As Elizabeth wandered the grand corridors of the castle, she caught sight of Mey hastily exiting the main hall. An instinct to reach out to her arose, yet it dissipated as she observed Maya's tear-streaked visage. Elizabeth was taken aback; she called out, but Mey did not pause, vanishing around the corner.
Elizabeth found herself at an impasse, standing still as she contemplated the scene. Due to the mixture of grief and hurt caused by Mey few days before; she kept her distance for a moment, pondering the implications of her visible distress. The desire to follow her was strong, yet she knew Mey would not welcome the gesture.
She stood there busy contemplating as her reverie was interrupted by a voice echoing through the hall. "Aunt Lizzie!" It was John, his tone was urgent and filled with worry, as he rushed toward her from the same corridor Mey had just traversed.
"Have you seen Doctor Mey?" he inquired breathlessly.
"Yes, she just passed by that way in haste. She appeared quite distressed. Is she all right? What transpired?" Elizabeth replied, her heart racing with anxiety.
Without waiting for an answer, John dashed around the corner. "John!" Elizabeth called after him.
"Aunt, I must go now. I'll speak with you later!" he shouted back, his urgency propelling him onward.
"What could possibly be happening?" Elizabeth pondered, suspecting it was related to Arthur.
Confused she made her way to the main castle and entered the king's chamber. There she discovered her brother seated on the couch, his expression one of deep contemplation.
"Brother, what is amiss? Why do you sit in such a daze? What has happened with Maya? John was running after her, and she was in tears. Do you know something." Elizabeth implored.
"Lizzie," the king began slowly, "I fear I have only compounded the pain of that child. It seems I am a harbinger of her sorrow."
"Mey?" Elizabeth interjected.
"Yes, although i have also hurt John probably as well" he confirmed.
"What transpired? Please, I am beside myself with worry. As if today were not already dreadful enough because of Arthur's passing, now this!" Elizabeth's voice quavered with distress.
"Maya wishes to depart for Sereath."
"What? That is preposterous! Surely she cannot be serious! We must not permit it!"
"I cannot restrain her," he replied, his voice tinged with despair.
"Are you mad? She could perish! You cannot allow her to embark on such a folly!"
"She won't listen anymore. She has made her choice."
"ALEX!!"
"What?! You know her. Do you think she will stop at anything. She might hurt herself even more if I restrict her now." Alexander's voice rose, startling Elizabeth; he rarely raised his voice in her presence.
Noticing her shock, he sank back into his seat, guilt flooding him. "I apologize. But you know her determination; once she resolves upon a course, she will do anything. Don't you remember the last time."
"But... she could die. What if we never see her again?" Elizabeth's voice softened to a whisper, fighting back tears.
"she said that I have confined her, that our affection has become a burden she cannot bear. She wishes to be free." They remained quiet for a while.
"She expressed the same to me," Elizabeth responded, a dawning understanding illuminating her features. The revelation struck Alexander deeply, compounding his anguish.
"It is evident we must allow her this. She does not wish to be tethered to us," he concluded, a somber resignation in his tone.
"I believed I was safeguarding my family, yet I realize I have merely restrained you all—Maya, John, and even you," he admitted. His sorrowful tone hurt Elizabeth.
"Brother..." Elizabeth approached, embracing him.
"You have never hindered me from anything but my own foolishness, for which I remain eternally grateful. One day, those misguided children will recognize your love as well."
Her words touched Alexander's heart, and he succumbed to tears.
"Thank you. I find solace in knowing you, my dear sister, will always understand me. For that, I am always thankful." They went still. The quietness made Elizabeth get uncomfortable.
"Please, don't be all cheesy now," Elizabeth remarked, attempting to lighten the heavy atmosphere.
"I am not being cheesy. You are. Kindly step back," he retorted, gently pushing her away.
"Hey, I wasn't finished hugging you."
"I am," he stated, rising from his seat.
He chuckled at Elizabeth's playful murmurs of protest as he moved to the cupboard and retrieved some bottles.
"Now it is time to drink the night away, I want to forget all this." he declared, offering her a glass. She accepted it gratefully, and they settled into a comforting silence together.