A Wedding Shattered

The grand cathedral was filled with the soft murmur of excited whispers and the melodic strains of an organ. The air was thick with anticipation as the guests turned their gaze toward the aisle. Lady Eileen, the radiant bride, glided down the path toward her future husband, Prince Erle. Her silver gown shimmered under the chandeliers, and the long train followed her like a river of light. By her side, her father, Viscount Regis, walked with pride, his face a mixture of joy and bittersweet sorrow. He had always dreamed of this day, but now that it had arrived, a feeling of dread began to settle in his heart.

As they moved forward, Eileen’s delicate step faltered for a moment, and she coughed lightly, a strange rasp to her breath.

“Daughter, are you all right?” Viscount Regis asked, his brow furrowing in concern as he gently squeezed her arm.

Eileen paused, a brief wave of dizziness washing over her. Her vision blurred, and her stomach churned. But she quickly masked the discomfort, offering her father a reassuring smile.

“Yes, Father. I’m fine,” she replied, though her voice lacked its usual strength.

Viscount Regis didn’t look convinced, but he said nothing, guiding her down the aisle with a tender hand.

The ceremony continued, oblivious to the undercurrent of tension in the air. The priest’s voice rang out, echoing across the marble floors of the cathedral.

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the sight of God and in the presence of these witnesses, to join Prince Erle and Lady Eileen in holy matrimony,” he began, his voice steady and strong.

As the priest continued with the vows, the guests hung on every word, but for Eileen, each moment felt like it was slipping away from her. She could feel her heartbeat quickening, her limbs growing weak.

“Do you, Prince Erle, take Lady Eileen to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do you part?”

“I do,” Prince Erle said, his voice steady, his eyes locked on Eileen with an unshakable devotion.

The crowd murmured their approval, but Eileen’s world was spinning. She could barely hear the priest’s next words as she focused on staying upright.

“Do you, Lady Eileen, take Prince Erle to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do you part?”

“I d—” Eileen began, but her voice faltered. Suddenly, she doubled over with a violent cough. Red droplets splattered onto her lips, and before anyone could react, she spat out a stream of blood. The sight of it was horrifying, and the guests gasped in shock.

“EILEEN!!” Prince Erle cried out, rushing to her side, his face pale with fear. He caught her before she could collapse completely.

“EILEEN, MY DAUGHTER! NO!” Viscount Regis screamed, his voice cracking with anguish

The scene was chaotic. The priest fumbled, unsure of what to do. Guests rushed to the front, but Erle was the only one who seemed to remain focused.

“CALL THE PHYSICIAN!” he shouted, his voice desperate and sharp.

Two Hours Later…

The palace hallways were thick with tension as the royal physician emerged from the room where Lady Eileen lay, her fate hanging in the balance. He was a man of few words, but his expression said more than enough.

“How is she, doctor?” Prince Erle asked, his voice trembling, barely able to hold himself together.

The doctor looked at him gravely, his eyes filled with sympathy. “The lady is in critical condition, Your Highness. I’m afraid Lady Eileen won’t…” He paused, searching for the right words, but none came.

“Won’t what?” Erle demanded, a hint of panic creeping into his voice.

The doctor hesitated, then spoke softly, as though unwilling to deliver the inevitable. “I’m afraid she won’t make it,” he said solemnly.

“No!” Erle’s cry rang out, a sound of heartbreak so raw it seemed to shake the very air around them. He staggered back, his knees weak, his vision swimming with tears.

“I’m so sorry, Prince Erle,” the doctor continued, his voice sorrowful. “It appears she was poisoned.”

“Poisoned?!” Erle’s eyes widened in shock, his entire body stiffening. “How? Who did this?”

The doctor shook his head, his hands clasped in front of him, helpless. “We don’t know, Your Highness. But the symptoms are clear. The poison was swift, and it has already taken its toll.”

Viscount Regis, his face pale and tear-streaked, clutched his chest as if the very news of his daughter’s condition was a physical blow. “My daughter…” he sobbed, his voice breaking with the weight of his grief.

The room fell into an eerie silence as the gravity of the situation settled over everyone. Then, from across the room, a cold voice cut through the tension.

“WHO WAS THE PERSON THAT BROUGHT EILEEN HER MEDICINE?” demanded the Empress, her gaze sharp and accusatory.

Everyone turned to Mia, who had been standing quietly in the corner, her hands trembling at her sides. She swallowed hard, her throat dry, her heart pounding in her chest.

“It… it was me,” Mia admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. She stepped forward, but the room seemed to grow colder with each passing second.

The Empress’s eyes narrowed. “Guards!” she barked. “Take her to prison at once!”

Mia froze, her breath catching in her throat. “No, please,” she pleaded, her voice shaking. “I didn’t do anything wrong. I’m just a maid. I never meant to hurt Lady Eileen! Please, believe me!”

Prince Erle stepped forward, his face stricken with grief and confusion. “Mother, we don’t know if it was really her,” he interjected, his voice pleading.

The Empress’s expression hardened. “We must act swiftly before the killer escapes,” she insisted, her voice cold and unforgiving.

“Please, have mercy!” Mia begged, tears streaming down her face. “I wouldn’t hurt Lady Eileen. I swear to you, I—”

“GUARDS, TAKE HER AWAY!” the Empress shouted again, cutting off Mia’s pleas.

“No, no, please, it wasn’t me!” Mia cried out as the guards seized her arms and dragged her away, her frantic protests echoing through the hall.

As she was dragged from the room, the weight of her guilt hung heavy in the air. Whether she was guilty or not, she would have to face the consequences—though she knew in her heart that the truth might never come to light.

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