I'm going to answer a question by Guest.

Guest - Where is Imogen?

Me - She doesn't exist in this AU.

This is the last chapter! There will be an epilogue, though, but it's not necessary to read. I hope you enjoy this last chapter!

Aradia was gone.

I had always assumed I wouldn't have anyone to lose, so I couldn't possibly fathom the emotions that came with loss. However, I knew I would feel despair and sadness forevermore.

I was wrong.

The emptiness that followed the short-lived sadness engulfed me. In other words, I was depressed.

Only a day or two had passed since her death. At least, that's what I thought. Amarinda told me not to hole up in my room, or "Confine myself in my quarters instead of doing my work", as she stated it, but she didn't know how close we both were.

Surviving Farthenwood was not an easy thing to do, but we both had done it, only for Aradia to be killed by a boy who I thought was my friend. She was killed protecting me.

It wasn't my fault. I kept telling myself that. And it was true, but I couldn't stop the guilt from taking over my brain whenever I thought of her.

However, Amarinda was somewhat right.

I couldn't do this to myself; Aradia would punch me if she knew how I was living. But she probably knew. Aradia had become a Saint; I was sure of that. It was impossible for it to be otherwise.

I took a deep, shuddering breath and left my room quietly. It was late at night, and everyone would be asleep, apart from the few guards that were there this time. But none of them were around my room.

I had specifically ordered no guards to be around my room, and though they were wary, both Mott and Tobias agreed that I was fully capable of taking care of myself. I was.

I headed towards Aradia's room. I was finally ready to face it. The tall doors of her quarters were looming over me. I was having second thoughts about my bold decision. My feet had subconsciously carried me here, but I had never actually been inside.

But there was no going back now. I pushed open the doors, which seemed heavy, though they weighed the same as all the other doors, and walked inside. I immediately froze.

A whirring noise sounded above me.

A piece of rope was laid out across the doorway.

More rope was above me.

And a letter dropped in my hand.

Before I could consider what had just happened, I knew it was Aradia. She had managed to surprise me even in her death. Letting out a bittersweet chuckle, I opened the seal on the letter, which was plain wax and pulled out a scrap of paper.

Talk to Mott. Ask him about a package that arrived earlier this morning.

I was thoroughly confused. The handwriting was unmistakably Aradia's, and I wanted nothing more than to do what she said. But she probably wrote this before she died-no, she definitely did. She was probably referring to a few mornings ago.

I nearly ran to Mott's room. Luckily, he was still awake, though surprised at my presence. He even overlooked the fact that it was really late. Without giving Moth a chance to speak, I hurriedly asked him if there was a package that arrived this morning. Before I asked about a few days ago, I just wanted to make sure. Moot was taken aback.

"Well, actually, there is a package. But it is addressed to the castle in general."

That was weird. But I asked for it anyway. Warning me about the contents, he handed it to me anyway. I went back to Aradia's room before opening it. The package was a wooden box, a cheap one. There was another letter inside, but I had a better feeling about this one. It was addressed to me.

Jaron,

If you're reading this, then I'm dead. Before you think about this, you probably want to know how I pulled this off. Well, I'm much smarter than you, that's for a fact. It was very simple, actually. I know you would take around a day to grieve, and be conscious of yourself the next day. You would go to my room.

I put the box that you have in your hands in another box, and addressed it to Mendenwal, then put it in another box addressed to Bymar. You can assume how that played off. You do have that treaty not to open others' royal packages, so I knew it would work. I just didn't know how long you'd take on the second day.

Thank you so much, Jaron, for everything you did for me. I care about you so much, never forget that. If you ever doubt yourself, just pray to me, who is definitely a saint by now. It could never be otherwise.

Don't hold a grudge against the pirate who killed me, okay? It might seem like he was the one who did it, but that is not true. I killed myself.

I think it's time you learned about my past.

I was a young girl when the pirates attacked. My father had made a deal with them, but I don't know what it was. He wasn't able to keep his end of it, but he hoped they would forget. Pirates never forget. My mother was killed in front of his eyes, and mine. He was soon dead as well.

My father had smartly not told them he had children, and so my older brother escaped with me and my younger sister. You know, the girl in the locket. The one that you looked at without my permission?

But the pirates had somehow found out. We were fugitives, running for our lives. For years we ran, until the rest of my family was gone. Then Bevin Conner arrived. He knew of my problem, and took pity on me. Well, he knew as much as I had foolishly told him. I knew his true colors long before you did, Jaron, and I'm so sorry I couldn't warn you.

The pirates knew I was alive. I got word of the attack that has already happened to you, and I'm sure I did my best to protect you. I know I'm going to die, just know I didn't die in vain.

I hope you live a long life, King Jaron. Because if you don't, I will haunt you in the afterlife. I'm waiting. Don't come soon.

Goodbye.

I was speechless. The letter fell out of my hands and drifted to the ground. My body was frozen in place, and the room got colder. I was no longer angry at Roden; it was not his fault. She would have left me anyway.

I fell to my knees. It's time to let go.

I closed my eyes. I need to move on.

"Goodbye, Aradia."

Thank you so much to all those who have read this story!

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Thanks to ConureLover, Goldilocks06, and Nellamemoria for Following

And lastly, thanks to Nellamemoria, Goldilocks06, dream mouse, and the Guests (I think there are two of them) for Reviewing all throughout the chapters!

~ BookwormCM18