A/N: Warning - some of the following chapters in this book will feature depression and passive suicidal thoughts.

Stone walls lifted high into the air, and small windows were at the top. Candles illuminated the dark space. No moon was out that evening. In front of her were the heads of the four noble families that ran the royal court. Two oversaw the implementation of the kingdom's laws and the city guard. The other two were in charge of the archives.

The room felt cold. No one was happy to be there. If they were, (F/n) couldn't tell. Rather, she could hardly think. Her mind felt foggy, and it wasn't just from the grief and shock of all of the events. In fact, she couldn't even really recall what those events were. If they hadn't told her what her crime was, she honestly wouldn't know why she was there.

Something was so wrong, so very wrong. Barely, she could process the words being said, and she could only really remember basic details about herself and the room around her. Even the court members' names didn't come to mind. If she hadn't spent so much time with her sister, Kendra, and her mentor, Felin, she probably wouldn't be able to remember their names right now.

This trial was tampered with. And, she couldn't even utter the words to clarify that it was. She didn't even know what could cause this. (F/n) wasn't even aware of a poison that could do this to someone, and it hurt to think on it too much. Her vision blurred again, and she stopped thinking for a moment.

"Princess (F/n), the evidence against you isn't looking good," started ... whatever his name was ... "King Avan (L/n) and Queen Adela (L/n) were murdered, killed moments after eating their dinner. You were gone at dinner. And, a freshly smashed batch of Mordia flower was found in your work table in one of your jars." He paused for a breath before continuing. "Felin, your mentor has mentioned that you have been acting suspicious of late and identified that the highnesses' deaths were caused by poisoning with Mordia flower. Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

What? That wasn't true. Acting suspicious? She had been acting like she always had. (F/n) winced. "I ... don't know." What kind of answer was that?! Why couldn't she think properly?!

"You don't know?" started another royal court member. She stood up, and her face reddened with anger. "Your parents, our rulers, are dead! And, you don't know?! I expected more of you, Princess!" She tapped her finger harshly against the wooden table in front of her. "That is your defense? I thought you loved your parents. You were shaping up to be a wonderful heir. But, it looks like we were wrong. What kind of dismissive tone is that anyway?!"

"I ... don't know." She wanted to run. This was horrible, and she couldn't think of anything else to say. She really didn't know what was happening right now.

"Princess (F/n), unless you can defend yourself," started a third, "you will be facing the worst punishment possible. Killing the King and Queen is nothing to take lightly. Unless you give us something to indicate that this wasn't you, we only have this evidence to work with. Nothing else has been found." Silence, she didn't want to speak again; it'd only make her sound worse and like she didn't care. Tears touched her eyes, and confusion controlled her mind. A rough huff of air left him. "I see. Tears won't save you, Princess (F/n). You were heir to the throne; why jeopardize that by killing your parents? What did you have to gain? Did you really hate them and have been deceiving us all along?"

"I..." The same sentence almost spilled out, and she bit her lip. Couldn't they see that she was confused?!

"Is there anyone else to defend Princess (F/n)? Any evidence that someone can share that might exonerate her?" the last one asked.

She glanced around the room. Castle staff and nobles stared on: some in disbelief, some disgusted and others unsure what to make of this. Then, there were those who shed tears for her and couldn't look. But, no one could say a thing, too shocked to speak and too much in heartache to deny the evidence. (F/n) had known most of them for years, but she imagined that her responses did little for them to defend her. She wished her tone was better, but it really did come off that she didn't care, which made her tears seem like a cheap ploy to get out of this.

"(F/n), say something else! Anything!" Kendra cried out.

"I ... can't." Something different came out! She was shocked herself, but it didn't sound any better. Maybe, she could try again. (F/n) winced, and her vision went blurry. Her memory grew even foggier.

"(F/n), this is your last chance. Please tell me that this really wasn't you," Felin pleaded next to her. She stared at him. Was this his doing? He had said that she seemed suspicious.

"What ... I ..." She hung her head down. To the court, it looked like she had given up. Rather, her head hurt, and she bit her lip. Her memory was so messed with that her words were useless.

"Truly, it pains us to say this, Princess (F/n), but with your responses and the evidence against you, you are being sentenced to death. Your punishment will be loss of your arms and legs before being tossed into the fires of Mount Imnis," the last one stated. She wanted to cry out, but things began to fade. Pain met her. And ...

She jolted awake. Her instinct was to sit up, but she couldn't. Only her head lifted. Sweat trickled down her brow, and she went to wipe it off, but she couldn't. Wondering what was wrong, she opened her (e/c) optics more and hurriedly glanced around her. Stubs of what was once her arms and legs greeted her. Reality set in. It wasn't all some horrible dream. And unlike her memory during the trial, it was clear now. She tried to defend herself once her mind cleared, and she recalled the events that had occurred the day prior to the trial. No one listened. It was too late, and they all thought her words were poor attempts to save herself.

Two days, she waited until she was brought to Mount Imnis. Tears began to form, and she couldn't even wipe them away. And despite all of this, she was alive. How? Why? Who saved her?

There was a window to her right, and she was on a straw bed with a sheet below her and one on top of her. She wanted to look out, but she couldn't. Her neck was already hurting from the strain of her trying to lift it so much. Part of her just wished that she was dead and didn't have to see the result of what had happened to her.

She recalled the scent of berries before going unconscious. Dreamrose? It was known to cause sleep for several hours if breathed in. Who could've done this? Exhaustion and grief prevented her from panicking. Her eyes looked around. She was in a small home. A fireplace was alive across from her. A pot was in it, and it smelled like soup was cooking. A table was off to the left of it, and she couldn't see more.

Her eyes looked back to her limbs, and her heart beat faster. Barely, she could handle what this meant for her, and she quietly sobbed and laid her head back. Maybe, it didn't matter who had helped her. Did any of it matter? Her kingdom thought her dead no doubt, and she had nowhere to go except where she was currently. Perhaps, she should go back to sleep.

(F/n) tried to roll over, but she couldn't even manage that. She was stuck in her position and released another sob. Who cared if someone heard her. Closing her eyes, she tried to drift off again, but she couldn't. Her mind wouldn't stop thinking of her situation, and her body ached.

Frustrated and feeling shattered, she opened her eyes and glanced at her wounds. Someone had wrapped them and put a fresh salve on them recently. She could tell by the smell still in the air of flowers and how clean the bandages looked. Her nose pinpointed the distinct smell of Gold Sunshine, a flower used to prevent infections and cuts, and Spiderlegs, a flower that helps heal oozing and bleeding wounds. All of her wounds were cauterized, but it was common for the wounds to bleed a little still for a day or two after.

A shaky sigh escaped her lips. Whoever did tend to her knew some about medical treatment. Never would she be able to make cures again. She couldn't do anything except some basic functions. But, most everything would require aid. Did whoever save her really expect themselves to be able to handle this? She couldn't even handle it. It scared her and made her grief all the worse.

Despite all this, her stomach grumbled loudly, and the soup smelled delicious. She didn't want to eat, but the pain of hunger wasn't helping her either. She wanted to see her parents, but she also was curious as to who saved her and how they managed it. And, where were they during her trial? If someone went through this much trouble for her, where were they then?

A groan left her, and she hated her emotions being in utter chaos. She hated this whole situation, but it did keep her somewhat distracted from the worse thought in her head. Her sister betrayed her; her mentor betrayed her. Some of the closest people to her abandoned her and killed her parents. And, she couldn't do a thing about it. Who would believe her ... Well, maybe, whoever rescued her did.

Another grumble left her stomach. She tried to focus on that and not the horrible thoughts in her head, but she tensed when she heard the door open. Already forgetting, she tried to get up, only to be met with a sore neck and a huff of frustration. Steps followed after, and a figure came into her line of sight.