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墨書 Inktalez
Luna stood by the window, her small figure elongated in the glow of the setting sun.
She gazed at the towering spire of the Magic Castle, feeling that something was amiss.
An indescribable aura hung in the air, like the calm before a storm, pressing down on her and making it hard to breathe.
"The scent of conspiracy..." Luna murmured, her little brows furrowed tightly.
Though she was just a baby now, her keen intuition from her past life as a Great Mage warned her that danger was quietly approaching.
She moved her short legs and scampered over to Aelia, wrapping her arms around her leg and speaking in a tender voice, "Mother, be careful of Father!"
Aelia was busy handling affairs of the Magic Castle. At Luna's words, she paused for a moment before smiling gently, "Luna dear, Father is our family. Why should we be careful?"
Luna grew anxious, her small face turning red as she struggled to express herself: "Father... bad! There’s a Bad Woman!"
"Nonsense!" Qin Si interjected, unable to hold back her reprimand. She believed Luna must be speaking without understanding; how could the Lord do anything to betray his wife?
Aelia's smile faltered. She knelt down and cupped Luna's small face, asking seriously, "Luna, why do you say that? Can you tell Mother?"
Of course, Luna couldn't reveal that she had traveled from another world and knew that Leonard was keeping Leonard's Concubine outside.
She could only speak vaguely: "I dreamed it! Father... with another woman... together!"
Dreamed it?
A flicker of unease surged within Aelia.
She knew Luna was not an ordinary child; perhaps she truly possessed some special ability.
"Qin Si, you may leave for now," Aelia dismissed Qin Si and sat alone with Luna in her lap.
She began to recall Leonard's unusual behavior in recent days.
He always left early and returned late, and his attitude towards her grew increasingly cold, to the point where he didn't even touch her.
At first, she thought it was just because he was busy with matters concerning the Magic Castle, but now she realized that perhaps she had been too naive.
"Leonard, will you really betray me?" Aelia's heart was filled with fear.
She couldn't imagine how she would face it if all of this were true.
Just then, her elder brother, Second Brother, and Brother San walked in.
They had heard Luna's words and were equally shocked.
"Mother, is what Luna said true?" The elder brother's voice trembled slightly. Although he was physically disabled, his love for his family had not diminished at all.
"Mother, we believe Luna," Second Brother added. He had been deceived by a close friend before and understood the pain of betrayal all too well.
"Mother, if Father really did something to hurt you, we will never let him go!" Brother San declared. Though he usually had a carefree attitude, he would never waver in critical moments.
Seeing her children standing so firmly by her side filled Aelia with a warm current.
She knew she was not fighting alone.
"Alright," Aelia took a deep breath, her gaze becoming resolute. "Even if Leonard truly betrays me, I will protect you all and safeguard this family!"
"We will protect Mother too!" the three brothers said in unison.
Just then, an unpleasant voice interrupted the moment.
"Mother, I have something to report."
Lucius walked in with a hint of a flattering smile on his face.
Upon seeing him, Aelia's anger ignited.
She coldly asked, "Lucius, what is it?"
"Mother, I would like to borrow the grounds of Magic Castle to hold a wedding," Lucius said.
"A wedding?" Aelia's voice rose by an octave. "Who are you marrying?"
"It’s... it’s Lilith," Lucius said, somewhat nervously.
"Lilith?" Aelia's face turned pale with fury. "She is your father's concubine! You actually want to marry her? Have you no shame!"
"Mother, please calm down," Lucius hurriedly said. "I am only following Father's orders..."
"Enough!" Aelia shouted angrily. "How could your father do such a thing! You are simply unfilial!"
"Mother..." Lucius tried to argue, but Aelia cut him off.
"I’m telling you, Lucius, I will never agree to this!" Aelia's voice trembled with rage. "The grounds of Magic Castle will not be used for such a disgraceful wedding!"
"Mother, you can't do this..." Lucius attempted to protest, but Aelia silenced him with a fierce glare.
"Get out!" Aelia roared. "I don’t want to see you again!"
Lucius left in disgrace.
The room was enveloped in silence, save for Aelia's heavy breathing.
“Mother, please don’t be angry.” Luna said softly, wrapping her arms around Aelia's neck and gently patting her back with her small hands.
Aelia held Luna tightly, as if trying to meld her into her very being.
“Luna, what should I do?” Aelia's voice was filled with helplessness.
“Mother…” Luna replied gently, a glint of mischief flashing in her eyes, “When soldiers come, we fight; when water comes, we block!”
“When soldiers come, we fight; when water comes, we block?” Aelia murmured to herself, her gaze gradually becoming resolute.
“Qin Si!” Aelia called out loudly.
Qin Si hurried in. “Madam, what can I do for you?”
“Prepare the carriage. I need to see someone,” Aelia instructed.
“Madam, who do you wish to see?” Qin Si asked, puzzled.
Aelia's lips curled into a knowing smile. “Someone… who can help us.”
“Madam, the atmosphere in Magic Castle is tense right now. Who could you possibly want to find at this time?” Qin Si said with concern.
Aelia did not answer; she simply rose and walked to the window, gazing into the distance.
“Qin Si, do you think… Lucius dares to defy my wishes merely because he is audacious?” Aelia suddenly asked.
Qin Si paused for a moment before understanding Aelia's implication. “Madam, are you suggesting that it is Lord who is pulling the strings behind this?”
Aelia nodded, "Perhaps... I should ask him properly what is going on."
With that, Aelia walked out of the room without looking back.
Qin Si watched Aelia's retreating figure, her heart filled with worry.
She knew that the tranquility of the Magic Castle was about to be shattered.
At that moment, standing in the shadows not far away, Lucius wore a smug smile.
"Mother, you are still too naive..." he murmured. "This wedding cannot be stopped..."
He turned and left, leaving behind an unsettling silence.
In the darkness, Luna's eyes sparkled with a glimmer of wisdom.
She understood that the real battle was just beginning...
The news of the impending wedding swept through the castle like an evil spell, whispers and speculations creating an eerie atmosphere.
Servants hurried about, speaking in hushed tones and occasionally casting nervous glances toward the hall.
Inside the hall, Lady Ilysia suppressed her anger, pacing back and forth like a mother tiger trapped in a cage.
The air was thick with tension, a palpable hum that seemed to resonate through every stone of the castle.
Lucius believed he had achieved victory, striding down the corridor with an air of arrogance.
His usually gentle and flattering voice now carried a hint of disdain as he loudly issued orders to the increasingly confused servants.
He reveled in their unease; their fear was like a balm, healing the resentment he had harbored for so long.
He imagined the anger and helplessness of Mother, the taste of victory particularly sweet on his tongue.
He even dared to envision himself sitting at the main table alongside Father, with Lilith shining brightly at his side, finally receiving the recognition and respect he craved.
This thought filled him with anticipation, sending a thrilling shiver down his spine, unrelated to the cold winds that swept through the castle's ancient corridors.
In stark contrast to the chaos around her, Luna remained unusually calm, like an island amidst a storm.
She sat in a high-backed chair, her small hands folded neatly on her lap, her eyes fixed on the flickering flames in the fireplace.
The dancing light reflected in her eyes, giving them an unusual glimmer that belied her tender age.
She listened intently to the whispers of people, the hurried footsteps, and the clinking sounds of silverware being prepared for this unwelcome feast, absorbing every bit of information like a sponge.
Furrowing her brow in concentration, she pieced together fragmented details, strategizing and planning.
This castle, filled with magic and secrets, was her chessboard; despite her youthful appearance, she was a master at the game.
Ilysia no longer paced anxiously; she turned to Luna with a look that was both desperate and tinged with hope.
"What should we do, Luna? He won't listen at all. Your father... he is supporting him. I feel like I'm sinking in quicksand; the more I struggle, the deeper I fall." Her voice was hoarse, laden with exhaustion.
Her usual graceful composure had crumbled, revealing a vulnerability deep within.
She felt the weight of the castle and the burden of family inheritance pressing down on her as if it would crush her.
Luna looked up at Mother, her eyes reflecting an unsettling wisdom.
“Mother,” she said softly yet firmly, contrasting sharply with the chaos around them, “sometimes we must bend like the reeds in the wind to avoid breaking. Promise me, Mother. Promise for this wedding.”
Ilysia stared at her blankly.
“Promise? But how can I… how can I promise? This is nothing short of mockery, an insult to us! Letting that… that woman into our home to celebrate their… betrayal.” The word tasted as bitter as ashes on her tongue.
Luna reached out and took her mother’s hand, her small fingers surprisingly strong.
“Mother, a storm is coming. We must reinforce our house before it arrives. Promising doesn’t mean surrendering. It means buying time, gathering strength. We will make them regret all of this, Mother. You will see.” Though her voice still carried a childlike quality, it was filled with a disquieting yet oddly reassuring determination.
Ilysia looked into Luna's resolute eyes and saw not a child, but a seasoned strategist, a powerful ally.
Deep down, she knew Luna was right.
Direct confrontation would only lead to disaster.
She had to fight a long game.
Though it was a bitter pill to swallow, it was necessary.
Ilysia sighed deeply and finally relented.
“Alright, Luna,” she said, her voice imbued with newfound resolve, “we’ll play along with them. At least for now.”
With the decision made, Ilysia calmed down, but it was a chilling calmness.
She straightened her back and smoothed her dress; the anger within her was temporarily suppressed but not extinguished—it burned with a cold, fierce flame.
The preparations for the wedding intensified with fervor.
The castle was bustling with activity, the surface joy masking a thin veil of tension beneath.
Ilysia, accompanied by Luna, oversaw the arrangements. Her smile was a carefully crafted mask, while her eyes constantly scanned, assessed, and plotted.
Behind closed doors, away from prying eyes and listening ears, the mother and daughter conspired about their next move.
A map lay spread out on the table as they whispered until deep into the night.
Under the cover of darkness, a Messenger was dispatched, secretly forging alliances.
Everything was in motion, the gears relentlessly turning toward an unknown future.
“Mother,” Luna said softly, her finger tracing over the castle map, “do you remember the secret passage behind the Tapestry in the West Wing?”
Ilysia leaned in closer, her eyes sparkling in the candlelight.
“I remember… it leads to…”
“The Old Armory,” Luna interjected, a sly smile creeping onto her lips. “Exactly.” She pointed to a spot on the map, her finger lingering on a specific location.
“I think we should go there and take a look.”
The flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows on the walls, obscuring their expressions, but the light in their eyes spoke volumes.
The game had begun.
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