CHAPTER 461: BETHANY’S MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE

As ridiculous as it sounded, the truth couldn’t be changed. Bethany didn’t die. She never took her life and ended up in Draconia as a slave. Abrielle would have died at birth if Bethany hadn’t come across Rebecca’s brother.

The truth was hard to digest and posed a lot of questions. What had truly happened that night 21 years ago?

Abrielle was turning 21 in a few days, and a ball was going to be held to introduce her to the Heliosian society.

"I will prefer to stay with Aurelius for now," Abrielle answered, turning down the emperor’s offer for her to move to the palace. Aurelius was the only one she trusted enough with her safety in Heliosa.

"If that is what you prefer then. I ensure your safety in his hands." Silvanius swallowed a bitter pill. There was this awkward silence between the three of them. Now, he didn’t just have a son who held a grudge against him; there was a daughter who held an equal resentment, and her presence haunted him with his past.

"I have a request, if it isn’t too much to ask," Abrielle mentioned after a moment of silence. Silvanius’ eyes narrowed but he reluctantly agreed to her request.

"Go ahead," he answered smoothly.

"I wish to see her. I want to know what she looked like." Abrielle requested, and Aurelius’ eyes snapped at her. His fingers secretly curled into a fist on hearing her request. Silvanius’ eyes flickered, hesitation written on his face...

He drew in a deep breath. "Fine," he reluctantly agreed, surprising Aurelius. He thought the emperor had destroyed every painting of Bethany because no matter how much he asked he never granted him the request. His fist was secretly trembling. When was the last time he saw her image with colours on it?

*******

The hallways were eerily quiet. This was an area Silvanius had prohibited anyone from setting foot into for decades, except for a few who were tasked with maintenance.

After a long walk, they arrived at a door. Silvanius drew in a deep breath before he pushed the door open and stepped aside. He didn’t alter a word and stood aside for them

Abrielle and Aurelius walked past him into the room. Aurelius was secretly nervous to step in. They entered the large room. Their footsteps stopped for a moment. Aurelius stared blankly at the room.

The door was closed behind them with Silvanius refusing to step in.

The room looked like a replica of Bethany’s room and it seemed like Aurelius stepped back in time. His eyes stung, he didn’t know the last time he cried since the day he heard of her death

His feet moved slowly as he walked further into the room, Abrielle lingered behind with a soft expression. The reason she made this request was because of him.

When Aurelius spoke of his mother, there was this longing in it that touched her. She kind of understood. Some days, she woke up and her mind drifted to her other life, her mother, who ran the coffee shop and her siblings.

She longed for them. It hurt knowing she was never going to see them again, not even an image. She wasn’t gifted to be able to draw their portrait and the best was to slowly forget and stop clinging to the past.

At least Aurelius could have a chance for closure. "It’s as if she is here. The room is covered with her perfume, distinct from my memory." He mentioned.

Abrielle strayed around the corners of the room. She wondered what type of person Bethany was. From the way Aurelius spoke of her, she was a great mother. What happened to her?

Was she abducted, or did she attempt to flee Heliosa and end up in the hands of traffickers?

There was another door at the end of the room.

Aurelius reached out for the handle and pushed it open. It led to what seemed like a display room. Every corner of the room had well-preserved paintings

Abrielle smiled softly. She got to the centre of the room. Her eyes scanned each picture. "I really do look like her." She blurted, staring back at a painting that seemed like a mirror.

"The first time I saw you it gave me a sense of Deja Vu. You are a haunting image of the dead." Aurelius muttered. He let himself immerse in the view. His eyes stung but he refused to cry.

In all her portraits and paintings she had the same smile he remembered her with. "I am glad I didn’t forget what she looked like." He muttered.

A soft laugh rang from behind him. Aurelius glanced at Abrielle, who was staring at a painting behind him. Her eyes sparkled and it reminded him of Bethany’s smile.

"So this was what you looked like." Abrielle chimed, staring at several paintings of Aurelius and Bethany. There were 5 of them, each she presumed was taken a year apart.

It started with a painting of Bethany’s bump. She looked happy. Then, gradually, the next was Bethany holding a little ginger baby, baby Aurelius.

Bethany had a painting commission every year with Aurelius. Aurelius obviously didn’t remember the paintings except for the most recent one.

Bethany was seated petting her bump that wasn’t very visible with a soft smile. Four-year-old Aurelius was by her side, smiling.

"She was so excited about this painting, but she never saw the finished results. Neither did I, because she died as we thought before it was completed..I am surprised Father even completed it." He explained, his fingers trembled. He was going to find the truth. No matter how gruesome it would turn out.

"It is safe to assume that was my baby bump," Abrielle muttered. Aurelius nodded.

Abrielle didn’t know the woman in the painting but she felt a strange connection. She remembered Yuki’s words about uncovering the truth. "We will find the truth together." She held his hand making that promise.

******

Elsewhere in the palace, Seraphina stormed into her room. Her daughter Lyra lingered behind her.

"Mother, what are we going to do? We can’t possibly let her come and take my place ." Lyra bitterly said with growing resentment for Abrielle.

Seraphina pulled off her crown, which she had tossed on the bed. She was pacing around in the room while Lyra watched her closely. " We have to do something, but what? " Seraphina’s unease grew.