the cost of love

In a world filled with shadows and dualities, emotions churn within me. A world where darkness deepens every day. Maybe I am a demon, but those who forged this painful path are even worse than I. When no one shows you mercy, your heart turns to stone. And what can you expect from a stone?

"I opened my eyes and, like every day, saw his face right in front of mine. The sunlight fell on his face, and the frown caused by the sun's rays deepened the wrinkles on his forehead. Each line concealed a sorrow. These past few years had aged him a lifetime. A bitter smile formed on my lips, and I played the role of a loving wife. I ran my fingers through his hair and kissed his forehead. Inside, a volcano of anger and hatred erupted; memories of his painful betrayals and cruelties came to mind. A few years ago, he brought me to this palace and broke my heart. He turned my life into ashes. Since then, I vowed never to let him and his daughter, Elara, taste happiness."

"With the same expression, he embraced me. Disgust flared up inside me, a feeling that had never faded after all these years. The servant knocked and announced that the breakfast table was ready. Fortunately, I escaped that snake-like embrace that took my breath away. After breakfast, as I was passing by Elara's room with dark thoughts, I saw her with a smile on her face and a white cat in her arms, looking calm and happy. Angrily, I entered her room and slapped her beautiful face. Her smile withered."

Elara tried to control her tears but couldn't; a few drops fell from the corners of her eyes, eyes whose color I was slowly forgetting, but I think they were blue, like the eyes I detest, her father's eyes. With a trembling voice, she said "Please, Your Majesty, don't harm that cat. It was my fault. I'll do whatever you want, just don't hurt it."

I heard heavy footsteps. For years, I had recognized people by the sound of their steps.

- Hello, Elara. I was passing by and decided to come see you, oh darling you're here too? how wonderful! what are you doing here?

It was time to play the role again. I had played roles so many times that I could have become an actor! Oh, darling, you're here too? How lovely. I was walking in the palace when I heard the sound of a cat. I followed the sound and ended up here. You know I am allergic to cat fur; it makes me ill. I was just asking our dear princess to play with her cat outside the palace.

- Elara, you are a princess. You must be more considerate. The Queen might fall ill.

The King embraced his daughter and gently stroked her golden hair, which resembled his former spouse's. With a loving gaze, he said, "Elara, you will always be dear to me. But you must respect the palace rules."

The Queen glanced at Princess Elara and said with calm authority, "We want the best for you. Elara, please be prepared. At the party next week, a royal marriage is to take place. To unite our countries, the Prince of France is a suitable choice. He can secure the future of both the princess and the country."

Elara looked at the Queen with heavy sorrow and said, "But I don't want to get married."

The Queen's cold and indifferent gaze passed over Princess Elara, and she said calmly, "This is an important matter for the country, not just your personal feelings. As a princess, you must bear this responsibility."

Bitter memories resurfaced in the Queen's mind. Years ago, she too loved someone. But the King wanted to marry her and had her lover killed. Since then, her heart had turned to stone. The Queen left them and walked to her room to prepare a letter for France. A letter that would darken the fate of the King's beloved princess.

The King, with heavy sorrow, kissed Elara's forehead, sighed, and left the palace. The cold winter winds blew like a wandering spirit among the withered trees. In his mind, he revisited his tumultuous past. Were these choices leading his daughter toward a dark destiny? Should he fulfill his role as king while ignoring his daughter's feelings?

Elara, with a broken heart, gazed out the window and heard the distant sound of her cat, a sound that echoed mournfully within her. Would she ever be able to taste the sweetness of freedom and true love? Or would she, like the Queen, remain a captive in the palace's golden cage?

Five years had passed since that bitter incident. At that time, she was a teenage girl who witnessed the murder of her brother, Prince Charles, by the Queen. She saw with her own eyes as the Queen poured something into her brother's drink. Elara wanted to quietly leave and inform others that the drink was poisoned, but the Queen turned her head and saw Elara. The Queen forced her to claim she was blind and threatened to kill both her and the King if she didn't comply. After drinking the poisoned drink, Prince Charles closed his eyes forever.

After Prince Charles' death, the Queen would become the heir to the throne. From that day on, Princess Elara pretended to have a rare disease that caused blindness. The King sent many doctors to treat her, but it was to no avail. Every day, the King grew sadder and more broken than before. He was still mourning the loss of his son, and now his daughter was blind. Those were difficult days for Elara, and she couldn't share her feelings with anyone.

At that time, Elara met someone whom she loved with all her heart. His name was Stefan, and he was the palace gardener. Throughout all these years, Stefan had been her only friend and companion. He would sometimes bring her flowers from the garden and tell her about the events happening outside the palace. Gradually, she felt that she was falling in love with him, and Stefan became the guiding star in the sky of her life.

But now, to save her country, she had to give up her love and marry a prince she had no interest in. She muffled her sobs in her pillow and thought about a way to escape, but the more she thought, the more hopeless she became, feeling as if she were trapped in a labyrinth with no escape.

The Queen sat in her room, looking at the letter she had prepared with a cold smile. The letter that was meant to turn Elara's life into a nightmare. Seeing the letter reminded her of her own past when she would write letters with excitement and girlish feelings to Thomas, her lost love, ending each letter with the words, "For the heart that beats because of you and the love that took life from your existence." Now, her heart still beat,but it had turned to stone. The memory of the past made her resolve even stronger . She handed the letter to one of her trusted servants and ordered it to be sent to France immediately.

Days passed, and the palace remained as silent and soulless as a graveyard. Elara had to make a big decision soon, one that would change her future and the fate of her country.

In the end, Elara decided to trust Sara, her mother's maid, and share her secret with her. Perhaps there was still a glimmer of hope.

With tearful eyes, Sara listened to the princess's tale. She said in astonishment, "The Queen plays her role as a kind queen so well. I never thought she could commit such evil deeds." Sara pondered for a while before saying, "Princess, I might be able to help, but this plan carries great risk."

Elara wiped her tears and, with hope in her eyes, said, "I will do whatever it takes. I just don't want this marriage to proceed."

Sara explained how they could devise an escape plan. If everything went well, Elara and her lover could leave the palace and live a life of freedom.

Elara said, "But I can't selfishly escape and put the country in trouble."

Sara and Elara discussed and shared different ideas, but each plan had a flaw. After hours of thinking without reaching a conclusion , they parted ways in despair .

As time passed, the day of the ceremony finally arrived. The Prince of France entered the palace with precious gifts and met the King. With tired eyes from the journey, the prince said, "It's true that I am weary and have just arrived, but may I see the beautiful Princess Elara?"

A few moments later, Elara entered the room with hesitation and slow steps. The prince, with a contemptuous smile, said: "Congratulations, you have a beautiful princess. Unfortunately, she cannot see, but it doesn't matter. Women are only good for being beautiful and bearing children. Others can do the work for them. I have servants who do all the tasks perfectly."

Elara angrily left the room, slamming the door behind her. She had caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of her eye. He was a bald, slightly overweight man who seemed very full of himself. Elara decided to make this foolish prince regret wanting to marry her. There was no way she would marry him. Everyone has a weakness, and Elara needed to find his.

She asked her maid to bring Sara to her. A few minutes later, Sara entered the room. Elara said, "Sit down. I have an idea. We need to find a weakness in the prince. I need to secretly enter his room, search through his belongings, and keep track of his movements."

Sara said, "I'll keep an eye on his movements. If I see anything suspicious, I'll report it. When I came, I saw the prince leaving to explore the city. I think now would be a good time to search his room."

Elara nodded, and the two of them headed toward the prince's room. Sara stayed outside the room to keep watch, while Elara went inside. She quickly began searching through his belongings and clothes, but found nothing. Just as she was about to give up, her eyes fell on a white envelope sticking out of a book. She immediately took it and opened it. The letter read: "We have prepared the soldiers and are ready for the coup. What are your orders? Should we wait for your arrival, or start the coup? The king's condition is critical. If he dies, the crown prince will become the next king."

Elara hid the letter in the collar of her dress, just as she heard Sara talking to the prince. The prince said, "Where is the dining hall?" Sara replied, "I'll guide you there. Follow me." The prince said, "Wait a moment, I need to change my clothes."

With each step approaching the room, Elara's heart beat faster. Suddenly, the prince opened the door and entered. Elara was holding her breath under the bed, with cold sweat on her forehead. A few minutes later, the prince left the room. Elara took a deep breath, came out from under the bed, and quickly headed to her room.

A few minutes later, Sara entered. Placing her hand over her heart, she said, "What happened, Princess? Did you find anything? We were so close to being caught."

Elara, with shining eyes, showed the letter and said, "Yes, this letter can save me. I'll leave it for my father and then I'll escape with Stefan and continue our lives outside the palace. With this letter, I'll save both the country and myself. My father will show this letter to the King of France, and the prince will be executed. Honestly, I don't feel sorry for him; he deserves it."

Sara said, "But if you show this letter, you can stay in the palace without getting married. Why do you want to escape?"

Elara looked at Sara with concern and said, "Even if I avoid this marriage, the Queen will still plot to marry me off to someone else. Besides, in this palace, I have to pretend I am blind and have no freedom. The palace's doors and windows feel like a cage."

Sara looked at her with kind eyes and said, "Whatever you wish, I'll help you escape. I owe it to your mother. She did so much for me. When I was hungry and penniless outside the palace, she brought me here and made me her maid. If it weren't for her, I would probably be dead by now."

Early in the morning, just before sunrise, Elara quietly entered her father's room. The space was filled with dim light and the gentle sound of the king's breathing. Elara carefully placed a letter on the table with great thoughtfulness. She looked at her father, who was in a deep sleep, her eyes filled with tears. Silently, she left the room to avoid disturbing him.

Elara approached Sara with worry in her voice and asked, "Is everything ready for the escape?"

Sara, with an innocent look and a calm voice, responded, "Yes, Princess. But we must act carefully and cautiously. I stayed up all night to prepare this plan. You must go out through the back door. Not many people know about it. There is a horse waiting to take you to a safe place."

With sadness and gratitude, Elara hugged Sara and said with a trembling voice, "Thank you very much. I will never forget your kindness. I hope everything goes well."

Sara, with a quiet and anxious voice, said, "Princess, the time has come. Be quick."

Elara silently and carefully slipped out of the back door. She mounted her horse and set off into the darkness of the night. Her heart pounded, each beat a hammer against her chest. She wondered if she would manage to escape. She didn't want to spend her life as a royal bride, forced into a marriage. She sought freedom and true love.

After several hours of riding through dark, endless roads, Elara reached a pristine, dark forest. The tall trees and their shadows surrounded her like a wall. Here, her lover Stefan, with eyes full of worry and hope, was waiting for her. Upon seeing Elara, he dismounted his horse and opened his arms to embrace her.

Elara threw herself into Stefan's arms with ragged breaths and said, her voice trembling and full of emotion, "We did it. Now we can be free."

Stefan looked at Elara, his eyes filled with joyful tears, kissed her lips, and said in a calm and confident voice, "Elara, I will be with you forever, and I will never let anyone separate us again."

"There was chaos in the palace. Everyone was talking about the princess's disappearance. The French prince, who was a special guest, had left the palace in anger and frustration, which was not good for the country. The king paced nervously in the hall and ordered the soldiers to search all around the palace thoroughly."

That morning, the queen had gone to the king's chamber and found the letter Elara had left there. She secretly read it before the king could and then threw it into the fireplace to burn, leaving no trace. The queen, anxious and worried, was looking for Elara's accomplice, knowing that Elara couldn't have escaped alone. After inquiring among the other servants, the queen's maid discovered that Sara was the last person to be seen with the princess.

The queen ordered Sarah to be tortured to confess where Elara was hiding. Sarah, who had promised Elara's mother to take care of her, endured hours of torture. However, the queen couldn't let her die without finding out the princess's whereabouts. So, she threatened Sarah that if she didn't reveal Elara's location, she would kill her elderly mother living in the village. Finally, Sarah was forced to disclose where Elara and Stefan were hiding.

"Elara and Stefan walked hand in hand through the heart of the forest, wishing for their happiness to last forever. Stefan plucked a white flower from a tree and placed it in Elara's hair. Elara looked at her reflection in the lake; today, her face seemed more radiant and vibrant, and she couldn't stop smiling. Yet, deep down, she felt this joy might not last forever."

Stephen took Elara's hand and said, "Darling, we'd better go inside the cabin; someone might see us." They had walked a few steps when the sound of soldiers' horses sent shivers down their spines. They started running in panic. Elara's skirt got caught under her foot, and she fell. Running was difficult with her injured foot. Stephen picked her up and continued running, but this slowed them down. The soldiers on horseback quickly caught up with them, captured them, and took them back to the palace.

Throughout the entire journey, Elara wept and pondered the dark future that lay ahead. They stood before the king and queen with their hands bound by rope. The king approached them in a fury. He was so enraged that he slapped his daughter, who had never heard a harsh word from him before. One side of her face turned as red as a rose.

"Stefan, feeling pity for Ellara, began to speak with a firm and pleading voice: 'It was not the princess's fault. I persuaded her to run away with me. Please forgive her.'"

The king, unable to control his anger, drew his sword and placed it against Stephan's neck. In a threatening voice, he said, "You have brought disgrace upon the country. This act is unforgivable. Throw him into the dungeon."

The queen, with an emotionless voice, said, "Take the princess to her room and do not let her come out. Cut off all means of communication; she shall neither see nor be seen by anyone."

Elara could not look at her lover one last time, for she was blind. It was a blindness that allowed her to see, but not to meet.

Elara sat in her room, motionless like a withered, thirsty flower. The shell necklace that Stefan had made for her was the only attraction that drew her eyes. She squeezed the necklace between her fingers and kissed it. When she touched it, she felt that Stefan was beside her.

The day Stefan gave Elara the necklace came to life in her memory. Stefan had gone on a sea voyage to see his family, leaving Elara alone and missing him for a week. When Stefan returned, he had made a necklace from shells and said that he had thought of Elara throughout the journey. Elara happily took the necklace and asked him to put it on her neck.

Elara was determined to free Stefan, even if it meant making a deal with the queen. Even if it meant marrying the prince of France. She couldn't wait any longer. Elara told her maid to inform the queen that she want to see her.

"The queen, who was combing her night-like hair, smiled in triumphantly upon hearing the princess's message. She immediately summoned the maid to her room and instructed her to tell the princess that she would come to see her. She was pleased that her plans were coming to fruition."

"Elara slowly entered the room. Her face showed despair and surrender, but in the depths of her eyes, a spark of hope flickered. With a weak voice, she said, 'Queen, I have come to speak about Stefan's fate. Whatever you wish, I will do, even if it means marrying the Prince of France. Just please, do not harm Stefan.'"

The queen, reveling in her power and control over Ellara, said with a cold and ruthless look, "I will give you one chance. If you marry the French prince by the end of this week, Stefan will be set free. But if you show even the slightest hesitation, he will remain in the dungeon forever."

"After Alara left the queen's room, she returned to her own room and lay down on her bed. She had an idea; she needed to devise a plan to free Stefan without the queen's help so that she wouldn't have to accept an arranged marriage. She had to act with precision and intelligence to free Stefan."

She decided to first take quill and paper and write a complete step-by-step plan:

1. **Formation of a Secret Group**: Elara instructed Sara, her loyal maid, to compile a list of servants and soldiers who had been mistreated by the queen and were loyal to Elara. This secret group consisted of individuals who were willing to risk their lives to free Stephan and overthrow the queen .

2. **Information Gathering**: Elara first needed to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the castle's security system. She asked her loyal soldiers to gather detailed information about the guards, their shifts, and strategic positions within the castle. This information included maps of the castle, hidden passageways, and escape routes.

3. **Secret Meetings**: Elara held secret meetings with members of the clandestine group. These meetings took place in the abandoned basement of the palace, a place that the queen and courtiers never paid attention to. During these sessions, Elara reviewed various plans and assigned specific tasks to the group members.

4. **Assigning Members' Tasks**: Each member of the clandestine group had a specific duty. Some were responsible for distracting the guards, others were tasked with unlocking the dungeon doors, and the rest had to prepare the secret passageways. Elara meticulously divided the tasks among the members to ensure everything went smoothly.

5. **Escape Plan Timing**: Elara decided that the night of the king's 42nd birthday would be the best time to execute Stephen's escape plan. On this night, the queen and the servants were preoccupied with the ceremony, making it the perfect opportunity for the plan. Elara and her group secretly entered the dungeon, and the soldiers who were present there joined them and opened the dungeon doors.

6. **Creating a Diversion**: To avoid arousing suspicion from the Queen and her guards, Elara and her group devised a plan to create a diversion. Some members of the group were tasked with causing suspicious incidents during the celebration to divert the attention of the Queen and her guards away from the dungeon. These incidents included sudden fireworks, suspicious noises, and strange movements in other parts of the palace.

7. **Preparation of Hidden Passages**: The hidden passages of the palace needed to be prepared so that Stephan and other members of the group could use them easily. The members of the secret group were responsible for inspecting and clearing these passages, ensuring that there were no obstacles in the way.

The night for executing the plan had finally arrived. Alara and her group stealthily entered the dungeon, where a deadly darkness and silence reigned. A strong smell of dampness and humidity struck Alara's face as she entered the cold and dark space first.

In one corner, the ceiling was cracked, and water dripped from it. Large rats scurried around, as though they were the true owners of the place. Amidst the darkness and dampness, a hunched figure in filthy clothes was sitting , it was her dear Stephan. His long brown hair fell over his face. With tearful eyes, Stephan looked at Alara and said, "You actually did it."

Sure, here’s the translation:

Elara took Stefan's trembling hands and said, "You must go." She lowered her gaze to avoid getting lost in the forest of Stefan's eyes, she couldn't let herself be influenced.

Stefan stood still and said with difficulty, "What about you? Why aren't you coming?"

Alara swallowed the lump in her throat that felt like a heavy ball blocking her airway and said, "I can't keep running away. I need to stay and take revenge on the queen for all the suffering she has caused me. She shouldn't live peacefully and happily with the burden of guilt. I'm no longer that fragile, fearful girl. Maybe I've been hurt during this time, but it has made me stronger. I need to come up with a plan to overthrow the queen. She can't be the heir to the throne. This country needs a compassionate ruler. I promise that after the queen's downfall, we will start a beautiful, happy life together."

Elara hugged Stefan and closed her eyes to commit these few seconds to memory. For a moment, she was tempted to run away, but she remembered the queen must be punished. Stefan left the dungeon with slumped shoulders, and Elara's eyes welled up with tears. But now was not the time to cry; she had to leave before the queen became suspicious. She picked up her shattered pieces from the ground and joined the celebration on the other side of the palace.

The queen was in her room, getting ready for the ceremony. After matching her red dress with a similarly colored lipstick, she placed her sparkling crown on her black hair. She looked in the mirror; she was beautiful, even more so than before. However, her eyes no longer possessed their former shine. The stars that once gleamed in the darkness of her eyes had long gone. She recalled the time when her name was Katherine. A joyful girl full of dreams and love, but Katherine was now dead. The queen took one last look in the mirror and walked out.

"The castle was filled with the light of white candles casting shadows on the stone walls. Red and white roses, and colorful foods and drinks adorned the palace. The families of ministers and nobles were all enjoying themselves and flattering the king. The queen stood beside the king, raised her wine glass, and loudly said, 'To the health of our beloved king.' Everyone cheered and drank their beverages."

"The queen looked around but didn't see Elara, so she sent her maid to find her. Moments later, Elara entered the hall in her puffy pink dress. The queen looked her over carefully. Elara walked gracefully and calmly, her long skirt trailing across the ground. The queen noticed black spots on it. She thought for a moment and realized that nowhere in the palace was as dirty as the dungeon! The queen quickly sent her handmaiden to check the situation there. Minutes later, the maid, out of breath from running, said, 'My lady, that boy has escaped. The guards are looking for him.' "

The queen, filled with anger, swiftly approached Elara, seized her hand tightly, and dragged her into the castle corridor. At the end of the empty hallway, she pinned her against the wall and squeezed her throat, saying, "Do you want to challenge me, little mouse? Have you forgotten your place? I will send you and your lover to hell, you'll see!" Then she released her throat and left with firm, hurried steps. The sound of the queen's footsteps echoed through the space as she moved away, and the moonlight from the palace windows fell on Elara. Like a fish out of water, struggling for water, Elara gasped for breath.