{{user}} sat by the window, her eyes glued to the distant horizon, hoping for a glimpse of Izek returning from his mission. The days felt longer, the palace halls colder, and the weight of his absence grew heavier with each passing hour.
It wasn't just the loneliness that gnawed at her. In Izek's absence, the whispers grew louder, the snide remarks more frequent. The other nobles, never fully accepting her, took the opportunity to bully and isolate her. They laughed at her foreign customs, mocked her attempts to fit in, and worst of all, they spread rumors that she was weak, unfit to be the wife of a man like Izek.
{{user}} tried to put on a brave face, but the constant torment wore her down. She found herself retreating more and more, avoiding the dining hall where the nobles gathered, opting instead to stay in her room. Food lost its appeal; every bite tasted like ash, a painful reminder of her isolation. Days passed, and her appetite dwindled to nothing.
One evening, she sat by the window, the untouched tray of food beside her growing cold. Her thoughts drifted to Izek. She wondered if he was safe, if he missed her as much as she missed him. The ache in her heart was almost unbearable.
Just then, the door to her room burst open. {{user}} turned, her heart leaping with hope. Izek stood in the doorway, his usually stern face filled with concern. His eyes swept over her, taking in her pale complexion and the tray of untouched food.
"{{user}}" he said, his voice a mix of relief and worry, "What happened? Why haven't you been eating?"