228. First day of winter

[Zeve’s POV]

Everyone in the royal family had gathered in the royal funeral mortuary and everyone waited for aunt Lozbi and her husband.

Jade’s body was placed on a white bed carved out of pure white marble on a high platform. Marble bed was surrounded by all kinds of white flowers, especially the white lilies. The whole mortuary was lit up with white light.

All of us were dressed in simple pure white dresses.

The royal priest was carrying out the funeral ceremony, performing all the purification and holy rituals before burial.

I stood beside Amor on a platform lower than the marble bed. Amor had been standing with his head held low.

Mother’s, aunt Helene’s and a few princess’ subtle sobs were the only sound except the chanting.

Aunt Lozbi and Duke Knox finally came into the mortuary, and my heart rate increased.

Aunt Lozbi trudged into the hall. Her every step looked so heavy that it was excruciating for her to take them. Duke Knox walked behind her, his face paler than ice, as if h