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墨書 Inktalez
The last rays of the setting sun hung like a massive orange curtain, slowly sliding down from the towering Spire of Glory Fortress. Light filtered through the intricately carved glass windows, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow across the room.
Luna lay in a cradle adorned with lace trim, her small body shifting restlessly. By the window, Aelia's silhouette was elongated, resembling a delicate yet dim statue. The face that usually wore an elegant smile was now clouded with a hint of sadness. She held an ancient grimoire in her hands, but her thoughts were clearly elsewhere, far removed from the obscure spells within.
Luna watched Aelia, her tiny pink face scrunched up in concern. Her large, clear eyes were filled with an anxiety that belied her age. "Oh dear sister, you’re glowing green with envy and still pretending everything is fine!" Luna thought to herself, fully aware of what was about to unfold as a time traveler.
That old lecher Leonard not only kept his Concubine hidden but also schemed to drain Aelia's wealth! "No, I must do something; I absolutely cannot let Aelia remain in the dark any longer!" Luna resolved firmly.
With great effort, she turned over in her cradle, her small hands gripping the edge tightly. She needed Qin Si to bring forth all the evidence—the letters revealing Leonard and his Concubine's secrets—right before Aelia's eyes!
Luna scanned for Qin Si’s figure. Not far away, Qin Si was organizing Aelia’s jewelry; upon hearing movement, she hurried over. "Young Miss, you’re awake? Are you hungry?" Qin Si’s voice was soft and laced with concern.
Luna looked at Qin Si, trying hard to convey her message. She babbled incoherently, pointing at Aelia and then at herself, clapping her tiny hands as if shrouded in mystery. "Eep... ah... eep!"
Luna exerted all her strength in hopes that Qin Si would understand her meaning. Confused by Luna's antics, Qin Si glanced at Aelia and then back at Luna, utterly perplexed by what the little one wanted.
Aelia was also drawn by the commotion. She set down the book she had been holding and approached the cradle with a curious smile on her face. "What’s wrong with Luna? Qin Si, do you know what she’s trying to say?" Aelia asked gently.
Qin Si shook her head and replied helplessly, "Madam, I don’t know either. It seems Young Miss wants to express something, but I really can’t figure it out."
Aelia gazed at Luna and reached out to gently stroke her soft hair. "Our little Luna is getting smarter every day. What surprise do you want to give your sister?" Aelia asked softly, filled with anticipation.
Luna looked at Aelia and knew this was her chance. She babbled again, pointing towards the study and mimicking the action of opening a box in the air. "Eep! Ah!... Study! Box!"
Luna was diligently conveying the message. Qin Si watched from the side, deep in thought. Suddenly, she seemed to recall something, and her expression changed slightly.
"Madam, could it be that Young Miss wants you to go to the study for something? I remember there’s a locked box in Master’s study..." Qin Si tentatively suggested, her tone laced with hesitation.
Aelia heard Qin Si's words—Leonard's study? Was there something that needed to be kept from her?
"Qin Si, are you sure?" Aelia asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
Qin Si nodded and replied firmly, "I saw it once while cleaning the study. The box was locked, and Master seemed to treasure it."
Aelia fell silent. She looked at Luna in the cradle, who wore an expectant expression, filled with confusion. Could it be that Luna really knew something?
"Alright, Qin Si, go check the study. Be careful and don't alert anyone else," Aelia instructed, her tone serious.
Qin Si accepted the order and turned to leave the room. She tried to tread lightly as she made her way down the long corridor to Leonard's study door.
Taking a deep breath, Qin Si steadied her nerves. She understood that this matter was significant; if she truly discovered something, it would undoubtedly cause a stir.
Gently pushing open the study door, she stepped inside. The room was filled with a faint scent of ink, and various Ancient Grimoires were neatly arranged on the shelves.
Qin Si scanned the surroundings, searching for the mysterious box.
Soon enough, she spotted her target. In the innermost drawer of the desk lay a locked wooden box.
Carefully opening the drawer, Qin Si took out the box. It was exquisite, adorned with carvings of ancient Magic Runes.
She attempted to open it but found it tightly locked and impossible to budge.
"How did Young Miss know about this box's existence? What secrets lie within?" Qin Si pondered anxiously.
Not daring to linger too long, she hurriedly left the study with the box in hand.
Upon returning to the room, Qin Si presented the box to Aelia.
"Madam, I found this in Master’s study," Qin Si said, her tone steady but her trembling fingers betraying her inner tension.
Aelia took the box and examined it closely.
She gazed at the lock on the box, filled with questions.
"Why would Leonard lock this box away? What could possibly be inside?" Aelia murmured to herself.
Luna lay in the cradle, watching Aelia holding the box, silently praying.
"Hurry and open it! Let’s see Leonard's true nature! Sister, you must stay alert!"
Luna shouted silently in her heart.
Aelia looked up at Qin Si and asked, “Qin Si, how did you find this box?”
Qin Si had already prepared her response. She answered calmly, “Madam, while I was cleaning the study today, I found this box hidden in a drawer. I thought it was strange, so I brought it to you.”
Aelia nodded, saying nothing more.
She knew that Qin Si was the person she trusted most; she would never betray her.
“Alright, Qin Si, you may leave now. I want to be alone for a while,” Aelia said.
Qin Si complied and quietly exited the room.
Only Aelia and Luna remained in the room.
Aelia sat by the window, holding the mysterious box with a complex expression on her face.
She looked at Luna in the cradle, as if seeking her opinion.
“Luna, do you think I should open this box?” Aelia asked softly, her tone filled with hesitation.
Luna blinked her big eyes and nodded vigorously.
“Open it! You must open it! Don’t hesitate any longer!”
Luna shouted loudly in her heart.
Aelia took a deep breath, seemingly making up her mind.
She retrieved a slender golden hairpin from the jewelry box and carefully inserted it into the lock.
The air felt as if it had solidified; the room was so quiet that only Aelia's gentle breathing could be heard.
With a soft click, the lock opened.
Aelia's hand trembled slightly as she slowly opened the box.
Inside lay a stack of letters, their envelopes adorned with delicate tiny inscriptions.
Aelia picked up one letter and gently opened it.
The letterhead emitted a faint fragrance, filled with tender love words.
“Dear Leonard, the moonlight is beautiful tonight; I miss you so much…”
Aelia's complexion instantly turned pale.
She trembled as she picked up another letter and opened it, revealing even more explicit content.
“My beloved, I have given birth to a lovely daughter for you; she looks just like you…”
Aelia's mind went blank; it felt as though she had been struck by lightning, leaving her frozen in place.
Those letters were like sharp knives, ruthlessly stabbing into her heart.
She had always believed that she and Leonard were a match made in heaven, that their love was unbreakable.
But now, these letters mercilessly shattered all her fantasies.
It turned out that everything was a lie.
Her husband, the man she loved deeply, had betrayed her!
Aelia clutched the letters tightly, her body trembling violently. “Leonard... how could you... how could you...” Aelia's voice choked with pain, filled with disbelief. She couldn't believe that the love she had cherished all along was nothing but a complete lie.
Biting her lips, Aelia struggled to control her emotions. She knew this was not the time to break down; she needed to calm herself and uncover the truth. Carefully, she placed the letters back into the box, closed the lid, and held the box tightly against her chest.
She lifted her head to look at Luna in the cradle. “Luna, why did you make me see these?” Aelia asked softly, a hint of confusion in her tone. Luna gazed back at Aelia, babbling and pointing at the box, then at herself, looking utterly pitiful.
Aelia stared at Luna, her heart filled with doubt. She couldn't understand why Luna would do such a thing.
“Madam, are you alright?” Qin Si's voice suddenly interrupted Aelia's thoughts. She quickly wiped away the tears from her eyes, adjusted her emotions, and replied, “I’m fine, Qin Si. You can come in.”
Qin Si entered the room and noticed Aelia holding a box, her expression unsettling. This only deepened Qin Si's confusion. “Madam, did you find something?” she asked cautiously.
Aelia looked up at Qin Si and asked unexpectedly, “What kind of person do you think Leonard is?”
Qin Si was taken aback, unsure of how to respond. After a moment's hesitation, she said, “The master... he is certainly an outstanding man. He is handsome, powerful, and treats you very well...”
Aelia shook her head, interrupting Qin Si. “No, Qin Si, you’re wrong. You don’t understand him at all,” she said, disappointment lacing her voice.
Qin Si looked at Aelia with growing concern. She didn’t know what had happened but could sense that Aelia was deeply troubled. “Madam, what’s wrong? What happened?” Qin Si asked anxiously.
Aelia didn’t answer; she simply held the box tightly in her arms. “Qin Si...” Aelia finally spoke up, her voice hoarse and low like the sea before a storm. “Help me investigate something... about Leonard... everything.”
Aelia’s movements were slow as if she were performing a silent play. Her delicate fingers trembled as she hesitantly picked at one corner of the envelope. The elegant handwriting on it was familiar; it was Leonard’s usual floral calligraphy.
There was no "My Beloved Nightingale" on the envelope, nor any recipient’s name—this only piqued Aelia's curiosity further. She had initially thought this might be a love letter from Leonard to her since he often surprised her with little gestures like this in the past.
She casually opened the envelope and pulled out the letterhead inside. A faint lavender scent wafted out, the fragrance that Leonard loved most. Aelia's lips involuntarily curled into a slight smile, a wave of sweetness rising in her heart. However, this sweetness quickly dissipated as she read the contents of the letterhead. The delicate tiny inscriptions were clearly not meant for her.
"My beloved, the moonlight tonight is especially enchanting, just like your eyes..."
Aelia's pupils suddenly constricted, her breath catching in her throat. Those cheesy love words were clearly not written for her! Her gaze went blank, and the letterhead in her hand felt as if it had suddenly become unbearably heavy, nearly slipping from her powerless grip. The warm sunlight in the room now felt cold and piercing, as if it were freezing her in place.
Mechanically, she continued to read, and the next lines plunged her deeper into despair.
"Our daughter has learned to smile; she looks just like you, especially those deep, enchanting eyes..."
Daughter? When did Leonard have a daughter? Aelia's mind buzzed, feeling as though the entire world was spinning around her. She couldn't believe her eyes and read the letter repeatedly, searching for any loophole that would prove this was all just a nightmare.
Her hands began to tremble uncontrollably, the letterhead rustling in her grip. She clenched the letter tightly, her knuckles turning white as they nearly dug into her flesh. The expression on her face shifted from confusion to shock and then to rage. The happy family she had built over the years crumbled in an instant, shattering like a dream.
"Qin Si!" Aelia suddenly lifted her head, her voice trembling so much it was barely audible. "Is this... is this letter real?"
Qin Si had been standing quietly by the side, afraid to breathe. Seeing Aelia's reaction made her heart leap into her throat. She knew that a storm was about to break.
"Madam..." Qin Si spoke cautiously, her voice barely above a whisper. "It’s absolutely true..."
Boom!
Aelia felt as if a thunderclap had exploded in her mind. She could no longer control her emotions; flames of anger blazed within her chest. She stood up abruptly, crumpling the letter in her hand and smashing it onto the floor.
"Leonard! You liar! How dare you betray me!" Aelia's roar echoed through the room, filled with profound sorrow and despair. She felt as though her heart had been torn into pieces, pain rendering her breathless.
She turned sharply and dashed out of the room, stumbling like a wounded beast.
She was going to find Leonard, determined to confront him and demand to know why he had treated her this way!
In the Cradle, Luna watched Aelia's departing figure, a hint of barely perceptible satisfaction crossing her small pink face.
"Step one, success!" she silently told herself.
She knew this was just the beginning; Aelia's Destiny would change because of her.
Aelia ran down the long corridor, arriving at Leonard's study door. She pushed the door open forcefully, and the familiar scent of tobacco filled the air. Leonard was sitting at his desk, engrossed in a book.
Seeing Aelia storm in with fury, Leonard paused slightly, setting down the book in his hands, a look of confusion crossing his face.
"Aelia, what's wrong? What happened?"
Aelia remained silent as she walked straight up to Leonard and threw the crumpled letter in his face.
"Look for yourself!" Aelia's voice trembled with suppressed anger. "What is this?!"
Leonard picked up the letter and unfolded it, his face instantly turning pale.
The air in the study seemed to freeze, tension hanging thick between them.
"Aelia, I—"
"What do you mean 'I'?" Aelia interrupted sharply, her voice piercing. "What more do you have to say?!"
The afternoon sunlight lazily spilled into Aelia's room, filling it with a faint scent of Xunxiang, her favorite white tea fragrance.
Qin Si carefully set down the silver tea set in hand, her eyes betraying a hint of concern.
"Madam, you haven't had a proper rest in a long time. Would you like me to play some soft music for you?" Qin Si's voice was gentle as a feather, afraid to disturb Aelia.
Aelia shook her head lightly, her gaze falling on Luna sleeping soundly in the cradle, her expression complex and hard to read.
Since Luna's birth, Aelia had felt something was off but couldn't quite pinpoint it. This tiny infant seemed to carry some mysterious power that stirred ripples deep within her heart.
"Qin Si, do you think... can men really never change their hearts?" Aelia's voice was low and trembled slightly.
Qin Si paused for a moment before smiling and replying, "What are you saying, Madam? The Lord of the Fortress's feelings for you are known throughout the Magic Castle! You and the Lord of the Fortress are a match made in heaven; surely you'll grow old together."
Aelia said nothing but let out a soft sigh.
She had always seen Leonard's kindness and felt proud of it. Yet recent events had forced her to begin doubting everything.
Just then, Luna stirred in her sleep, mumbling something indistinctly.
"Bad... bad... don’t..."
Aelia's heart skipped a beat as she quickly leaned down to check on Luna.
"Luna, what's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"
Luna's little face scrunched up as if she were experiencing something terrifying. Suddenly, she opened her eyes wide; they were clear and bright—nothing like those of an ordinary infant.
"Flower... flower... no flower..."
Aelia was increasingly perplexed. Luna, who could not yet speak, suddenly uttered such strange words.
“Qin Si, did you hear that? It seems Luna is saying something.”
Qin Si looked equally bewildered.
“I heard it, but… Young Miss can’t speak yet, so how could she say ‘flower’?”
A strong sense of unease surged within Aelia. She vaguely felt that there was something significant hidden in Luna's words.
“Qin Si, go fetch Lucius,” Aelia said, her voice tinged with urgency.
Lucius was Leonard's Third Young Master and the most favored Mage in the Magic Castle. Aelia knew that Lucius had a profound understanding of magic; perhaps he could find some clues from Luna's words.
Soon, Lucius arrived at Aelia's room. After listening to Aelia's account, he too was taken aback.
“Madam, are you saying that Luna Young Miss said ‘no flower’? That… that is indeed quite strange.”
Lucius pondered for a moment before his eyes suddenly lit up.
“Madam, do you remember? The Lord of the Fortress favored sending you a type of Magic Flower called ‘Huan Meng.’ Those flowers are incredibly beautiful but carry a faint toxicity; prolonged exposure can induce hallucinations.”
Aelia's face instantly turned pale.
“You mean… the ‘Huan Meng’ that Leonard gave me is problematic?”
Lucius nodded.
“I wouldn’t dare jump to conclusions, but… Luna Young Miss’s words might be an important hint. Madam, it would be wise to investigate what the Lord of the Fortress has been up to lately.”
Aelia’s heart was in turmoil. She had always believed that Leonard was the most important person in her life, someone she could rely on forever. But now, she had to question whether this man she loved deeply had been deceiving her all along.
“Qin Si, seal off the Magic Castle; no one is allowed to enter or exit! Lucius, secretly investigate Leonard’s whereabouts and find out who he has been in contact with recently!” Aelia’s voice was cold and resolute.
A storm was about to quietly rise within the Glorious Demon Fortress…
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