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墨書 Inktalez
Luna's voice, though soft, was like a precise stone thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples that spread outwards.
Her words about "dreams of the future" made everyone present hold their breath, waiting for what she would say next.
Her dark eyes moved thoughtfully as her small hand gently yet firmly grasped Aelia's hand. With a maturity and certainty that belied her age, she slowly said, "Mom, I dreamt... I dreamt that Father..."
Luna deliberately paused, her little face filled with hesitation and struggle, as if the next words were the most difficult secret to utter.
She stole a glance at Qin Si standing not far away before quickly returning her gaze to Aelia and continued, "I dreamt that Father... has another family out there..."
The air seemed to freeze.
Aelia's once gentle and loving smile instantly froze on her face.
Her mind went blank, buzzing as if struck by a thunderclap in her ears.
She looked at little Luna in disbelief, as if trying to confirm whether she had misheard.
"Luna, what... what did you say?" Aelia's voice trembled violently, like a leaf swaying in the wind, ready to fall at any moment.
Luna did not answer directly; instead, she fixed her clear eyes on Aelia, holding her hand tightly as if trying to convey her strength to this devastated mother.
Qin Si's face also turned pale in an instant.
Having followed Aelia for many years, she had long considered her family.
Hearing Luna's words now filled her heart with shock and disbelief.
She glanced furtively at Leonard but found him standing there with an expression of calm indifference, as if it had nothing to do with him.
It was this expression that made Qin Si's heart sink to the depths of despair.
She knew Leonard too well; the calmer he appeared, the more it indicated that everything Luna said was true!
Aelia felt as if all the strength had been drained from her body. Slowly, she released Luna and slumped into the chair.
Her mind was a chaotic whirlwind, with countless memories of Leonard's Last Night flashing through her thoughts.
She recalled the vows Leonard had once made to her, the storms they had weathered together, and the four children they had nurtured together...
Could it all be a lie?
Had she been living in a carefully woven deception all these years?
Tears flowed like pearls from a broken string, uncontrollably streaming from Aelia's eyes.
She covered her face, crying silently as if trying to pour out all the pain and despair that filled her heart.
Years of love, years of trust, all turned to nothing in that moment.
She felt her world collapse instantly, shattered into pieces.
"No... it can't be... this is impossible..." Aelia murmured to herself, unwilling to accept the truth. She desperately clung to the last shred of hope, trying to convince herself that this was just a nightmare.
Yet, Luna's resolute gaze, Qin Si's hesitant expression, and Leonard's unusual calmness mercilessly proclaimed that it was all real!
Standing nearby, her elder brother watched Aelia in such pain, his heart filled with worry.
He was already exhausted from the Magic Backlash, and hearing such dreadful news felt like adding insult to injury.
He understood well how devastating this would be for the entire Magic Castle once it spread.
The family's reputation and status would be severely threatened.
"Mother..." he began with difficulty, wanting to comfort Aelia but finding himself at a loss for words.
He could only watch helplessly as Aelia cried in anguish, his heart heavy with powerlessness and guilt.
Second Brother stood to the side, his fists clenched tightly. Memories of being betrayed by a close friend flooded his mind, reminding him of the Magic Dilemma he had fallen into as a result.
Was betrayal truly the fate of their family?
Were they destined to be hurt by those closest to them?
He could not accept such a Destiny!
He vowed to seek justice for Mother, and for himself!
“Father… how could he do this…” Second Brother gritted his teeth, his voice low and Hoarse, filled with suppressed anger.
The entire room was shrouded in a heavy, oppressive atmosphere.
Each person’s heart was filled with different emotions: shock, pain, anger, worry…
Aelia had cried for what felt like an eternity, as if she were trying to shed every tear she had.
She lifted her head and looked at Leonard, who stood not far away.
“Leonard…” Aelia’s voice was so hoarse it was barely audible. “Tell me, is what Luna said true?”
Leonard fell silent.
He gazed at Aelia’s tear-streaked face, a flicker of guilt crossing his mind, but it was quickly replaced by an inexplicable emotion.
“Aelia…” Leonard began slowly, his voice deep and calm. “There are some things I…”
“Enough!” Aelia suddenly interrupted him. She didn’t want to hear any more explanations; she only wanted to know the truth.
“I just want to know if what Luna said is true?” Aelia asked again, her voice firm and cold, like a sharp knife aimed directly at Leonard’s heart.
Leonard took a deep breath and slowly nodded.
Aelia's body trembled once more.
She closed her eyes, and two lines of tears slid down her cheeks again.
"Why..." Aelia murmured, her voice filled with confusion and pain. "Why do you have to treat me this way?"
Leonard did not answer.
He looked at Aelia, his gaze complex and profound, as if hiding countless secrets.
"Tell me, who is that woman?" Aelia suddenly opened her eyes, filled with anger and jealousy. "Who is she? Is she better than me?"
Leonard remained silent. He simply stared at Aelia.
"You won't say, will you?" Aelia scoffed coldly, her eyes growing increasingly frigid, like an ancient block of ice that never melts. "Fine... very well..."
Aelia slowly stood up, wiping the tears from her face, her expression turning resolute and determined.
"From today onward, I, Aelia, sever all ties with Leonard!" Aelia's voice echoed throughout the room, filled with strength and conviction.
With that, Aelia turned and walked out of the room without looking back, leaving Leonard standing there in silence.
Qin Si hurried after her, worried that Aelia might do something reckless.
The eldest brother and Second Brother followed closely behind, casting a glance at Leonard.
"Father, you have disappointed us too much!" Second Brother said coldly before turning to leave.
The eldest brother sighed and shook his head before following suit.
In the room, only Luna and Lucius remained.
Luna looked at Leonard.
Lucius walked over to Luna's side and gently stroked her hair.
“Luna, you…” Lucius hesitated, unsure of what to say.
Luna looked up at Lucius and smiled gently.
“Brother San, do you know? I dreamed about something else…” Luna deliberately elongated her words, her clear eyes sparkling with a mischievous light. “It’s about your… Magical Talent…”
Her voice floated like a feather, yet it landed precisely on the softest part of Lucius's heart.
He jolted, his previously gentle expression freezing in place, replaced by an incredulous shock.
“Magical Talent?” Lucius murmured, as if savoring the term, trying to unearth deeper meanings from it.
He glanced down at his hands, once hailed as a rare genius in the Magic Castle, now trapped in an awkward situation due to the premature manifestation of his talent.
The praises from his youth felt like a sweet poison, numbing his nerves and lulling him into complacency under the halo of his gifts, causing him to neglect his training.
He had reveled in the thrill of controlling Magic Elements but overlooked the importance of perseverance.
By the time he became aware that his Magic Water had stagnated, it was already too late.
What was once a gift had now become the Demon Binding Shackles that restrained him.
Luna’s words undoubtedly tore open the deepest scars within him, exposing the reality he had long avoided in stark relief.
He felt a piercing pain, as if he had been slapped hard across the face, leaving him dizzy and ashamed.
Regret surged through him like a flood breaking through a dam, drowning his rationality in an instant.
He loathed his past arrogance and negligence; he despised himself for wasting such a precious talent.
If only he had worked harder and focused more back then, perhaps he wouldn’t be in this situation now.
He could have been the pride of the Magic Castle instead of a mere mediocre with untapped potential.
Lucius lowered his head, his hands tightly clenched into fists, Ailya's White Nails digging deeply into his palm, leaving behind bright red marks.
He tried to control his emotions, but found it all to be in vain.
Frustration, shame, guilt... countless negative feelings intertwined and surged within his chest, nearly tearing him apart.
Taking a deep breath, he lifted his head and looked at Luna. In her clear eyes, it seemed as if she could see through all his facades.
He knew he could no longer escape.
"Luna," Lucius's voice was hoarse and trembling, "how... how did you know?"
Luna did not answer directly but gave him a meaningful smile.
She understood that some things needed to be realized and changed on one's own.
She believed that Lucius had enough talent and potential; as long as he could let go of the burdens of the past and start anew, he would surely achieve great success.
Meanwhile, Qin Si was closely following Aelia, watching her stumble through the Emerald Corridor of the Magic Castle, filled with worry and anger.
Having followed Aelia for many years, she had long regarded her as family. Seeing her in such despair made Qin Si want to rush over to Leonard and slap him hard across the face.
"Madam, please take it slow," Qin Si said gently as she supported Aelia, fearing that she might fall at any moment. "Don't be too heartbroken; he's not worth it."
Aelia said nothing, allowing her tears to flow freely.
She felt as if her heart had been torn into pieces, each breath bringing intense pain.
Years of dedication and trust had turned into a colossal joke in this moment.
She felt like a fool, played with by Leonard, utterly ridiculous.
Seeing Aelia in such agony only fueled Qin Si's anger further.
She gritted her teeth and cursed Leonard, wishing she could tear him apart.
"That damn Leonard, how could he do this to you!" Qin Si's voice was filled with anger and resentment. "He's nothing but a shameless bastard, a despicable little one!
You treated him so well, and he betrayed you; he's worse than a pig or a dog!"
Though Qin Si's words were crude, they genuinely expressed her inner feelings.
She was filled with disdain and hatred for Leonard, unable to tolerate the way he had hurt her beloved mistress.
She held Aelia's hand tightly, her gaze resolute and powerful.
"Mistress, don't worry. I will definitely seek justice for you!" Qin Si declared firmly. "I will not let that bastard get away with this!"
Qin Si's loyalty brought a flicker of warmth to Aelia's heart.
She knew that in this world, at least one person truly cared for her and loved her.
She lifted her head to look at Qin Si.
"Qin Si, thank you," Aelia said in a hoarse and weak voice. "It's so good to have you."
Meanwhile, Lucius fell into deep thought after hearing Luna's meaningful words.
He looked at Leonard, who he had always believed to be an upright and brave man, the pride of Magic Castle.
However, everything that had happened today completely shattered his perception.
He couldn't believe that his father could commit such a despicable act, betraying his wife and hurting his family.
A profound sense of shame washed over him, as if he too had been branded with a disgraceful label.
Lucius shook his head helplessly, filled with resignation and sorrow.
He knew that once this matter spread, it would have a tremendous impact on Magic Castle.
The family's reputation and status would be severely threatened.
As the Third Young Master Lucius of Magic Castle, he had the responsibility to uphold the family's interests and protect its members.
He needed to calm down and think about how to respond to the impending crisis.
Taking a deep breath, he tried to steady himself.
He understood that this was not the time for sadness or anger; he had to shoulder his responsibilities and contribute to the family's future.
He walked over to Luna and gently stroked her hair.
She always had the ability to see through the essence of problems and find the key to their solutions.
"Luna," Lucius said in a low, calm voice, "thank you for telling me this.
I know that this is a huge challenge for our family.
But—"
Lucius's words were filled with confidence and determination.
He believed that as long as they worked together and put in their efforts, they could overcome any difficulties and protect the glory of Magic Castle.
Meanwhile, in the room, only Leonard stood there alone, feeling isolated.
He watched Aelia's departing figure, his heart filled with confusion and unease.
He knew he had made an irreparable error; he had completely lost Aelia's trust and love.
He wanted to chase after her, to explain himself, and plead for her forgiveness.
However, he found that his Twin Legs felt as if they were filled with lead, heavy and immovable.
He didn’t know what to say or how to face Aelia.
Taking a deep breath, he tried to calm himself.
He told himself that it wasn’t over yet; he still had a chance to make things right.
He had to find a way to make Aelia believe that he still loved her and cherished their family.
He walked over to the chair and slowly sat down, his gaze flickering as if he were deep in thought.
He attempted to argue, to cover up his Error, trying to shift the blame onto that woman.
At that moment, Aelia’s voice suddenly broke the silence of the room as it echoed from outside.
“Leonard, you better pray that woman is more valuable than I am!”
Oh, this was truly spectacular!
A marvelous soap opera was unfolding!
He loved every bit of it!
As Aelia's words reverberated in the now empty room, Leonard felt a Coldness creeping down his spine.
“More useful…” he murmured, a bitter taste rising in his throat.
Useful?
Was their marriage, their shared life, merely reduced to a transaction?
He paced around the room, the elegant furniture suddenly resembling bars of a gilded cage.
He had known that this moment might come, that his fragile facade would be torn away.
But hearing those words from Aelia and seeing the genuine pain etched on her face inflicted a blow he had not anticipated.
He thought of her, another woman.
Could he truly say she was more "useful"?
She had indeed provided a certain... "advantage" to his ambitions, connecting him to the power he craved.
But could "useful" describe the stolen moments they shared, the laughter, and the burning passion that was taboo between them?
He scoffed disdainfully.
Passion.
How easily it twisted into something cold and calculating.
Suddenly, the weight of his choices felt like a tangible burden pressing down on him.
He remembered his sons—his eldest bearing the heavy pressure from a magical accident, the Second Son still struggling in the shadow of betrayal, and even Lucius, now grappling with the bittersweet reality of his fading talents.
Had his selfish desires poisoned them all?
Had he destroyed the foundation of his family in pursuit of more?
Meanwhile, Aelia leaned heavily on Qin Si's arm, stumbling through the opulent halls of the fortress.
Each step felt like a betrayal, every lavish tapestry mockingly reminding her of the life she once thought she possessed.
Qin Si's face was as furious as Wu Yun's stormy skies; she muttered curses under her breath like an angry guardian, a Holy Light Shield surrounding her mistress.
"That coward!" Qin Si hissed. "I never expected him to use you—to trade you for that cunning harlot! Everything you've built for him and this family trampled underfoot!"
Aelia silently shed tears.
She felt a strange numbness; the pain was so deep that it transcended mere crying.
Qin Si's anger, though comforting due to its fierce loyalty, could not fill the vast emptiness within her heart.
This was not merely betrayal; it was the shattering of a dream, the realization that her entire life had been built on a lie.
She paused, her gaze lingering on a portrait she and Leonard had painted in the early days of their marriage.
Their faces looked so young, so full of hope, so imbued with love.
Now, it felt like a cruel joke.
With trembling hands, she reached out to trace the outline of his face in the painting, as if touching the phantom of memories that spanned a lifetime.
"He promised me the world," she whispered, her voice barely audible, "and now... now there is nothing left."
Elsewhere in the fortress, her brothers were dealing with the aftermath of this turmoil.
The eldest son, always pragmatic, foresaw the storm that was about to unfold.
This scandal threatened not only their family’s reputation but also the stability of the entire fortress.
He knew he had to take action, find a way to control the damage and protect what remained.
But how could he mend what had already been irreparably shattered?
The Second Son still bore the pain of betrayal himself; cold fury burned within him.
He saw the shadow of their mother’s suffering reflected in himself, and the sting of betrayal pierced deeply into his heart.
He yearned for revenge, longed for justice.
He would not let his Father escape punishment so easily.
Meanwhile, Lucius was grappling with his insecurities, feeling a strange Resonance with his Mother.
He also felt the heavy pressure of expectations and the profound disappointment that came from unfulfilled potential.
Perhaps, in this shared pain, a new understanding could emerge.
Maybe together they could find a path to rebuild, forging a new road that was stronger and more resilient than before.
The fortress, once a symbol of their family's strength and unity, now felt like a house of cards, teetering on the brink of collapse.
And Xiao Luna, the chaotic Key Catalyst, watched everything unfold with an enigmatic calm on her innocent face.
She knew the storm had only just begun.
The secrets of the fortress had been leaked, and their impact would spread far and wide.
She thought to herself that the real game had just begun.
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