Chapter 202
Rewinding to the moment Sebelia stepped out of her private room and into the corridor.
“Ugh.”
A staff member, concerned, approached and asked, “Are you all right, Madam?”
Sebelia waved the question away and moved forward. With every step, dizziness washed over her.
Maybe I really overdid it these past three days.
But once the shared sensory link was broken, it was difficult to reconnect. Suppressing the rising nausea, Sebelia made her way to the balcony.
“Haah.”
The cold breeze touched the sweat-dampened skin of her forehead. Her previously overheated body temperature quickly dropped, causing her to shiver, but the freshness was a relief.
Now, finally…
She locked the balcony door behind her, sat on a chair, and closed her eyes. The white feather, soft and limp, was difficult to maintain and control, so Sebelia had no choice but to move away for a while.
She couldn’t let Nelia see her like this.
A bit lower… good. Now lift it up into the air, onto the chair. Yes, just like that.
The feather moved slowly, inch by inch. As time passed, Sebelia felt a splitting headache, but she gritted her teeth and endured it.
After three days of Claude’s grueling, almost demonic training, this was what she had prepared for. Soon, the feather silently settled onto Nelia’s nape and turned transparent.
“Phew.”
The final step remained. Sebelia took out a talisman from her pocket—one made by a shaman familiar with Claude.
Tear, she tore the talisman without hesitation. From beneath her feet, something like a shadow sprang out. Thin tendrils shot out like thorns, quickly sliding through the gap of the balcony door and reaching her private room.
At the same moment, the floor of the private room briefly darkened—so faint that unless one was lying face down, it was almost imperceptible.
“Whoo…”
It was done. Wiping the cold sweat, Sebelia stood up. Just as she opened the balcony door to head back to the corridor,
[I really didn’t want to do this. But dealing with a late-blooming teen is no easy task.]
A voice echoed directly inside her eardrum, freezing her in place. Of course, they wouldn’t cater to her whims.
Tools that have been easily used all their life don’t get coaxed when they misbehave—they get fixed.
And she was that to her family. Feeling a cold wind blow inside her chest, Sebelia closed her eyes, and a brilliant light flooded behind her eyelids.
Through a slightly lowered perspective, she saw the view of the private room where she had just been. She was now sharing senses with the white feather perched on Nelia’s shoulder.
Nelia rustled slightly, as if searching for something, and pulled out a small bottle.
[I just hope you don’t become a fool, little sister.]
Plop, Nelia dropped a couple of drops from the bottle into Sebelia’s teacup, then called a staff member to order fresh tea. She repeated the same process as before, but this time, the steaming teapot contained the remainder of the potion.
“…Haah.”
Sebelia adjusted the sensory link with the feather to minimum and opened her eyes. Her head spun, nausea churned fiercely, and yet she felt a bitter laugh rise.
From Nelia’s actions, it was clear the potion was either a sleeping d**g or something that caused memory loss. If she had to choose, it was probably the latter.
There was no way she could carry a collapsed woman through this crowded teahouse.
Sebelia sighed heavily, leaning her forehead against the doorframe. Feeling the coolness, she bit her lip.
Of course. They’d never seriously try to persuade the illegitimate child they’ve despised all their life.
The cunning, snake-like Silas wouldn’t just send Nelia to talk things out. Like himself, he had ulterior motives from the start.
“There’s nothing left to be disappointed about.”
Swallowing ice-cold rage, Sebelia flung open the balcony door—but instead of heading back to the private room, she found herself in the lounge.
Moments later, expressionless Sebelia emerged from the lounge and made her way to the private room, where Nelia was waiting anxiously.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
Reciting the rehearsed words like a script, Sebelia swallowed her tea. Her sharp blue eyes blurred, and strength left her limbs.
Seeing this, Nelia stood and ordered,
“Sebelia, it’s time to go home now.”
“…”
As Sebelia staggered to her feet, Nelia immediately linked arms with her. Together, they joined Nathan waiting in the private room and escorted her out of the teahouse.
“Well done, sister. Father will be very pleased.”
Discussion
0 CommentsReactions
No comments yet.