Previously on Forbidden Love:
"Greetings to you too, prime minister." My husband replied
"Stand up. There is no need to kneel." I responded
"Thank you, your Majesties." He stood up and looked at his daughter.
After a moment of silence, he said "Who did this?" in an angry tone
"We are not really sure who fired the arrows but one thing is known for sure" My husband started "That person will be brought to justice."
"Yes, and I will strangle that person who dares harm them," I said, making a strangling motion with my hands.
"Thank your highnesses for your help."
"No need to be so formal with us." My husband said
"What did the doctor say?"
"He said that there is a cure but there is only one pill." My husband explained
The prime minister's eyes widen, "Then that means..."
"Yes, we will only be able to save one of the two." I finished looking sadly at my son
I know exactly how he feels right now. To pick between lives is a cruel thing to do. Especially, when one of them is your flesh and blood.
"Prime minister, you don't have to be forced to choose Astral. You can pick your daughter if you want to." I said
"My queen-"
"I'm a parent as well, I know exactly how you feel in this situation." I said, "I know that you are loyal to us, but you shouldn't pick my son over your own daughter."
"My wife is correct. As a parent, it's very hard to pick between your child and someone else's. I have known Maria since she was little. In all essence, she is like a daughter to me and Enna."
At hearing that, he was silent
"Oh, and I think you should all know this. If we don't get the pill in one of them by the end of today, then we won't be able to save them at all." My husband said as gasps could be heard from everyone in this room.
Star's POV:
We were all trying to decide choosing who to save. Which I think is ridiculous because the value of a life is valuable and shouldn't be based on a decision. Also, it's between Astral and Maria. Maria is my friend and Astral... I'm not really sure how I feel about him. I said that I see him as like a brother but with my memory back, I don't think that is the case.
If I say I see him as a friend, that doesn't feel right either. It's so complexed. I guess what I'm to say is that I can't lose Astral or Maria. However, I have a clue who shot that arrow. It must be a person from the Barian World.
"I don't know who to choose," Crystal said with a sigh "It feels wrong to pick between two people. Especially when one of them is your brother."
"I know, I don't want to pick either," Lilly said, agreeing with Crystal
"Guys, I think I know who shot the arrows," I said getting everyone's attention.
"I'm pretty sure it was one of Don Thousand's spies."
Eliphas sighed, "Yes, that much is correct."
"Then, that would be a breach in the contract and we could attack." The Prime minister said looking hopeful
"Yes, we could but we shouldn't." Enna said "Wars only bring destruction to all life and this war has affected the people the most. People die daily and frankly, I don't want to see that happen again."
"I agree and we should be focused on what's happening now," I said as everyone looked over at the two figures lying on the bed.
"Okay, this is taking us nowhere." Eliphas said, "It's almost the end of the day."
All of us were silent. No one could believe it.
Then the Prime minister looked away with his eyes closed, his hand clenched, and said the thing that shocked everyone, "Give the pill to Prince Astral."
Eliphas' POV:
What? He's picking Astral over his own daughter? Just what on earth is he thinking?!
"Gerard-"
"Eliphas," He said cutting me off "Give your son the pill."
"But-"
"But nothing Enna," He took a deep breath as he continued "Astral will be the future king of this world and based on what I saw of him when he was growing up, he will make a fantastic king one day. He simply cannot die and you two have to think about the future of this world. If news gets out that your son died what do you think would happen?"
"Gerard, you don't have to do this," My wife said. "We can find another way to save them both."
"If there was another way then I would gladly try out that way but there isn't. There is only one pill."
He looked at his daughter with a pained expression "I have made my decision" He said as he looked away and started walking out the door "I will leave it up to the rest of you to make that decision." He said in a shaky voice as he walked out of the room.
"Gerard!" My wife called but he just walked on. She was about to chase after him but I put my hand on her shoulder.
"Enna, let him go."
"But he-"
"It's no use chasing after him." I looked at her sadly "He is a very stubborn person and once he makes a decision, he commits to it."
"This isn't like other decisions in life! This is-" At this point, she had tears that were threatening to fall.
"I know," I said as I brought my hands up to wipe away her tears "I know this is a major decision that he made but he made his choice and we have to respect it."
"But Eliphas, he just-" I put a finger over her lips making a quiet motion.
"I know that you wouldn't agree with him doing that, even I wouldn't agree with that," I said with a sad smile as looked at her straight in the eyes "but he clearly thought about this for a long time. I could see the desperation and melancholiness from his eyes when he looked at his daughter. However, we can't force him to change his decision no matter how hard we try. He made that decision for Astral, us, and for the rest of this world and we need to respect it."
"I know." My wife said with tears dripping down her cheeks as I held her in an embrace.
Lily's POV:
I can understand where he is getting at. It has to be truly painful to choose against your blood and flesh daughter but he did it for the future of this world. This is so unfair. Life is so unfair! Are we on an unlucky streak or something?
First, Astral has Tuberculosis. Next, he loses his memories, and now, he and Maria were shot with poisonous arrows and the only cure is one measly little pill.
I sighed "Why is life so unfair sometimes?"
Crystal stared outside the window with a distant gaze in her eyes "We just have to deal with it." She said with a sigh then turned back around "Life has always been unfair."
"Right," Said Star as she looked at the king and queen "I can't choose between the both of them. Your decision will be my decision. Whether you two choose Maria or Astral, I will go along with it."
"Mom, Dad, I agree with Star." Crystal said as she looked at them "What your choice is will be my choice."
Right now, I have no clue who to choose. It seems so wrong!
"Your choice will be my choice also." I said while letting out a sigh "I trust you two to make the best decision."
I know that it is hard to put all the pressure on the king and queen but I honestly can not choose between the two of them.
Crystal's POV:
As I stand here facing the window, the sky was all gloomy. Sounds of rain filled the sky accompanied by flashes of thundering in the distance. Sometimes I hate life. It can be so pleasant yet so cruel at the same time.
Why? Why does this keep happening? I just got back my memories and yet fate plays a cruel trick on all of us. Why can't this world be peaceful? Why do we even have wars? Now, I have to pick between my brother and my friend? That's just going too far!
I looked at the two of them laying unconsciously on the bed. 'Brother' I thought sadly in my head 'why does this keep happening? Is this the reality of life that you tried to shield me from when we were little?'
Flashback:
A 5-year-old Astral was wandering the halls of the palace at night
"Brother?" I said as I heard movement outside my room.
He turned around looking startled "Crystal? What are you doing awake?"
"I heard a noise coming from outside of my room. Also, what are you doing awake?"
"I could ask you the same question." He said with a chuckle
"Anyway, want to go exploring?"
"Exploring?" I said with a confused tone
"Yea, want to explore around the palace at night?"
"Of course I want to!" I said excitedly as I grabbed his hand
He laughed "Remember not to be so loud. Our parents had a long day today."
"Ok!"
As we started to go down the stairs, my brother suddenly stopped. I looked at him with concern "Something the matter?"
Right as I said that I was suddenly pushed to the ground by Astral. In the place where I was standing, I saw three arrows shot into the ground. If he hadn't pushed me to the ground, those arrows would have got through me.
More arrows started to fire from the air. As he tried to protect me from being hit by those arrows, an arrow scrapped his arm and went flying towards a wall.
Then the guards came with bows and arrows firing at the intruders making them all leave. I made my way towards my parents and my brother. Astral was now holding his arm as the blood was dripping from it.
"Astral!" I said in a panicked voice "Are you okay? T-th-there is b-bl-blood coming out of you a-arm."
"I'm fine Crystal." He said while raising his hands over my face to make me sleep
"Wha-" I started to say but I fell asleep in someone's arms.
Time skip to the next day:
"Astral!" I yelled as I woke up in my room with the sun shining in my face.
I hopped out of bed and raced into his room where he was already up. I ran and tackled him into an embrace.
"Woah, are you feeling alright sis?"
I broke the hug and checked his arm to make sure that it was okay.
He looked at me with a confused expression "Why are you looking at my arm?"
"Your arm," I said in disbelief "It's not injured?"
"Just what on earth are you talking about? Why would my arm be injured?" He said in a confused yet concerned tone "Are you sure your not sick or something?" He brought a hand near my forehead to see if I had a fever or not.
"I'm not sick," I said as I removed his hand from my forehead "Last night, you got injured by the arrow and your arm was bleeding!"
He looked at me perplexed "Crystal, last night I was in my room sleeping. How did I get injured by an arrow if I was sleeping?"
"What? No, last night you went exploring with me around the palace when an intruder shot arrows at us. You got scrapped by an arrow trying to protect me."
He sat on his bed looking quite confused "Exploring in the palace at night? Why would I do such a thing?"
"Crystal, are you dreaming? I have a very good memory of last night and I was in my room sleeping."
"There was no way that I dreamed of that," I said in disbelief "It was too real to be a dream."
"I'm pretty sure that it was a dream." He stated with a smile "You said that I got injured on the arm right?"
"Here" He showed his arm to me and I examined it for any wounds. Except, I found none.
"That's impossible," I said in a disbelieving tone "There is no wound?"
He took his arm back "I'm telling you, You probably dreamt of that whole thing last night. Dreams can be realistic at times too."
"It seemed so real though."
"Then how would you explain that my arm has no wound or injuries on it?"
"If that really happened then my arm would have been injured today but there was no wound."
"Did I really dream that whole thing?" I said
"Most likely."
I laughed a bit "Maybe it was a dream after all. I'm sorry for bursting into your room first thing in the morning like this."
"It's fine," He said with a chuckle while messing with my hair
End of Flashback
Enna's POV:
I looked at my husband for the answer regarding this situation. It's almost sundown and we have to pick between the two of them.
"Eliphas, who do you think we should choose?"
He clenched his jaw "I don't know."
"There is no right choice regarding this matter. Whoever we choose, we are picking who gets to live and who does not." My husband said angrily
I looked over at the two lying on the bed with a melancholy expression. My husband closed his eyes for a moment then opens them then walked toward the bed "I'm sorry Maria but Astral, he is my only son." He had a pained expression on his face.
I walked over and sat beside him on the bed as everyone in the room gathered around us "I'm very sorry Maria but as a mother, I just can't watch my son die like this." I said with tears dripping down my face "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I am so sorry." I sobbed uncontrollably in the embrace of everyone around me.
My husband took the pill on the table and plopped it into Astral's mouth while closing his eyes in guilt.