Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 261 - Chapitre 268

ARAHAt the reception, she did her best to act normal, not drawing any suspicion from Gildeon. Thankfully, he seemed genuinely engrossed in a surprisingly pleasant conversation with Tonio. It left her quietly baffled—when and how had they become this friendly? Gildeon used to complain all the time about how much he disliked working for her friend.Either they’d magically warmed up to each other, or Gildeon was putting on a show. But it didn’t matter. She was just grateful he was keeping up a human-friendly front. Besides, she needed him distracted while she figured out how to get Nick alone.She had decided not to tell Gildeon about her suspicions—at least not yet. She feared he’d drag Nick straight to Roselia’s torture chamber, and that just felt... cruel. It was still his wedding night, and tearing him away from Mabel based on a gut feeling didn’t seem fair.Cora and Patricia would occasionally ask her opinion on whatever they were chat

Many Years Ago (Part 2)YOUNG ARAHEENShe sat up at the foot of her mother’s effigy, her small feet dangling over the edge of the crystal tomb.Feviel eased himself onto the marble seat across from her, his owls shifting comfortably as they perched on both his shoulders. From time to time, they tilted their heads and gave soft, throaty croons, their round, blue-black eyes fixed on her.Araheen then told Feviel everything she had overheard from the assembly room. He showed no reaction the entire time, just like most young sylphs she had spoken with. Yet, out of everyone, she preferred Feviel’s company. He was the only one who ever spoke to her without treating her like an outcast.“Why did you come here, then?” Feviel asked at last, his gaze turning toward her mother’s effigy. “I heard you crying, speaking to her. But she is gone. How can she help you with your problem?”Araheen parted her lips, amaz

Many Years Ago (Part 4)YOUNG ARAHEENShe never truly intended to leave her family forever. At first, she only wanted to escape the fate her father had chosen for her. If she were to be parted from her home, her siblings, and her mother’s tomb, then it would be on her own terms.When enough time had passed, she hoped she could return—and that Father might have changed his mind.A few days had gone by since her meeting with the boatman. He had told her to wait, for he needed time to prepare for the journey. The waters of the far north were said to be perilous, and even a small mistake could mean death.She packed lightly, careful not to rouse suspicion from the servants or guards who might catch her slipping away. Many of them were already used to her vanishing from the castle from time to time, always assuming she would return.But this time, she would not be coming back. Not soon, at least.

ARAHIn the blink of an eye, she was back as her present self. She stood in a dimly lit chamber, the walls and floor etched with countless sigils she didn’t recognize. The only source of light came from an old-style fire basin. Flames flickered upward in a cone, casting shadows around a circular stone platform in the center of the room.There, sitting on her heels in the heart of that platform, was the younger version of herself.Zephyr stood before her.Arah stepped quietly to the side for a clearer view. Young Araheen wore a black cloak, and the matching scarf had slipped loosely around her shoulders. Even though she was only watching a memory, Arah could still feel every sensation, every emotion pulsing through her younger self.Young Araheen was scared, but at the same time, she trusted Zephyr. There were still doubts—unspoken hesitations tangled in her gut—but maybe it was innocence... or blind hope that made her believe she c