Eleanor woke up surrounded by maids and the healer. The room smelled strongly of crushed herbs and burning medicinal leaves. Her body felt unbearably heavy, as though stones had been placed on every part of her.
"Your Grace, can you hear me?" the healer asked.
Eleanor slowly opened her eyes.
"It... hurts." Her voice was barely a whisper. "Everything hurts."
"Don't worry. We'll do everything we can."
The healer immediately began mixing more herbs while the maids hurried around the room. Fresh leaves were crushed into a bowl until their scent filled the air.
Another wave of pain hit Eleanor. She curled her fingers into the sheets while her breathing became shallow.
She tried inhaling through her nose, but it wasn't enough. Her mouth opened desperately, pulling in short, painful breaths one after another.
"Help her sit up," the healer ordered.
Two maids gently lifted her while another supported her back.
"Drink this."
The bitter herbs were poured into her mouth. Eleanor struggled to swallow because every swallow felt like knives moving down her throat. She coughed, almost choking, before forcing herself to gulp everything down, but the pain didn't stop.
Instead, it spread across her stomach.
"Turn her gently."
The maids carefully rolled Eleanor onto her side, rubbing her back and stomach the way the healer instructed, hoping it would ease the cramping.
Eleanor's body trembled violently.
She wanted to scream, but no sound came out. Only tears rolled silently from the corners of her eyes.
After a while, they laid her back down.
"We've done all we can for now," the healer sighed.
The room slowly emptied, and only Eleanor remained trying to breathe.
The door suddenly burst open. Nathaniel rushed inside.
The moment he saw Eleanor, his heart shattered.
Her once glowing skin had become pale, her lips were dry, and dark circles rested beneath her beautiful hazel eyes. The woman who always filled every room with warmth now looked fragile enough to disappear.
"My love."
He dropped beside the bed and held her hand with both of his.
"How are you feeling?"
Eleanor tried smiling, "Bad."
Nathaniel immediately shook his head.
"No. Don't say that." He brushed her hair away from her face. "You're going to get better. Do you hear me? You'll recover."
Eleanor nodded weakly.
Nathaniel stayed.
Morning.
Afternoon.
Night.
Every day after finishing his duties at the palace, he rushed back to the estate just to sit beside her. Sometimes, he fed her soup himself. Sometimes, he helped her drink water. Sometimes, he simply held her hand because speaking exhausted her.
Days passed.
Eleanor became weaker.
Her body slowly swelled from the illness. Her cheeks lost their colour, and swallowing became so painful that she survived mostly on warm soup and herbal mixtures.
Every day, Nathaniel watched another piece of his wife disappear.
And every day, he prayed a little harder.
That evening...
For the first time in days, Eleanor managed to sit up by herself.
Nathaniel immediately supported her.
"Slowly."
He placed a soft pillow behind her neck and shoulders.
"Better?"
She nodded, "A little."
She turned her head toward the open window. The evening breeze gently lifted the curtains.
"You left the window open."
"Should I close it? It's getting cold."
"No." A faint smile appeared on her face, "I like looking outside."
Nathaniel smiled back and sat beside her.
After a long silence, Eleanor spoke.
"I want to see Aurora."
Nathaniel's eyes softened.
"She's asleep by now." He squeezed her hand gently, "Tomorrow morning. I'll bring her first thing. I promise."
"Okay."
Silence returned.
The breeze entered the room again.
Eleanor stared through the window as though she was watching something far away.
Then she whispered, "Nathaniel..."
"Hmm?"
"Will you marry again?"
Nathaniel froze.
"What kind of question is that?"
She kept looking outside, "I just want to know."
He turned her face toward him, "No."
She smiled sadly, "You don't know that."
"I do."
His voice was filled with certainty, "You're my wife, and you'll survive this."
Eleanor slowly shook her head.
"I don't know..." She placed a trembling hand over his. "I can feel it."
Nathaniel frowned, "Feel what?"
She looked toward the darkness beyond the window.
"It's standing there." Her voice became quieter, "It's watching me."
A chill passed through the room.
Nathaniel immediately stood up and closed the window.
There's nothing there." He forced a smile, "It's just the cold making you imagine things."
She looked at him, "I hope so."
Nathaniel blinked away the tears gathering in his eyes.
"You'll recover." He kissed her forehead, "I have faith."
He tucked the blanket around her shoulders.
"Let's sleep."
Eleanor smiled one last time before closing her eyes. Nathaniel lay beside her, holding her hand until sleep finally came.
Morning arrived.
Nathaniel woke first while Eleanor was still asleep.
He smiled gently, "I'll let you rest."
Carefully, he let go of her hand and walked into the bathroom to prepare for the day.
A few minutes later- knock, Knock.
The healer entered.
He walked to Eleanor's bedside and placed two fingers against her wrist.
His face changed.
The room went completely still.
The maids exchanged a frightened look, and Nathaniel noticed immediately.
"What is it?"
No one answered.
"Why is everyone quiet?"
The healer slowly lowered Eleanor's hand. His eyes filled with tears.
"Your Grace..."
The maids began crying. Nathaniel looked from their faces back to Eleanor.
His smile disappeared.
"No..." He rushed toward the bed, "Eleanor?"
She hadn't moved. She was lying exactly the way she had fallen asleep.
Peaceful.
Too peaceful.
"No..." His voice trembled. "Eleanor." He shook her shoulder gently. "Love... wake up."
Nothing.
"Eleanor... stop joking." He shook her harder, "Wake up."
Nothing, panic swallowed him whole.
"ELEANOR!"
His scream echoed through the entire Clifford Estate as he pulled her lifeless body into his arms.
"Wake up!"
Tears streamed uncontrollably down his face. "Aurora is waiting for you! You promised her cookies! Eleanor... please!"
He kissed her forehead.
Her cheeks.
Her hands, they were cold.
"No... no... no!"
Four guards rushed into the room.
"Your Grace!"
"Don't touch me!"
Nathaniel fought against them with everything he had.
"Leave me! She's alive! She's alive!"
The guards struggled to hold him back while he screamed Eleanor's name again and again until his voice became hoarse.
Outside the room...
Aurora stood in the hallway, "Mummy?"
A maid quickly carried the little girl away before she could see inside.
Hours later...
Olivia, Jasmine, and Frederick arrived. The entire estate was silent.
Olivia then rushed toward her son, "Nathaniel!"
He looked completely broken.
His eyes were swollen.
His clothes were stained with tears.
"Mother..." He pointed toward Eleanor's room. "She's gone."
Olivia hugged him tightly as both mother and son cried together. Then the bedroom door opened, and the healer stepped out.
"We have given Her Grace her final bath." His voice was gentle, "You may prepare for the burial."
Those words pierced Nathaniel deeper than any sword ever could. He stood frozen until a maid slowly approached him with folded paper.
"Your Grace... Her Grace left this for you."
Nathaniel unfolded it with trembling hands.
*****
My love,
I love you more than words can ever explain. I dreamed of us growing old together and watching Aurora grow beside her future brothers and sisters.
But time has, chosen differently, and by the time you read this... I will already be gone.
Please don't cry. Don't tell Aurora about my death until she's old enough to understand.
Promise me you'll marry someone who will love her the way I do... and love you the way I wish I could forever.
That's all I want.
Love always, Eleanor.
*****
The letter slipped from Nathaniel's fingers as his knees gave way. Everything around him became blurry.
"Eleanor..."
He whispered her name one last time, and then darkness consumed him.
"Your Grace!"
Olivia screamed as Nathaniel collapsed to the floor.