Serene’s POV

My steps felt heavy, the dread falling over me as I trudged through the white snow and made my way toward the burial site where his funeral was to be held. The air was crisp and lashed against the flimsy red dress I adorned, but I didn’t care, not today. The hairpin settled proudly in my hair.

The bouquet of red roses Crimzon had given me before I left was clutched tightly in my hands and it felt strange that I was bringing flowers for him when he was already gone. Father, Kilamin and Zian accompanied me.

I glanced ahead and found all my friends huddled outside the cemetery door. They were talking among themselves and as soon as they saw me, everyone hushed and an awkward silence fell over.

Father, Kilamin, and Zian went inside, leaving me with my friends to catch up. Ralph instantly moved and wrapped his arms around me, giving me a tight hug he whispered:

"I am sorry," his cheeky smile was gone today.

"It’s not your fault, it’s mine that he is gone. I couldn’t protect him, instead, I killed him," the words hitched in my throat.

"No, you didn’t. Meliana did," Ayrden stepped forward and hugged me, tears streaming down her small face. Her eyes were red from crying. Everyone else nodded but it brought me no relief.

Zeph was standing right in the middle of everyone else and I knew he must have been the one to fill everyone in about what had transpired.

He tried to step toward me but my words had him stopping in his tracks.

"No," I said with disdainful eyes, this caused him immense pain for I could see the expression on his face change but he stood his ground.

More backward silence fell as no one knew what to say. "Let’s go inside, now," Tanzil spoke softly as she patted my arm and I nodded.

Inside the cemetery, a vast area had been set up for the memorial service for there were many bodies to be buried. The aftermath of the war had left us with tattered bodies and tears.

His red coffin had been placed right along the dug-up grave. A man and a woman along with Dria stood beside it. Those must be his parents, he had an uncanny resemblance to them. My heart fell into the bottomless pit, seeing them. How was I going to face them after killing him?

My legs felt so heavy and I didn’t want to move.

"Serene," Ayrden said with concern.

"How will I face them?" I asked hoarsely, tears flowing down my cheeks, burning me with shame.

"They know what happened, you shouldn’t be blaming yourself," she replied and guided me forward. Everyone was paying their respects to his parents and I had to do the same.

Mustering up enough courage I finally made my way toward them. His mother was crying uncontrollably while his father held her with a pained expression.

"Mr. and Mrs. Armandine, I am extremely sorry for your loss and how I wasn’t able to protect your son."

I spoke softly with regret filling me, my eyes were downcast. She clasped my hands and sobbed:

"Princess Serene, it’s not your burden to bear. I know how you brought him back once from his darkness and cared about him. He told me everything. Your arrow was not aimed at him."

She took me in her embrace and I hugged her back, my whole body shook as I couldn’t control my tears and sobs. She patted my back while spasming uncontrollably.

We stood there for quite some time, his father didn’t say much but I didn’t feel any hostility from him. Dria on the other hand had her animosity-filled eyes focused on me. I knew she was holding back because of the funeral.

With his parent’s permission, I approached his coffin. It was open and although his skin was no more ivory, it was turning pale blue. His hair was the same and he appeared to be sleeping like an angel, wrapped in a red cloth and the necklace I had given him had been placed on his chest.

It was only meant to be for him and he would be buried with it. Taking out one red rose from the bouquet I placed it along the necklace. My heart screamed in pain and my chest felt so heavy, my head felt dizzy and I had to steady myself as the emotions overwhelmed me.

His hands had been placed one over the other and rested on his stomach. I placed my hand on his and whispered: "I am sorry," my tears fell on his coffin as I just stood there not wanting to move, oblivious of everyone around me. The world had ceased to exist.

A pair of hands finally guided me away, it was Shumal Sensei. I didn’t want to move away from him. This hurt beyond anything and I found it difficult to even breathe. She held me close and made me sit on a chair and I simply leaned on her shoulder. Burying my face and tears.

"It’s ok my dear, I understand," she stroked my face.

The service continued and so did my tears. Many people spoke about his bravery and how he had helped end the evil regime of Meliana. Artins Sensei, his parents, Dria and Ayrden. But no one spoke about how much he had suffered, and what she did to him.

He was then lowered in his grave to finally find peace this world refused to provide him. He was bullied, he was tortured, he was refused love, he was shunned, he was made to commit heinous crimes and he was raped.

Yet he didn’t lose himself, his true self. He helped others, he loved unconditionally, and in the end, he died a hero. I stared at my hands and all I could see was blood, his blood.

His words rang in my ears, the way he apologized for hurting me when he wasn’t even in control. I knew that must have killed him inside and out and now he was gone and I couldn’t even talk to him. He lay under tons of soil and dust. People sobbed and grieved all around me, their red dresses reminding me of his hair and eyes.

They covered his grave, and Frila and Zian decorated it with hundreds of tiny flowers. Everyone placed the flowers they had brought and I just sat there looking at the flowers in my hands. People began to leave one by one. Ayrden guided me toward his grave and I moved like a zombie.

It was covered in tiny red flowers and red roses.

I placed the bouquet I had brought and sat down on the ground. Then I heard someone mutter:

"You have any idea how much he loved you? Yet you were so selfish and now you cry as if he mattered."