473 Goodbye...

In the dew of dawn, as the sun's rays slowly crept over the horizon, a scene of heartbreak unfolded outside the palace. Susan's lifeless body lay wrapped in a coarse sack, awaiting its final fate on the prepared wood for her burial. The hushed whispers and stifled sobs of the gathered crowd at the palace created an eerie backdrop to the heartbreak that had befallen the castle.

The silent cries and pitiful gazes were directed at Susan's grief-stricken parents, Lady Victoria and her husband, Sir Evan. Lady Victoria, once known for her grace and poise, was now crumpled to her knees, her soul torn asunder by grief. Her sobs echoed through the courtyard, making the air heavy with sorrow. Sir Evan, usually a pillar of strength, was reduced to a broken man, clinging to his wife as if she were his only lifeline in this world. The grief weighed heavily on all their hearts, and they struggled to find the strength to bid Susan a final farewell.