Rumors began to spread like ghosts, quietly creeping through the sacred halls of Glory Fortress.
They slithered like insidious vines, penetrating every gap and dark corner, filling the air with a sense of unease.
Lord Leonard had found another home outside these walls.
The whispered words held a strange power, enough to shake the very foundations of this fortress.
A faint, metallic scent of fear hung heavily in the air, mingling with the familiar morning aromas of toasted bread and polished wax.
It was a peculiar smell that stung Luna's magically sensitive nose.
Even without fully hearing the hushed murmurs, she sensed the shift in atmosphere.
This once-safe haven was now charged with tension, like a lute string pulled taut, ready to snap at any moment.
Though Luna's form was still that of an infant, her spirit was that of a great Mage.
She sat on a small chair made of enchanted willow wood, idly toying with a glowing Magic Sphere.
The Magic Sphere pulsed in her chubby hand like a tiny sun, mirroring the restless energy within the castle.
Qin Si lingered nearby, ostensibly there to assist the child, yet her gaze frequently darted toward the doorway, her usually meticulous demeanor betraying an uncontainable anxiety.
She adjusted Luna's silk Peacock Blue Shawl, smoothing out nonexistent wrinkles on her little dress, then nervously tugged at the Liu Su on the chair—an action starkly contrasting her usual calm and competence, even catching Luna's attention from her magical play.
The woman's thoughts were a tangled mix of fear and confusion that touched Luna's spirit, sharply contrasting with the child's extraordinary tranquility.
The door creaked open, and Lady Aaliyah of the Fortress stepped inside.
The noble grace she once embodied had vanished.
Her formerly radiant face was now etched with deep exhaustion.
Her pale skin was marked by dark circles, resembling deep stains.
She moved like a ghost, her steps slow and dragging, as if each movement required immense willpower.
Upon seeing Luna, her lips curled into a faint smile tinged with pain, but it quickly vanished, swallowed by the shadows in her eyes.
"My dear Luna," she murmured, her voice weak and hoarse, carrying a sense of fragility.
She slumped in the chair, covering her face with her hands as suppressed sobs escaped her lips.
"All these years... it has all been lies." The words were laden with the bitterness of betrayal.
The whispered rumors had transformed into a terrifying reality.
Leonard's infidelity was no longer a phantom lurking in the shadows but a cruel, stark truth laid bare for all to see.
The tension in the room intensified.
Luna felt a surge of fierce protectiveness toward Aaliyah, an instinctive emotion that sharply contrasted with her infantile appearance.
This injustice, this blatant disregard for Aaliyah's love and loyalty, ignited an ever-growing determination within her.
She had to resolve this issue.
Hearing Aaliyah's anguished cries, the brothers rushed into the room, their faces reflecting disbelief and anger.
Despite being limited in movement due to magical injuries, the eldest brother, usually calm and composed, gripped the armrests of his chair tightly, his knuckles turning white.
The Second Brother had just recovered from the betrayal of a so-called friend, his face filled with thunderous rage.
Brother San, who typically focused on trivial matters, appeared unusually serious now, his youthful face hardened by anger.
"That scoundrel!" Second Brother roared, his voice echoing the turmoil within him.
"I will make him pay for this!"
"Mother," the eldest brother said, his voice low and dangerous, "tell us where he is. He must face the consequences of his actions."
The suppressed anger of the three brothers crackled in the air, their protective instincts ignited.
Even Brother San, usually carefree, looked ready to tear the castle apart stone by stone in search of Leonard.
The raw, untamed magic swirling around them testified to their fury and unwavering loyalty to Mother.
The room fell into a heavy silence, broken only by Aaliyah's stifled Luna cries.
As if an eternity had passed, she lifted her head, her eyes red but glimmering with newfound strength.
"We will find him," she declared, her voice trembling yet resolute.
"He must explain himself to all of us."
With that decision made, a grim determination enveloped the entire group.
The atmosphere shifted once more; chaotic anxiety was replaced by a focused, almost predatory calm.
They resembled a pack of wounded but united wolves, ready to confront the source of their pain.
Lucius stepped forward with a concerned expression and said, "I will lead the way," his voice steady and reassuring.
"But I implore all of you, especially my brothers, to remain calm. This... this is a delicate matter. We must proceed with caution." He met each person's gaze, his eyes conveying a restrained plea.
Even in the face of such blatant betrayal, he maintained a semblance of composure, demonstrating his diplomatic demeanor.
As they walked through the castle towards Lord's chamber, an unspoken tension filled the silence.
Each step echoed in the spacious corridor like a rhythmic drumbeat, underscoring the seriousness of their mission.
The air was thick with the weight of the impending confrontation.
They paused before a pair of majestic Golden Oak Doors, intricately carved with the emblem of Glory Fortress.
Lucius raised his hand, hesitating for a moment before knocking… A sharp and decisive rap resonated through the quiet hallway.
The sound hung in the air, filled with anticipation.
Time seemed to freeze, and then… a deep voice came from within: “Enter.” The winter wind whipped in, carrying snowflakes that rattled against the Window Lattice of the Glorious Demon Fortress, like Destiny's restless whisper.
Luna tightened her small cloak around her, her large Violet eyes shimmering with an unsettling calm that belied her age.
Who would have thought that she, a vibrant young woman from the twenty-first century—oh no, an old aunt—would end up as a Cannon Fodder Baby in a magical world where death could come at any moment!
“Madam, you don’t look well,” Qin Si said as he brought over a steaming cup of honey tea, carefully observing Aelia’s expression.
Aelia, the Lady of the Fortress at Glory Demon Fortress, usually exuded grace and elegance.
But now, even her exquisite makeup could not conceal the fatigue and shock in her eyes.
Leonard… that man who professed his love for her had betrayed her!
The news struck her like a bolt from the blue, leaving her utterly shattered.
Luna sighed inwardly; this was partly her fault.
After all, who told her to meddle with fate just because she knew the Original Plot?
One careless mistake, and Leonard's secret was revealed.
However, it's better to face the pain sooner rather than later; recognizing the true nature of a scoundrel is far better than being led to ruin by him!
“Qin Si, I’m fine.” Aelia forced a smile as she took a sip of the honey tea.
The fragrance of the tea spread across her lips and teeth, yet it couldn't dispel the coldness in her heart.
“Mother,” a deep voice echoed as Lucius entered. He cast a complex glance at Aelia before turning to Luna. “Luna, are you sure everything you said is true?”
Luna met his gaze fearlessly, her small frame standing tall and straight.
“I swear by my soul as a Great Mage that every word is true!”
As soon as she spoke, the atmosphere in the room froze.
A reincarnation of a Great Mage?
Who would believe such a claim?
Yet for some reason, looking into Luna's clear and determined eyes, everyone felt an involuntary surge of trust.
Perhaps this Infant Girl truly had something extraordinary about her.
“At this point, there's no use in saying more.” The eldest brother, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke up. Leaning on his cane, he slowly approached Aelia. “Mother, what we should be considering now is how to deal with the upcoming situation.” Sighing, he thought back to when he was once a dashing Mage; if it weren't for that damned Magic Backlash, he wouldn't have ended up in this crippled state!
The Second Brother nodded in agreement, his expression serious.
“Eldest Brother is right. Father's actions will undoubtedly cause turmoil within the Magic Castle. We must come up with a strategy quickly.” He reflected on how he had been blinded by foolishness in the past, believing that scoundrel's lies, which led him to the predicament of a Magic Dilemma!
“Hmph, what strategy could there be? That old man is too busy chasing after those vixens outside to care about us!” Brother San scoffed disdainfully, his tone filled with resentment.
He relied on his slight Magical Talent, idling away his days without ambition, and he deserved to accomplish nothing!
As it seemed that the argument was about to escalate again, Luna quickly cleared her throat.
"Brothers, and Mother, this is not the time to quarrel. I know everyone is feeling down, but we must unite to overcome this crisis."
"Luna, do you have any ideas?" Aelia looked at her youngest daughter, her eyes filled with hope.
She always felt that within this small body lay immense potential.
"My thoughts are simple," Luna blinked her eyes. "First, we need to quickly seize control of Magic Castle and not let Leonard continue to act recklessly. Second, we must change our Destiny; we cannot end up like in the original story, each meeting a tragic fate! Third, we need to resolve the crisis at Magic Castle and restore the former glory of Glorious Demon Fortress!"
"Well said!" Aelia nodded vigorously, a fire igniting in her eyes.
"Luna, rest assured, Mother will support you! From today onward, our family will work together and overcome all difficulties!"
"Exactly!" The eldest brother, Second Brother, and Brother San all expressed their agreement. They looked at Luna as if they saw the dawn of hope.
Thus, amidst the winter's Wind and Snow, Luna and her family began their journey of resurgence.
As for Leonard, just wait for the storm to come!
As night fell, Glorious Demon Fortress bathed in a hazy glow.
However, what once symbolized glory and splendor—the Magic Castle—was now shrouded in an unshakeable gloom.
Luna's clear eyes sparkled with wisdom and composure beyond her years.
Her small frame seemed to harbor enough energy to shake the very foundations of Magic Castle.
"So, you mean to say that Father... he really betrayed Mother?" Lucius's voice trembled slightly; he could hardly believe that the man he revered as a towering figure could commit such a despicable act.
Aelia sat at the head of the table, her once regal face now etched with fatigue and sorrow.
She nodded gently, her voice low and hoarse. "Qin Si saw it with his own eyes, Leonard and that woman... they..." At this point, she could no longer continue, tears falling like pearls from a broken string.
Her elder brother gripped his staff tightly, his usually gentle face now filled with anger. "I knew it! I knew that old bastard was no good! If it weren't for him back then..."
"Elder Brother!" Second Brother quickly intervened, aware of how deeply their eldest brother resented Father’s decisions from years ago.
"This isn't the time for that. We need to think about what to do next."
Brother San, unusually serious, approached Luna and crouched beside her, looking intently into her eyes. "Luna, do you have any thoughts? You said you could change our destiny and resolve the crisis of the Magic Castle. Is that true?"
Luna met Brother San's gaze fearlessly. She nodded, her tone resolute. "Of course it's true. I know Father betrayed Mother; I know Elder Brother's leg was injured due to the Magic Backlash; I know Second Brother was deceived by a close friend and fell into the Magic Dilemma; and I also know, Brother San, that your exceptional Magical Talent has led you to neglect your training."
She paused for a moment before continuing. "I can change all of this. But I need your help. I cannot confront Leonard alone."
Aelia lifted her head.
Luna smiled faintly.
Inside the Fortress Lord's Mansion, the atmosphere had become unbearably tense.
Leonard sat in his study, his expression dark and foreboding.
He never expected that such a deeply hidden secret of his would be uncovered by an infant girl.
"Damn it! Who is this Luna? How does she know all these things?" Leonard growled under his breath, feeling an unprecedented sense of crisis.
At that moment, the butler entered cautiously and said, "My Lord, the lady has arrived with several young masters, and... and Luna is with them."
Leonard's expression darkened further. He took a deep breath, striving to calm himself. "Let them in."
Aelia led Luna and the others into the study, her gaze as cold as frost, as if she were looking at a stranger.
“Leonard, I believe you know the purpose of our visit today,” Aelia's voice was eerily calm.
Leonard forced a composed smile. “Madam, what are you talking about? I don’t understand.”
Luna stepped forward, her youthful voice ringing clear in the study. “Leonard, do you still want to play dumb at this point? You betrayed Mother; you have let down the entire Magic Castle! You are unworthy of being this Lord!”
Leonard's face instantly turned ashen, and he glared at Luna. “You little brat! What nonsense are you spouting?!”
“Whether I’m speaking nonsense or not, you know in your heart,” Luna met Leonard’s gaze without flinching, her eyes shimmering with powerful Magical Power.
“Leonard, I’m not here to argue with you today,” Aelia interrupted him, walking to the desk and pulling out a document from the drawer, tossing it in front of Leonard.
“This is a divorce agreement. I hope you will sign it,” Aelia said coldly.
Leonard picked up the document, glanced at it briefly, then tore it to shreds with a fierce motion. “I won’t sign! I absolutely refuse to get divorced! I am the Lord of Glorious Demon Fortress! None of you will take anything from me!”
Luna sighed.
“Leonard, you’re mistaken. We’re not here to take everything from you; we just want back what rightfully belongs to us.” Though Luna’s voice was young, it was filled with strength.
“I will change my brother's Destiny; I will help Second Brother out of his predicament; I will help Brother San regain his spirit; and I will make Glorious Demon Fortress shine once more!”
Luna's words echoed in the study like a brilliant light, illuminating the future of Magic Castle.
And this was just the beginning…
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