Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
In the study, Aelia was elegantly flipping through the Magic Tome, her fingertips gliding over the yellowed Parchment, her expression focused and serene.
The warm Dark Purple Flame danced in the fireplace, casting a soft and beautiful glow on her Lucius.
She wore an Ice Blue Starry Gown that highlighted her noble and graceful demeanor; time seemed particularly kind to her, leaving few traces on her face.
Amidst this tranquil atmosphere, a faint sound of footsteps approached from afar.
“Tap tap tap…”
Luna came running in with her little legs, stumbling as she went.
Her delicate face was filled with worry, and her large, watery eyes sparkled with unease.
“Mama…” Luna's voice still carried the babyish tone unique to infants, yet it sounded particularly serious. “Papa… outside… there’s a Bad Woman…”
Upon hearing this, Aelia paused slightly with the book in hand and looked up at Luna with a hint of confusion.
She thought she might have misheard or that this was just the innocent ramblings of a child.
“Luna, what are you talking about? What Bad Woman?” Aelia's voice remained gentle, laced with a touch of affection.
She assumed Luna might be playing some game or had overheard something she shouldn’t have.
Seeing that Aelia seemed skeptical, Luna grew even more anxious.
She struggled to get up from the floor and ran to Aelia's side, tightly hugging her leg, her little face rubbing against the fabric of her gown.
“Really! Daddy... hug... kiss... other aunties...” Luna struggled to express her thoughts with her limited vocabulary.
She knew this was serious; if she didn’t tell Aelia, something worse could happen.
As Aelia listened to Luna’s fragmented description, the smile on her face gradually faded.
Her heart began to sink, and an overwhelming sense of disbelief washed over her.
“Luna, are you saying you saw Daddy with other women...” Aelia’s voice trembled as she struggled to accept what she was hearing.
She had been married to Leonard for many years, and they had always been loving towards each other. She had never doubted his feelings for her.
Luna nodded vigorously, her small face filled with seriousness.
She knew that what she was saying might hurt Aelia, but she also understood that hiding the truth would only make things worse.
“Yeah! Daddy... also gave the aunties... pretty flowers...” Luna added, hoping Aelia would grasp the gravity of the situation.
Upon hearing this, Aelia felt as if a lightning bolt had struck her.
She had always thought of herself as the happiest woman in the world, with a loving husband and adorable children.
But now, that beautiful illusion shattered like a bubble in an instant.
She felt dizzy, and the book in her hand slipped helplessly from her grasp, hitting the ground with a dull thud.
“Bang—”
Aelia's face instantly turned pale as paper, and she sat there in her chair, seemingly drained of all her strength.
Memories of her past with Leonard flooded her mind, those moments that once brought her happiness and sweetness now felt painfully ironic and absurd.
She had always believed that Leonard loved her, that he was loyal.
For him, she had given everything, even sacrificing her dreams and aspirations.
But now, she realized she had been living in a massive lie.
“No… it can’t be…” Aelia murmured to herself, her voice so faint it was nearly inaudible.
She refused to believe this was true; she could not accept that the person she loved had betrayed her.
Luna watched Aelia in pain, her heart aching for her.
She reached out her small hand and gently stroked Aelia's arm, wanting to comfort her.
“Mama… don’t cry… Luna… will protect you…” Luna's voice was tender yet firm, filled with resolve.
She knew she was still young and couldn’t do much for Aelia, but she would do everything in her power to protect her and shield her from further harm.
Aelia felt Luna’s concern, and the tears in her eyes could no longer be held back; they streamed down her cheeks.
She held Luna tightly in her arms, weeping openly.
"My Luna... my dear child..." Aelia choked out, feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude that she still had Luna, this lovely little angel, who was the only hope in her life.
Just as Aelia was engulfed in her immense sorrow, the door to the study was suddenly pushed open.
"Mother, I heard..." Lucius's voice trailed off as he caught sight of Aelia's tear-streaked face and the way she clutched Luna close to her.
He realized that something terrible must have happened.
Meanwhile, in another corner of the Magic Castle.
In his elder brother's room, a strong scent of herbs filled the air.
His brother sat in a wheelchair, gazing out at the gloomy sky with vacant, confused eyes.
His twin legs had lost all sensation, and he could only move with the aid of the wheelchair.
He had heard about Lord Leonard's concubine, and his heart was filled with rage.
He loathed Leonard's betrayal even more than his own helplessness.
If he hadn't been disabled due to the Magic Backlash, perhaps he could have done something for Mother—at least stood up for her and taught that heartless man a lesson.
"Damn it... I'm such a worthless piece of trash..." His brother clenched his fists tightly, Ailya's white nails digging deep into his palm, yet he felt no pain at all.
His heart was filled with helplessness and resentment.
In Second Brother's room, the atmosphere was equally oppressive.
He sat alone at his desk, his brow furrowed, his face dark and terrifyingly grim.
He recalled how he had been deceived by a close friend, falling into the Magic Dilemma, and his heart swelled with indignation.
The friend he had always trusted had betrayed him for profit, nearly costing him his life.
Now, he had also heard that Father had betrayed Mother, which was even harder for him to accept.
He felt that Destiny was being unfair to him; why did all the misfortunes have to fall upon him?
"Am I destined to be this unlucky..." Second Brother murmured, his voice low and hoarse.
His heart was filled with dissatisfaction and resistance towards Destiny.
Suddenly, he stood up abruptly and swept the books and papers off the desk onto the floor.
The books and papers scattered everywhere, making a harsh noise, yet they could not dispel the frustration within him.
He felt as if he were about to explode; he needed to vent, to find a breakthrough.
He clenched his fists tightly, the knuckles cracking with laughter.
He decided that he needed to take action; he could no longer sit idly by.
At that moment, a voice came from outside the door.
“Second Brother, you…”
Brother San stood at the entrance, gazing at the chaotic scene inside the room, feeling somewhat at a loss.
He had originally intended to talk to Second Brother, but it seemed that Second Brother was in a terrible mood.
As Brother San observed Second Brother's angry expression, a flicker of hesitation crossed his mind.
He recalled his own neglected training and how he had been captivated by Magical Talent, ultimately achieving nothing.
If only he had worked harder back then, perhaps he could have helped Second Brother, helped Mother, instead of standing by helplessly as everything unfolded.
“Maybe… I should do something…” A strong desire suddenly surged within Brother San.
He wanted to change, to start anew, to become someone useful.
“Elder Brother's leg, Second Brother's magic, and Father's situation… is Magic Castle really going to fall?” he murmured to himself, his tone filled with confusion and unease. “Perhaps I should…”
Just as Brother San was about to voice his thoughts, Second Brother suddenly turned around, his gaze sharp and fixed on him.
“What did you just say?” Second Brother's voice was low and cold, carrying a powerful sense of pressure.
Brother San was stunned by Second Brother's imposing presence, frozen in place and unable to utter another word.
The atmosphere in the room instantly turned tense, as if it were the calm before a storm.
Brother San looked at Second Brother's grim expression and the chaos strewn across the floor. The words he had intended to say felt like cotton stuffed back into his throat, choking him.
He lowered his head in frustration, his gaze falling on his pale, slender fingers, which were clean and devoid of any trace of magic.
Once, he had taken pride in his Magical Talent, but now it had become his greatest shame.
"I... I didn't say anything," Brother San's voice was weak and trembling, barely above a whisper.
He couldn't bear to meet Second Brother's eyes, fearing he would see disdain reflected in those furious orbs.
He loathed himself for his youthful arrogance, for being blinded by the so-called genius aura that led him to neglect his training.
If only he had been as diligent as his elder brother, perhaps he could have become a pillar of the family instead of a worthless coward cowering in the corner.
A sense of powerlessness wrapped around him like vines, nearly suffocating him.
He bit down hard on his lower lip, struggling to hold back tears.
He felt like a trapped beast in a cage, helplessly watching as his family fell into crisis while he could do nothing to help.
This feeling was more unbearable than any physical pain he could imagine.
He clenched his fists, Ailya's White Nails digging deep into his flesh, yet he felt no pain.
He hated—hated his inaction, hated his cowardice.
Meanwhile, in the study, Aelia's sobs gradually subsided, leaving only the intermittent sounds of Luna.
Qin Si held her tightly, gently patting her back, comforting her as one would a child.
"Madam, please don't cry. It won't do you any good to harm your health. That heartless man isn't worth your tears."
Qin Si's voice was filled with anger and sorrow.
Having followed Aelia for many years, she had witnessed the love between Aelia and Leonard, as well as Aelia's sacrifices for this family.
She could not accept Leonard's betrayal, nor could she bear to see Aelia suffer like this.
She clenched her fists, knuckles turning white, wishing she could tear that heartless man to pieces.
"Madam, you still have Young Miss and us. We will always be here for you." Qin Si's voice choked with emotion as she struggled to control herself, not wanting to make Aelia feel worse.
She gently wiped away the tears on Aelia's face, her gaze firm yet tender.
Lucius stood aside, quietly observing everything with a complex and profound expression.
He had always respected his father and deeply loved his mother.
Now, the betrayal of Father left him in shock and disappointment.
He could not understand Father’s actions, nor could he forgive his betrayal.
Taking a deep breath, his gaze gradually became resolute.
He understood that this was not the time for sadness or anger; he had to do something to protect his Mother and safeguard his family.
He turned around and strode toward the door, his back straight and determined.
“I’m going to find Father,” he said, leaving the study without looking back.
Though his voice was not loud, it was filled with strength, as if carrying an undeniable resolve.
As night fell, Magic Castle was shrouded in darkness.
The cold wind howled past, and the branches rustled ominously, like whispers from ghosts that sent chills down one’s spine.
Leonard hurried back to Magic Castle, sensing an unusual atmosphere.
The servants wore strange expressions; when they saw him, their eyes flickered with hesitation, as if they wanted to say something but held back.
A sense of unease crept into his heart, but he forced himself to remain calm and walked purposefully toward the study.
“Aelia, I’m back,” he pushed open the door to the study, wearing a faintly weary smile.
However, when he saw the scene in the study, his smile instantly froze on his face.
Aelia sat in the chair, her complexion pale, her gaze cold as if it were a sharp knife piercing his heart.
Luna quietly nestled in her embrace, her large eyes filled with vigilance and hostility.
Qin Si stood to the side, his eyes brimming with anger and disdain.
Leonard felt his heartbeat quicken, an ominous premonition rising within him.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found himself unable to utter a word.
"You... you all..." he stammered, his voice trembling, his gaze flickering uncertainly.
Aelia slowly lifted her head, her icy stare fixed on him, a faint sneer curling at the corners of her mouth.
"Leonard," her voice was deep and hoarse, as if it had emerged from the depths of hell, "we have some things to discuss."
Leonard stood at the door, his face instantly turning pale as beads of sweat formed on his forehead.
His gaze darted between Aelia, Luna, and Qin Si, desperately searching for a glimmer of hope for reconciliation, but the scene before him left him feeling trapped.
"Aelia, you... you have to let me explain..." Leonard's voice was low and trembling, like a withered leaf in the wind, trying to argue but sounding utterly powerless.
Aelia glared at him coldly, her eyes flashing with anger and disappointment.
Her fingers dug tightly into the armrest of the chair, her knuckles turning white from the pressure.
She took a deep breath and calmly said, "Explanation? What more is there to explain? Luna has told me everything; I know all about the scandal between you and that woman!"
Leonard felt a chill run down his spine, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him.
He realized that this time, things were far more serious than he had imagined.
He opened his mouth but couldn't find the words, standing there helplessly with embarrassment and despair written all over his face.
"Yglyn, do you have anything to say?" Aelia's voice suddenly rose, like an invisible knife piercing Leonard's heart, nearly leaving him breathless.
Leonard swallowed hard; it felt as if something was stuck in his throat. He trembled as he spoke, "I... I just..."
Aelia's cold gaze cut through his defense, her tone firm and indifferent. "What are you? A traitor to me, a traitor to our family, or a traitor to your own vows?" She stood up and walked toward Leonard, each step radiating an irresistible authority.
Her fingers lightly brushed against Leonard's chest as she sneered, "How much of your heart is still mine?"
Leonard's complexion grew even worse; he lowered his head, unable to meet Aelia's gaze.
The atmosphere in the room was so tense it felt like it could explode at any moment, an indescribable sense of oppression hanging in the air, making even breathing feel heavy.
Suddenly, Aelia's laughter broke the silence, filled with despair and sarcasm. "You don't even have the courage to answer anymore, do you?"
Comment 0 Comment Count