Chapter 5 - THE GOLDEN SUNThe royal sun pendant had belonged to the House of Aurelian for more than three hundred years.
According to legend, the first king received it from a mysterious traveler who appeared during a solar eclipse.
The traveler warned him that the pendant must never be separated from the royal bloodline.
No one knew why.
The pendant passed from monarch to monarch.
Eventually, Queen Isabella inherited it.
When she died, King Edward gave it to Eleanor.
He believed it was a symbol of her mother's love.
He had never imagined it might be something more.
Now Ethan stood beside the throne, staring at the photograph.
The golden pendant looked ordinary.
A circular sun with twelve pointed rays.
But Ethan recognized the pattern.
It matched the symbols carved around the ancient chapel's altar.
He remembered seeing photographs of those carvings during his research.
The twelve rays.
The circular center.
The strange markings.
Everything matched.
Ethan looked toward Edward.
"The pendant isn't just a necklace."
The king frowned.
"What is it?"
"A key."
Roland stepped closer.
"To the Sun Gate?"
Ethan nodded.
"I think so."
Edward looked toward the old portrait of Adrian.
"Then my brother needed Eleanor."
Roland nodded.
"She had the pendant."
Ethan continued.
"And royal blood."
The king stared.
"Why would that matter?"
Ethan thought carefully.
The ancient legends repeatedly mentioned the blood of kings.
Perhaps the gate required someone descended from the original royal family.
Adrian was a prince.
He possessed royal blood.
But he did not possess the pendant.
Eleanor had both.
The king's expression darkened.
"Then he took her because she could open the gate."
Ethan nodded.
"Possibly."
Roland looked toward the doors.
"Then we must reach the chapel."
Edward agreed.
But Ethan hesitated.
"There's a problem."
The king turned.
"What?"
Ethan raised his phone.
"In my time, Eleanor doesn't remember being a princess."
Roland frowned.
"How is that possible?"
Ethan shook his head.
"I don't know."
He remembered speaking with Eleanor after the lecture.
She had been friendly.
Curious.
But when Ethan asked about her unusual necklace, her expression changed.
She said it was the only object she possessed when she was found near the ruins.
She had no memory of her childhood.
No memory of her family.
No memory of how she arrived in the modern world.
Ethan had offered to help investigate.
Eleanor agreed.
The next day, Ethan discovered a hidden chamber beneath the ruined chapel.
He entered.
Found the circular stone gate.
And touched the central symbol.
The blue portal opened.
Now he understood that his arrival in the throne hall was connected to Eleanor.
But one question remained.
Why had the portal brought him to the exact moment King Edward was still searching for his daughter?
Was it an accident?
Or had someone arranged it?
Ethan looked toward the phone.
A notification appeared.
The screen briefly flickered.
Then a new photograph opened automatically.
Ethan froze.
He had never seen it before.
The image showed Eleanor standing inside the medieval throne hall.
But the room was empty.
No king.
No soldiers.
No Roland.
Only Eleanor.
She stood beside the golden throne.
And in her hand was a bloodstained crown.
Ethan stared.
"That's impossible."
Edward stepped closer.
"What is it?"
Ethan hesitated.
The king's expression hardened.
"Show me."
Ethan turned the phone.
Edward looked at the image.
His face changed.
"Why is my daughter holding my crown?"
Roland leaned closer.
Then noticed something.
The golden throne was damaged.
The torches had gone out.
And behind Eleanor stood a dark figure wearing a black cloak.
Adrian.
The king's brother.
Edward stared.
"What does this mean?"
Ethan swallowed.
"I think this is a future that hasn't happened yet."
Roland looked toward him.
"Can it be changed?"
Ethan hesitated.
"I don't know."
The king stared at the photograph.
Then whispered:
"If my daughter returns..."
May you like
His voice broke.
"...will I die?"
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