I won't fall for the queen who burned my world-Chapter 347: Don’t leave

A few months later...

The sky was a blue so bright it almost stung, the kind of morning that made the gardens seem to shine with their own inner light.

The castle, usually abuzz with the sound of Kaelith’s running feet and Aliyah’s baby giggles, felt different today muted, strained, as if everyone was holding their breath.

Elysia had woken early, feeling that tightness in her chest she remembered from the days before a great loss.

She sat for a long while at Kaelith’s bedside, watching her daughter sleep with her locket clutched in one fist and her other hand curled around her favorite stuffed griffin. It was strange, Elysia thought, how something so ordinary—just another goodbye—could feel so enormous.

Because it wasn’t just any goodbye. Sarisa had made her decision.

After many gentle, difficult conversations, Sarisa had announced, with a quiet dignity that left no room for argument, that she would return to the Celestian Castle.

She was the daughter of the queen, and Aliyah, only a few months old, would need to be introduced to her other world, her other family.

Lara would accompany her. For protection, for support and, though she would never admit it aloud, because she simply couldn’t bear to be parted from her child.

Elysia had thought she was prepared. She’d known, in the logical part of her mind, that this was coming. But Kaelith... Kaelith was not ready.

The moment breakfast was over, and bags began to appear at the doors, Kaelith sensed something was wrong.

She clung to Sarisa’s leg, her little hands iron-tight, eyes wide and glistening.

Every attempt to pry her off resulted in a howl, more indignant than heartbroken at first, but rapidly turning into a full tantrum as the castle staff began to carry Sarisa’s and Lara’s belongings out to the waiting carriages.

"No!" Kaelith shrieked, stamping her foot. "No leave! Stay! My family!" 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Aliyah, snuggled in Sarisa’s arms, looked up with sleepy confusion as her cousin’s distress echoed through the hall.

Elysia’s heart twisted. She knelt beside Kaelith, trying to gather her close, but Kaelith squirmed free, nearly knocking over a footman.

Sarisa crouched, the weight of her responsibilities heavy in her shoulders. "Kaelith, sweetheart, I have to go for a little while. You know how I promised to teach Aliyah about the stars in the Celestian sky? I can’t do that from here."

"Don’t care," Kaelith sobbed. "Aliyah can learn here! Stay! Don’t go, don’t go!" She wrapped her arms around Sarisa’s waist, tears streaking down her cheeks, snot glimmering on her upper lip.

Elysia, hands trembling, tried again. "Kaelith, darling, they’re not leaving forever. You’ll see them soon. Lara is just going with Sarisa and Aliyah to keep them safe, and—"

"No!" Kaelith screamed, voice echoing down the hall. "I go too! Me go!"

Lara, always awkward with goodbyes, knelt beside the mess of royal chaos. "Hey, little tyrant, don’t you want to be queen while I’m gone? You can boss Raveth around. That’s fun, right?"

Kaelith shook her head, clinging even tighter to Sarisa, her knuckles white.

Sarisa stroked Kaelith’s hair. "You’re my brave girl, Kaelith. But Aliyah needs to meet her Celestian family, and I have to be with her. I’ll write you letters every day, I promise."

Kaelith’s sobs quieted just a fraction. "Letters?"

Elysia jumped in. "Yes, letters! And we’ll send you drawings and gifts. Maybe we can even visit, just like when Veylira visits for tea—"

But Kaelith wasn’t having it. She wailed, collapsing onto the floor, pounding her tiny fists in frustration. Elysia glanced at Malvoria, pleading for help.

Malvoria, always the general in crisis, looked a little at a loss. She exchanged a look with Lara, who shrugged helplessly. Aliyah, sensing the tension, started to whimper.

Raveth, who had been trying to look stern and dignified, failed utterly. She knelt, scooping Kaelith up in her strong arms.

"Listen, little queen. Sometimes families have to travel. That’s how we stay strong. And when they come back, you’ll have stories to share, and you’ll see how much Aliyah has grown."

But Kaelith only wailed louder. "Don’t want to grow. Want Aliyah. Want Sarisa. Don’t leave me!"

Lara looked almost panicked now. She picked up Aliyah and, with a slightly desperate look, bounced her on her hip, trying to get the baby to smile.

"See, Aliyah’s not scared. She just wants to eat. That’s all babies care about."

Sarisa managed a small, wobbly smile. "We’ll send you a starlight cake. The best in the Celestian Kingdom."

"Don’t want cake. Want you." Kaelith’s voice broke on the last word.

The household staff, seasoned as they were, were now tiptoeing through the chaos, pretending not to notice the drama unfolding in the grand hall.

Elysia could see them exchanging glances—some sympathetic, some amused, all keeping well out of reach of Kaelith’s flailing limbs.

Malvoria finally sat down on the floor beside her daughter, ignoring the dignity of her title, ignoring the beautiful robes she wore. She opened her arms, beckoning. "Come here, Kaelith."

Kaelith, after a moment, collapsed against Malvoria’s chest, sobbing so hard her whole body shook. Malvoria held her, rocking gently, murmuring in low, soothing tones.

Elysia wiped her eyes, feeling her own tears spill over. She crouched beside them, stroking Kaelith’s back, brushing kisses into her hair. "It’s not forever, little star. And we can send messages with magic, remember?"

Kaelith hiccuped. "Want magic now. Make Sarisa stay."

Sarisa’s eyes glistened. "Oh, Kaelith." She bent down, kissing the top of Kaelith’s head. "You are the bravest, sweetest girl I know. I’ll come back soon. I promise. Aliyah will miss you so much."

Lara, seeing her chance, set Aliyah down for a moment. The baby immediately crawled over to Kaelith, flopping into her lap.

Kaelith clung to Aliyah as if the baby might disappear, big tears running down her face.

Aliyah patted Kaelith’s cheek, then shoved a drooly fist in Kaelith’s direction a baby’s version of comfort.

The sight was almost too much for Elysia. She looked at Malvoria, who simply closed her eyes and held them both, strong and steady.

The chaos stretched on—Kaelith refusing to let go, Lara trying to keep things light, Sarisa looking torn between duty and heartbreak, Aliyah determined to eat Kaelith’s hair.

Every attempt to untangle the girls resulted in another round of cries.

Finally, Malvoria—whose patience was legendary—let out a deep, measured sigh and caught Elysia’s eye.

"Maybe we’re doing this wrong," she said, voice quiet but determined. "Maybe we don’t have to say goodbye like this."

Elysia blinked. "What do you mean?"

Malvoria straightened, still holding Kaelith. "If we can’t bear to be apart, why not make it so we never really have to be? The teleportation circles. We already use them for ambassadors and emergencies—why not make one for family? One that connects the Demon Castle and the Celestian Palace. That way, Sarisa and Aliyah can visit any time. So can Kaelith. No more long goodbyes."

Kaelith looked up, eyes huge and shining, snot still glimmering on her face. "Circle?"

Sarisa’s face softened. "You’d really do that?"

Lara looked deeply relieved, the strain vanishing from her eyes. "That... would solve a lot."

Elysia felt something like hope flutter in her chest. "Is it possible, Mal?"

Malvoria’s mouth curled in a small, confident smile. "I’m the Demon Queen. I can do anything." She glanced at Kaelith, wiping away a tear. "Especially if it means I never have to see you this sad again."

The mood shifted, just a little. Kaelith sniffed, considering, then nodded slowly. "Circle. Want circle."

Sarisa bent to hug her, and Kaelith, though still sniffling, held her tightly. "I’ll see you soon, little star. I promise."

And for the first time that day, Elysia saw a glimmer of the peace that had carried them through all the wars and chaos a reminder that family, no matter how scattered, could always find a way home.

Malvoria lifted her chin. "We’ll start work tonight. Lara, you’ll help. Sarisa, tell your mother it’s not a request—it’s a promise. There will always be a way back."

The tears didn’t vanish, but the panic faded, replaced by a new energy, a spark of excitement.

Kaelith began to chatter about the magic circle, about all the things she would show Aliyah next time she visited—the nursery, her sword, her favorite climbing tree.

Aliyah babbled back, gurgling and squealing, delighted to have her cousin’s attention once more.

Elysia gathered them all together in a fierce embrace, feeling the warm press of Sarisa and Lara, Malvoria’s strong arms wrapped around them.

The future felt less frightening now—no less uncertain, but brighter, filled with possibility.

As Sarisa and Lara finally departed, the carriages rolling away toward the magic circle that would soon become a lifeline instead of a farewell, Elysia knelt beside Kaelith and whispered, "See? It’s not goodbye, my star. It’s just see you soon."

And as Malvoria swept her up and carried her inside, Elysia looked back at the gardens, at the shining road stretching between two kingdoms.