan from her brother. Clearly he didn't want to have this conversation. But she refused to relent.

"Is there anything you're not telling me? Something that I should probably know?" With a sigh she sat down beside his bed staring at the ceiling. Counting the candles on the chandelier.

"No. I have everything under control. I just slipped..." Zachary finally looked at his sister but his eyes held no warmth. They were so hollow it hurted...

"Sure, because whatever you were coughing up was normal." Eva chuckled making the sarcastic comment.

"It's not funny Evangeline. Stop with your snarky comments." Zach scolded her with a glare.

"Stop being a dick for once!" Despite her best efforts she ended up snapping at him.

"What's happening with you?! You keep me in the dark every single time somethings happens with you! And for what exactly?! To save your little sister?  Don't give me that bullshit!" She yelled at him now glaring too. Her eyes welled up with tears.

"There's many things you still don't understand little bird. I'm just trying to protect you..." Zachary's tone softened seeing his sister in tears. Those tears tugged at his heartstrings.

"I'm so sick of that excuse too... Treating me like I'm a child." Eva buried her face into her palms. Practically curling up into herself on her chair.

With a big sigh Zachary opened his arms for her. Beckoning Eva closer. "Come here..." He murmured quietly.

Eva didn't needed to hear it twice. She let her tears fall and climbed into his bed, next to him. "What if something happens and I won't be able to help?..." She croaked out hugging him.

"Nothing will happen little bird...I'll make sure. Now rest." Pressing a kiss on the top of her head. Bringing the blanket up on her body too and bringing her closer to his chest. Watching her fall asleep in his arms. Getting rest instead of him too.