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    Chapter 5.2: Back to the Moment Lost


    <hr>


    “Isn’t this what a lovesick person looks like?” A familiar, angelic face of a young boy leaned in far too close for comfort.


    His flawlessly groomed hair framed his cherubic face, and his rosy cheeks gave him an almost ethereal quality. His light brown eyes, flecked with gold, seemed to shine even brighter beneath his long, dark lashes.


    His outfit—carefully styled and immaculate—spoke of a life surrounded by luxury, as though he had breathed only the purest noble air since the moment he was born.


    “No, you dummy!” the little girl retorted, her face mirroring the boy’s in every detail.


    However, unlike him, she was draped in frills and ribbons from head to toe. Her hair was tied in a ponytail, secured by a large ribbon that peeked from behind her head.


    She wore the same outfit as her twin, a matching set—a hobby her mother often indulged in for the twins—her appearance resembling that of a delicate, porcelain figure.


    The little girl crossed her arms tightly, her brows furrowed in frustration. “She’s depressed because you ate her cheesecake!”


    The tall boy, noticeably older than the other two, stood nearby, a look of confusion on his face.


    His posture was straight, movements deliberate, as though he were accustomed to being observed. His features were sharp and refined—a strong jawline, high cheekbones, and eyes that carried wisdom yet youthful. His brown hair, neatly combed back, caught the light with a faint gleam.


    He wore the immaculate uniform of the academy, the white fabric perfectly cut to fit his lean frame, a sword resting at his side. His presence radiated strength and youth, embodying a handsome, confident figure—someone who could be relied upon in times of hardship.


    With a roll of his eyes in exasperation. Stepping closer, he gently shook her shoulder and called softly, “Adira? Adira… what’s wrong?”


    Adira, who had been observing each figure before her with eyes that seemed to gleam, snapped out of her trance. Blinking, she focused as her gaze met the scrutinizing looks of her siblings.


    “...”


    “…”


    “…”


    “She looks even dumber now,” the little boy mocked, scrunching his face and lifting one side of his lip in mock confusion.


    The little girl beside him gave him a sharp nudge.


    “Ow! What was that for? I’m just telling the truth!” he protested.


    Adira slowly lifted her hand, pointing at the little boy.


    He stared at her finger in confusion, then turned to his twin sister, silently seeking an explanation. But both of them were left just as confused and bewildered!


    Then, as if a sudden realization struck her, the little girl smirked. “See! I told you it was because of the cheesecake! You’re the one who ate it!”


    “Huh!?” The little boy huffed in response. “It’s not my fault! She left it on the table! I asked her, but she didn’t answer, so I thought it was okay! It was the only lonely plate of food on the table!”


    The tall boy sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Colin, food doesn’t get lonely. How many times does Mother have to remind you? Only outlaws eat someone else’s food without permission. Have some respect and always ask for consent.”


    “What!?” Colin exclaimed, throwing his hands up in defense. “But I did!”


    The taller boy crossed his arms and leveled a sharp look at him. “Did you hear a response?”


    Colin faltered, shrinking slightly under the weight of the question. His shoulders slumped as realization dawned on him. “…No,” he muttered sheepishly.


    Adira’s heart ached as the name, so familiar, slipped from a voice just as familiar. She was jolted back to reality, <i>the sound of that name, after so long…</i>


    Her eyes cleared—bright and crystalline, now able to perceive even the smallest details of her siblings. She noticed the way their lips moved as they spoke, the soothing sound of their voices, and the vibrant life shining in their eyes.


    Her finger remained pointed at the little boy. With a trembling voice, as though she feared the name she was about to speak might shatter like fragile glass, she whispered softly, “…Colin?”


    Then she shifted her finger, pointing now at the little girl who shared the same features as the boy.


    Though her face, too, was angelic, her expression—eyes narrowed, arm on her hip—carried a hint of haughtiness.


    <i>Exactly like Adira remembered from the past.</i>


    “Cecil?”


    Adira’s finger then once again shifted to the tall youth beside her.


    “William?”


    The twins gasped in unison. “William?” they echoed in shock. They stared at him, eyes wide and mouths agape, clearly stunned by what they had just heard.


    Cecil, overcome with excitement, exclaimed, “Oh my… oh my! So, you’re William now! HAHAHA! The eldest has been cast aside, and now the second has risen to power! Elder Sister Adira, we swear our loyalty to you!”


    Colin added with utmost seriousness, “Arrest this man who dares call himself our elder brother! He’s stolen the household’s desserts! You sly fox—haven’t even claimed Father’s throne!” He then assumed a posture of importance, as though commanding the room. “Maids, arrest him! His trial will be held once the Elder Sister has returned to her senses.”


    The maids, already weary from the endless antics of the twins, exchanged resigned glances, silently acknowledging that they were not being paid nearly enough for this to happen literally every day.


    William’s expression darkened, his demeanor shifting to that of a stern "elder brother." He was determined not to let this chain of antics drag on any longer, “Judith, take the twins back to their room. Inform Mother of what transpired today. The twins still lack the most basic etiquette of a noble.”


    “What!?” The twins exclaimed in unison.


    Judith, Adira''s personal handmaiden and the highest-ranking maid present, nodded with firm resolve. Gripping the twins by their shoulders, she whispered, her smile sweet and insincere, " We must go greet Your Grace."


    Cecil threw her hands up in dramatic exasperation. “This is tyranny! My brother Colin… Our fate now rests in your hands.”


    “I guess, at this rate…” Colin sighed, nodding with a self-assured smirk. “Leave it to me, my sister Cecil. Mother is wrapped around my finger—she—”


    “!”


    The twins stared in shock, their eyes nearly popping out of their sockets as they looked at Adira, who had been pointing at them earlier. Even the maids were taken aback by the sudden shift in the atmosphere.


    Everyone who had witnessed the soft pitter-patter of liquid running down Adira’s face was left confused, unsure of what had caused it or what to do next!


    Colin’s eyes widened in shock. “What—why is she crying?”


    Cecil pointed to Adira, her voice rising in alarm. “Brother William!


    William, who had been facing away from Adira while scolding the twins, turned around.


    His eyes almost gawked out at the sight! He pulled out his handkerchief and knelt in front of Adira, gently dabbing at the tears that were trickling down her cheeks. His face showed a mixture of confusion and concern; this was unlike anything he’d seen before. Adira wasn’t the type to cry easily, and now he found himself utterly at a loss. He has no idea how to calm a lady in tears!


    But the tears kept streaming, flowing like an unrelenting wide river!


    For a moment, he found himself thinking it would be easier to console a wounded fellow student from training than to figure out what to do with a lady crying for no apparent reason!


    Cecil scoffed, her tone dripping with certainty as if stating an undeniable truth. “Of course, it’s because of the cheesecake. Who doesn’t love cheesecake? Even kings indulge in it for dessert.” She shot Colin an accusing glare. “And a <i>lemon elderflower cheesecake</i>, no less.”


    Colin pursed his lips, begrudgingly rolling his eyes, though the guilt was clear on his face. He shifted uncomfortably under his twin sister''s glare, his posture deflating as he realized the weight of his actions.


    Feeling as though her soul were laid bare, Adira couldn’t hold back any longer. The more she tried to restrain herself, the more the flood of emotions surged within her, overwhelming her until everything came rushing out.


    Her breathing came in heavy, shaky breaths as she struggled to compose herself, but the tears refused to stop pouring, continuing to fall despite her efforts to hold them back.


    “…”


    William, almost desperate, gently tried to console her, "Don''t cry now... I''ll buy you another <i>Sambocade</i>, I promise."


    The tears flowed uncontrollably, each drop carrying the weight of emotions that overwhelmed her entire being. She was crying, yet beneath the sorrow, a deep sense of joy blossomed—a very familiar warmth spreading through her as her heart swelled with relief and happiness.


    For once, the world had bloomed in full, vibrant colour, as if a veil had been lifted and everything around her was suddenly alive with warmth and light.


    She felt as though she were over the moon, as if nothing in this world could bring her greater joy than what she was experiencing in this moment—an overwhelming sense of peace, happiness, and connection.


    Her mouth curved into a huge grin, and without a second thought, she leaped off her chair, her heart soaring.


    "BROTHER WILLIAM!" she called out, her voice filled with pure, uncontainable joy!


    A dramatic gasp echoed from everyone around her. In an instant, Adira sprang from her chair, her joy propelling her forward as she threw herself into a massive embrace with her brother.


    THUD!


    The sudden force of the embrace caused both of them to tumble to the ground!


    The chair Adira had been sitting on crashed to the floor along with the table in front of them.


    The maids, caught off guard, rushed over in a flurry of panic. "Lady Adira! Lord William! Are both of you alright?" they called, their voices filled with concern.


    Cecil, wide-eyed with shock, tugged at Judith’s dress in a panic. "Judith, my sister has gone mad!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with disbelief.


    Judith, who witnessed the scene, was so shocked that she froze in place!


    Colin, ever the one to spring into action, barked orders to the maids. "Quick! Call Mother and Father!" he commanded, his tone sharp with urgency.


    Meanwhile, William, ever composed despite the chaos, calmly returned Adira’s embrace with one arm. With the other, he discreetly rubbed the back of his head that had hit the ground, he almost saw birds circling above his head! He sat on the ground, his pristine white clothes now dirtied from the fall, a mixture of concern and exasperation on his face.


    Adira, still sobbing uncontrollably, was nestled in his arms. William’s voice softened, though there was a hint of confusion. "What is wrong with you today...?" he asked, his concern evident as he looked down at her, his mind racing to make sense of the scene unfolding around them.


    Adira pulled away from William, her breath hitching as she stammered, her words tumbling out in a disarrayed mess. "Fiona... She... I... The time... The cubs... I... Uwugh--" she cried out, unable to make sense of her thoughts, her emotions a whirlwind inside her chest.


    The words in her mind tangled together, jumbling in confusion as she tried to express what she was feeling! Finding it difficult to communicate, she decided to once again embrace her brother William!


    William, caught off guard by the sudden embrace, gasped, his throat tightening as his neck collided with Adira''s shoulder. "You--!" he exclaimed, his voice strained from the unexpected force.


    Adira pulled away quickly, wiping her tear-streaked face roughly with the back of her hand, leaving a chance for William to breathe!


    Her body trembled as she stood, but there was a fire in her eyes, determined as if she was now focused on something ahead.


    With a shaky breath, she straightened herself and took a step back. Her gaze became sharp, almost predatory, as she focused on her next target.


    The twins, who had caught her eye, stared back with nervous apprehension, even swallowing in fear.


    The moment the soles of her shoes made contact with the ground, she surged forward toward them—but before she could even reach her mark, her body felt as light as a feather!This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    In the blink of an eye, the world seemed to tilt downward in a dizzying flash.


    THUD!


    Adira had hit the ground, face first!


    The twins, once frightened, were now so shocked that they rushed to her side with the speed of the wind, their faces etched with panic.


    The nearby maids paled, their expressions drained, as if they might collapse at any moment.


    Adira groaned as she propped herself up with one hand, her form a chaotic blend of tears and dirt, a complete mess.


    It was truly a pitiful sight.


    Everyone had a single thought on their mind: <i>What is happening!?</i>


    It wasn’t that the maids didn’t know what to do—they were frozen in place, unsure how to explain the scene to the Duchess of the household if she were to appear.


    Everyone silently prayed, hoping she wouldn’t arrive at any moment. But they all knew it was inevitable, as the first batch of maids, before the chaos began, had already gone to fetch the masters of the house!


    If William were to order them to keep this a secret to protect both their image and shield them from the Duchess’s wrath, they would do so without hesitation, as they, too, had no idea how to explain what had just happened.


    Cecil quickly moved to Adira’s side, hurriedly straightening her clothes and tugging at the hem of her dress, which had gotten caught on her shoes. "She tripped on her dress! Is her face okay!?"


    Colin gathered the strands of Adira''s hair from the ground, gently lifting them to keep them from getting any dirtier. He studied her face for a moment, his lips curling slightly at the sight of her dirtied features, before he replied, "Yeah?"


    Adira steadied herself and slowly rose to her feet, using Colin’s shoulder for support as her knees felt numb and weak.


    "Hey! Let go! You’re heavy—" Suddenly, his eyes widened. Colin noticed a patch of red staining the lower part of her dress. He pointed toward it and shouted, "Her knees are bleeding!" In a panic, his voice desperate, he cried out, "BROTHER WILLIAM!"


    William quickly took hold of Adira’s arm, helping her to her feet. He examined the wound before ordering the maids to tend to it immediately.


    Adira glanced down at herself, her overly dramatic dress, with its layers upon layers, felt suffocating. The uncomfortable pressure of the corset around her waist returned. Beneath the fabric, the petticoat was askew, stained with tinges of blood from her knee.


    But none of that mattered.


    She looked over at the troubled and displeased twins, who were fixing and dusting off her dress. The sight almost made her feel like she was in seventh heaven!


    Overcome with emotion, she reached out and pulled them into her arms, sobbing and laughing at once. She held them tightly, as if afraid that if she let go, they might vanish instantly.


    Cecil scrunched up her face. "Your snot! Ew!" As soon as the liquid touched her skin, she screeched. "JUDITH! BROTHER WILLIAM!"


    Colin covered his face, desperately trying to avoid the liquid dripping onto his head. "We’ve got a crazy sister!"


    William stood there, his brow furrowed and hands on his hips.


    He was at a complete loss for words as the scene of the three unfolded before him. It was so strange—really strange. He whispered, "What is going on?"


    " Why...” Adira wiped the snot on her nose and wiped it on the sides of her dress,” Why are you guys so small... Hahaha…"


    The twins grimaced in unison!


    Colin gestured with his hands as he spoke, looking as though he were flailing, though he was simply trying to explain himself, unaware of the movement. " Big sister! I’m sorry about the cheesecake. I just... I had this urge, you see. I didn’t mean it. You know me. And we’re family—I’ve done this like a million times, right? Right? So, you see, I—You were spacing out, and I saw the perfect chance to take it. I even asked you! You didn’t answer! So I took that as a sign. But I didn’t know you loved it so much that... that you’d... turn out like this! I’ve learned my lesson Big sis! I’m really sorry!"


    " This is all your fault, you glutton!" Cecil accused.


    Colin looked at her, guilt crossing his face. "I already said sorry!"


    "Then throw it out!" Cecil demanded.


    Colin blinked. "What???"


    "I said throw out the cheesecake you ate—right now!" Cecil pointed to the ground, trying to look intimidating. But to Adira’s eyes, she resembled a baby duck squawking at her twin brother.


    "I can''t do that!" Colin exclaimed, finding it absurd.


    Cecil suddenly grabbed him, glaring at him like a hawk. "Throw it out, you dummy! Only then will our sister go back to normal!"


    Colin reached out, struggling to free himself. "Stop! STOP! BROTHER WILLIAM!" he exclaimed desperately.


    William sighed exasperatedly. His eardrums had been worn raw from the constant shouting of the twins ever since they were born. As their older brother, this was nothing new to him. He quickly inserted himself between them, halting their antics.


    Though he was used to it, veins bulged on his forehead as he lectured them, reminding them of their noble title. The twins’ heads drooped in obedience.


    Suddenly, in the distance, a graceful lady emerged from the garden’s archway. Her light-colored hair was neatly wrapped in a clean bun, and an elegant hat sat atop her head, shielding her from the sun.


    Her dress fluttered gently in the breeze, echoing the grace of her movements. The sunlight kissed her skin, and her eyes, reflecting the lush green grass, gave her an almost youthful appearance, making the creases at the corners of her eyes seem to vanish.


    Arm linked with hers, stood a man with a neatly groomed beard and a face marked by the signs of age. His posture exuded nobility, and the badge and chains on his attire gleamed with each step, imbuing him with an air of power and authority. His clothing marked him as a distinguished and respected elder.


    Adira’s breath hitched as their figures drew nearer. For some reason, she found herself unable to breathe, as if she had to will herself to stop, the painful memories of past tragedies flooding her mind. Her eyelids slowly began to close, the crackling of fire echoing in her ears.


    She lowered her head, unable to meet their gaze, and tightly shut her eyes, overwhelmed by a mixture of embarrassment and regret.


    The maids curtsied to the Duke and Duchess, formally acknowledging their presence—perhaps also to ease the looming tension of what might come from the Duchess herself.


    The stern voice of Duchess Constance rang out. "What is going on? Why are the table and chairs on the floor? And why are the children—" She eyed each one sharply. "—dirty...” She turned to the most reliable person present and asked, "Judith?"


    “ Your grace-” Judith felt the weight of winter on her shoulders, yet her smile remained fixed, though she really had no idea what to say!


    William stepped in. "Mother... Adir—"


    "Are you Judith?" Duchess Constance interrupted before he could finish. "Did I give birth to a Judith?"


    "No..." William replied nervously, his complexion draining of color.


    "Then why are you speaking?" Duchess Constance demanded, each word laced with emphasis, heightening the tension in the air.


    "..."


    A mellow voice, warm and steady, emerged from beside Duchess Constance, attempting to diffuse the rising tension. "Calm down, Constance. It’s not as though they did it on purpose." His gaze swept over the twins before landing on William, his expression softening into something almost pleading.


    Though he had only just arrived, his eyes flickered with an urgency to piece together the situation.


    Duchess Constance turned to him, raising a brow so high it seemed to rival the mountains. "Are you Judith? From what I remember your name is Hugo isn’t it?"


    "...I’m just saying..." Duke Hugo, shrinking into himself, spoke with a nervous chuckle.


    She slapped his arm with the fan she was holding, causing him to flinch. "Look at your children!" she scolded. "Look at how dirty they are. You''ve spoiled them so much they don''t even care about proper etiquette anymore!"


    She pointed at each of them with the tip of her fan. "How many times have I told you not to ruin your clothes? The fabrics you''re wearing were tailored by the finest in the empire!"


    She pulled her arm free from her husband''s and strode forward, her sharp gaze blazing with barely restrained fury. When she spoke again, her voice dropped to a chillingly low tone, making her words all the more menacing.


    "The first thing people see are your clothes—these represent your social standing. Do. You. Understand?"


    The three of them flinched and immediately nodded in agreement.


    Duchess Constance continued, her voice steady but laden with authority. "How many times must I tell you that these clothes symbolize your status in society!? These clothes are your facade! They represent who you are! And now, look at you—dirty and disheveled! What will people think of the House of Laskaris? Didn’t I warn you time and time again that everything you do, everything you wear, how you present yourselves— it all reflects on our household!?"


    "..."


    "..."


    "..."


    The silence was broken by Duke Hugo, who chuckled lowly, almost nervously. He moved behind the twins.


    "Calm down, Constance… They’re young," he said with a chuckle. "This is normal at their age." Then, as if suddenly re-energized, he spoke with newfound confidence, his eyes sparkling. "I say, we let them be!"


    Duchess Constance’s expression could be compared to a large, irritated question mark.


    He gulped, realizing his words hadn’t landed as expected, then tried to explain himself. "Their youth is at its peak. The more we restrain them, the more they’ll struggle... So—" he placed a hand on the twins’ shoulders, "--Freedom it is. Right?" He flashed a goofy grin, waggling his eyebrows playfully.


    The twins’ eyes sparkled with excitement. Duke Hugo, clearly noticing their positive reaction, puffed out his chest, his nose lifted in pride.


    <i>What do you think? Isn’t Daddy cool? </i>he thought to himself.


    The twins seemed to understand as they nodded eagerly, while William, exasperated, shook his head desperately.


    Adira, feeling a sudden lightness in her heart, slowly opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was her mother’s face, flushed with fury—she was so angry it seemed as if smoke might pour out of her nostrils.


    Suddenly, Duchess Constance froze, her sharp gaze shifting between the Duke and the twins as they stood together, their expressions carefree and playful. Something felt off.


    Just a few days ago, the twins had shown signs of adopting a more refined demeanor, their behavior steadily aligning with her teachings. But now... Her eyes widened as the realization sank in, the pieces falling into place like a cruel puzzle.


    “Hugo… YOU!” she exclaimed.


    The Duke instinctively shrank behind the twins.


    “YOU STOPPED THEIR TEACHERS FROM COMING AGAIN!?”


    Cecil immediately nudged Colin, prompting him to act quickly.


    Colin, switching gears instantly, rushed to his mother, wrapping his arms around her waist. In an overly childish tone—completely different from his usual demeanor—he spoke up.


    “Mom, that’s not it... Dad only did it for our sake... You see... I just don’t understand what the teacher is saying at all! I keep making mistakes, and I get the stick all the time...” His eyes shimmered as he batted them pitifully. “I’m sorry... I’m such a failure,” he begged, his voice full of genuine innocence. “Please don’t blame Dad...”


    “…” The Duchess sighed and patted his head. “I know how hard and painful this is, Colin, but you can’t keep running from it. Soon, you''ll reach an age where you''ll need to take part in the social circle. Those lessons will become your weapon. Do you understand what that means? There are many bullies there, after all. To protect your sister from whatever may come, you must study hard and arm yourself with knowledge.”


    Colin nodded.


    The Duchess''s mind raced as she recalled the whispers about the previous tutor. She had heard enough to know that while the man had been skilled in his lessons, his methods were far from acceptable. He had relied too heavily on negative reinforcement, pushing her children through fear rather than understanding.


    The thought of it filled her with a sharp, protective anger. While she was strict, she would never stand for anyone else laying a finger on her children, let alone someone outside their family trying to impose such harsh methods. This would not go unnoticed.


    With a sigh, she spoke, “I’ll assign a new teacher. If both of you show good progress,” she smiled, “I’ll give you a reward. How does that sound?”


    Colin instantly grinned and assured her, “I promise me and Cecil will do our best!”


    As Colin turned and walked toward his father’s side, he glanced at Cecil. The two exchanged a meaningful look, their lips slowly curving into a lopsided grin.


    Duchess Constance stood in silence, her gaze fixed on the five of them now standing together: the Duke beside the twins, with William next to them, and Adira on the far side.


    "So..." Duchess Constance trailed off, making Judith even more nervous than she already was. She enunciated, "I believe I am speaking to Judith now, correct?"


    Judith nodded almost immediately.


    Duchess Constance briefly glared at the figures who had dared to respond earlier, then she finally asked, "Judith, what happened?"


    Judith walked to her side and bowed. " Your Grace, the children were having their afternoon snacks, brought by Lord William when he returned from the Academy, until—"


    She glanced at Adira almost hesitantly. Having formulated her answer while the Duchess was engaged in conversation with the Duke and the children earlier, she continued, "—until Lady Adira started... spacing out. She stared blankly into the distance, not even blinking for a long time. Colin, seeing her unmoving, ate her cheesecake, which upset Lady Adira, and... she burst into tears. Although she was upset, she was crying and laughing—ehem! After that, she began acting rather strange…"


    Duchess Constance stared intently at her, making Judith even more nervous. She answered in a rush, feeling the heat of the Duchess’s gaze, "Uhh... She hugged Lord William, then tripped and fell onto the ground–" She whispered the last part.


    "WHAT?"


    William stepped in once again. "Mother, Adira’s at that age where... she does nonsensical things! It''s the twins'' fault for eating her cheesecake!"


    Hugo wondered aloud, "Do girls go into puberty too?"


    Cecil rolled her eyes. "Of course, Dad."


    His mouth fell open. "Really? I thought—Wait... How did you know?" His eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What have you been reading?"


    Colin lit up. "Oh! I know—!"


    "Silence!"


    "..."


    "..."


    "..."


    The Duchess studied the maid that was carrying a wooden box, quickly concluding it was likely what she had suspected. She then stepped closer to the nervous Adira and gently lifted the hem of her dress.


    Adira, in fact, had no idea what was happening at that moment. Her memory was too hazy to place where this moment fit in the past, and she wasn’t focused enough to listen to the ongoing conversation. She was simply too overjoyed to be in the present to care about the exchange. However, she was nervous for a different reason.


    Duchess Constance’s eyes widened in shock as she saw the state of Adira’s knees. Her gaze then moved upward, noting the dried tear streaks on her daughter’s face.


    Though confused, the Duchess began to believe that this was far more serious than puberty alone—it might be something deeper, something emotional, that had been kept hidden from them all.


    "Adira, my child..." Her voice softened as she searched her daughter''s face for any signs of injury or scratches. She was surprised to see Adira return her gaze firmly, her eyes still teary.


    The Duchess sighed, her tone heavy with concern. “Is it really because of the cheesecake?”


    Adira didn’t want to speak. If she did, the tears would likely start flowing again. After all, this was the normal life she had always dreamed of—a life before the demon that was destined to plague their family had appeared.


    This was a precious memory Adira had only imagined in the past—well, her past life now. She had even resorted to extremities such as substance that should not be taken, just to relive this moment, but she deeply regretted it afterward.


    At the present, she couldn’t help but be mesmerized by the sight of her mother standing right in front of her, a real, living Duchess Constance.


    The mother she could feel with her hands—the mother who cared for her, who showed concern with those brilliant eyes. The mother who was still alive, able to give her the warmth she had always longed for, especially during times of torturous pain.


    She spoke with utmost sincerity, words she had never been able to say before: "You look so beautiful, Mom."


    "..."


    "..."


    "…"


    Duke Hugo and the twins whispered, sharing their suspicions, while William stood quietly, his eyes distant, as though listening but not truly present. His soul might have drifted away, taking a nap, from how absurd the day had been. He had come home to rest and bring cheesecake as a souvenir, yet somehow it felt as if he had endured a week’s worth of practice in the span of mere moments.


    Duchess Constance was momentarily taken aback, then chuckled softly, caressing her cheeks, her mood brightening with a sparkle. "I know... It''s hard being born like this."


    The Duchess then came to the realization of her daughter’s state and sighed. "Come, let me help you wash up."


    Adira nodded. The Duchess gestured to the maids, directing them to take the children to their rooms and bathe them as well.


    William headed out to buy gifts for his friends from the academy, brought from the Duchy of Laskaris. After all, this day was supposed to be a weekend where students from the academy could visit their homes for a day or two.


    As the five of them walked toward the large doors—the entrance to their house—Adira couldn’t help but feel a wave of fear.


    Fear that all of this might be a dream. That when she passed through those doors, she would wake up and face reality once again.


    As she pondered, Adira was suddenly faced with the exact two doors she had been thinking of. She instantly stopped in her tracks, staring with wavering eyes at the massive wooden planks, intricately carved with their household insignia.


    The twins, her parents, and even the maids who noticed her sudden halt—paused as well, their eyes filled with silent questions.


    "Is this real?" she whispered. Her gaze swept around, taking in the sunlight blinding her eyes, the wind brushing the tiniest hairs on her skin, the solid ground beneath her feet—yet doubt still lingered.


    Duchess Constance furrowed her brows, confused. Having been standing closer to Adira, she had heard her clearly. "What?"


    "You''re not going to disappear on me, are you?"


    Duchess Constance stepped in front of her, grasping her hand firmly. Her voice, almost stern but laced with concern, she led Adira inside as she gently tugged Adira''s hand. "We really have a lot to talk about later..."


    Colin and Cecil whispered as they trailed behind. "Possessed...?"


    Despite the uncertainty, once Adira felt the comfort and safety her mother provided, the trembling smile on her face appeared—and never faltered. Her eyes were brilliant, almost twinkling, as they passed through the grand doors.


    "I''m home." <i>I’m really home…</i>


    Fiona’s figure appeared in Adira’s mind, and her gratitude knew no bounds. The life she now had was all thanks to this woman—a chance meeting of kindness once more. If it weren’t for her, Adira knew... her life would never have come close to this, no matter how much she sacrificed.


    The Duke was about to follow them to their room, but Duchess Constance told him she needed some alone time with their daughter.


    The Duke, though reluctant, was met with a sharp glare from his wife and, without further protest, retreated to his study to continue his duties as the Duke. Still, his longing for company since his beloved wife is absent, soon led him to sneak into the twins’ room to play with them.