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墨書 Inktalez
"Mother, why don't you ask Luna how she knows these things?" Lucius suddenly spoke up, breaking the brief silence in the study.
His voice was deep and calm, yet laced with a hint of skepticism.
Inside the Glorious Demon Fortress, sunlight streamed through the exquisite Carved Window Lattice, casting dappled Light and Shadow on the Ground.
Luna stood before Aelia, her small figure appearing particularly resolute.
Taking a deep breath, her youthful face was serious as she spoke in a tone that belied her age, "Mother, there are some things I must tell you."
Aelia was seated at her desk, attending to matters of the Magic Castle.
Upon hearing Lucius's words, she lifted her gaze to Luna, a trace of confusion in her eyes.
In recent days, Luna had been acting mysteriously, as if she were harboring some monumental secret.
"Luna, what do you want to say?" Aelia's voice was gentle but tinged with an almost imperceptible weariness.
She had always believed that her life was peaceful and happy; her husband Leonard was considerate towards her, and the Children were well-behaved and understanding.
She immersed herself in the beautiful fantasies she had woven, unwilling to awaken from them.
Luna bit her Lips and summoned her courage to say each word carefully: "Father... Father has another woman outside."
The air seemed to freeze, and the study fell into an immediate silence.
Aelia's smile faltered, replaced by an expression of disbelief and shock.
She doubted she had heard correctly, or perhaps this was just a child's nonsensical rambling.
"Luna, what are you saying? Do you even know what you're talking about?" Aelia's voice trembled as she struggled to maintain her composure, trying to dismiss the matter as a joke.
Luna looked into Aelia's eyes, which were filled with confusion and disbelief.
She understood how difficult it was to make someone immersed in happiness believe in the cruel reality.
But she had to do it, for herself, for Mother, for their home.
"Mother, I'm not making this up. I saw it with my own eyes. Father... he and that woman... they..." Luna's voice grew softer, unsure of how to describe those memories of Leonard's Last Night, those scenes she wished to forget.
"Shut up!" Aelia suddenly stood up, her face pale as she glared at Luna.
"You’re just a child; what do you know? Don’t come here spouting nonsense and slandering your father!"
She couldn't accept it; she refused to believe it.
Leonard was her beloved husband, the father of her children. They had weathered storms together; how could he betray her?
This had to be Luna's fabrication; it simply had to be!
"Mother, I'm not lying! Everything I said is true!" Luna pleaded urgently, reaching out to grasp Aelia's hand but was mercilessly brushed away.
"Enough! I don’t want to hear it! Get out!" Aelia's emotions spiraled out of control as she pointed toward the door and shouted.
Luna's eyes welled with tears; she needed evidence, solid proof to help her mother see the truth.
Luna took a deep breath, wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, and said firmly, "Mother, I will prove it to you. I will make you understand that what I say is true!"
With that, Luna turned and ran out of the study.
She knew that what lay ahead was a tough battle.
She had to gather evidence, expose Leonard's true nature, and protect her family.
She found Qin Si, Aelia's maid, a loyal and meticulous woman.
Luna knew that Qin Si was the most trusted person by her mother and her only source of support.
"Sister Qin Si, I need your help," Luna said, looking at Qin Si with determination in her eyes.
Qin Si looked at Luna with some confusion, not understanding what she wanted to do.
"Luna, is there something wrong?"
Luna told Qin Si everything she had witnessed and requested her assistance.
After hearing this, Qin Si's expression changed drastically; she could hardly believe her ears.
"Luna, you can't just say things like that! The Lord of the Fortress would never..."
"Sister Qin Si, I know this is hard to believe, but I am telling the truth. I need your help to gather evidence to prove that I am not lying," Luna pleaded.
Qin Si hesitated. On one hand, she found it difficult to trust Luna's words; on the other hand, she worried that Aelia might truly be kept in the dark.
She looked into Luna's determined eyes and finally made up her mind.
"Alright, Luna, I'll help you. But you have to promise me to be careful and never let the Lord of the Fortress find out," Qin Si urged, her voice trembling with concern.
In the following days, Luna and Qin Si began their secret investigation.
They carefully collected letters, gifts, and some traces of silk exchanged between Leonard and Leonard's Concubine.
With her familiarity with the Magic Castle and the connections she had built over the years while being close to Aelia, Qin Si quickly gathered some solid evidence.
The letters were filled with sweet words of love, and the gifts were worth a fortune, enough to prove Leonard's affection for Leonard's Concubine.
There were also testimonies from servants who had witnessed Leonard with an unfamiliar woman, appearing as a couple.
When Luna presented this evidence to Aelia, she completely broke down.
She picked up the letters and read them one by one, tears blurring her vision.
She couldn't believe that these sweet nothings came from the lips of her beloved husband, and those words were not meant for her.
Looking at the priceless gifts, she remembered how she had lived a frugal life all this time, spending all her money on the construction of the Magic Castle.
Yet Leonard had spent that money on another woman.
Listening to the servants' testimonies felt like sharp knives piercing her heart.
She had always thought she was the happiest woman in the world, only to realize that she had been living in a massive lie all along.
"No... it's impossible... this can't be real..." Aelia murmured to herself, unwilling to accept that everything was true.
She sat motionless in the chair, tears streaming down her face like broken pearls.
Her gaze was hollow, filled with pain and despair.
Years of love and trust crumbled into nothingness in that moment.
She felt as if her world had collapsed, with all the beauty vanishing before her eyes.
"Why... why did this happen..." Aelia's voice was hoarse, laden with helplessness.
Luna watched Aelia's suffering, her heart aching in response.
But she knew that enduring prolonged pain was worse than facing a short one.
Only by helping Mother confront reality could she escape her predicament and start anew.
"Mother, please don't be sad. He isn't worth your tears," Luna stepped forward and gently embraced Aelia, hoping to offer her some comfort.
However, Aelia pushed Luna away with force, her eyes filled with anger and resentment.
"It's you! You ruined my happiness! If it weren't for you telling me all this, I wouldn't be in so much pain!" Aelia shouted, pointing at Luna with a voice that strained from emotion.
Luna was taken aback; she hadn't expected Aelia to place all the blame on her.
"Mother..." Luna wanted to explain but found herself at a loss for words.
"Get out! I don't want to see you! Just leave!" Aelia's emotions spiraled out of control again as she grabbed something from the table and hurled it at Luna.
Luna couldn't dodge in time and was struck on the forehead by a teacup, blood instantly streaming down her face.
Seeing this, Qin Si rushed over to support Luna, anxiously asking, "Luna, are you okay?"
Luna shook her head, not caring about the injury on her forehead. Instead, she looked at Aelia with eyes full of disappointment.
"Mother, I know you're in pain right now, but you can't keep living in a fantasy. You need to face reality; you need to make the right choices for yourself and for the children." Luna's voice was calm and firm, like that of a weathered elder.
Aelia gazed at Luna, her eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions.
There was resentment towards Luna, but also gratitude. She understood that Luna meant well, yet she couldn't accept this harsh reality.
Suddenly, Aelia's gaze shifted to Qin Si, her expression sharpening.
"Qin Si, are you involved in this too? How dare you betray me!" Aelia's voice thundered.
Qin Si fell to her knees in fear, repeatedly bowing her head.
"Madam, I wouldn't dare! I just... I just didn't want to see you kept in the dark..."
"Well then! You all conspired to deceive me! You all deserve to die!" Aelia's emotions completely shattered as she grabbed a fruit knife and charged at Luna and Qin Si.
"Die!" Aelia screamed madly, wildly swinging the knife with eyes filled with killing intent.
Qin Si quickly stepped in front of Luna, using her body to shield her.
Just as the fruit knife was about to stab Qin Si, a figure suddenly appeared, blocking their path.
“Mother, stop!” Lucius shouted, his voice filled with anger and disappointment.
Aelia halted her action with the knife, looking at Lucius with eyes full of pain.
“Lucius, are you going to betray me too?” Aelia's voice trembled, laden with despair.
Lucius remained silent, merely gazing at Aelia, his expression a complex mix of emotions.
He didn’t know how to confront this shattered Mother, nor did he know how to face their broken family.
“Lucius, you…” Aelia looked at him, seemingly wanting to say something, but ultimately held back her words.
She dropped the fruit knife and collapsed onto the ground, crying out loud.
Luna watched Aelia, her heart heavy with helplessness.
She understood that this was just the beginning; there were more challenges ahead.
She needed to help Mother out of this predicament, protect her family, and change the fate that Destiny had laid out for them.
She walked over to Lucius and softly asked, “Brother, what should we do next?”
Aelia's cries gradually subsided, replaced by a haunting silence.
She slowly lifted her head, her tear-streaked face revealing an unexpectedly cold gaze, like a still pond, devoid of ripples.
She fixed her eyes on Luna, her voice hoarse as if scraped by sandpaper. "Why did you tell me? Why did you ruin everything for me?!"
Luna's heart sank heavily, as if crushed by a boulder, leaving her breathless.
The unjust tears swirled in her eye sockets, clear and glistening, as if they were about to spill over at any moment.
She bit her lower lip tightly, struggling to control her emotions and prevent the tears from overflowing.
She couldn't understand why she had to endure such blame when she was only trying to do what was best for her mother.
"Mother, I... I just didn't want you to be kept in the dark..." she choked out, her voice barely a whisper.
"Kept in the dark?" Aelia suddenly laughed, the sound sharp and piercing, like the cry of a night owl, sending chills down one's spine.
"Do you know what happiness means? Do you know how much I've sacrificed for this family? And now, it's all ruined because of you! All ruined!" She abruptly stood up, grabbing a vase from the table and smashing it to the ground. The shards scattered everywhere, mirroring her shattered heart at that moment.
Luna stepped back in fright, her small frame shrinking like a startled fawn.
She couldn't comprehend why her mother was so furious and so unappreciative of her good intentions.
All she wanted was to protect her mother, to protect their home. Was that so wrong?
Just then, the study door was flung open violently, and Leonard stormed in, his face pale with anger and his eyes fierce like a beast ready to pounce.
“Aelia, what on earth are you doing?!” he thundered, his voice deafening as if it could topple the entire study.
Seeing Leonard, Aelia felt she had found an outlet for her pent-up frustration. She pointed at Luna and cried out hoarsely, “It’s all her fault! She’s the one who told me about your dirty little secrets! She ruined everything for us!”
Leonard's gaze shifted to Luna as he advanced step by step, his towering figure looming over her like a mountain, suffocating her with his presence.
He seized Luna by the shoulders with a grip so powerful that she felt as if her bones might shatter.
“You little whore, how dare you—”
“Leonard!” Aelia suddenly interrupted him with a sharp cry.
“Try touching her and see what happens!” She rushed in front of Leonard, positioning herself protectively in front of Luna like a lioness guarding her cub.
Leonard scoffed and shoved Aelia aside. She stumbled back a few steps, nearly losing her balance.
“Aelia, do you really think you’re still the high-and-mighty Lady of the Fortress? You’re nothing but a foolish woman I can toy with at will!” His tone dripped with disdain.
Upon hearing those words, Aelia felt as if all her strength had been drained away. She collapsed onto the floor, tears streaming silently down her face.
She covered her face, her shoulders trembling as she sobbed heart-wrenchingly.
Years of devotion, years of love had led to this humiliation and betrayal.
Her heart was utterly shattered.
Luna watched the scene unfold before her, feeling a tumult of emotions swirling within.
She felt a deep pain for her mother's plight, yet she was helpless in the face of her mother's misunderstanding.
She couldn't comprehend why her mother would rather believe Leonard's lies than accept her own sincerity.
It felt as though she were an outsider, trapped in this broken family, powerless to change anything.
Leonard looked at Aelia, who was crying uncontrollably, then turned away, ready to leave.
"Aelia, take care of yourself," he said coldly before walking away without looking back.
In the study, only Aelia and Luna remained, surrounded by the chaos.
Aelia's sobs gradually subsided as she lifted her head to look at Luna, her eyes vacant as if she had lost her soul.
"Luna..." she whispered softly, her voice so hoarse it was barely audible.
Luna knelt beside Aelia and gently embraced her.
"Mother..." she choked out, unsure of what to say.
Aelia said nothing; she simply clung tightly to Luna, as if grasping the last lifeline.
She felt her world crumbling, all hope shattered.
She didn't know what to do or where her future lay.
Suddenly, Aelia pushed Luna away. "Luna, you should go."
Luna was taken aback, unable to comprehend why Mother wanted her to leave. "Mother, you want me to go?"
Aelia nodded, her tone resolute.
"Leave this place, the farther away, the better."
Luna's heart sank like a stone dropped into an Ice Cavern.
She couldn't understand why Mother was treating her this way; she didn't know what she had done wrong.
"Mother, I..."
"Go!" Aelia said again, her voice leaving no room for argument.
"Leave here, forget everything about this place, and start your life anew."
Luna looked at Aelia, bewildered by why Mother would push her into the abyss.
"Mother..."
"Luna, please go." Aelia's voice rang out once more, tinged with a hint of pleading.
"I'm begging you, just go."
Tears streamed down Luna's face uncontrollably.
She stood up, gazing at Aelia, her voice choked as she said, "Mother, take care."
After saying that, she turned and ran out of the study, leaving Aelia alone in the empty room, silently shedding tears.
The afternoon sunlight streamed through the carved window lattice, casting dappled light and shadow across the room adorned with a thick carpet.
Luna sat on Aelia's lap, her small body nestled close like a harmless little kitten.
However, her next words struck like lightning, shattering the surface tranquility.
"Mother, that... Leonard, he..." Luna's voice was innocent yet carried a weight beyond her years.
She lifted her head, her clear eyes locking onto Aelia's. "He has someone else."
Aelia's previously gentle expression froze instantly, as if time had stopped in that moment.
She tightened her embrace around Luna slightly but tried to keep her tone calm. "Luna, what are you saying? Who taught you these words?"
"No one taught me; I saw it myself," Luna explained urgently, fearing Aelia wouldn't believe her.
She struggled to recall the events from the original story, trying to describe Leonard and his concubine's tryst in the simplest terms.
"I saw him... with that woman, in the garden..."
Aelia's face grew increasingly pale as she interrupted Luna. "That's enough! Don't say any more!" She suddenly stood up, placing Luna on the ground, her voice trembling ever so slightly. "Qin Si, take the young lady downstairs."
Qin Si had been waiting nearby. Upon hearing Aelia's command, he hurried over to pick up Luna and cast a worried glance at Aelia. He gently reassured her, "Madam, please don't be angry; the young lady is still small and speaks without thinking."
Luna was held in Qin Si's arms, watching Aelia's pained expression, her heart filled with guilt.
She knew she had uncovered the Scar that Aelia was most unwilling to face.
Yet, she had to do it, to change Aelia's Destiny, to alter the Destiny of the entire Magic Castle.
"Mother, I didn't lie!" Luna struggled to get down from Qin Si's embrace and ran to Aelia, clutching at her skirt. "I really did it for your sake!"
Aelia looked at Luna, her gaze complex and inscrutable.
She crouched down and gently stroked Luna's hair, her tone soft yet tinged with distance. "Luna, I know you mean well. But some things are beyond your understanding right now."
"But..." Luna wanted to explain further but was interrupted by Aelia.
"Enough, no more," Aelia stood up, turning her back to Luna with a firm tone. "Qin Si, take the young lady back to her room and let her rest properly."
Qin Si sighed helplessly, picking up Luna and leaving the room.
Only Aelia remained in the room. She slowly walked to the window, gazing at the blooming flowers in the garden.
Leonard, the man she loved deeply, the partner she thought would walk beside her for a lifetime, had betrayed her.
This truth was unbearable.
However, Luna's words felt like a thorn, deeply embedded in her heart, impossible to ignore.
She resolved to verify what Luna had said.
In the following days, Aelia began to secretly investigate Leonard's whereabouts.
She utilized her connections and resources, quickly discovering that Leonard was secretly involved with a woman named Isabella.
Isabella, a young and beautiful Mage, possessed beauty and talent that rivaled Aelia's.
She was gentle and thoughtful, quickly winning Leonard's heart.
When Aelia witnessed Leonard kissing Isabella in the garden, her heart shattered completely.
She felt as if her world had collapsed, and all the beauty had turned to dust.
She was filled with pain, anger, and despair.
She didn't know how to face this cruel reality or how to confront Leonard.
She began to distance herself from Luna.
She couldn't bear to look into Luna's clear eyes, for they were filled with the truth—truth she was unwilling to confront.
She felt that Luna had ruined her life.
Luna also sensed Aelia's withdrawal.
She knew that an insurmountable chasm had formed between them.
Did she regret it?
Perhaps.
But she did not regret her choice.
Because she knew that only by uncovering the truth could she change her destiny.
Even if the process was filled with pain and suffering.
In the room, Luna sat alone on the bed, gazing out at the gloomy sky, her heart filled with confusion and unease.
She did not know how to move forward on the path ahead.
All she knew was that she had to become stronger to protect herself and those she cared about.
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