It seemed like time slowed as people filed out to watch what was happening outside. While some people with a high rank could step out, others, including servants, could only watch from the windows where they were.
An open four-wheeled wagon was rolled in, followed by one of the groups that had gone out in search of Susan. Since it was already evening, some of the bodyguards held fire torches while the others simply stood with their heads down. They all had solemn looks on their faces.
They could all see it. Even if they tried to pretend like they could not. They could all see a body in the wagon, which was covered with a white cloth. The person was not as tall as the average man, and neither was their body moving. It was simply lying still.
The bodyguard leading the troop dropped to his knees while facing the palace as he painfully said in a tight voice, "This... useless servant... f-failed."
No one could speak or move. The only thing some of them could do was release horrified gasps, while some of the servants watching from the windows began to sob.
It was just at that time that another group arrived. The one being led by Susan's father.
His troop slowed beside him as he moved slowly towards the wagon. It was the first time for many of them to see Sir Evan look so frightened.
He tried to reach for the cloth to pull it down, but he could not bring himself to do so. He folded his hand to form a fist and shut his eyes as he took a loud, shaky breath.
He didn't want to confirm it.
"It... isn't my... child, right?" Susan's mother asked as she looked at her husband with a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
Sir Evan opened his eyes and stared at her, not being able to say a word to her.
Tears spilled down Lady Victoria's eyes, and she used a hand to cover her mouth as she shook her head in denial.
"You... promised me you were going to bring her back and we would scold her together," she said to her husband as she began to walk towards the wagon, but her legs were suddenly so weak that she fell to the ground.
Sir Evan looked at his wife with tear-streaked eyes before he turned his gaze away from her and shut his eyes.
"It can't be her." The woman said with conviction before forcing herself up from the ground and staggering towards the wagon. She was about to reach for the cloth to pull down when her husband grabbed her hand and quickly pulled her into a tight hug while she cried loudly and flailed about in his arms to be let out so she could confirm that it was truly not her daughter.
The sight was so heartbreaking for everyone that some of them could not bear to watch anymore and ran back inside the palace.
"P-Please..." Lady Victoria pleaded with her husband as she lost the will to fight and cried out loudly as she hugged him.
"I'm... sorry." Sir Evan said in a broken voice as he sniffled.
Lady Victoria shook her head and suddenly began to gasp for air. Her husband quickly let go of her because it was obvious something was wrong. She clutched at her chest and continued to gasp as she fell off his hold. Luckily, he caught her and shook her.
"What is wrong with you?" He asked her in panic, but she said no words and continued to gasp for air.
"Get the physician!" Sir Evan yelled as he lifted her in his arms. His worried eyes went to the wagon, and he looked torn for a split second before he carried her into the palace with long strides.
Harvey had been in denial the entire time.
Susan couldn't die. Even though he hadn't known her for a long time, he could swear that it was impossible for someone like her to have an enemy who would go as far as getting her killed.
He shook his head. She could not die like that. It wasn't her.
It was not possible.
He turned beside him to look at the two young men who had followed him out, hoping he was hearing and seeing things and that this was not real.
Lance's eyes were wide and his face pale. He looked frozen on the spot, his eyes fixed on the wagon.
Alvin, on the other hand, looked at the wagon with his usual stoic expression. But it wasn't normal. All of the veins in his neck were visible and strained, and his hands were tightly clenched beside him as he stood still and also stared at the figure in the wagon.
He didn't move an inch. He only looked. And then he shut his eyes.
"What... is happening?" Tyra asked as she stepped outside. No one said a word.
They could not.
Her eyes went to the wagon, and she staggered towards it. At one point, she fell to the ground and had to be helped up by some guards while she continued to approach the wagon with tears in her eyes.
As soon as she stood beside it, her shaking hands reached for the cover and slowly pulled it open.
Her hair was revealed first.
The familiar hair they all knew.
And the more she drew down the cloth, the more of her features were revealed until her entire face came into view.
Tyra let out a scream as her hand dropped the cloth and she fell to the ground, crying, "Noooooo!"
That was the confirmation they all needed.
It was Susan.
Cries erupted from every corner of the palace.
"Why... why?" Tyra cried loudly, shaking on the ground.
Why?
Why was she an annoying busybody who would not let her be?
Why wouldn't she just mind her business?
If it wasn't for Susan, many things wouldn't have been ruined.
Tyra's sobs were so heartbreaking that they could make even a cold-hearted man cry.
"My Princess... you are unwell. Please..." One of the maids who had dared step out went to Tyra and tried to help her up, but Tyra refused, crying loudly on the ground.
Williams stepped out at that moment, accompanied by Paulina, whose hand was covering her mouth as she also sobbed. This was shocking and unexpected. It was too hard to believe.
Williams slowly walked up to the wagon and took a look at his sister's face.
She looked peaceful in her sleep. Unfortunately, it wasn't a peaceful sleep for any of them.
She had a cut on her lip, and blood had dried around it. Someone had hit her.
The other thing that stood out was the purple bruise on her neck.
Strangled.
She was pale. With no single sign of life.
But Williams was blind to it all.
He took his sister in his arms, lifting her off the wagon as he said to no one in particular, "Get the royal physician immediately."
He didn't pay anyone any mind as he carried his sister off with the covers further rolling down. As he passed by the others, they could all see her face and confirm that it was indeed Susan.
The daughter of Lord Evan and Lady Victoria.
The Twin of Williams.
The Queen's niece.
It was THAT Susan.
Lance, who was still in disbelief, tried to approach Williams, but Harvey quickly held his hand to keep him in place.
That evening was tough for every one of them.
Paulina folded herself into a fetal position as she slept on the floor beside an unconscious Amber's bed, sobbing.
If there was one lady she had come to like a lot, it was Susan.
She remembered the night she shared a room with Susan and Luciana in the inn. She remembered the food fight they had had. And Susan had called her her friend. And had even apologized to her. No lady had treated her with such kindness before, except Alicia.
And the thought of how Williams was feeling right now made her cry even more.
Lance stood outside Sir Evan's chamber. He could neither bring himself to knock nor go away. All he could hear were quiet sobs and Williams saying, "Susan, please."
Lance remained there until his mother found him, bringing him into her embrace while he tried to muffle his sobs but failed.
For Alvin, he went to Harold's chamber.
"My Lord..." He called quietly as he knelt beside Harold's bed.
"Harold." He called again, his voice slowly fading.
"H-Ha–rold." He choked on his words as he reached for Harold's hand and held it in his hands before dropping his head on their hands.
Even though Harold was unconscious, he held Alvin's hand in a way that assured Alvin that he was there.
It seemed like those fun days of playing together outside the palace were never coming again.
Alicia was gone.
Luciana was not waking up.
And Susan...
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