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墨書 Inktalez
Aelia chose not to acknowledge Leonard, who sat slumped in the chair, and turned to leave. The sound of her high heels striking the marble floor echoed crisply, each step resonating like a hammer on Leonard's heart, making him feel increasingly suffocated.
Outside the study, Qin Si stood with her hands at her sides. Upon seeing Aelia emerge, she slightly inclined her head. "Madam..." Qin Si called softly, her tone laced with concern yet tinged with caution.
Aelia remained silent, merely nodding slightly as she walked directly toward her room. Qin Si followed closely behind, her heart pounding like a drum. She knew that a storm was about to break.
Once back in her room, Aelia dismissed the other maids, leaving only Qin Si by her side. The room was enveloped in silence, broken only by the crackling of the burning logs in the fireplace, occasionally sending sparks flying that illuminated Aelia's somewhat pale face.
"Qin Si," Aelia's voice was low and hoarse, "go to the study and bring me the rosewood box from Leonard's desk."
Qin Si's heart sank; she understood what her mistress meant. That rosewood box was Leonard's personal possession, always locked tight and never touched by anyone else.
Without further question, Qin Si turned and made her way to the study. Inside, Leonard remained seated in his chair, motionless like a statue. Qin Si's arrival seemed to go unnoticed by him.
Approaching the desk, she quickly spotted the rosewood box. It lay there quietly, exuding a faint scent of sandalwood that clashed with the air of despair permeating the study.
Taking a deep breath, Qin Si reached out and opened the box. Inside were neatly stacked letters, their envelopes adorned with delicate tiny inscriptions that stung Qin Si's eyes.
She picked up a letter and turned back toward Aelia's room. Aelia received the letter from Qin Si’s trembling hands and began to open them one by one.
The contents of the letters pierced Aelia's heart like sharp blades. Every sweet word and promise transformed into cruel mockery that echoed in her ears.
Tears finally spilled from Aelia’s eyes, cascading down her cheeks and falling onto the letterhead, creating dark splotches of water.
"How could this happen..." Aelia murmured to herself, her voice trembling with despair.
Qin Si stood by, watching Aelia’s heartbroken expression with mixed emotions swirling within her. She knew Luna’s plan had succeeded.
Meanwhile, hidden in the shadows, Luna observed everything with a barely perceptible smile playing at her lips. She understood that this performance had only just begun.
Leonard finally snapped back to reality from his shock; he staggered to his feet and stumbled toward the door, grabbing hold of Qin Si just as she was about to leave.
"Qin Si!" Leonard's voice was hoarse and shaky. "What did Madam see?"
Qin Si calmly freed herself from Leonard's grip and replied coolly, "Do you really not know what Madam saw?"
Leonard’s face turned pale instantly. He opened his mouth as if to say something but found himself at a loss for words.
"Master," Qin Si's voice was cold and unyielding, "you'd better think about how to explain this to Madam."
Qin Si left the study without looking back. Leonard collapsed to the floor, despair filling his eyes. All of this was witnessed by Lucius, who hid in the shadows. His brow furrowed; he did not understand what had happened. He quietly approached the door of Mother’s room, wanting to take a look inside but hesitating to disturb her. After a moment of indecision, he ultimately turned and left.
Qin Si returned to Aelia's room and found her still engulfed in sorrow, his heart filled with sympathy. "My lady," Qin Si gently comforted, "please don't be too sad; everything will be alright." Aelia looked up at Qin Si, her voice trembling as she asked, "Qin Si, what should I do?"
Qin Si paused for a moment before slowly replying, "My lady, you are the mistress of the Glorious Demon Fortress; you should..." His words were interrupted by urgent footsteps approaching from outside the door. Leonard burst into the room, his face pale, eyes frantic, and beads of sweat dotting his forehead.
"Aelia!" Leonard's voice trembled with a hint of desperation. "Let me explain..." Aelia slowly lifted the letter in her hand and spoke each word deliberately: "Leonard, how do you explain this?"
Leonard stared at the letter in Aelia's hand, his lips quivering but unable to produce any words. The room fell into a heavy silence. The only sound was the crackling of burning wood in the fireplace, mocking everything within those walls.
"I..." Leonard finally spoke, his voice hoarse and weak. "I... I..." He struggled to swallow, his throat dry as if filled with sand. "Aelia, those letters... they are all lies! Someone is framing me!" His voice trembled with panic as he avoided meeting Aelia's gaze.
In the study, the flames in the fireplace crackled loudly, casting shadows on Leonard's pale face and revealing his deep-seated guilt. The air was thick with the scent of sandalwood, yet it could not mask the sour odor of cold sweat emanating from Leonard.
Aelia gripped the letter tightly in her hand, her fingertips turning white as deep impressions formed on her palm from its edges. She felt as though an invisible hand was squeezing her heart tightly, making it difficult to breathe. Tears swirled in her eyes, blurring her vision and obscuring the face of the man she once loved deeply.
"Fake?" Aelia's voice trembled with incredulity and sorrow. "Leonard, look me in the eyes and tell me that this is all a lie!"
Leonard instinctively avoided Aelia's gaze, his eyes darting around—landing on scattered books on the desk and then on the exquisite Persian carpet on the floor—never daring to meet Aelia's face.
"I..." Leonard's lips quivered but remained silent. He felt as if his throat was blocked, unable to produce any sound. The air in the study felt suffocatingly thick, making it hard to breathe.
Hidden in the shadows, Luna observed everything unfold. Her small figure was concealed behind heavy curtains, her eyes glinting with a spark of wisdom.
She slightly raised the corners of her mouth, revealing a barely perceptible smile. The scene was just beginning.
“Father,” a clear voice broke the silence in the study as Lucius walked in from outside, his gaze firmly fixed on Leonard. “Why did you deceive Mother?”
Lucius's voice was not loud, but it resonated with conviction, each word striking Leonard's heart like a hammer.
He straightened his back and stood beside Aelia, like a solid fortress guarding his mother.
Leonard abruptly turned his head, glaring at Lucius. “Shut up!” he roared. “You have no place to speak here!”
Unfazed, Lucius met Leonard's gaze without flinching.
“Father,” he said slowly and deliberately, “you are wrong. I must speak! I cannot stand by and watch you hurt Mother!”
Leonard trembled with rage, raising his hand to slap Lucius.
“Smack!”
A sharp sound echoed in the study, but it did not land on Lucius's face.
Luna had appeared behind Leonard, her small figure radiating strength.
She tightly grasped Leonard's wrist, halting his movement.
“Uncle Leonard,” Luna's voice was youthful yet resolute, “what you are doing will only make things worse.”
Leonard whipped around, glaring at Luna. How dare this little girl stop him!
“You…” Leonard was furious but helpless.
He forcefully shook off Luna's hand and turned to point at Lucius, roaring, “Get out!”
Lucius glanced at Aelia, hesitated for a moment, then silently turned and left the study.
“Luna,” Aelia's voice was hoarse and weak, “thank you.”
Luna walked over to Aelia’s side and gently held her hand, offering silent comfort.
Leonard slumped into a chair, his gaze hollow as if he had lost his soul.
He looked at the letter in Aelia’s hand, filled with regret and despair.
The study fell into a deathly silence once more, only the crackling flames in the fireplace broke the stillness, mocking everything within the room.
Luna glanced at Aelia and then at Leonard.
“Madam,” Luna said softly, “I think you need to rest now.”
Aelia nodded; she felt her body could no longer hold up.
Slowly rising to her feet with Qin Si’s support, she walked out of the study.
Luna watched Aelia’s retreating figure.
“Uncle Leonard,” Luna turned to look at Leonard slumped in the chair, her voice cold, “you better think about how this will end.”
Leonard lifted his head to look at Luna. He opened his mouth as if to say something but found himself unable to utter a word.
Without acknowledging him further, Luna turned and left the study.
Leonard was left alone in the room, facing the chaos around him.
The flames in the fireplace gradually extinguished, plunging the study into darkness.
Leonard trembled as he reached out his hand, trying to grasp something but found nothing to hold onto.
"I..." he murmured, "What should I do..."
His voice grew fainter, eventually fading into the darkness.
Suddenly, a hurried set of footsteps echoed from outside, and the door was flung open with a crash.
"Leonard!" an angry voice rang out in the study, "What have you done?!"
Leonard jerked his head up, looking towards the doorway.
Standing there was his elder brother, the Eldest Son of the Glorious Demon Fortress, and the future Heir of the Magic Castle.
"Brother..." Leonard's voice trembled, "I..."
"What more do you have to say?!" the Eldest Son roared, striding into the study and grabbing Leonard by the collar, lifting him off the ground.
"Mother has fainted!" "Mother has collapsed?!" The Eldest Son shouted, yanking Leonard's collar and pulling him up from the chair.
His eyes were bloodshot with rage, resembling a furious lion.
Years of martial training had given him immense strength; Leonard struggled to breathe as his brother's grip tightened, his face turning a deep shade of purple.
"I... I didn't mean to!" Leonard stammered defensively, his gaze darting around like a frightened rabbit.
"Brother, let me explain; it's not what you think!"
"Explain? What is there to explain?!" The Eldest Son shouted, landing a heavy punch on Leonard's face.
Leonard cried out in pain as his body fell to the ground like a kite with its string cut.
He clutched his face, groaning in agony as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
The Eldest Son did not relent; he stepped forward and planted a foot on Leonard's chest, looking down at him from above.
Leonard felt a crushing weight on his chest, making it hard to breathe.
"I warned you not to upset Mother!" the Eldest Son thundered, his voice booming like thunder, shaking the entire study.
"You dare betray her; you deserve nothing less than death!"
Aelia stood at the doorway, watching the chaotic scene unfold before her. Slowly, she lifted her head and gazed into the distance as if making a firm decision.
The skies over Magic Castle were about to change...
She wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes, her voice calm yet laced with an imperceptible tremor: "Brother, enough. Don't get angry over this." With that, she gently waved her sleeve and turned to leave, leaving behind a low murmur that echoed in the air, "Some things need to come to an end..."
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