CHAPTER 287: MR O

The moment Alaric flipped open the diary, Adeline saw the shift in his expression. His normally composed face, always guarded and unreadable, twisted into something raw, something vulnerable. His fingers tensed around the old pages, his eyes scanning over the words their mother had written all those years ago.

Adeline sat quietly, giving him the time to absorb it. She had already read it, already felt the rush of emotions that came with learning about their mother’s past—the anger, the sadness, the bitter satisfaction that, in the end, they both wanted the same thing. Revenge.

Alaric’s breath was uneven as he turned another page. His hands clenched slightly when he reached the part about their mother believing she was going to have a daughter. The part where she had sworn that her child would never have to meet the Richmonds, that she would be free from them.

Alaric let out a quiet, bitter laugh. "She thought she was having a girl."

Adeline nodded, but didn’t say anything.

He kept reading, his shoulders tense. When he finally closed the book, he ran a hand down his face and let out a long breath. "I never planned to actually help them, you know."

Adeline tilted her head slightly. "I figured."

Alaric looked up at her, the ghost of a smirk on his lips. "I was going to let them think they had a chance. Keep them hopeful. Make them feel like they were just inches away from regaining their title... Before snatching it all away." His voice was cold, detached. "I wanted them to suffer."

Adeline simply smiled softly. "Good."

Alaric blinked, a little surprised by her lack of reaction. He narrowed his eyes. "You’re not going to lecture me?"

She shrugged. "Why would I? I was thinking of doing the same thing."

Alaric let out a short chuckle, but it lacked any real amusement. "Of course you were." He leaned back in his chair, resting his hand over the diary as if grounding himself. After a moment of silence, he looked at her again. "You left in the middle of the night, didn’t you?"

Adeline didn’t even flinch. She had been prepared for this conversation. "I handled it."

Alaric’s brows furrowed. "You could’ve been caught. You could’ve gotten hurt."

"I didn’t."

He sighed and shook his head. "I was planning to punish you for that, you know."

Adeline groaned. "I’m not a child, Alaric. You can’t do that!"

"Can’t I?" He mused, amusement flashing in his eyes.

"No, you can’t!" she snapped, turning on her heel and storming toward the door.

Alaric just chuckled to himself as she left, clearly entertained by her reaction. It seems like Aaron’s ways rubbed off on him, and teasing his sister was a great way to uplift his mood.

When Adeline returned to her room, she let out a heavy sigh and flopped onto her bed. She had dealt with enough for one day. She wanted to rest, to push all of this aside and pretend like things were normal for just a few hours.

But then she noticed the stack of letters on her desk.

Letting out a quiet groan, she sat up and reached for them. Most were invitations, noble gossip, and the usual nonsense she never cared about. But one letter stood out among the rest—one addressed in his handwriting.

’O.’

Her mysterious pen pal.

She broke the seal and unfolded the letter, her eyes scanning over the words.

~~~

Adeline,

I arrived in the capital today for the Crown Prince’s engagement. I wanted to approach you and reveal my identity, but seeing how the Northern Duke had you engaged in conversation I stayed away.

The city is buzzing with excitement. Everyone is talking about it. About them. But I can’t help but wonder how you feel about all of this.

After all, everyone knows how close you and Cassian once were.

How are you feeling?

~~~

Adeline stared at the words. Her fingers tightened slightly around the parchment.

How was she?

Tired. Frustrated. Angry.

But she couldn’t say that, could she?

She pulled out a fresh sheet of paper and dipped her quill into the ink, hesitating only for a moment before she began to write.

~~~

O,

I should have expected you to ask about this. You always seem to know which questions will make me pause.

How am I? I don’t really know. I suppose I feel... Tired.

I should be happy for him, shouldn’t I? Cassian is doing what is best for the Empire. He is marrying the woman who, by all accounts, was meant to be his Empress. It makes sense, does it not?

And yet, I can’t help but feel like I’ve lost something.

He is not the same man I once knew. Or maybe he is, and I just never knew him at all.

I don’t know which answer is worse.

-Adeline

~~~

Adeline wanted to write more... And tell this person what she actually thought. She wanted to confess about all her secrets. The only thing stopping her was the fact that he knew he,r but she does not know him.

Do you want to know something ridiculous? There was a part of me that actually considered playing the villainess. To act cruel and selfish, to manipulate and push until he had no choice but to resist. Because that’s what wakes him up, you see? That’s when he fights back against the magic that has been controlling him.

But I can’t do it.

Because I am not willing to hurt my family just to make Cassian see the truth.

So, I will do nothing. I will smile and play my part, and I will let him go.

Perhaps that is for the best.

She omitted all of this, of course.

How can she attempt to bring them back when they refuse to meet her? She felt like she was weak-willed as their insults made her fold easily.

She set the quill down and exhaled.

For a moment, she considered tearing the letter up. Maybe she was saying too much. Maybe she shouldn’t have written anything at all.

But in the end, she folded it neatly and sealed it.

She would send it in the morning.

For now, she just wanted to rest.