Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Luna's small hand tightly grasped Aelia's soft silk robe, her knuckles turning a faint white.
Aelia leaned against the window seat, the afternoon sunlight streaming through the colored glass, casting mottled light and shadow on the floor. The air was filled with a delicate lavender scent.
She hummed a gentle tune, patting Luna's back rhythmically, savoring this rare moment of tranquility.
No one expected that this peace would soon be shattered.
“Mommy…” Luna's baby voice broke the silence of the room, yet it carried an unexpected seriousness for her age. “Daddy… he has other babies outside…”
This sentence detonated like a bomb in the room, and the lavender scent instantly turned bitter.
Aelia's song abruptly stopped; she froze, her hand's motion halted.
The sunlight continued to filter through the colored glass, but it seemed to be shrouded in a layer of gloom, illuminating Aelia's face and making her complexion appear even paler.
“Luna, what… did you say?” Aelia's voice trembled, laced with disbelief as she turned her head, locking her gaze onto Luna's small face.
Luna's little face was taut, her eyes devoid of any hint of jest.
She repeated it, each word striking Aelia's heart like small stones: “Daddy… has… other babies… and there's another lady…”
Aelia's breathing grew urgent, her chest rising and falling violently.
She grabbed Luna by the thin shoulders with such force that it made the little girl tremble slightly.
“Luna, where… where did you hear that?”
Luna looked into Aelia's eyes with determination. “I saw it… in Daddy's study… that lady… holding a very small baby…” She struggled to recall that night, furrowing her tiny brow. “That lady… was very pretty… wearing a red dress…”
A red dress… Aelia’s mind flashed back to a memory of a woman in a red dress nestled beside Leonard, smiling charmingly. She had always thought that woman was just a business partner of Leonard’s; perhaps she had overthought things…
It turned out that she wasn't overthinking; she had been kept in the dark!
Aelia's complexion shifted from pale to ashen. The love she had always prided herself on, the years of shared affection with Leonard, had ultimately become a joke!
Standing nearby, Qin Si, who had been quietly observing, couldn't help but cover her mouth in shock, her eyes wide with disbelief.
She couldn't believe what she had just heard. The Lord of the Fortress… could actually do something like this!
"Luna, are you sure you didn't see it wrong?" Qin Si's voice trembled, tinged with a glimmer of hope. She desperately wished this was just a misunderstanding.
Luna shook her head, her small face serious. "I didn't see it wrong… that lady… even called him 'dear'..."
"Dear..." Those two words pierced Aelia's heart like a sharp knife.
She felt a wave of suffocation, as if the entire world was collapsing around her.
Tears finally streamed down Aelia's cheeks, falling onto Luna's small hands.
Luna reached out her tiny hand and gently wiped away Aelia's tears, comforting her in a baby voice, "Mommy… don’t cry..."
However, this simple comfort could not quell the fury burning within Aelia.
Taking a deep breath, she struggled to control her emotions, but her eyes blazed with an intense fire.
Meanwhile, Lucius had just exited the study when he overheard Luna's words.
He froze in place, his brow furrowed. The father he had always respected had betrayed his mother and their family!
His fists clenched tightly, knuckles turning white as laughter echoed in his ears.
A surge of anger welled up from the depths of his heart, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.
He turned abruptly and strode toward the room where Luna and Aelia were.
As he reached the door, he saw Mother in tears, with Luna tightly embracing her, her small frame seemingly shielding Mother from the storm.
This scene tightened Lucius's heart even more.
He took a deep breath, striving to calm his emotions before stepping into the room.
“Mother,” his voice was low and hoarse, laced with suppressed anger, “is what Luna said true?”
Aelia looked up at her son, tears once again blurring her vision.
She trembled as she parted her lips, ultimately managing to utter just two words: “It’s true…”
Lucius clenched his fists tighter, Aelia's white nails nearly digging into his flesh.
He gazed at Mother with determination in his eyes. “Mother, I will seek justice for you!”
Aelia looked at her son, filled with both pride and worry.
She knew that once this matter came to light, it would stir up a tremendous uproar.
Taking a deep breath, she tried to steady herself.
“Lucius,” her voice was hoarse yet resolute, “now… go find your father…”
“Qin Si, come with me!”
The calm before the storm often feels more suffocating.
In the air of the Glorious Demon Fortress, a tense atmosphere lingered, like a taut string ready to snap at any moment...
Aelia felt her blood boiling, anger churning in her chest like lava.
She suddenly pushed open the door to the study, the loud bang echoing like thunder in the silent corridor, startling a flock of birds into flight from the branches outside.
Inside the study, Leonard sat behind a large mahogany desk, holding a Sheepskin Scroll, his brow furrowed as if pondering some state affair.
Hearing the loud noise, he looked up and saw Aelia standing at the door, furious, her face pale as paper. Behind her, Qin Si and Lucius wore serious expressions.
A sense of foreboding gripped him.
“Aelia, what’s going on…” Leonard set down the scroll, his tone slightly unnatural.
He nervously adjusted his collar, his gaze flickering as he dared not meet Aelia's eyes.
The faint scent of cigar smoke mingled with a barely noticeable sweet perfume filled the study, making Aelia feel a wave of nausea.
“Why are you asking me what’s wrong?!” Aelia's voice trembled, like a tightly strung Qin Xian ready to snap at any moment.
“Luna told me everything! You... you have other women and children outside!”
Aelia's voice echoed in the study, each word piercing Leonard's heart like a sharp knife.
His face turned ashen in an instant, his lips quivering as he struggled to defend himself but didn’t know where to begin.
“I... I...” He opened his mouth but only managed to utter a few indistinct broken syllables.
His gaze flickered back and forth, first towards Aelia, then towards Qin Si and Lucius.
"Do you still want to argue?!" Lucius could no longer contain his anger. He stepped forward, glaring at Leonard. "Father, you have disappointed us greatly!" He clenched his fists, the knuckles cracking ominously, as if he wanted to tear Leonard apart.
Qin Si stood to the side, silent but seething. Having served Aelia for many years, she had witnessed the love between Aelia and Leonard firsthand. Now, seeing Leonard act in such a way filled her with immense anger and heartbreak.
Leonard looked at his furious wife and son, along with the disdainful maid. His attempts at justification felt feeble in the face of undeniable evidence. A wave of helplessness washed over him, draining him of all strength as he slumped into the chair.
News spread like wildfire throughout the Magic Castle.
Servants whispered among themselves, while nobles exchanged hushed words; everyone was discussing Leonard's betrayal.
The atmosphere in the Magic Castle grew heavy, stifling and oppressive.
"See? I told you something was off with the Lord of the Fortress lately; he's always coming and going at odd hours."
"Exactly! I even saw him with a woman in a red dress!"
"I can't believe it; the Lord of the Fortress would do such a thing!"
Various murmurs pierced Leonard's ears like needles, each one stinging his nerves.
He felt an overwhelming sense of shame, wishing he could find a rift in the earth to hide in.
Aelia looked at Leonard, taking a deep breath to steady her emotions. Her voice was cold and resolute: "Leonard, I will not forgive you! You will pay for your actions!"
Leonard lifted his head to meet Aelia's gaze.
"Aelia, I..." He wanted to explain, to apologize, but Aelia had already turned away and left the study without looking back.
"Just wait and see, Leonard!" Aelia's voice echoed in the corridor, "This isn't over!"
Leonard sat dejectedly in his chair, the luxurious decor of the study now tinged with a sense of despair in his eyes.
He rubbed his temples and let out a deep sigh; the rich aroma of cigars in the room could not mask the weariness and helplessness radiating from him.
Aelia's resolute figure felt like a sharp blade, cutting deeply into his heart and leaving an unhealable wound.
Did he regret it?
Of course he did.
He had never intended to hurt Aelia; he loved her more than anything, even more than the woman who had borne him a child.
But it was all too late. The snowball of lies had grown too large, ultimately burying him.
He lifted his gaze to Lucius.
His son's eyes were filled with disappointment and anger, piercing his heart like a dagger.
He opened his mouth, wanting to explain, wanting to make amends, but the words turned into a silent sigh before they could escape.
What more could he say?
All explanations felt powerless, all promises like castles in the air.
He had let down his wife, betrayed his son, and failed his entire family.
Qin Si stood nearby, watching Leonard with a complex expression.
She had once held great respect for the Lord of the Fortress, but now all that remained was a profound disappointment.
Gently shaking her head, she turned and left the study, leaving Leonard alone to confront the chaos that surrounded him.
Leonard closed his eyes, and in his mind, Aelia's smiling face emerged. That once warm smile now felt like a sharp knife, piercing painfully into his heart.
He clutched his chest, feeling a suffocating pain.
He had lost what he cherished most, and all of it was his own doing.
Outside the study, the corridor was filled with noisy footsteps and murmurs.
He knew that his disgrace had spread throughout the Magic Castle.
The image he once held so high had crumbled, replaced by the accusations and disdain of others.
A wave of shame washed over him, making him wish he could find a rift in the Earth to hide in.
Slowly, he stood up and walked to the window. He pushed it open, and a rush of fresh air poured in, yet it could not dispel the gloom in his heart.
He gazed at the bustling scene outside, but his heart was filled with bitterness.
Everything he once possessed was now slipping away from him.
Turning back, he looked at the empty study, a deep sense of helplessness rising within him.
He knew he had to face it all; he had to bear the weight of the error he had committed.
Luna stood quietly at the door, watching everything unfold.
Her small face bore no expression, but the bright, large eyes sparkled with a complex light.
She knew that this storm had only just begun, and she would be at its center.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped lightly into the study.
"Grandfather..." Luna's voice was clear and youthful, yet carried an undeniable firmness. "I know you must have your reasons..."
Leonard looked at Luna, surprised that she would speak up for him at this moment.
"Luna..." Leonard's voice was hoarse and low. "You... you don't blame me?"
Luna shook her head, a faint smile appearing on her small face. "Grandfather, I know you love Mom, and you love me too..."
Leonard gazed at Luna, his heart filled with emotion.
He reached out to embrace her but hesitated and withdrew his hand.
He knew he did not deserve to hold this pure child.
Luna walked up to Leonard, extending her small hand to gently grasp his sleeve.
"Grandfather," Luna's voice was soft yet resolute, "I believe you will handle everything well..."
Leonard looked at Luna and nodded, his heart brimming with gratitude.
Luna released his sleeve and turned to leave the study.
As she reached the door, she paused, turned her head back to look at Leonard, and said softly, "Grandfather..."
Luna left without looking back.
Leonard watched her retreating figure, his heart filled with hope.
He knew he still had a chance, a glimmer of hope to make amends for the mistakes he had made.
Taking a deep breath, he turned toward his desk, picked up the Feather Pen, and began to write a letter.
He needed to tell Aelia everything; he wanted to ask for her forgiveness and regain her trust.
He wrote slowly and earnestly, each word infused with his remorse and determination.
After finishing the letter, he set down the Feather Pen and gazed at the Tiny Inscriptions on the Letterhead, his heart brimming with hope.
He believed that Aelia would forgive him.
He picked up the letter, walked to the window, opened it, and let the letter fly away.
The Letterhead danced in the air, carrying his hopes as it soared into the distance...
"Mother, why don't you ask Luna how she knows all these things?" Lucius suddenly spoke up, breaking the brief silence in the study.
His voice was low and calm, yet tinged with a subtle hint of suspicion.
Comment 0 Comment Count