----
(30 minutes later)
The room had grown unbearably still. Only the faint sound of Eva's shallow breaths filled the space.
Eyan sat beside her bed, his hand wrapped tightly around hers, as if the warmth of his touch could call her back. With his other hand, he gently brushed her hair away from her face, his thumb tracing along her temple in soft, rhythmic motions.
Across the room, Luca stood near the foot of the bed with Leo and Aranel. Worry painted all their faces.
Aranel finally broke the silence. "It's been too long… why hasn't Eva woken up yet?" Her voice trembled. "She should be awake by now."
Luca frowned, folding his arms. "I think so too. She should've regained consciousness already."
Eyan's gaze never left Eva's face. "Luca," he said quietly, his tone strained, "go and bring the physician. Have him check again."
Luca nodded and hurried out.
For a while, the only sound was the faint crackle of the fireplace and the whisper of the wind brushing against the window. Eva lay motionless, her expression peaceful—too peaceful.
---
(Inside Eva's dream)
The world around her shimmered in hues of gold and white. Eva sat in the middle of an endless meadow, the grass swaying under a soft, endless breeze.
She blinked slowly, confusion knitting her brow. "How long… have I been here?" she whispered. Her voice echoed faintly, as though the air itself answered her.
She looked around. The sky was too bright, the field too quiet. Everything was beautiful—but lifeless.
"I can't get out," she murmured, standing up. "It's beautiful… but I want to return."
The wind stilled, as if listening.
---
(Back to reality)
The door opened with a soft creak. Luca returned with the physician and three of his assistants.
The old man bowed low. "Your Majesty, you called for me?"
Eyan rose to his feet. "You said she would wake soon. Why hasn't she?" His voice carried the weight of desperation, though he tried to keep it steady.
The physician frowned, glancing at the queen. "That is… strange, Your Majesty. By all means, she should be awake by now."
Eyan's tone sharpened. "Then check her again."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The physician approached the bedside and gestured politely. "Your Majesty… if you and the others could step outside. I need to examine Her Grace in private."
Eyan hesitated, looking down at Eva's still form. His fingers lingered on her hand before he finally released it.
"Let's go," he said quietly.
Luca, Leo, and Aranel exchanged worried glances before following him out.
As the door closed behind them, the room fell into silence once more—
only the faint rise and fall of Eva's chest remained…
and the sound of time waiting for her to wake.
---
The physician quietly began examining Eva again, his assistants hovering close with worried eyes.
---
(Outside the Queen's Chamber —)
The hallway was heavy with silence. Luca, Leo, and Aranel stood by the wall, waiting. Eyan remained near the door, unmoving, his gaze fixed on the closed frame as though sheer will alone could make it open.
Luca broke the stillness first. "Eyan… are you really not going to ask why the child in Eva's womb is already a month old?"
Eyan's expression didn't change. "No. I'm not."
Luca frowned. "Why not? Don't you think it's strange?"
"It is," Eyan admitted quietly. His voice was calm, but his eyes were tired. "But I don't care."
He exhaled deeply, rubbing the back of his neck. "The child is mine. That's all that matters to me now. I don't care about anything else."
But before the moment could settle, Luca's eyes darkened. "Still, something doesn't sit right with me. Why did that man—Gray—say it was his child? Why lie about something like that?"
Eyan's gaze sharpened at the name. "Now that you mention it…" He turned toward the hall, his voice low but cold. "I need to deal with him."
He took a single step forward—
"Your Majesty!"
A knight came running down the corridor, panting heavily. Everyone's attention turned toward him.
Eyan straightened. "What happened?"
The knight bowed hurriedly. "Your Majesty… the man who broke into the Queen's chambers—he's dead."
Eyan's eyes widened slightly. "What?"
Luca stepped forward. "How did he die?"
"He took poison," the knight said grimly.
"Poison?" Luca echoed, disbelief flickering in his tone.
"Yes, Master Luca," the knight confirmed. "Before we could question him, he collapsed. The physician confirmed it was poison."
Eyan's jaw clenched. "Why would he take his own life…?"
No one answered. The corridor fell silent again—only the soft flicker of torches filled the air.
Eyan's voice lowered, heavy with frustration. "Now I'll never know why he lied."
Luca placed a hand on his shoulder. "Eyan, don't dwell on it. Even if he's dead, we'll find out who sent him."
He glanced at the closed door to Eva's room. "But right now, that's not what matters."
Eyan followed his gaze, his expression softening.
"You're right," he said quietly. "Right now… nothing is more important than her."
----
(Inside the Queen's Chamber —)
The physician and his assistants worked anxiously around Eva.
The older man muttered, brows furrowed, "Everything seems fine... then why isn't Her Majesty waking up?"
Before anyone could speak again—
Her wedding ring glowed faintly… a dark, pulsing black.
---
(Inside Eva's dream —)
Eva sat in the middle of a boundless meadow, golden and silent.
Her voice echoed softly, "How long have I been here? I can't get out..."
She looked around at the flowers swaying under sunlight, too perfect, too still.
Then—a sudden movement.
A flutter beneath her palm.
Her eyes widened. Her belly… was round. Alive.
A soft kick beneath her skin.
Tears welled as she clutched it. "A child?" she whispered, voice trembling with wonder.
A smile trembled through her tears. "… my Leo…"
She looked up, searching. "I need to tell Eyan!"
Across the field, she saw him—standing far, shadows dimming his face.
"Eyan!" she called.
He turned. His expression—cold, unrecognizable.
Eva ran to him, her dress fluttering like torn petals in the wind.
"Eyan, look—" she took his hand, placing it over her belly. "It's a child."
But his voice was ice. "Whose child is that?"
Her heart stilled. "What…? He's yours, of course."
"Don't lie," he snapped. "It's not mine."
Her knees weakened. "No, it's yours!"
"You betrayed me," he said, stepping back. "You carry another man's child and dare to call it mine."
Eva's tears streamed freely. "No! I didn't betray you!"
Eyan's eyes turned away. "Take this child and leave."
She reached for him. "Eyan—don't go! Don't abandon your child!"
The dream shattered like glass—
The meadow vanished, replaced by a barren wasteland.
Cold wind bit at her skin.
Then—
A voice echoed behind her. "Mother."
Eva turned. "Leo!"
He smiled, running toward her. "Mother!"
She opened her arms Smiling. "Leo, come to me!"
But midway—
His body began to crack, stone splitting from his skin.
Pieces of him broke apart, crumbling into dust.
"Mother…" His voice was breaking, trembling in pain.
Eva screamed, running to him, tears streaking her cheeks. "Leo! What's happening to you?"
"Mother, hold me... I don't have much time…"
Her scream tore through the barren field. "LEO!!!"
---
(Back to Reality —)
Eva's body jerked violently on the bed.
The physician startled. "The Queen is speaking—!"
Eva's voice cracked through the air, faint but clear: "Leo…"
Then—her entire body arched off the bed in agony.
Her hands twisted, her eyes fluttered.
The physician panicked. "What's happening—?"
CRASH!
—a glass fell from the bedside table, shattering into pieces.
"Hold the Queen down!" the physician shouted.
---
(Outside the chamber —)
Eyan's head snapped toward the door.
"That sound…"
Another CRASH!.
Eyan slammed his hand against the door. "What's happening in there?! Open the door!"
Inside, the physician's voice trembled, "Hold her still—quickly!"
"Luca, break it open!" Eyan shouted.
With a burst of blue magic, BOOM—! the door flew open.
Eyan rushed inside—
—and froze.
The physician and assistants struggled to hold Eva's convulsing body.
Her limbs shook, her lips whispered Leo's name again and again.
Eyan's voice cracked. "What's happening to her?!"
The physician cried, "Your Majesty—she's having a seizure!"
Eyan's pulse roared in his ears. "What?!"
Behind him, Luca and Leo stood frozen.
Leo's small voice trembled, "That's not… a seizure."
Luca turned sharply. "What do you mean?"
Leo's eyes darkened. "Something isn't right."
"Uncle," he said quickly, "send everyone out of the room—now!"
Luca didn't hesitate. "Everyone, leave! Now!"
The physician hesitated, "But—"
"I SAID LEAVE!"
They fled.
Luca turned to Aranel. "Lady Aranel, please—go too."
Tears glistened in her eyes. "No, let me stay—what's happening to her?"
"She'll be fine," Luca said firmly, "but you must go."
Aranel hesitated, then ran out.
The door slammed shut behind them.
Luca turned. "Eyan, you should—"
Leo's voice cut him off. "No, uncle. Let him stay."
Luca frowned. "Leo, if he stays, he'll find out—"
Leo's gaze hardened. "Then let him know the truth."
Eyan knelt by Eva's side, gripping her hand tightly. "Eva—Eva, open your eyes!"
Luca's tone grew low. "Leo, what's happening? You said it's not a seizure."
Leo's eyes flickered. "It's dark magic."
"Someone… cast a dark magic on her."
Luca's head snapped toward him. "What kind of dark magic? And why can't I sense it?"
Leo's eyes glowed faintly as he whispered, "It's not a strong spell… it's hidden — like a hallucination."
He paused, fear tightening his throat. "This type of magic is called 'Endless Nightmares'."
Luca's brows furrowed. "Endless Nightmares?"
Leo nodded, his voice barely a whisper. "When this dark magic is cast, the victim is trapped in an illusion — forced to see their worst fears, again and again. It's not possible to escape."
Luca's eyes widened in disbelief. "You mean… what she's suffering from right now is Endless Nightmares?"
Leo's breath quickened. "Yes... and she can't get out of it!"
Eyan turned sharply to Luca, confusion and fear flashing in his eyes. "Luca, what is he saying? How does he know about dark magic?"
Luca hesitated. "Eyan—"
Before he could finish, Eva's body twisted violently on the bed. Her scream ripped through the air, raw and broken.
"LEO!"
"Mother!" Leo cried, panic flooding his face.
Eva's tears streamed down her cheeks as she screamed again, louder, desperate —
"LEO DON'T GO!"
Leo's heart shattered at the sound. "Mother, I'm here!"
He looked to Luca, then to Eyan. "I need to do something."
"What you are planning to do leo", Luca asked.
"I need to use my power", Leo said with determination.
Luca's tone turned stern, his voice shaking. "Leo, you can't! You already used your power once today — your body won't handle it!"
"I can't just sit here and watch her suffer!" Leo shouted back, tears brimming in his red-rimmed eyes.
He turned to Luca, voice trembling yet determined. "Uncle, grab Mother's legs."
Then, to Eyan — "Mister, hold both her hands. Don't let go, no matter what happens."
Eyan blinked in confusion but nodded. "Alright."
He moved closer, gently but firmly gripping Eva's wrists.
Leo's voice grew urgent. "Hold her more tightly!"
Eyan tightened his hold as Luca restrained her legs. Eva's screams echoed, her body arching in pain.
Leo climbed onto the edge of the bed, his small hands trembling as he looked at his mother's suffering face.
Then, without hesitation, he whispered a faint spell under his breath.
A shimmer rippled through the air around him—
the illusion he wore began to fade.
The soft black strands of his hair turned silvery white, glowing faintly under the candlelight. His once-blue eyes flared into a deep, burning red—
Eyan's breath caught in his throat. His hands loosened for a second as he stared at the boy before him.
"Y–you…" his voice broke.
Eyan didn't need to ask.
He didn't need words, or proof.
Because in that single, breathless moment—
he understood.
The child sitting in front of him…
was
'His Son'.
------