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墨書 Inktalez
Leonard looked up, only to see Aelia's resolute back as she left the room without a glance back, leaving him to struggle alone in the darkness.
The first light of dawn filtered through the window lattice, illuminating Aelia's weary face. She had not slept all night; her eyes were bloodshot yet sparkled with a cold light.
On the bedside image, she and Leonard embraced and laughed, their once-sweet moments now felt like daggers piercing her heart.
With trembling hands, she touched the image, her fingertips feeling the cold surface as tears silently slid down Luna's cheeks.
“Leonard, how could you treat me this way?” she whispered, her voice filled with despair and indignation.
Suddenly, she rose and walked to the window, pushing it open and taking a deep breath of the morning air in an attempt to dispel the gloom within her heart.
The distant mountains were shrouded in blood mist, resembling a fairyland, yet they could not soothe her inner pain.
She recalled the scene of her first meeting with Leonard—his tenderness, his promises—now all turned into ironic jokes.
A surge of angry flames burned in her chest; she clenched her fists, Ailya's white nails digging deep into her flesh. She felt the sharp pain but it did nothing to alleviate the anguish within.
“I will not let this go unpunished, Leonard! You will pay for this!” she gritted her teeth, determined to seek justice for herself and for her children.
Meanwhile, in Luna's small room, sunlight flooded the space, illuminating her pink little face.
She stretched lazily as she woke from her dreams; unlike Aelia's sorrow, Luna was filled with vibrant energy.
She knew today marked the beginning of a change for everything.
Scenes from the original story flashed quickly through her mind as she contemplated how to use this information to help her family escape their predicament.
Her lips curled slightly upward, revealing a confident smile, her eyes filled with determination and expectation, brimming with fighting spirit.
Inside the Magic Castle, a new day had begun.
The maids busily moved through the corridors, preparing for the day's tasks.
Qin Si directed everyone in setting up breakfast, the air thick with the Cedar Fragrance of food, yet it could not mask a hint of tension that lingered.
Aelia called Qin Si over, whispering instructions to her.
Qin Si nodded occasionally, a trace of worry etched on her face.
"Madam, are you really going to do this?" she asked hesitantly.
Aelia's gaze was resolute, her tone leaving no room for doubt. "This is my only choice; I must protect my Children."
A series of knocks interrupted their conversation.
Eldest Brother entered, leaning on his cane, his face Pale and his steps unsteady, clearly still weak in body.
He greeted Aelia with a low and Hoarse voice.
"Mother, did you call for me?" Aelia looked at her son’s haggard appearance, her heart aching for him.
"Child, your body hasn't recovered yet; why don't you rest a little longer?" Eldest Brother shook his head, a glimmer of determination in his eyes.
"Mother, I'm fine. Please let me know what you need," Aelia said with a reassuring nod as she shared her plan with Eldest Brother.
He listened intently, his gaze gradually becoming steadfast until he finally nodded solemnly.
“Mother, I understand. I will do my best to help you.”
Not long after the eldest brother left, Second Brother arrived at Aelia's room.
His face still bore a trace of resentment, clearly not having emerged from the shadow of being deceived by his close friend.
He expressed his dissatisfaction and grievances to Aelia, his tone agitated.
“Mother, I was truly blind to believe that Little One!” Aelia gently patted his thin shoulders, comforting him, “Child, I know you are in pain, but what’s done is done. We can only find a way to resolve it.” Second Brother's emotions gradually calmed down, and there was a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
“Mother, do you have any plans?”
Just as Aelia was about to speak, hurried footsteps suddenly echoed outside the door, and a voice called out, “Mother, I…”
The hurried footsteps halted at the entrance, and a breathless voice continued, “Mother, I… I heard you were looking for us.” The speaker was Third Son, whose usually cheerful demeanor had been replaced by nervousness.
He dragged his feet into the room, avoiding his mother’s gaze.
His exquisitely embroidered outer garment was wrinkled, his hair disheveled, and he faintly emanated the sweet scent of wine.
Although the sun had risen several hours ago, he looked as if he had just crawled out of bed.
Aelia sighed; in this tense atmosphere, the sound was sharp and clear.
“You,” she said, her voice as piercing as shattered glass, “look at yourself. Your brothers are worried about this family's destiny while you lounge about reeking of Blood Wine.” The comforting Cedar Fragrance that usually filled her room seemed to accentuate the sickly sweet smell of alcohol emanating from her youngest son.
Shame caused his cheeks to flush crimson against his pale skin.
He mumbled, “Mother, I… I was just…” He struggled to swallow and finally met her cold gaze.
"I'm sorry, Mother. I truly am." His regret was evident, etched across his face.
He knew that his talent had always been a double-edged sword—it had become an excuse to avoid hard work, yet in doing so, he had lost his edge.
Aelia's expression softened slightly, but her voice remained firm.
"Actions speak louder than words, my son. Prove your remorse through tangible actions alongside your family, rather than shirking your responsibilities."
At that moment, a cheerful sound broke the tense atmosphere.
Luna was sitting in her cradle, laughing as she reached out her chubby fingers first toward Mother and then to each of her brothers, as if silently urging them to unite.
It was truly surprising that a baby could make such an infectious gesture; a warm current spread through the room, easing the sharp tension of the conflict.
The brothers were touched by this innocent display of unity, exchanging glances before moving closer to Mother.
Even the usually steadfast eldest brother showed a hint of a smile.
He reached out and gently stroked Luna's soft skin.
"Sister understands," he murmured, his rough, calloused fingers contrasting sharply with the baby's smooth skin.
He could feel the warmth radiating from her.
Just then, a faint and timid knock came from the door.
Lucius peeked in, his innocent big eyes scanning the room and noticing the unusual seriousness in the atmosphere.
Seeing Mother's stern expression, he instinctively recoiled slightly, his small hand gripping the door frame tightly.
He looked like a frightened little deer, ready to flee at any moment.
Luna noticed her brother's unease. She reached out her small arm to him, and the atmosphere became softer, almost carrying a melodious tone.
Lucius hesitated for a moment, then, drawn by his sister's irresistible affection, he cautiously stepped into the room.
He knelt beside the cradle, and Luna extended her hand, gently patting his head with her soft little palm.
The tension in his small body visibly eased.
He felt a wave of comfort; his sister's touch was like a warm lighthouse in the darkness, illuminating the heavy atmosphere.
The sound of the heavy door closing shattered this fragile calm.
The room fell silent.
Everyone knew what that sound meant.
It was Leonard.
Aelia's face turned stern, her jaw tightening.
What had just offered some comfort—the scent of Lily and Cedar—now felt heavy and oppressive.
The room seemed to grow colder, filled with a tense anticipation.
Leonard strode into the room, the crisp morning air reddening his face, starkly contrasting with the icy atmosphere he had just entered.
He paused, sensing the tension radiating from his family.
He looked from his wife's rigid posture to the serious faces of his sons, his heart pounding in his chest.
A cold fear crept over him, and he sensed that a storm was about to break.
He opened his mouth to speak, but the words caught in his throat.
“Leonard,” Aelia's voice was low and dangerously calm, each broken syllable dripping with coldness.
The air was thick with unspoken accusations.
The ornate tapestry on the wall seemed to absorb all sound, making the room feel even more oppressive.
The faint crackling from the fireplace sounded deafening in the sudden silence.
He shifted uneasily, his gaze darting nervously around the room.
“Aelia, dear,” he began, his voice unusually hesitant, “what is going on…” He waved a trembling hand toward his gathered family, struggling to find the right words.
The scent of his expensive perfume, usually a comforting cedar fragrance for Aelia, now reeked of deceit.
“What is going on?” Aelia raised her voice, echoing in the sudden stillness.
“How can you even ask me that? Perhaps you should explain the rumors I’ve heard. Those about your… infidelity.” The word hung in the air, heavy with disdain.
The fire in her eyes made even her eldest son flinch.
Leonard's face turned pale; under her intense gaze, the carefully constructed facade he had built crumbled in an instant.
He stammered, “Rumors? Infidelity? Dear, you must be mistaken…” His voice trailed off as he nervously glanced toward the door, as if contemplating escape.
“Did I get it wrong?” Aelia laughed, the sound harsh and dry, sending chills down her sons' spines.
“I don’t think so, husband. I saw the evidence with my own eyes.” She approached him, each movement radiating suppressed fury.
Lily's Cedar Fragrance grew stronger, the sweet scent mirroring her bitter feelings of betrayal.
“Aelia, please... let me explain...”
“Explain?” She interrupted him, her voice rising to a piercing level. “What is there to explain? How could you betray me? Betray your family? Betray our vows?”
Leonard recoiled, his eyes wide with terror.
He opened his mouth to speak but found himself unable to utter a single word.
He glanced from his furious wife to his silent sons, trapped in the eye of the storm he had created.
Aelia trembled with rage, her shaking finger pointing at him.
“You... you will regret this, Leonard. I swear.”
Dawn quietly enveloped Glory Fortress, rosy and golden light spilling over the stone walls, yet this radiance could not penetrate the bone-chilling uncertainty that hung in the air like a shroud.
A restless energy buzzed within the fortress walls like a tightly wound spring.
This was not the usual clamor of servants bustling about for a new day; it was a tense silence filled with anticipation, occasionally shattered by hushed whispers of anxiety.
In the luxurious yet now suffocatingly quiet room of the fortress mistress Aelia, she paced back and forth like a trapped tigress.
The news of Leonard's betrayal had been quietly delivered to her by her young daughter Luna—who seemed to possess wisdom far beyond her years—striking Aelia like a heavy blow.
Her calm and elegant facade crumbled away, revealing eyes filled with unmasked sorrow and rising fury.
"That... that scoundrel!" she said through gritted teeth, tightly gripping a delicate Ceramic Cup, her knuckles turning white.
"After all these years, I've done so much for him!" The cup shattered against the fireplace, the crisp sound of breaking porcelain echoing like the collapse of her trust.
Luna nestled in her elder brother's embrace, her wise eyes observing everything around her.
She might have been speaking in nonsensical phrases that others couldn't comprehend, but her little mind was racing, plotting a strategy.
Now, she thought, this is the turning point.
She needed to guide Aelia, to lead her down a path that could free them all from the tragic Destiny laid out in the Original.
Meanwhile, Leonard remained blissfully unaware of the storm brewing within his fortress, lost in self-indulgence in the dressing room.
He hummed a cheerful tune, still basking in the afterglow of his secret visit to... another home.
He absentmindedly adjusted the Ruby Cufflinks she had given him, and despite Luna being several rooms away, a bitter taste rose in her mouth at the thought.
This man was insufferable!
She fumed silently, her small fists clenched tightly.
The brothers each carried their own burdens, exchanging worried glances.
The eldest brother felt helpless after suffering from a Magic Backlash that left his Twin Legs weakened.
The Second Son was still reeling from the betrayal of a close friend, staring blankly into the distance.
And the youngest son, a child with remarkable yet untapped Magical Talent, sat nervously on edge, sensing the shift in atmosphere.
"We must take action, my lady," Aelia's loyal maid, Xi Sai, urged, her voice trembling slightly.
"We cannot stand by and watch the master's... disloyalty."
Aelia paused, her gaze becoming resolute.
"Indeed, Xi Sai. We will not sit idly by." She looked at Luna. "Luna... my dear child..." she whispered, her voice choking with suppressed tears. "You... you seem to understand more than you let on. Guide me. Tell me... what should I do?"
Luna laughed, waving her little hand towards the fortress garden where her younger brother, Lucius, was practicing his unpredictable and uncontrollable magic.
He was like an uncertain card, a force of nature that was almost impossible to restrain.
In the Original, he had become a pawn in Leonard's game, his power exploited and abused.
But Luna had other plans.
He would become our weapon, she thought, a mischievous smile spreading across her cute face.
Our secret weapon.
As the sun climbed higher, golden rays bathed Glory Fortress.
Yet within the walls, the shadows of betrayal and whispers of rebellion grew ever stronger, heralding a day of Clearing that the fortress had never experienced before.
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