Mariana and Adele stood frozen at the window, their eyes fixed on the garden below.
Ruth was walking slowly, holding a woman gently in his arms, and the sight made both of them tremble. Adele’s lips parted but no sound ca out at first. Her throat felt tight. Finally, she whispered, "What’s going on?" Her voice was filled with disbelief and pain.
Mariana’s brows furrowed. She tried to understand the scene before them. "I knew Madam was here... but has their relationship really nded? How is that possible?" Her words trailed off as she looked at Adele’s pale face.
Adele’s whole body shuddered. A flood of mories tore through her chest like knives.
She rembered the years when her mother had turned her away. The sharpest mory ca back first, the one she had tried so hard to bury.
She had been a little girl, so excited to show her mother the teddy bear she had received during a banquet. She thought it would make her mother happy, that maybe for once she would be praised. Instead, as soon as she walked into the room, her mother’s hand struck her across the face.
The teddy bear slipped from her small hands. Her mother’s cold eyes burned into her.
Without a second thought, her mother tore the teddy apart, piece by piece, until nothing but scraps were left on the ground. She scread at Adele, throwing her out as if she was nothing. Adele had stood in the hallway crying, unable to understand why her love was not enough.
From then on, she had tried everything to gain her mother’s attention. She studied harder. She behaved better.
She tried to act like the perfect daughter. But no matter what she did, it was never enough. There was never warmth, never a smile of love waiting for her. All she ever received were disgusted stares and cruel words.
Her mother’s voice echoed in her mind even now. "Why... Why are you not a son? You wasted nine months in my womb."
Those words had cut deeper than any blade. Those words stayed with her, carved into her heart, poisoning every happy thought she ever had.
Adele’s eyes turned red. She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails pierced her skin, and blood slowly oozed out from her palms. Her chest felt heavy, suffocating. She wanted to scream, and finally she did.
"Why is everyone happy except ? Why do I have to struggle so much while they all enjoy their lives?" Her voice cracked, trembling with pain.
She pressed her hand against the glass and stared down at her mother smiling in the garden. "How can you smile after ruining my life, you stupid bitch" she roared, her voice shaking with hatred and despair.
Mariana quickly reached out, her hands trembling as she held Adele’s shoulders. "My Lady... please, calm down," she whispered. She pulled Adele closer, patting her gently, trying to ease her trembling body.
Adele’s lips quivered, and her anger lted into sorrow. Tears welled in her eyes until she could no longer hold them back.
She buried her head against Mariana’s chest, her voice breaking. "Nanny..." Her tears soaked into Mariana’s dress as she let herself cry, for once not hiding behind her anger.
Mariana stroked her hair gently, her heart aching for the girl she had raised. "It will be okay, Miss," she whispered softly.
"Good tis will co. You just have to hold on a little longer." Her voice was firm, though inside she was shaking too. "You need to grow stronger. One day, everything that hurts you will be beneath your feet. One day you will no longer be powerless."
Adele sniffled, her tears still falling. She could not bring herself to believe fully, but those words planted a small seed of strength inside her chest.
......
anwhile, in the garden, Emilia walked silently beside Ruth. Though she tried to appear calm, her mind was restless. When she looked at Adele’s shadow from the window, her heart sank. Her steps slowed, and her face turned dazed.
Ruth noticed imdiately. "What happened?" he asked. His voice was as cold as ever, his eyes sharp and emotionless. But Emilia knew him too well. Beneath his rigid tone, she could sense his quiet concern.
Emilia hesitated. Her hands trembled as she lowered her gaze. "I heard Adele had returned," she admitted softly.
"I don’t know how to face her. Kael... Kael was easygoing, and he forgave. But Adele..." Her words stopped as her throat tightened. "I am afraid of facing her."
Ruth’s expression didn’t change, but his words cut straight through. "It doesn’t look like the relationship could ever be nded," he said.
Emilia turned her head sharply toward him, surprised by the bluntness of his words. "Huh..." Her voice faltered.
Ruth looked up, noticing Adele’s shadow still standing at the window. He then turned back to Emilia. "Kael has learned to think of the bigger picture. His heart is like that of soone far more mature than his age. I knew he would change once part of his mory would be unsealed. Still, I didn’t expect his maturity and talent to shine like this."
Emilia’s eyes widened. "mory... sealed? What are you talking about?" Her voice shook in disbelief. Ruth’s lips pressed into a thin line, his eyes freezing for a mont.
"It’s nothing," he said flatly. "Just a thought. Don’t think too much about it." He paused, his gaze steady. "As for Adele, she is different. She clings to the past, and it fuels her strength. She wants to erase everything that hurt her and destroy anything in her way. Even if that ans destroying you and ."
Emilia’s lips trembled as she listened. She wanted to deny it, but she couldn’t. Deep down she knew Ruth was right. Adele’s pain had turned into hatred, and her hatred had beco her driving force. Emilia lowered her head, her heart heavy with regret.
"I know what you’re saying is true," she whispered with a cute pout. "But couldn’t you have said it in a softer way?"
Ruth stayed silent. His words had only been honest, never cruel, yet they still hurt her. He turned his head away, unable to answer. Emilia bit her lip, feeling the silence weigh on her heart.
On the other hand, felt her chest ache with guilt. She thought of Adele’s tears, her pain, and the shadow of hatred in her eyes. A part of her wanted to reach out, but she knew she could not. She had lost that right long ago. And now, facing her daughter again, all that remained in her was regret.
Haa.
He just spoke the truth..
Is this also his fault?
Sigh...Woman..
Why did God create such complex creatures?
....
"Stop here."
CRISSH.
The carriage ca to a halt with a sudden jolt. Ramos frowned and leaned forward. "What happened, brat? Why are we stopping in the middle of nowhere?" He glanced outside, and his face relaxed with understanding. "Ah... I see. You want to take a look."
Kael didn’t answer. He pushed the door open with force and stepped down onto the cobbled ground.
They were at the Central Plaza of the capital, a place always full of people. The plaza was alive with noise, travelers and citizens mixing together, street vendors calling out, and children running around with small flags in their hands. A group of priests stood near the fountain, speaking to the crowd about the glory of the heroes.
"Look at the shine of the Saintess’ staff," one old man murmured with awe.
"It feels like they’re watching over us," a young woman whispered to her child.
"Even after so many years, their nas still protect the Empire," another man said, bowing his head.
Kael walked slowly toward the center of the plaza, where the Statue of the Four Heroes rose proudly. The monunt was massive, carved with such detail that even the folds of clothing and the sharpness of their eyes looked alive. Standing at the foot of the statue, Kael lifted his head, and his heart grew heavy.
The first figure was Eric Bateman, the prosecutor of evil, rembered by all as the man of righteousness.
His pose radiated justice, his sword pointed forward as if cutting through corruption itself.
Behind him stood Luna, the Archmage, her robes flowing in stone, her hands raised as though channeling eternal magic. To her side was Elena, the Saintess, her serene face carved with delicate grace, holding her staff of light as if blessing the world forever.
Then Kael’s eyes fell on the last figure. Edwina Valcrest. To the world she was a hero, but to him, she was far more.
She had once been his closest companion, his backbone,his one and only sister, the one he thought of as family. Kael’s chest burned with pain.
No matter how many tis he saw her image, the feelings inside him never lessened. The fire in his heart refused to die down, no matter how he tried to calm it.
He clenched his fists, his mind screaming.
"Le...no. Kael. Control yourself. Acting in haste will ruin everything."
A pat on his chest pulled him back. He looked to see Ramos standing beside him, his hand firm but gentle. "It’s a marvelous piece of art, isn’t it?" Ramos said.
Kael didn’t answer. His lips pressed tightly together, but Ramos didn’t seem to mind his silence. He continued, his gaze on the statue. "The Four Heroes. The saviors of humanity. I wonder how strong they were compared to us today."
"They are stronger than angels, but still weaker than gods," Kael murmured under his breath.
Ramos blinked, stunned. "Angels? What nonsense are you saying, brat?"
Kael’s face stiffened. "Sorry... sorry. Just sothing I read in an old fairytale," he replied quickly.
"Tsk. You’ve grown so big and you still waste ti on childish stories. No wonder you’re so immature," Ramos grunted, shaking his head.
Kael glared at him. "Shut up."
He kept his thoughts to himself. Not everyone knew about angels. They were God’s personal legion, warriors who stood at the demi-god realm.
They were an army created only to answer divine orders in tis of great need.But there was significant problem.
That was they lacked will and do as ordered which ssed up things,that’s why Gods choosen ones appear..
The Four Heroes, despite their unmatched strength, could never reach beyond the limits placed upon them. Their growth was sealed at that level.
Kael himself had once been forced into that boundary. Even though he had devour and divinity within him, even though his combat strength had surpassed others, he lacked a true divine source of his own like the Gods who had an endless supply of divinity from thier worshippers.
That absence had been his greatest flaw. It was a truth that still gnawed at him as he stood before the towering monunt.
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