Eva opened her eyes.

  The ceiling above her was unfamiliar—too plain, too distant. For a moment, she simply stared, her mind empty. Then she turned her head.

  This was not her chamber. Realization struck like a blade.

  She pushed herself upright, her body weak, her vision swaying. Ignoring the dizziness, she swung her legs off the bed and stumbled toward the door.

  Her feet barely carried her as she ran into the corridor. Tears blurred her sight, spilling freely as she ran, her breaths sharp and uneven.

  “Your Majesty, stop—please, don’t run!” The maids chased after her, their voices filled with panic, but Eva didn’t slow down. Her heart pounded as she reached the hall.

  The place where she had left him.

  She stopped. The hall was spotless. Clean. Empty. No blood. No body. No sign that Eyan had ever been there at all.

  Her breath broke. “Eyan…” she whispered.

  She staggered forward, her voice rising, desperate. “Eyan!”

  “Your Majesty—”

  Eva turned suddenly and grabbed one of the maids by the shoulders, her hands trembling violently.

  “Where is he?” she cried. “I left him here—he was here. Where is my Eyan?!”

  The maids’ eyes filled with tears. Their lips trembled, but no words came.

  “Tell me!” Eva screamed. “Tell me where he is!”

  “He’s not here.”

  The voice came from behind her.

  Eva turned.

  Luca stood at the entrance of the hall, his face hollow, his eyes red from days without rest.

  “We held the funeral,” he said quietly.

  The words didn’t make sense at first.

  Eva walked toward him, her steps slow and unsteady. When she reached him, she struck his chest weakly with trembling fists.

  “Brother…” she sobbed. “How could you do that without me? I didn’t even get to see his face one last time…” Her blows held no strength—only pain. “How could you take that from me?”

  Luca caught her hands gently, his own shaking. “Sister-in-law,” he said softly, voice breaking, “you were unconscious for five days. We waited as long as we could. We had no choice.”

  Eva froze. “…Five days?” she whispered. “I was asleep… for five days?”

  Luca nodded. “Yes.”

  Her knees gave out, and she sank to the floor, sobbing.

  “Brother… please,” she begged through her tears. “There must be a way. Do something—anything—to bring him back.”

  Her eyes lit with desperate hope. “That dragon… he can grant any wish,” she said, clutching at the thought. “If I wish for Eyan to return—if I beg him—”

  “It won’t work,” Luca interrupted quietly.

  She looked up at him.

  “I already tried,” he continued, his voice heavy. “He said Eyan received punishment for releasing him. His soul cannot be returned.”

  The last thread holding her together snapped. Eva collapsed fully to the floor, her cries breaking apart, raw and helpless.

  “What am I supposed to do now?” she sobbed. “I can’t live without him.”

  Luca knelt in front of her, gently taking her shoulders. “You must,” he said softly. “You have to live.”

  She shook her head, tears falling endlessly. “He did all of this so you would live,” Luca continued, his voice trembling. “So you and the child would survive. If you give up now… his sacrifice will be meaningless.”

  Eva’s hands slowly moved to her belly. Her breath hitched. She pressed her palms there, clutching the place where the last part of him still lived on.

  Her sobs softened into broken cries as she curled forward, holding herself.

  --------------------------------------------------------

  (Royal Palace of Velmoria — Night)

  (Eyan’s Chamber)

  Eva sat by the window, her knees drawn close, her gaze fixed on the darkness beyond the glass. The palace lights glimmered faintly in the distance, but none of them reached her eyes.

  She did not blink.

  The door opened softly. A maid entered, carrying a tray of untouched warmth.

  “Your Majesty,” the maid said gently, bowing, “I’ve brought your dinner. Please… try to eat.”

  Eva didn’t turn around.

  “I’m not hungry,” she said flatly. “Take it away.”

  The maid hesitated. “Your Majesty, you haven’t eaten for five days. Please, just a little—”

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  “I said I don’t want it,” Eva snapped, her voice suddenly sharp. “Take it back.”

  The maid flinched and turned toward the door.

  “Stop.” Luca’s voice cut through the room.

  The maid bowed quickly. “Master Luca.”

  Luca stepped inside, his expression tired, lined with grief. “Leave the food. You may go.”

  The maid obeyed, setting the tray down before retreating. The door closed quietly behind her.

  Luca moved closer. “Sister-in-law… eat. You need your strength.”

  Eva finally spoke, her voice low and trembling.

  “The man I loved is dead,” she said. “And you’re telling me to eat?”

  Luca’s jaw tightened. “Starving yourself won’t bring him back.”

  She turned to face him, eyes hollow.

  “Please understand,” he continued softly. “You’re carrying a child. If not for yourself… eat for the baby.”

  Eva said nothing. The silence stretched, thick and suffocating.

  Luca let out a tired sigh. Reaching into his coat, he pulled out a folded letter and held it out to her.

  “Read this,” he said quietly.

  Eva slowly took the letter, her fingers tightening around it. “What is it?”

  “It’s a letter Eyan left for you,” Luca replied. “Hans gave it to me.”

  Her breath caught.

  Luca turned away. “I’ll leave you alone.”

  He walked out and gently shut the door behind him.

  Eva remained still for a long moment, the letter clutched to her chest. Then, with shaking hands, she unfolded it.

  And began to read.

  .

  .

  Eva’s fingers tightened around the letter.

  Eva let out a broken laugh, her tears splashing onto the paper.

  Her shoulders shook as she cried.

  A single line followed, written darker, heavier.

  Eva clutched the letter to her chest, pressing it against her heart as if she could force it to beat again.

  And then she broke.

  “H-how could you…” she cried, her voice shaking violently.

  “How could you tell me to forget you…?”

  Her fingers crushed the paper.

  “How could you tell me to find another man?” she sobbed. “How could you say that so easily—like my heart isn’t buried with you?”

  Her breath came in sharp, painful gasps.

  “I only loved you,” she cried, pressing the letter harder to her chest. “Only you. No one can ever take your place… no one.”

  Her knees gave out, and she sank to the floor, tears spilling endlessly, soaking the letter that held the last pieces of him.

  The chamber door burst open.

  Luca rushed inside and dropped to her side, panic written all over his face.

  “Sister-in-law… are you alright?”

  Eva couldn’t answer. She was still crying, clutching the crumpled letter to her chest as if letting go would mean losing him all over again.

  Luca lowered his voice, careful, almost pleading. “Please… don’t cry too much. It’s not good for you.”

  His words echoed with another voice—one she knew far too well.

  Eva sucked in a trembling breath.

  Slowly, painfully, she pushed herself to her feet and wiped her tears with the back of her hand.

  “…I want to eat,” she whispered. “He told me to eat.”

  Luca froze for a second—then nodded, his jaw tightening.

  He brought the tray closer and set it in her trembling hands.

  With shaking fingers, Eva lifted the spoon. Her hand quivered so badly that it nearly slipped—but she forced herself to take a bite.

  Tears fell into the food as she ate.

  She swallowed, again and again, not because she was hungry—but because he had asked her to live.

  Luca’s eyes filled with tears. He turned his face away, pretending to adjust the curtain—hiding his grief so she wouldn’t see it.

  -------------------------------------------------------

  Eva finished the meal and slowly set the tray aside.

  The room fell quiet again.

  Luca stepped closer, his voice gentle. “Sister… are you feeling alright now?”

  Eva nodded faintly. “Yes.”

  “Before you sleep, the royal physician will come to check on you,” he said carefully. “Alright?”

  “…Alright.”

  Luca hesitated, then added, “Can you wake up a little early tomorrow? There’s somewhere I need to take you.”

  Eva nodded again. “Okay.”

  “Then please rest,” Luca said softly. “I’ll take my leave.”

  He turned toward the door—but stopped.

  “Sister…” he said after a pause. “Can you show me the letter?”

  Eva looked down at the crumpled paper in her hands. After a moment, she extended it to him.

  Luca took the letter and slowly scanned every word.

  His chest rose with a deep breath, and he whispered under it, “…I’m glad he didn’t write here.”

  He folded the letter carefully and handed it back. “Here, sister.”

  Eva reached out to take it— Suddenly, Luca pulled it back.

  “Wait.”

  He unfolded the letter again and flipped it over. The page was blank.

  Eva frowned. “What happened, brother?”

  “There’s something written here,” Luca said quietly. “It’s concealed by magic.”

  He snapped his fingers.

  The concealment faded. Letters slowly appeared on the page.

  Eva’s breath caught. “…What does it say?”

  Luca read silently. His lips parted.

  “It’s a name,” he said.

  “A… name?”

  “Yes,” Luca nodded. “He wrote a name for the child—if the child is a girl, name her .”

  Eva whispered the name. “Aria…”

  “And if it’s a boy…” Luca said.

  Eva’s heart began to race. “…Then?”

  “Then name him,” Luca said softly,

  “.”

  Eva’s breath hitched violently. “…What?” she whispered.

  “Leo,” Luca repeated.

  Eva stumbled back a step, her hand flying to her chest. “Leo… Leo…” she shook her head. “No…”

  “Sister?” Luca rushed to her side. “What’s wrong?”

  “Brother… Leo,” Eva whispered, trembling. “That child… is my child.”

  Luca froze. “What are you talking about…?”

  “For a long time,” Eva said shakily, “I’ve been having strange dreams. In them, I meet a boy. He told me his name was Leo.”

  Her eyes filled with tears. “That’s him,” she whispered. “He’s Eyan’s son.”

  Luca’s voice dropped. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes,” Eva nodded. “In fact… I saw him just before I woke up today.”

  “What did you talk about?” Luca asked carefully.

  Eva stiffened.

  Memories rushed back—sharp and cruel.

  Eva gasped, covering her mouth.

  “Sister?” Luca asked urgently. “What did you two talk about?”

  “…I said terrible things,” Eva whispered, her voice breaking. “I said I hated him.”

  Regret crushed her chest. “Brother,” she grabbed Luca’s sleeve desperately,

  “Can you help me meet him again? You can use your magic, right?”

  Luca looked at her for a long moment. “…I can connect you to him,” he said quietly. “Through dreams.”

  Eva didn’t hesitate. “Then do it,” she said urgently. “Please. I want to see him.”

  She rushed to the bed and lay down, clutching the letter to her chest.

  Luca stepped closer, his expression solemn. He raised his hand. Magic shimmered softly in the air as he began the spell—

  reaching across dreams, across fate—

  To connect a grieving mother

  to the child waiting for her

  on the other side of sleep.