Queit Places A Novella of Cosmic Folk Horror

The sole child of King Veriga, Ayana, was sitting by the window of her opulently furnished room in the opulent Planet Umn palace. Even though her room was lavishly furnished with priceless jewels and shimmering silks, the turmoil that was building inside of her did not seem to be calmed. Her homeworld of Umn's crimson sky created a picturesque scene outside, but it stood in stark contrast to the tumultuous storm of emotions raging within her.

A covert romance that had been thriving in the royal court's shadow was the source of her anguish. Ayana was enamored with Lael Jones, a young man from a lowly background. Although Lael had arrived at the palace as a servant, his charm, wit, and unwavering devotion had won Ayana over.

The idea of a princess falling in love with a commoner was unimaginable to the subjects of the kingdom, so their forbidden love was kept a closely-guarded secret. However, Ayana's heart was limitless, and during the silent hours of the night, she had been having secret meetings with Lael.

Their world was going to fall apart tonight.

It all began when the royal guards found out about Ayana and Lael's stolen moments. That fateful night, Lael had ventured into the dimly lit chamber to steal a kiss from the royal prince, Ayana's younger brother, thinking him to be Ayana. The repercussions were disastrous.

King Veriga ordered Lael's execution the following morning for the offense of trespassing and showing disdain for the royal family. The kingdom was a flurry of gossip and whispers after the decision hit like a thunderbolt.

The idea of her dear Lael being executed was too much for Ayana to bear. She had an intense love for him that cut over all social bounds. She felt a surge of desperation and realized she needed to ask her father for forgiveness.

Her eyes were full of tears and her heart was racing as she stood in front of King Veriga. "Please, Father, don't take Lael's life. I can't bear to see him go, even though I know he made a terrible mistake. He is my love."