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墨書 Inktalez
Luna's small figure appeared particularly fragile in the wide corridor, yet her steps were determined and urgent.
A faint trace of Magical Energy lingered in the air, a unique scent of the Glorious Demon Fortress, which now filled her with a sense of unease.
In her clear, large eyes sparkled an anxiety that belied her age.
"I can't wait any longer!"
Leonard's conspiracy loomed like an invisible net, silently enveloping the entire Magic Castle.
The plot of the original story flashed rapidly through her mind—those tragic endings, the bloody betrayals—she could not stand by and do nothing.
She had to stop it; she must stop it!
She ran swiftly, her delicate face flushed with urgency, finally arriving at Aelia's chamber.
Inside, Aelia sat before the Grooming table, looking somewhat fatigued.
Even her exquisite makeup couldn't hide the fine lines at the corners of her eyes, marks left by time and proof of her hard work for the Magic Castle.
Qin Si was carefully brushing Aelia's long hair, which cascaded like a waterfall, her movements gentle and practiced.
"Mother!" Luna burst in without regard for decorum, her voice tinged with urgency.
Aelia turned around and upon seeing Luna, her face immediately lit up with a warm smile. "Luna, my little darling, what brings you here? Be careful not to catch a chill; it's windy outside."
Luna rushed to Aelia's side and hugged her leg tightly. Looking up with utmost seriousness, she said, "Mother, I have something important to tell you! It's about… Leonard, about Father!"
Aelia's smile instantly froze as an ominous premonition surged within her.
She crouched down and cupped Luna's small face, softly asking, "Luna, what do you know? Tell Mother, don’t be afraid."
Luna took a deep breath and revealed everything she knew about Leonard's actions outside and the plans he was secretly orchestrating, leaving nothing out for Aelia.
Of course, to avoid unnecessary suspicion, she attributed her ability to "foresee the future" to the instincts of the reincarnated Great Mage.
"…Mother, Leonard, he doesn’t love you at all! Everything he does is for himself, for those behind him! The Magic Castle will be in danger!" After speaking, Luna fixed her gaze on Aelia's eyes, fearing that she wouldn’t believe her.
The chamber fell into silence, with only Luna's urgent breaths echoing in the air.
Aelia's complexion changed visibly, becoming pale.
Her once gentle gaze was now filled with shock, disbelief, and… profound pain.
For years, she had deeply loved Leonard. For him and for the Magic Castle, she had given everything.
She believed their love was unbreakable and that he would always protect her and this home.
But now, Luna was telling her that it was all a lie, a carefully woven deception!
"It’s impossible… it can’t be…" Aelia murmured to herself, her voice trembling uncontrollably.
She couldn’t accept this cruel reality; she would rather believe it was just a nightmare.
Luna looked at Aelia with concern. She reached out her small hand and gently held Aelia's hand, comforting her in a tender voice, "Mother, I know this is hard to accept, but it’s true. You must be strong; for the Magic Castle, for us, you need to pull yourself together!"
Aelia suddenly lifted her head. She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down.
“Luna, thank you for telling me all this. I know what to do now.” Her voice, though still trembling, was filled with determination.
She turned her head and looked at Qin Si, speaking in a low but firm tone, “Qin Si, go find all the ledgers and every letter from Leonard over the years! I want a thorough investigation into everything about him!”
Qin Si was momentarily taken aback but quickly regained composure, responding respectfully, “Yes, my lady! I will take care of it right away!”
Aelia stood up and walked to the window, gazing at the bustling scene outside while her heart felt like ice.
She had once thought she was the happiest woman in the world, blessed with a loving companion and a position of honor.
But now, she realized she had been living in a colossal lie all along.
If that were the case, then she would tear this lie apart with her own hands and let everyone see Leonard's true colors!
“Leonard, since you are so heartless, don’t blame me for being ruthless!” Aelia’s eyes burned with the fury of a raging fire.
Meanwhile, in another part of the Magic Castle, the Eldest Brother, Second Brother, and Brother San were gathered together discussing recent events.
“Father’s behavior has been increasingly strange lately. He’s always coming home late and seems to be in a hurry. I have no idea what he’s busy with,” the Eldest Brother said with a furrowed brow. Despite being disabled due to the Magic Backlash, his mind remained sharp.
“I feel something is off too. I’ve heard that Father has been associating closely with some unidentified individuals; it seems like he’s plotting something,” Second Brother added. Although he had been deceived by a close friend and fell into a Magic Dilemma, he remained deeply concerned about the safety of the Magic Castle.
“Hmph, who cares! As long as Mother is around, nothing will happen to the Magic Castle!” Brother San said dismissively. Though he possessed great Magical Talent, he was simple-minded and easily swayed by appearances.
Just then, a Knight rushed in, looking flustered as he exclaimed, “Eldest Son, Second Young Master, Third Young Master Lucius, it’s bad! Lady… Lady…”
“What happened to Mother? Speak quickly!” The Eldest Brother immediately stood up, anxious for answers.
“Madam… she is thoroughly investigating all of Master’s accounts and letters, and she has even made it known that she intends to expose Master’s true nature!” Knight stammered.
Upon hearing this, the three brothers exchanged worried glances.
“What… what is going on? Why is Mother doing this?” Brother San asked, looking bewildered.
The eldest brother and Second Brother exchanged a glance, both sensing the concern reflected in each other’s eyes.
They had a vague feeling that something significant was about to happen at Magic Castle.
“We must go and see!” the eldest brother declared decisively. “No matter what happens, we must stand by Mother’s side and protect Magic Castle together!”
“Absolutely!” Second Brother and Brother San echoed in unison.
When the three brothers arrived at Aelia’s chamber, they were met with a scene of bustling activity.
Qin Si was leading a group of maidens, rummaging through boxes in search of various documents and letters.
Aelia sat at her desk, her expression serious as she flipped through a thick ledger.
“Mother!” the three brothers called out in unison as they approached Aelia.
Aelia looked up, and upon seeing them, a faint smile of relief appeared on her face.
“You’re here,” she said softly. “There are some things I need to tell you.”
Then, Aelia revealed to the three brothers the betrayal of Leonard and the conspiracy he had been secretly planning.
The three brothers, upon hearing this, were instantly filled with rage, eager to rush out and confront Leonard.
"How could he... how could he do this to you!" Brother San shouted angrily.
"Mother, we support you! No matter what decision you make, we stand by your side!" the eldest brother declared firmly.
"That's right! We will never let anyone hurt you or harm Magic Castle!" Second Brother added passionately.
Aelia looked at her three sons, her heart swelling with emotion.
She knew she was not fighting alone; she had her children with her, and together they would protect their home and uphold the honor of Magic Castle!
"Thank you, my children," Aelia said softly. "Next, we need to plan carefully on how to deal with Leonard's schemes. We must win this battle!"
Just then, a maid rushed in, her expression frantic. "Madam, it's bad! Third Young Master Lucius... Lucius is here!"
At these words, Aelia's expression changed slightly.
Lucius was Leonard's most favored son and his most trusted confidant.
What kind of news would he bring at this moment?
"Let him in!" Aelia said in a low voice.
The door to the chamber slowly opened, and Lucius appeared at the threshold.
His face was pale, his eyes filled with complexity, seemingly full of conflict and struggle.
What would he say?
What choices would he make?
Luna's revelation exploded like a bomb, shattering the calm surface of the Glorious Demon Fortress.
Aelia's chamber had become the eye of the storm, the tense atmosphere almost solidifying the air around them.
Lucius, Leonard's most favored son, stood at the center of this tempest, his face as pale as paper.
His magnificent robes felt particularly heavy at this moment, as if they were pressing down on him, making it hard to breathe.
He had heard the Wind Sound before arriving—Mother was about to expose Father's crimes.
This news struck him like a bolt of lightning, leaving him utterly unprepared.
His beloved Father, the master of the Glorious Demon Fortress, had committed such acts?
An indescribable disappointment surged within him like a tide, bitter enough to make him feel nauseous.
"Mother..." he managed to speak, his voice dry and raspy like gravel scraping together.
Aelia sat at her desk, her gaze sharp as a knife, seemingly able to see through all his thoughts.
She said nothing, merely watching him in silence, waiting for his explanation—or rather, waiting for his choice.
Lucius clenched his hands tightly, his knuckles turning white.
He struggled internally, caught between disappointment in Father and concern for Mother, while also grappling with fear for his own future.
What would happen to the Magic Castle if Father truly fell from grace?
Where would his future lie?
Would the identity he had always taken pride in vanish into thin air?
“Mother, Father... he might just be confused for a moment...” Lucius's voice grew softer, and even he felt that this defense was weak against Pale.
He dared not meet Aelia's gaze, his eyes flickering uncertainly as if avoiding something.
He could feel the looks from his older brother, Second Brother, and Brother San—there was reproach, doubt, and... a hint of pity.
The chamber was enveloped in silence, broken only by the howling Wind Sound outside, like the low growl of a beast, heralding an impending storm.
Aelia finally spoke; her voice was surprisingly calm yet carried an undeniable authority. “Lucius, you have grown up; you should understand the truth. Some things cannot be explained away as mere confusion.”
Lucius trembled at her words; he knew Mother had made up her mind.
He opened his mouth to say something but found himself at a loss for words.
He felt like a trapped beast, ensnared in an invisible cage with no way to advance or retreat.
Meanwhile, in Leonard's study, the atmosphere was equally tense.
He paced back and forth, his brow furrowed like a lion filled with Fury.
Aelia's actions completely disrupted his plans; he never expected her to be so resolute and to retaliate so swiftly.
“Damn woman!” he muttered under his breath, slamming his fist on the table.
The Ink Bottle jumped, splattering ink onto the Parchment like drops of black tears.
He knew he couldn't sit idly by.
He immediately summoned his trusted aides and began devising a countermeasure.
He had to destroy all evidence as quickly as possible and regain control of the situation to protect his position and safeguard the Glorious Demon Fortress.
Outside the study, Knights hurried back and forth, their footsteps quick and the atmosphere tense to the point of suffocation.
Leonard's orders were relayed one after another, casting a shadow over the entire Magic Castle.
As night fell, the Glorious Demon Fortress was brightly lit, yet it couldn't conceal the undercurrents swirling beneath the surface.
In Aelia's chamber, candlelight flickered, illuminating the complex expressions on everyone's faces.
Luna nestled in Aelia's embrace, her small hand tightly gripping her Sleeve as if lending her strength.
“Qin Si…” Aelia suddenly spoke, breaking the silence.
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