My heart stopped beating the moment I saw Riona lying lifeless, her body cold and drenched in her blood. The memories of that fateful day came flooding back, and I felt like I was reliving the same nightmare. I cradled her head in my lap, my voice trembling as I called out her name again and again.
"Riona, please wake up. Don't leave me like this. Wake up, Riona."
I was oblivious to everything around me, my entire world centered on the lifeless form in my arms. But Eros's urgent voice pierced through my haze of despair.
"Your Highness, snap out of it! She's not dead yet. I'll try to heal Riona, you need to take charge. The empire needs you now more than ever."
It took every ounce of strength I possessed to gather myself and my thoughts. A part of me screamed that Riona would pull through, that she would wake up and everything would be okay. But another part of me whispered that I was going to lose her again, that I would never hold her in my arms or see her smile again.
