Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
The air in the room seemed to have solidified, leaving only the sound of the three of them tightly embracing, the rustling of cloth, and Aelia's forced yet still leaking sobs, reminiscent of a wounded little beast.
Luna was sandwiched between her Mother and Brother Lucius, her small body feeling Aelia's slight tremors, a chill and despair that emanated from the depths of her soul.
Luna sighed inwardly; well, what was meant to come would eventually arrive.
In the original story, Aelia discovered her husband's betrayal long after it had happened. By then, she had missed too many opportunities for retaliation and self-preservation, ultimately leading to a tragic end.
Now, this little butterfly flapping its wings had to expose this damned truth ahead of time. Even if the process would be painful, a short pain was better than a long one!
She lifted her head and looked at Aelia with eyes so clear they seemed capable of reflecting the deepest secrets of the human heart. In a baby voice, yet with an undeniable certainty, she spoke: “Mother, Luna doesn’t like Daddy’s smell anymore… It’s like… um… that wild rosemary smell outside, not fragrant at all, and prickly… Luna’s magical nose can tell; that’s not from our garden.”
The words sounded extremely childish but struck Aelia's heart like a bolt of lightning!
Rosemary?
No, that wasn’t just any ordinary rosemary!
That was a special fragrance that Leonard occasionally brought home after returning late on several occasions—one she had never smelled within the Magic Castle!
She had once asked about it unintentionally, and Leonard had casually brushed it off as a plant scent he picked up while handling affairs in some remote territory.
At that time, she hadn’t thought much of it and assumed she was being overly suspicious.
But now, hearing those words from her daughter—who was still innocent yet possessed an uncanny perception—the descriptions of “wild,” “prickly,” and “not from our garden” pierced through the fragile facade of trust she had been desperately maintaining like poisoned daggers!
Aelia suddenly released the Children, her body swaying slightly, her face turning as pale as paper, even colder than the moonlight outside.
Her Lips trembled as she tried to say something, but no sound came out.
Years of deep marital affection, those tender vows, those lingering moments, all at this moment felt like the receding tide, Hua La, revealing the cruel truth beneath, filled with sharp rocks.
“No… it’s impossible…” she murmured, her voice shattered like a Dandelion blown away by the wind. “Leonard… how could he…”
Love, like a flower ravaged by a storm, instantly withered and crushed, turning into a chaotic Remains scattered on the ground.
Her heart felt as if it were gripped tightly by an invisible hand, aching so much that she could barely breathe.
The world around her began to darken, spinning uncontrollably.
Just then, the door burst open with a loud bang, and the tall figure of Leonard walked in.
He seemed to sense that something was off in the atmosphere; his handsome face showed a hint of impatience and inquiry. “What’s wrong? What’s all this commotion at this hour?”
When his gaze fell upon Aelia's disheveled face, streaked with tears and lost in despair, he paused for a moment before furrowing his brow.
Aelia abruptly lifted her head; those eyes that once sparkled with affection and warmth now held only cold shards and Burning anger.
She stared fiercely at Leonard, her voice hoarse yet sharp with desperation. “Leonard! You tell me! Where did that damned ‘Rosemary’ scent come from?! Are you… are you seeing someone else?!”
The last few words were almost squeezed out through clenched teeth, filled with bloody accusations.
Leonard's expression changed slightly as he scoffed, attempting to mask his unease with disdain. "Aelia, what nonsense are you spouting? What scent? I think you've been overworked lately and are starting to imagine things. Do you really take a child's words seriously?"
He even reached out to touch Aelia, trying to adopt a soothing gesture.
"Don't touch me!" Aelia stepped back sharply as if stung by a scorpion, her eyes filled with a hatred and disgust that Leonard had never seen before.
She shouted hysterically, "Nonsense? Leonard Glory! Dare you look me in the eye and swear before the Ancestors of the Glorious Family that you haven't betrayed me?!"
Leonard's expression darkened completely. Being publicly questioned like this, especially in front of the children, left him feeling deeply embarrassed and offended.
His handsome features twisted slightly, and his tone turned cold and harsh. "Aelia! Mind your status and your words! I am the head of this family; my affairs are none of your business! Stop being unreasonable!"
"Unreasonable?" Aelia laughed bitterly, her laughter filled with despair and sarcasm. "So all my years of dedication and trust mean nothing to you but 'unreasonable'... Well, well then!"
The atmosphere in the room dropped to freezing point, as if the very air had turned into ice shards that pierced the skin painfully.
The invisible rift between mother and son had, at that moment, completely shattered into an insurmountable chasm.
Tension hung thick in the air, ready to explode.
"Father! Mother!"
Just then, three figures appeared almost simultaneously at the door.
It was the eldest brother, Second Brother, and Brother San who had rushed over upon hearing the commotion.
They had clearly heard the intense argument that had just taken place.
The eldest brother, once the spirited Genius Mage, now reliant on a wheelchair due to the Magic Backlash, wore a pale expression, yet his eyes were filled with unwavering determination.
He did not look at Father; instead, he struggled to maneuver his wheelchair to Aelia's side. He extended his only functioning hand and gently placed it on Mother's trembling shoulders, silently conveying support and strength.
He was appalled by Father's actions.
The Second Brother, whose personality was usually the most carefree, now wore a grim expression.
He recalled being betrayed by his most trusted friend, the sting of that betrayal resonating deeply within him.
His gaze toward Leonard was filled with unmasked anger and discontent, his fists clenched tightly, making a sound as if he were ready to charge at any moment.
Mother's suffering felt like another wound reopening on his heart.
Brother San, once praised for his high Magical Talent but who had previously indulged in leisure at the expense of his training, now bore none of his usual nonchalance.
The drastic changes within the family jolted him into clarity.
He looked at the pained Mother and then at the domineering Father, an unprecedented sense of crisis enveloping him.
He became aware that the skies over the Glorious Demon Fortress might soon change.
Taking a deep breath, he straightened up, and for the first time, his eyes reflected a seriousness and responsibility befitting an adult.
He had to pull himself together, for Mother and for this family.
The three sons, in their own ways, stood firmly by Aelia's side.
Leonard looked at the scene before him, his expression growing even darker.
His wife's estrangement, along with the distance and hostility from his sons, left him feeling more isolated than ever.
Yet, his pride as Lord and his long-standing arrogance prevented him from bowing his head.
With a cold snort, he flicked his sleeve and turned to leave, seemingly hoping to escape the problem.
“Madam, are you... are you alright?” Qin Si, Aelia's most devoted Maid, had been quietly waiting outside the door and now stepped in with red-rimmed eyes.
Seeing her mistress in such a heartbroken state filled her with deep sorrow, and she felt nothing but disdain for Lord's actions.
She hurriedly poured a glass of warm water and carefully offered it to Aelia, softly comforting her: “Madam, please don’t be too sad. Taking care of your health is what matters most…”
Lucius stood nearby, his small frame feeling somewhat helpless in such a heavy and oppressive atmosphere.
He glanced at his crumbling Mother, then at his cold-hearted Father, and finally at the serious expressions of his Brothers. A wave of immense panic gripped him.
He vaguely sensed that the home he once knew was falling apart.
He wanted to do something but didn’t know what to do; all he could do was clench his small fists tightly, his eyes beginning to redden.
The entire Glorious Demon Fortress seemed to be shrouded in an invisible net, suffocating and oppressive.
The former glory and harmony had vanished, leaving only the chaos and pain brought about by emotional entanglements.
However, just as everyone was immersed in this sudden family storm, Luna, who had been cradled in Aelia's arms, suddenly narrowed her violet eyes, which were as deep as the stars!
Something was wrong!
A faint yet exceptionally clear Magical Fluctuation spread quietly like a stone thrown into a calm lake.
This fluctuation was extremely subtle; if it weren't for her past life as a Great Mage, possessing an extraordinary sensitivity to Magic Elements, she would never have noticed it!
This feeling... is a barrier?!
Moreover, it carries a hint of an ominous and evil aura!
“Not good!” Luna's heart raced with alarm, and she could no longer pretend. She pointed her small hand toward a direction in the castle and let out a sharp, urgent cry: “Over there! Magic... there's bad magic!”
Her youthful voice sounded particularly jarring in the oppressive atmosphere, instantly capturing everyone's attention.
Everyone paused for a moment and followed her pointing finger with their Awareness.
At first, they saw nothing.
But soon, an indescribable sense of oppression began to permeate the air.
The air seemed to thicken, and the light appeared to warp.
"What’s happening?" The eldest brother was the first to sense something was off. Although his magical power was incomplete, he remained sensitive to external Magical Fluctuations.
"Quick! Let’s check it out!" Leonard, disregarding any family conflicts, changed his expression and commanded in a low voice.
The group hurried towards the direction Luna had indicated.
They arrived at one of the Core Areas of the Defensive Barrier surrounding the Magic Castle.
What they saw left everyone gasping in shock!
The Defensive Barrier, which usually operated steadily and emitted a soft white light, was now flickering violently, its glow dimming and brightening like a candle in the wind.
Even more terrifying was that within that white light, tendrils of black energy, resembling ink, were continuously seeping and spreading!
A chilling, malevolent, nauseating magical aura emanated from it, and wherever it passed, even the hard stone ground seemed to be cloaked in a layer of lifeless grayness.
Nearby magical plants withered instantly, and the air filled with a haunting whisper, as if countless Wraiths were wailing.
Even the Magic Castle itself, this ancient and sturdy structure, seemed to tremble slightly, emitting groans under the weight of an unbearable burden.
All things, both living and non-living, felt the arrival of that deadly danger from the abyss at that moment!
An unprecedented fear washed over everyone like a cold tide, drowning them instantly!
The Magic Castle was not only showing cracks on the inside, but the external barrier was also being eroded by an unknown evil force.
An unprecedented crisis loomed like the Sword of Damocles, quietly descending upon them.
The atmosphere was filled with horror and tension, wrapping around everyone like a deadly vine.
Aelia gazed into the ominous darkness, then glanced at Leonard beside her, whose expression was equally grave and tinged with uncertainty. Her heart sank to the depths.
Yet, in her tear-streaked eyes, a sudden flash of icy determination pierced through.
She abruptly turned her head, her gaze sharp as a blade, landing on Qin Si, who had been closely following her and was now pale-faced.
“Qin Si,” her voice was low but carried an undeniable command, “you…”
Her words trailed off, but the meaning in her eyes had already been clearly conveyed.
A silent order was quietly issued in the perilous darkness of the night.
Comment 0 Comment Count