Sunlite was still crying, but her tears were the deepest expression of love. She tightly held that cold, limp hand between both of hers, as if trying to bring back the Maharaja's life force with the warmth of her hand.
The Physicians and Advisors present were completely silent, stunned by this unexpected scene. Their eyes held surprise and respect. They realized that this marriage might have been a power pact, but a different kind of bond had formed in Sunlite's heart.
Then Sunlite slowly leaned in. She kissed Hirday's cold, sweaty forehead. That kiss was a silent prayer for forgiveness, love, and a last-minute return to life.
Hirday trembled slightly. At the touch of Sunlite's lips, his faded Nexus Crystal seemed to flash a faint light for a moment, which no one noticed—except Sunlite.
Sunlite then stopped her tears. She turned around. Her face was now wet with tears, but her voice held the return of the old Queen's firmness.
She looked directly at the Chief Royal Physician.
"Doctor," Sunlite asked in a hard yet emotional voice, "What is happening to him? Will he be alright? What is this illness? Why isn't the Nexus power working?"
The Chief Physician replied, trembling.
"Your Majesty... we are not sure. The Maharaja has no infection in his body. It seems... it seems his source of Nexus power is drying up. As if his mind has given up on life itself. We cannot save him."
Sunlite nodded. She understood—this was no ordinary illness. It was the consequence of her rebellion. The crushing of his authority in the Nexus Chamber, public humiliation, and the betrayal of his advisors—all combined, the Maharaja had suffered a mental breakdown. And his weak blood-line bond might also have weakened his life force.
Sunlite looked at Hirday again.
She knew that the only way to break this blood bond was Hirday's willing rejection. But now he was on his deathbed.
Sunlite thought quickly. At this moment, she had to ensure both the Maharaja's life and her own freedom.
After hearing the doctor, Sunlite realized that saving Maharaja Hirday through physical treatment was impossible. His illness was the result of the Nexus power and a mental collapse. What he needed now was something more than a cure.
She wiped the tears from her eyes. There were no more tears in her eyes, only sharp focus and authority.
Sunlite quickly stepped slightly away from the bedside and gestured with her hand.
Her gesture was silent, yet extremely clear and forceful. The gesture was—everyone leave the chamber!
The Advisors and Physicians hesitated for a moment. The Maharaja was unconscious, and the Queen's order was outside royal protocol. But the memory of Sunlite's rebellion in the Royal Court last night and the steady, powerful resolve in her eyes gave no one the courage to ignore her.
Besides, Hirday was now a weak, defeated King to them, and Sunlite was the symbol of the Nexus power.
The Chief Advisor bowed. "Your command, Your Majesty."
In a moment, the Royal Physicians, Advisors, and other servants silently left the chamber. They gently propped the door open slightly, but did not close it.
The chamber instantly became silent. Only Sunlite and Maharaja Hirday, lying on his deathbed, remained.
Sunlite ensured that no one was watching or listening. She went to the door and firmly closed it herself.
She slowly returned to the bedside. Her gaze was fixed on Hirday's dull Crystal.
"You won't reject this bond willingly, will you, Maharaja?" Sunlite said calmly. "You wanted to frighten me, but you left your last move to me."
Sunlite placed her hand on her own chest's Nexus Crystal. Her Crystal began to glow with a bright blue light. She was now ready to use her own power to delve into the source of the blood bond's mystery.
Her own Nexus power now started flowing towards the Maharaja's faded Crystal.
The chamber was silent. The only sound was Maharaja Hirday's weak, faint breathing.
Sunlite knelt beside the Maharaja's bed. She slowly brought her blazing blue Nexus Crystal close to Hirday's dull Crystal.
"You wanted to bind me," Sunlite whispered. "But now I am going to sever your bond."
She channeled all her power, hatred, and love—everything combined—from her own Nexus power towards Hirday.
Instantly, an intense, but silent, burst of energy occurred. Sunlite's eyes closed. She entered deep into the source of their blood-line bond.
Deep into the Nexus Connection
Sunlite entered a mental realm in a moment. She saw a black, swirling current—which bound their two blood-lines. The current was coming from Hirday's side, but it was now weak, decaying.
She understood:
Cause of Illness: Hirday's illness was not a disease, but the result of the crushing of his authority. Hirday wanted to secure his power through Sunlite, but Sunlite's rebellion and hatred had poisoned that connection. Since Sunlite was his 'part,' Sunlite's mental rejection was destroying his life force.
Secret Truth: Sunlite delved deeper and discovered the secret condition of the blood bond, which was obscured in Alisa's diary. Hirday had hidden a vital piece of information: The bond can only be severed when the second party (Sunlite) forcibly pulls the bond in the opposite direction at the binder's weakest moment. That is, not a willing rejection; but a forced severing of the bond at the moment of weakness was possible.
Hirday thought the bond was irreversible. But he didn't know that his process of seizing power was flawed.
The Final Moment
Sunlite opened her eyes. Her face showed ultimate resolve. She now knew how to sever the blood bond and how to save Hirday (if she wanted to).
She channeled all her Nexus power toward Hirday, but this time she didn't give power—instead, she pulled the bond towards herself with an intense, merciless tug!
"You are free, Maharaja," Sunlite said in a calm yet terrifying voice. "But your empire is no longer yours."
Immediately, a faint, but black flash of light shot out from Hirday's Crystal, merging into Sunlite's Crystal.
The bond was severed.
Hirday took a deep breath, and his Nexus Crystal began to glow with a faint light. He was now out of danger, but weak.
Sunlite felt a huge current of power flowing through her body. She was now the sole possessor of the complete Nexus power. She was now free.
Hirday slowly opened his eyes. He saw Sunlite holding his hand, her eyes devoid of tears, containing only the authority of a new King.
"You... what did you do?" Hirday questioned with a whisper.
Sunlite stood up. She looked at Hirday and gave a cold, hard smile.
"I freed myself, Maharaja," Sunlite declared. "And I freed this kingdom's throne from your greed."
She walked towards the door.
"The King has not died," Sunlite said. "But the Queen's coronation has begun."
Sunlite opened the chamber door. The Advisors and guards waiting outside immediately knelt upon seeing her.
She walked towards the palace corridor. The edge of her gown brushed against the floor, but even without a crown on her head, she was the one and only Queen of the Nexus Empire.