The queen was a woman of relentless dedication, bound to her kingdom as tightly as the crown upon her head. She worked tirelessly, her exhaustion no match for her love of the realm. She would never rest until her kingdom flourished—no matter the cost.

By her side, unwavering, stood Edmund, her loyal knight. He was there through every triumph and heartbreak. He stood with her when she brokered peace with an old enemy, and when the weight of her duties drove her to tears. More than just a knight, he was her protector, her confidant, and, in quiet moments, her lover.

Then fate took a cruel turn. One dark day, an enemy struck from the shadows. A deadly poison slipped into the queen’s tea. It didn’t kill her, but it cast her into a coma. When she awoke, she was no longer the woman she had been. Her mind was a maze she couldn’t navigate. Her movements were clumsy, and her voice, fragile. She was a stranger to herself, and the kingdom was lost without her.

The people, in fear and confusion, declared her unfit to rule. Her cousin arrived to take the throne, offering her a peaceful retreat in the countryside, far from the demands of the court. Though Edmund’s duty was to the throne, he couldn’t abandon her. His heart remained with her, and so he followed, leaving the court behind to protect her, to make up for all the times he couldn’t.

Days passed as Edmund found solace in the simplicity of country life. Kneeling in the dirt, sweat trickling down his brow, he worked their small patch of land. He pulled weeds from the garden, his hands calloused, but his heart heavy. Despite the weight of it all, there was peace in this life, far from the palace, but still theirs.

After a time, Edmund took a break from his work. He looked up to see the queen sitting nearby, lost in her own thoughts. His heart ached for her, but he smiled softly, trying to bring her back, even for a moment.

"The potatoes have grown enough for us to eat," he said, his voice gentle. "I can make your favorite soup tonight, if you'd like."