The white ceiling, yellowed at the edges, looked like a forgotten painting abandoned above my head. I lay on the hospital bed as I had for days—months, perhaps. I no longer knew the difference. My eyes were open, fixed, carrying the coldness of despairing ice. The scent of antiseptic gnawed at my nostrils. I stared quietly at that nothingness above me, at eyes that had long lost their light.

(Selia)

My black hair, tied in a tight ponytail, lay behind me like a shadow that never moved. The air was heavy, as if it bore the weight of my illness that had worn me down for years. I heard the doctor’s footsteps as he left my room, speaking to the young man in the hallway in a tone so clinical, so empty of emotion:

"There’s no noticeable improvement… her condition is stable, perhaps worsening. I recommend transferring her abroad. Maybe… there’s still a faint hope."

I whispered to myself, my voice faint like a fading breath, my lips barely moving:

"Ah, yes… as always. There’s no hope of healing me. Why do I even try? The outcome is always the same… Death would be far kinder than this cruel torment. Even jumping would require a courage I don’t possess…"

My words whispered into the white walls of the room, but found no listener.

Moments later, my brother Liam entered, phone in hand as usual, his face tense with haste.

He glanced at me, didn’t come closer, and said while typing on his screen:

"I have to leave. My fiancée is waiting. Selia, I’ll book the flight tonight. Tomorrow, we’ll move to a new hospital. Get yourself ready."

Then he closed the door behind him, leaving me alone again.

I didn’t answer. My words were stuck in my throat.

I felt despair engulf me—not just from my illness, but from my brother’s behavior, as if he had grown accustomed to my suffering, as if it were a given.

I looked back at the ceiling, and felt my heart—unable to beat—plummet without sound, like a feather falling into the sea of indifference.

I said:

"Even Liam… no longer fears for me. He’s grown used to me as a patient. As if I were just a piece of furniture, moving from place to place."

---

Later, a nurse entered carrying a food tray. But I refused to eat.

She looked at me with irritation and said: "You have to eat something, Selia!"

Silence.

She placed the tray in front of me sharply, then left, leaving the food to cool. The door closed behind her—like the closing of mercy itself.

The day passed as usual: I read old magazines I had memorized from my long stay, spent the day shifting between the bed and sitting by the window, watching the sunset unfold over the city, painting the sky in a faint red, like an open wound bleeding into the horizon. A soft breeze brushed my hair, reminding me of my inner pain…

---

That night, the sky was thunderous. Rain fell like tears, and thunder shook the walls.

Suddenly, I woke up to a strange rustling sound.

A soft noise…

A black cat!

It slithered like smoke, its fox-like yellow eyes glowing in the dark, playing with the edge of my blanket. Its shape was strange, its fluffy tail moving like vapor. Its slender body kept shifting, approaching… I tried to grab it… but it leapt like a ghost. I followed it outside the room, rising quickly despite my pain, stumbling forward with weak steps.

Suddenly—

The corridor… completely empty.

The light dim, the walls silent.

The hospital was entirely empty. No sound. No movement.

All doors were open… the beds, vacant.

I whispered to myself:

"Where is everyone?"

No one answered. Not even the walls. The silence was thick, suffocating, as if everyone had vanished at once.

I stepped forward… one step, then another… into the pitch darkness. I felt the cold floor burning my feet. And the darkness swallowing me whole…

Suddenly—

I stepped on the cat’s tail. It shrieked:

**"Miaaooo!"**

It jumped in terror, and my hands scrambled for something to hold. I tripped… my voice tore through the silence… and I slipped at the edge of the stairs. My body fell backward… slowly, like a feather drifting… as if I were flying through terrifying emptiness.

Suddenly, time stopped.

My scream echoed in the distant horizon, then faded.

Then everything disappeared.

When I opened my eyes, I was no longer in the hospital.

I was surrounded by shadows in a strange, dark place. Golden petals floated around me like tiny stars, illuminating my face, clinging to my clothes—then began to crumble, one by one… until they turned into black ash, weighing down my body, then scattering like cursed snow, melting into the darkness.

I looked around. I was wearing an elegant black dress with white patterns, studded with jewels. My hair fluttered in the shadow… in the light… in the wind.

Then the place dissolved around me, and I found myself inside a castle.

Suddenly… a voice came—

deep, masculine, carrying something mysterious: a mix of tenderness and authority, echoing from afar:

"Welcome, Selia. I’ve been waiting for your arrival with great anticipation."

I froze. I turned around, then lifted my gaze…

And there, on a throne made of black stone and dark metal, sat a man—elegant.

He wore dark blue royal robes, over them a long black cloak, like coal, trailing on the ground. A shining sword hung at his side. His tall boots gleamed in the dim light. His hair was black as night, and his glowing green eyes stared at me from above, beneath the faint moonlight seeping through the castle’s massive crimson windows behind him. He rested his head on his hand, watching me as if he had known me for a long time.

"Who are you?" I asked, my voice trembling.

He smiled faintly and said:

"I am Aino, Lord of Despair. And you, Selia… are now my fiancée. And soon, you will be my queen."

His voice echoed like distant bells within the throne hall’s crimson drapes, moonlight slipping through the windows, soft music playing faintly from afar, a carpet embroidered in deep kohl stretched beneath our feet.

I struggled to comprehend my situation… How did I get here? Who is this man calling me his fiancée? And about to make me his queen?! So many questions piled up in my head, aching.

Suddenly, Aino rose from his throne like a black shadow, advancing toward me with heavy, audible steps—like the ticking of a clock. At that moment, my heart pounded fiercely. I stepped backward, my feet sinking into the carpet as if walking on sand, glancing around for an exit.

Suddenly, I felt his shadow… his breath… before me. He stared at me coldly and said:

"Don’t be afraid… you’re not here to die."

He leaned toward me, towering like a shadow, adding:

"You’re here… to become my wife."

My heart froze for a moment. I felt lightheaded, as if the castle itself pressed down on me. I gripped my new dress tightly. My voice choked in the air, as if dust filled my throat. I saw his hand slowly reaching toward me, black ash swirling around me. When his fingers touched my chin, my body trembled. My cheeks flushed with shyness. My eyes reflected his green gaze—carrying a deep, heavy sorrow.

I thought of running, but his eyes pulled me like a magnet.

In a tone that allowed no refusal, he said:

"**The despair that brought you to me is not a burden… it is a gift. And together, we shall turn it into a sword that cuts through the illusions of Charo.**"

At that moment, the swirling ash around me transformed into a black wedding crown, embroidered with shimmering threads, suddenly appearing above my head. I gasped in weak, broken surrender:

"... What?!"

As he looked at me with a calm, suspicious smile…

**To be continued...

*(Castle of Shadows / The Land of Forgetting)*

(Selia)

A gloomy dawn… eternal darkness.

It was hard to grasp the flow of time in this wretched world. Even when I looked out the window, I couldn’t tell if it was day or night. It was as if we had been flushed into a black hole, waiting to dissolve into oblivion.

Inside the black castle, where tall crimson curtains hung heavily over the windows, and the walls whispered forgotten tales…

I still stood in the middle of the hall, stunned.

As if the ground refused to let me move.

His words echoed through the chambers like the faint ring of a sword drawn from its sheath.

*"You are my fiancée now… and soon, you will be my queen."*

He had knelt with dignity, holding my hand as if cradling something fragile.

I couldn’t believe it.

Everything had happened so fast—like time had shattered, then reassembled itself in a world I didn’t know.

Suddenly, a knock echoed.

A deep voice followed:

"May I enter, my lord?"

Aino straightened like a proud banner, his voice icy:

"Enter."

A guard in dark armor stepped in, his voice dry:

"Apologies, my lord… A stranger is sneaking through the Land of Forgetting. He appears to be a new exile from Sharo."

Aino sighed deeply. His eyes glowed like twin flames. With one hand gripping mine tightly, the other waving sharply, he ordered:

"Prepare my horse."

Then he turned to me, his voice lowered:

"I will be gone for a while. Don’t go far."

But I didn’t answer.

I only looked at him—shy, trembling.

Fear ran through my veins like ink staining paper. Every time he neared, I felt something I couldn’t name.

Aino gestured calmly.

Then a young maid stepped in—long white hair, rose-tinged emerald eyes.

She glanced at me briefly, a hint of happiness in her gaze, then bowed deeply before Aino.

He said:

"Take her to her wing… the room opposite mine, on the second floor. She must prepare for the engagement ceremony."

In that moment, I didn’t know—was I a lady wandering the corridors of darkness?

Or a prisoner of it?

Aino left, leaving behind a dark aura.

Then the maid stepped forward, introducing herself in a soft, gentle voice:

"My name is Mira, my lady. I will be your handmaid… and I am honored."

My jaw slackened at the strangeness of her words.

Then Mira led me quietly through the castle’s dim halls, up to the second floor… and stopped before a tall wooden door, its handle made of black metal—facing Aino’s room.

Inside, the chamber was vast.

A massive bed draped with sheer black lace, embroidered with intricate patterns. On both sides, nightstands held a wreath of black and crimson thorny roses—striking to the eye.

A large window opened to a balcony filled with flowerbeds of dark roses, thorny and elegant.

Two chairs sat around a glass table—black as a starry night, shimmering under the moonlight.

Meanwhile, Mira called me—still dazed by the beauty of the balcony, as if it were a dream within a nightmare.

She held in her hands a nightgown of white silk, delicately embroidered.

She said softly:

"I’ve prepared the bed for you to rest. Lord Aino will be late… he won’t return until night."

I turned to her, surprised.

(*Until night?!… Did he bring me here just to leave me alone in this dark void?*)

She guided me to the changing area, helping me into the nightgown.

I felt shy—my skin burning under her touch.

I whispered, embarrassed:

"Thank you… but you don’t need to tire yourself. I can dress myself."

Mira smiled, hiding joy:

"Your comfort is my ease. Don’t worry… I’ll prepare everything for the engagement ceremony tomorrow. And don’t fear… life with him is not as people imagine."

At that moment, I caught a glimpse—

a faint glow within a pile of ash, pulsing inside Mira’s chest.

Then it vanished.

I stared again, as if I’d seen a shadow.

Was it… real?

Then I climbed onto the bed, lying down as if floating on a drifting tent.

Sleep slipped over me suddenly.

I closed my eyes, surrendering to dreams.

Mira drew the curtains over the window, and left quietly—leaving Selia to drift into sleep.

---

[Evening / Inside the Castle of Shadows]

The wild horse of Aino neighed—announcing the return of the ruler of this land.

Aino entered the castle, ascended to the second floor, and headed to his room—then paused before my door.

He knocked gently, then said in his deep voice:

"Will you join me for dinner?"

I opened my eyes to his voice.

I approached the door, touching the handle with hesitation—speechless.

Aino lowered his gaze, then added before turning away:

"I’ll be waiting… don’t keep me waiting."

At that moment, I felt my heart beat strangely, as if sinking into oblivion.

---

About an hour later, in the vast hall—

a long table stood at the center, studded with lit candles like tiny moons.

Moonlight seeped through the dark stained glass, casting shadowy twilight across the floor.

Dishes of diverse food were laid out.

Aino stood by the window, watching the glowing moon—then glancing toward the hall’s entrance again and again, as if his patience had run thin.

Suddenly, the door opened.

Selia entered—like a planet shimmering in the room—

approaching with heavy steps, gripping her black dress,

pulling her long black hair with a pearl clip.

Aino stared at her for a long time, as if he had seen something more beautiful than the moon that always adorned his nights.

Then he gestured for me to sit across from him:

"Come. Sit."

I sat beside him, not knowing what to say.

Then his voice pierced the silence away:

"How do you feel in this place?"

His question surprised me. But I felt the ability to breathe freely—

to answer, as if emptying my heart to a good listener.

"If it’s about my mental state, I’ve grown used to it. As for the place… it feels familiar."

then I thought to myself:

(*I said the truth… the place wasn’t strange to me. The strange thing was that I slept here peacefully for the first time.*)

"Are you… angry at me?" he asked.

I raised my brows in surprise:

"Not at all. Why would you say that?"

He replied calmly:

"Because when you first saw me… I felt you feared me. You stepped back. And now you were late… Do you like it or not?"

My face flushed. Hesitantly, I murmured:

"I’m sorry… I was sleeping when you called me."

He raised a brow, hiding a smile. Then I gathered courage and asked in a soft voice:

"Why did you choose me?"

After a short silence, he smiled—as if revealing a secret:

"Because nothing controls you… You are like the plate of the moon… and the shadow of the mountain. You are rare."

I fell silent, gazing around.

Suddenly, my eyes locked onto something strange—unlike anything I’d seen—glowing from Aino’s chest.

Something like__ a black petal?! It pulsed with dark energy, shining in his chest like a star in the dead of night.

(*Could it be… am I imagining this?*)

I looked away for a moment, then glanced back—my eyes widened.

(*No, impossible… I’m not imagining it. There’s something inside him. But what is it?*)

Then I remembered—

the same moment I saw something similar, but vastly different from what was inside Mira.

That thing didn’t resemble the faintly glowing ash—whispering forgotten secrets.

The black petal was pulsing. Alive. Strange.

I wanted to ask him… but I swallowed the question when I saw him staring at me.

I stayed silent, trying to hide my shock.

He gave me a sideways glance and said, with a hint of jealousy:

"You haven’t touched your food. May I ask… who stole your attention? I’m starting to feel jealous."

I turned to him with jewel-like eyes, and laughed shyly—hiding my answer with a sip from my glass.

Then he spoke with a sincerity he hadn’t shown before:

"You know… I wish to hasten our marriage… so I can focus on breaking the false reign of Auriel."

At that moment, I nearly spilled my drink in shock. Not Sure Which news was stranger?

I looked at him with eyes glowing with confusion and surprise:

"Auriel… who is this Auriel?"

Aino swallowed hard, then answered with confidence:

"A king who stole freedom under the guise of joy and absolute false happiness—exiling anyone who stands in his way or opposes his orders…"

I stared at him in shock, then asked in a weak voice:

"And why do you want to end his reign?… To take his place?!"

His eyes narrowed slightly, then he answered slowly, as if his words emerged from the depth of the night:

"Reality will take his place… And it is my kingdom! The Shining Kingdom of Sharo!"

Suddenly, Without warning, he took my hand, stared into my eyes—while I was melting inside—then whispered:

"But… having you by my side makes me believe I can reclaim my people’s stolen rights. And because I… want you for myself."

My face flushed. Shyness engulfed me like a warm wave.

My hand trembled in Aino’s grip.

I regained my composure, swallowed hard, and said:

"I don’t know what to say… But before that, answer me one thing."

He looked at me, confident, yet with a hint of doubt:

"Ask what you wish."

I said:

"What is your reason for ending Auriel’s reign? And how were you exiled from your kingdom?"

He sighed, his eyes drawn As His Hidden glowing black petal in his chest Lighted Inside—as if remembering an old wound.

Then he spoke with deep emotion:

"Because he enchanted his people. He turned them into soulless bodies—silencing their wills, their desires. When I asked him: *'Why?'*

He said: 'I am saving them.'

But I said: 'You are stripping them of their humanity—forcing them to pretend happiness, to fake joy without meaning.'

So he exiled me… But I will not stay silent.

I will make them feel again… even if they cry every night."

I frowned, doubtful, then asked:

"And what will become of them under your rule?"

He answered, cold and sharp:

"Despair. Anger. Confusion. Negative emotions—yes, heavy, harsh. But real.

And for the first time in years… I will make people feel, even if the feeling is pain."

At that moment, his words pierced my soul.

I felt their truth.

But I stayed silent, unable to grasp his position.

Then I thought slowly:

"But… what if despair alone is not the answer?

Is despair enough, even if it’s honest? Or do we surrender to false joy and lie to ourselves?"

While I was lost in thought, He reached toward my tied hair, gently removing the silver clip

My hair cascaded like night over my face—I hid behind it from his burning gaze.

I raised my eyes cautiously.

He said:

"I've answered your question… Now it will be your turn."

Slowly, he reached into his pocket, then pulled out a dark-stoned ring—like a piece of twilight, shimmering between my pale white fingers.

It was cold… but it trembled in my hand, as if it were alive.

He said:

"Stay by my side… and let us bind our souls before our bodies… my queen."

I stared at him in shock.

I felt something growing in my chest—a mix of safety and fear, dream and reality.

And deep inside, it glowed—as if his black petal had found a mirror reflecting its inner darkness.

---

At the end of the dinner, Aino stood and smiled with confidence:

"Do as you wish… the castle is yours."

Then he left.

And I remained alone in the hall,

staring at the ring, its light dancing among the candle flames—

and in my heart, an idea began to stir.

**To be continued…**