Chapter 98: Acceptance And Rejection
Aveline stepped inside, unaware of the small test Kael had set in place.
To her, the entrance felt ordinary. There was no push and no pull. There were no strange resistance or any prickly feeling.
Just the quiet stillness of a mansion waiting to be entered.
Her heart did beat a little fast as she was anxious of coming to a place that she was not familiar with. She looked around with nervousness and in unfamiliarity.
Behind her, Kael’s attention remained fixed on the runes their family mansion had for all the centuries it had stood in this city, for their protection.
The markings flickered once as Aveline crossed the threshold.
First, they glowed softly, as though recognizing soone familiar.
Then... the light shifted. It stuttered.
The runes reacted as if they no longer recognized her, turning sharp and hostile in a way that would have signaled an outsider.
Kael’s brows drew together.
That was not what he had expected.
The light flickered again, unstable now, wavering between acceptance and rejection.
For a mont, it looked almost as though the runes themselves could not decide what she was.
He observed Aveline to see if she was sensing anything. But it was odd to see her walking so smoothly as if nothing was different.
Then the runes pulsed once more, with a glow so bright, it rivaled the light of the sun. But that glow lasted only for a few seconds.
The glow faltered... and then dimd... and in a few more seconds, the glow went out.
Kael stood still, watching the silent runes with a slowly tightening expression.
His test had failed in the strangest way possible.
Or perhaps it had revealed sothing he had not yet understood.
This had never happened. Either soone was a mber of the family, or they weren’t. There were no in between.
Just... who was she?
For the first ti, Kael felt sothing close to unease.
Aveline followed the stone path as it curved gently through the estate gardens, her steps slowing without her realizing it.
The air here felt... different. Quieter and composed, as if every leaf and petal had been placed with intention.
Tall hedges lined the walkway, trimd so precisely they almost looked sculpted. Beyond them, stretches of green opened into carefully arranged beds of flowers—deep reds, soft whites, pale violets—each blooming in quiet harmony. A small stream wound its way through the garden, its surface catching the sunlight in broken glimrs, the faint sound of water soft against the stillness.
She turned her head slightly, taking it all in.
This wasn’t just wealth. It was control. Even nature here seed... disciplined.
Hamilton peeked out from her pocket, his tiny nose twitching as he took in the unfamiliar scents. He gave a small, pleased chirp and wriggled higher, resting his chin over the edge like a curious child.
Aveline’s lips curved faintly.
"It’s big, isn’t it..." she whispered, more to herself than to him. It was definitely bigger than the Willowgrave mansion.
Ahead, the path widened, leading to the main residence.
The mansion stood tall and composed, its pale stone walls ward by the afternoon sun. Tall windows reflected the sky, and the grand entrance rose with quiet authority—broad steps leading up to carved double doors that looked like they had never once been opened in haste.
As they approached, there were many servants and maids. One by one, they stepped aside, lowering their heads in practiced unison.
"Young Lord Kael."
"Welco back, Young Lord Kael."
Their voices were soft, respectful, and familiar.
Aveline blinked, her gaze shifting subtly toward Kael.
Young Lord...?
The way they greeted him... The way they bowed without hesitation...
Sothing about it settled differently in her chest. She had known he was important.
But this... He wasn’t just important. He belonged here.
She tightened her hold slightly on the small bundle in her hands, suddenly more aware of herself, of her worn edges against the polished world she had just stepped into.
Hamilton, oblivious, puffed his chest again from her pocket like he owned the estate.
Aveline almost smiled.
Kael didn’t slow as he crossed the threshold, as if the entire mansion would fall apart if he paused for even a second.
"Stay close," he said over his shoulder.
Aveline followed, but not quietly.
Her gaze wandered everywhere.
Up the sweeping staircase that curved like it had been drawn by hand. Across the high ceilings painted with faint gold patterns. Toward the chandeliers that looked like they held captured sunlight instead of candles.
"...Do you live here?" she asked.
Kael stopped mid-step.
He turned slowly.
"...No," he said flatly. "I just wander in sotis. The servants don’t mind. And they call
Young Lord for fun."
Aveline blinked. "Oh." She looked around again, thoughtful. "That’s very generous of them."
Kael stared at her. Did she actually believe him? "...It’s my house."
"Oh."
A pause.
Then... as it settled, she said...
"Oh."
Hamilton chose that exact mont to pop his head out of her pocket and let out a tiny, approving chirp, as if he had just confird sothing very important.
Aveline nodded seriously. "Yes, I see the resemblance now."
Kael narrowed his eyes.
"...What resemblance?"
"The attitude," she said, glancing at him. "Very... territorial. And there aren’t many spiders here, is it?"
Hamilton puffed up proudly.
Kael exhaled slowly, already tired.
"Keep walking."
They climbed the grand staircase, her steps a little uneven—not from weakness this ti, but from distraction. Her fingers brushed lightly along the railing, as if testing whether it was real.
"It’s very big," she said.
"Yes."
"You could get lost."
"I don’t."
"You definitely look like soone who would get lost," she added.
Kael stopped again.
"...On what basis?"
Aveline tilted her head, studying him with suspicious seriousness.
"You disappear randomly."
"That is intentional."
"That’s what soone who gets lost would say."
Hamilton squeaked in agreent.
Kael looked at the creature.
"...I don’t need comntary."
Hamilton bared tiny teeth.
Aveline leaned closer to Kael, lowering her voice as if sharing sothing important. "He doesn’t trust you."
"I noticed."
"He thinks you’re suspicious."
"I am suspicious."
"Oh..." she nodded again, satisfied. "At least you’re honest."
Kael closed his eyes briefly.
For a mont, just a mont... He forgot they were being hunted.
"...Just don’t touch anything," he said as they reached the landing.
Aveline imdiately reached toward a decorative vase.
Kael caught her wrist mid-air.
"...You just said that to test , didn’t you?" she asked.
"Yes."
"...That’s an."
"Effective."
Hamilton sneezed softly.
A tiny puff of smoke rose.
Kael looked at both of them. "...This is going to be a problem."
"What is?"
An authoritative voice rang in the hallway.
Edric’s voice cut cleanly through the hallway.
"What is that?"
Aveline flinched.
The vase in her hand wobbled slightly before she steadied it, her fingers tightening around the cool porcelain. The sound of her own heartbeat filled her ears for a brief second.
Kael went still.
Then he turned.
"Father."
He bowed—controlled, precise. But not relaxed.
Aveline followed a beat later, setting the vase back carefully before lowering into a small, uncertain curtsey. Her eyes flickered up despite herself.
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