Not Even Death

by toodles-me-doodles

After the rest of her family dies, a grief stricken Amber is the only one left to rule the kingdom. Without her family, she becomes a cruel ruler, and the rest of the kingdom lives in fear of her. Until one day, when a certain royal sorcerer discovers the truth, something that not even Amber knows, that maybe they aren't actually dead.

1. Prologue

Sofia was the first to go.

She had gotten sick, really sick. Both Cedric and the doctors tried everything that they could to heal her, but nothing had worked, and in the end, the family had lost their sunshine.

"Don't cry for me." She had said before she passed. "It'll be okay."

But it wasn't okay, and crying was all they seemed to do in the months following. She was only 15, too young to go.

Cedric had closed himself off, only leaving his tower when asked to by the King. He wasn't the same. None of them were.

James was next.

They were at war with a neighboring country. Some of their allies had come to help, including Hugo.

The final battle was fought, and though the Enchancian side was victorious, it was not without loss. Hugo was killed, and James had been gravely wounded in battle. In the end, the family had lost their laughter.

He was gone at 17, too young, and not even a year after Sofia's death. The family could do nothing but wallow in the sadness of losing two dear members of their family so close together.

Next was their parents.

Amber begged them not to go, it was still too soon after James's death.

"It's just for a few weeks." Her mother had assured her.

"Royal duty calls." Her father had said.

She had watched as her parents boarded their boat, and somehow, she knew, that she would never see them again.

They were lost at sea, presumed dead, and suddenly, she was alone.

Now it was Amber.

Just Amber.

She had become queen soon after her parents death, and more things had changed. She was no longer kind, that was what Sofia always tried to help her be. She never laughed, that was what James always tried to make her do. She was never happy. Jewels and tiaras didn't bring her joy anymore, she only longed to see her family again.

But that was impossible. So why bother trying to be happy.

She didn't help the people, she never left the castle, she didn't try to make anything better. Those things just reminded her of her family. So instead, she would turn away those in need, and she would order her servants as she pleased.

Eventually, she had become relentless enough that she had driven away everyone else, Cedric being the only one out of the original castle staff that had stuck around. Baileywick, Violet, Hildegard, Cleo, none of them wished to have anything to do with her anymore. So she let them leave. She didn't need them. She's a queen now. Who needs friends.

Who needs… anyone.