The now much thinned council looked upon Amelia. She stood before them in silence, her body rigid. "Next week, at noon on Wednesday," they agreed and watched as the young woman made her way out.
Amelia returned to her room, looking around in disgust. Finally, she turned and left, calling for a servant and requesting all her dolls be packed away and the sheets on her bed changed from pink to red. She would soon be the ruler of her kingdom, rulers did not have pink bed sheets. She also ordered her dresses be replaced with all black. She would be in mourning possibly for quite some time now.
"Justice has retired from this world," she muttered to herself, going out onto her balcony to look down upon the stagnating fountain and bricks. "Where are you Zelgadis?"
She turned when a servant cleared his throat. "Your Highness, a Lina Inverse is here."
Amelia felt her spirits raise for the first time in a while and turned, making her way out into her antechamber, finding only the redheaded sorceress. Lina turned to gaze upon her friend and bowed her head. "I wish there was something I could have done," Lina said softly.
Amelia shook her head, "He's better now, at least he's no longer suffering. Where are Gourry and Zelgadis?"
Lina shakily took a gulp from a small flask she had tucked inside her cape. "Dead." The princess was silent, expecting embellishment. She waited quite a few moments before Lina continued, coughing a few times. The sorceress was pale, thin, and obviously ill. "Xelloss attacked us. I'd never expected it. Just out of the blue, you know. I countered as best I could. I even got him once with the Ragna Blade.. Then he threw this black ball at us... Zelgadis.... he- he shoved me and Gourry out of the way, taking the blast..."
The red head took a long swig from her flask again, tears streaming down her face. "I'd never thought people could blow up like that..." Lina put a hand to her face, wiping her cheeks. "Gourry was...upset... he ran at Xelloss and... DAMN HIM!" Lina sobbed into her hand, "Xelloss just smashed his head in with that damn staff of his... Gourry never had a chance."
Amelia's heart sank into her stomach. Zelgadis was dead. Her father was dead. Gourry was dead. Her uncle was dead. Lina was now an alcoholic. The princess decided then and there that life sucked. "You're welcome to stay here as long as you like..."
"No... no.. wouldn't want you to have to bury me next. I'm sorry Amelia.. I just had to come and tell you before this damn plague gets me too." Lina coughed and Amelia realized the signs. Lina had caught it.
"Life sucks," Amelia said softly, getting a long look from Lina.
The sorceress nodded, "Yeah, I guess it does when you've lost everything. Good bye, Amelia, I'll see you whenever you join us." Lina turned, staggering out the door like the drunkard she had become.
Amelia bowed her head, tears falling from her eyes. "No wonder you're not here Zelgadis," she said softly. Turning, she went to sit in the chair near the fireplace. "I will never give my heart to so many ever again. I don't want to have to go through this again. Perhaps Zelgadis's way of life was better. If I have feelings for no one, my heart can't be broken. I understand you now, Zelgadis, though too late. Far too late." She leaned forward, putting her face in her skirts and sobbing for what she vowed would be the last time in her life.