Chapter 334
The woman in the portrait had eyes as blue as Sebelia’s, but now, there was no way to know for certain. Her mother had always been frail, and after being attacked by Sebelia’s father and returning to her homeland, she lost consciousness right after giving birth.
With a sigh, Sebelia pulled herself away from the window. The night air, sneaking in through the cracks, made her shiver.
She crawled back into bed, her mind racing.
Mother must be somewhere in this house.
Balak had told her the truth that day: her mother was still here in Ashrent.
Remembering this sent a sharp ache through her chest, as if someone had clawed her heart. Sebelia squeezed her pillow tightly, closing her eyes.
Mother.
Her mother, who still hadn’t opened her eyes. Her mother, who didn’t even know her daughter had been taken from her, lost in a deep sleep for who knows how long.
Even now, at this very moment, even as Sebelia returned, her mother was somewhere, eyes closed under heavy lids, breathing quiet and deep. Unaware that her daughter had come home.
Who knows how much time passed like that. Suddenly, her blanket rustled above her face. The veins stood out on the back of her hand as she clenched the pillow tighter. Trying to stop herself from getting swept up in sentimental thoughts only made her longing for her mother more intense.
If her mother was here, what reason did she have not to see her?
“……”
Without another word, Sebelia tossed back the covers and sat up, blue eyes shining in the darkness.
She recalled that the guards’ shift changed after five in the morning.
Turning the doorknob with care, Sebelia slipped into the hallway, silent as a shadow. Just as Balak said, no knights were to be seen.
“Hmm.”
She took a slow, steady breath and began checking the rooms along the corridor one by one. Fortunately, none of the doors were locked—but her mother was not in any of them, either.
With a sigh, Sebelia ducked behind a corner.
She’s not here…
Leaning against a large piece of furniture, arms crossed, Sebelia mulled it over.
Where could Mother be?
She sat there for a long time, mind wandering, until her rush of adrenaline finally faded. Only then did she realize she’d been too impulsive.
“Haa.”
Maybe it’s time to go back. She pressed her palm to the floor to push herself up, just as a thin beam of light shone over her head. She assumed it was the dawn, and braced herself to move—when suddenly, a familiar voice echoed in her ear.
“Bella.”
“…!”
When you’re truly startled, you can’t even scream. Every hair on Sebelia’s body stood on end as she slowly looked up, unable to lift her head fully, just barely raising her gaze. Rossel let out a low, amused chuckle.
“I didn’t think it would actually be you.”
“Bro-Brother Rossel.”
“The floor’s cold. Come on, get up.”
Before she knew it, Sebelia was walking down the hallway with Rossel. A few knights appeared, bowing in greeting, signaling the guard shift had ended.
Startled, Sebelia grabbed Rossel’s arm, wanting to explain what she’d just been up to.
“Um, well, the thing is…”
Rossel looked at where she was holding him, gently removed her hand, and without missing a beat, linked his arm with hers. Surprised, Sebelia found herself being led, arm in arm, back to her room.
“Um…”
She called out, flustered, but Rossel just smiled, opening the door.
“I think I got the picture. Don’t worry about it.”
When he said that Balak had quietly filled him in, Sebelia bit her lip. That wasn’t it. The thought of being misunderstood made her cheeks burn, but she didn’t have the courage to tell the whole truth.
Still flustered, she slipped inside her room. Rossel paused at the doorway to say goodbye.
“Well, sleep well.”
With nothing to say, Sebelia nodded. Rossel reached out and ruffled her hair. Treated like a child, she was a bit embarrassed, but the gesture was too gentle to brush off.
“Sweet dreams.”
Just as he was pulling his arm away, a soft sound came from the floor. Looking down, Sebelia noticed a clear bottle filled with white pills had dropped.
“You dropped this.”
She bent down and picked up the bottle, only to realize the label bore a familiar name, written in a familiar hand.
“Elena Ashrent…”
She read the words aloud without much thought, but as soon as the meaning sank in, she snapped her head up.
Rossel’s blue eyes turned pale, filled with discomfort and uncertainty.
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