The carriage drove into the estate.
The wheels rolled over the gravel path, making a faint crunching sound.
Bell jumped down from the carriage.
He turned around.
He helped Tia down.
Tia’s hands were very cold.
They were shaking constantly.
Even after arriving here, at the place called "home," she was still like a frightened quail.
“Don’t be afraid.”
Bell gripped her hand tightly.
He transferred the warmth from his palm to hers.
“No one here dares to bully you.”
The hall doors opened.
Eleanor stood at the entrance.
She had changed into a pale gold domestic gown.
She wasn't holding her staff.
And the murderous aura she had earlier, as if she were about to exterminate a whole family, was gone.
She looked at Tia.
Her eyes brightened as if she were looking at a rare treasure.
“Is this Tia?”
Eleanor walked over.
She squeezed Bell aside.
She took Tia’s hands.
She looked her over from left to right.
“Oh, this little face.”
“Why is she so thin?”
“Did that old bastard not give you anything to eat?”
Eleanor’s fingers gently brushed against Tia’s somewhat pale cheek.
Her brow furrowed with pity.
Tia was stunned.
She subconsciously wanted to pull her hand back.
She wanted to hide.
At the Astane house, whenever someone approached, it usually meant a beating or a scolding.
But Eleanor didn't do that.
Her hands were very soft.
And very warm.
Like a mother’s.
“Auntie... I...”
Tia’s voice was as small as a mosquito’s buzz.
“Don’t call me Auntie!”
Eleanor glared at Bell.
“We’re family from now on.”
She turned her head and smiled at Tia like a blooming flower.
“If Bell ever dares to bully you in the future.”
“Just tell me.”
“I’ll help you break his legs.”
Bell stood to the side.
He rubbed his nose.
He felt a bit redundant.
But as he watched Tia’s shoulders gradually relax.
The heavy stone in his heart.
Finally half settled.
“Alright, alright.”
Elisk’s voice came from the stairs.
He had changed into casual clothes.
He was still holding a wine glass.
“Don’t just stand at the door.”
“The food is getting cold.”
In the dining room.
The long table was covered with dishes.
Roasted lamb chops.
Stewed beef.
Creamy mushroom soup.
They were all hearty dishes.
Eleanor kept piling food onto Tia’s plate.
It was almost stacked too high to hold any more.
“Eat more.”
“You need to nourish yourself well from now on.”
Tia kept her head lowered.
She ate bite by bite.
Tears went pitter-patter as they fell into her plate.
Ever since her mother died.
No one had ever piled food onto her plate again.
No one had ever cared if she was full.
“Why are you crying?”
Eleanor panicked.
She hurriedly took a handkerchief to wipe Tia’s eyes.
“Is it not good?”
Tia shook her head frantically.
“It’s good...”
“It’s especially good...”
She raised her head.
She looked at Eleanor.
Then she looked at Bell.
She revealed a long-awaited smile.
It was very genuine.
And very sweet.
“Thank you.”
After dinner.
Eleanor pulled Bell aside.
She looked very secretive.
“The guest room hasn't been cleaned out yet.”
She winked.
“Tonight.”
“Tia will sleep in your room.”
Bell nearly choked on his own spit.
“Mom!”
“This is way too fast...”
“What’s fast about it!”
Eleanor slapped him on the back.
“You already snatched her back.”
“Why act like a refined gentleman now?”
She lowered her voice.
“Seize the opportunity.”
“I’m still waiting to hold a grandson.”
With that.
She gave Bell a push.
“Go on.”
The bedroom door closed.
Isolating the world outside.
The room was very quiet.
Only the firewood in the fireplace made a crackling sound.
Tia sat on the edge of the bed.
Her face was as red as a ripe apple.
Her hands twisted the corner of her clothes.
She didn't dare to look up.
Bell stood at the door.
He couldn't decide whether to go in or out.
Awkward.
The air was thick with the scent of awkwardness.
“Um...”
Bell scratched his head.
“Do you want to shower first?”
Tia nodded.
Like an obedient little wife.
“Yes.”
Half an hour later.
The two of them lay on the bed.
A clear divide separated them in the middle.
Neither of them dared to move.
They even consciously lightened their breathing.
Bell looked at the ceiling.
His mind was a mess.
It was all Claude’s words before he left.
“Cecilia asked me to give you her regards.”
It was like a thorn.
Stuck in his heart.
He couldn't pull it out.
“Tia-senpai...”
Bell broke the silence.
“Hm?”
Tia’s voice was very light.
With a hint of nasality.
“Was tonight’s dinner... to your taste?”
Nonsense.
Pure nonsense.
He had clearly seen her eating just now.
“Yes.”
Tia rolled over.
She faced Bell.
She pulled the blanket down slightly.
Revealing a pair of bright eyes.
“It was delicious.”
“Then...”
Bell swallowed hard.
“Shall we head back to the academy tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
Tia closed her eyes.
The corners of her mouth curved up slightly.
“I’ll listen to you.”
The conversation ended.
Another bout of silence followed.
Bell turned his head.
He looked at Tia’s sleeping face.
Her breathing was even.
Her eyelashes trembled slightly.
She was truly exhausted.
After all the travel.
Combined with the mental highs and lows.
Before long.
Tia let out a faint snore.
Bell sighed.
He tucked the blanket around her.
And closed his eyes as well.
...
A dream.
It was a sea of blood red.
Viscous.
And stinking.
Bell dreamed he was standing in a sea of corpses and blood.
Beneath his feet were nothing but severed limbs.
Ahead.
There was a cross.
Tia was nailed to it.
She was covered in blood.
Like a broken ragdoll.
And Cecilia.
Wearing the white lace dress he was most familiar with.
Was holding a pair of scissors.
And bit by bit.
She was cutting open Tia’s eyelids.
“Brother.”
Cecilia turned her head.
Her face was stained with blood.
She smiled innocently.
“Look.”
“How beautiful her eyes are.”
“Can I gouge them out and have them as a gift?”
“NO!!!”
Bell bolted upright.
He gasped for breath.
Cold sweat soaked his pajamas.
His heart pounded wildly.
As if it were about to burst through his chest.
The room was very dark.
The fire in the fireplace had long since gone out.
There was only the moonlight coming through the window.
Ghastly pale.
Bell wiped his face.
His palms were covered in sweat.
It was just a dream.
Thank goodness it was a dream.
He let out a long breath.
His throat was parched.
Bell threw back the covers.
He got out of bed.
He walked to the table.
He poured a glass of water.
He tilted his head back and gulped it down.
The ice-cold water slid down his throat.
The feeling of palpitations subsided slightly.
Gulp.
Swallowing the last drop of water.
Bell put down the glass.
He turned around.
Preparing to go back to bed.
His movements froze.
The glass slipped from his hand.
It hit the carpet.
Making a dull thud.
By the wall.
In the shadows.
A person was standing.
A white lace dress.
Long golden hair.
And those eyes.
Glimmering with a faint light in the darkness.
Obsidian-colored eyes.
Cecilia.
She just stood there.
Watching him quietly.
There was no sound of breathing.
No sound of a heartbeat.
Like a ghost.
“Brother.”
Her voice was very light.
And very sweet.
“Did you have a nightmare?”
Bell’s pupils constricted to the size of needlepoints.
The blood in his entire body froze instantly.
Fear.
Fear from the depths of his soul.
It made it difficult for him to even move a finger.
“You...”
Bell opened his mouth.
His voice was incredibly hoarse.
“How are you...”
Cecilia tilted her head.
A smile appeared on her face.
Pure.
Yet hair-raising.
“Brother brought a new toy home.”
“And didn't even tell Cecilia.”
“Cecilia had no choice but to come find it herself.”
She raised her hand.
She pointed to the side.
Bell followed her finger.
His heart stopped.
In mid-air.
Tia was pinned firmly to the wall by several invisible wind blades.
Her limbs were spread wide.
Her mouth was sealed by a gust of wind.
She couldn't make a sound.
She could only let out desperate whimpering noises.
Her pajamas had already been shredded.
Revealing large patches of snow-white skin.
But on that skin.
There was nothing but blood.
Three fingers on her left hand.
Were snapped backward at a bizarre angle.
Bone had pierced through the flesh.
Bone-white and stark.
Fresh blood dripped from her fingertips.
Forming a small puddle on the floor.
Tia looked at Bell.
Her eyes were wide and round.
Tears mixed with blood flowed down.
It was a plea for help.
And a farewell.
“TIA!!!”
Bell roared.
Rage instantly shattered the shackles of fear.
His mana went on a rampage.
The floorboards exploded.
A massive quartz sword condensed out of thin air.
Bell gripped it in his hand.
The tip of the sword pointed directly at Cecilia.
“Release her!”
Bell’s eyes were bloodshot.
Like a beast driven into a corner.
“Release her!!!”
Cecilia looked at the sword.
She didn't dodge.
She didn't even blink.
She just looked at Bell.
There was a hint of confusion in her gaze.
And a hint of grievance.
The exquisite small knife in her hand.
Was still dripping blood.
“Why is Brother angry?”
Cecilia took a step forward.
The tip of the knife pressed against Tia’s thigh.
With a light stroke.
The flesh peeled back.
Blood gushed out.
Tia twitched violently.
But she was pinned firmly by the wind blades.
She couldn't move.
“Originally.”
Cecilia looked at the gushing blood.
Her eyes were dazed.
As if she were looking at the most beautiful scenery.
“I wanted to let this woman live.”
“As long as she was outside.”
“As long as she obediently left Brother.”
“I wouldn't have bothered to kill an ant.”
She raised her head.
She looked at Bell.
Her smile gradually twisted.
“But.”
“Brother brought her home.”
“Brought her to Cecilia’s territory.”
“Isn't this a gift Brother gave to me?”
“Isn't this Brother insisting that she must die?”
The tip of the knife stabbed in again.
Deeper this time.
Plunging directly into the muscle.
“Since Brother hates this woman so much.”
“Hates her enough to send her to me to be tortured.”
“Then Cecilia.”
“Naturally has to fulfill Brother’s wish.”
Cecilia twisted her wrist.
The blade churned within the flesh.
Tia’s eyes rolled back.
She fainted from the pain.
Then was woken up again by the intense agony.
“STOP!!!”
Bell went mad.
He charged forward recklessly.
The quartz sword carried the momentum to split mountains and shatter stone.
He swung it at the demon he once feared most.
“I told you to stop!!!”
Rate on N.U.
