143: His return (part 2)

His return (part 2)

Seated in her cherished corner of the garden was not just the Archduchess herself but also a figure of a man facing her. If it weren't for the absence of any kind of pull, Adela could easily mistake this person for her mate.0

Indeed, Leopold von Conradie, particularly in terms of physical features, bore an uncanny resemblance to his nephew.

Adela swiftly averted her gaze when her eyes met her mother's vacant stare, she diverted her attention to the hill where she needed to hasten. Her mind raced with her feet as it returned to a night filled with lingering questions about Leopold.

Why were they convening now, at this precise moment?

No, why did their paths have to intersect once more?

The audacity of their open encounter within the confines of the Archduke's estate filled Adela with anger. Couldn't they have found a discreet way to meet away from prying eyes?

The last thought only brought more pain and anger.

"What about Father?" she asked has she distanced herself from the garden, following the trail that wound through the pine trees and ascended towards the hill. "How would he react if he saw them together?" she pondered, her heart wracked with torment.

The image of Kaiser's disapproving gaze flashed before her, intertwining with the tangled emotions that consumed her. She couldn't bear the idea of him witnessing this forbidden encounter, for it would surely bring him sorrow.

Before she knew it, a magnetic force tugged at her senses signaling the presence of her mate nearby. She held her gaze steadfast, unable to resist the pull that enveloped her mind, body, and soul. As she quickened her pace, her heart pounded in anticipation.

When their eyes finally met, she couldn't help but be captivated by the warmth and affection that radiated from him. Suppressing the overwhelming desire to embrace him as they drew closer to each other, she greeted him instead with an awkward curtsy, hoping to maintain a semblance of decorum.

Egon's expression faltered, his brow furrowing. "I would have preferred an embrace," 

Adela's heart echoed his sentiment.

I would have too...

"Sir Egon... I have received your letter and hastened to join you, understanding that a man of your stature cannot spare an entire day waiting for a lady."

Egon's frown deepened as he observed her closely. "Something troubles you. What is it?"

Adela's heart yearned to confide in him about the unsettling sight of his uncle and her mother together, engaging in a conversation that seemed far from ordinary. However, she knew it was not the right moment to divulge such information. Instead, she focused on the inexplicable emotions she had experienced the day before when she sensed Leopold's silent pleas for help.

"Your uncle, at the feast yesterday..." Adela's voice faltered, struggling to find the right words.

Egon stepped closer, taking her hand in his, his eyes filled with relief as he gazed down at her.

"Forget about that for now," he interjected. "My thoughts are consumed by you, Adelaide. I want to erase the painful memories and earn your complete trus-..."

His deep voice was interrupted by the sound of soft chirping followed by a high-pitched screech. Adela's attention shifted to the sky, her hand tightening around Egon's forearm as she observed a young bird clumsily attempting to fly.

"Why are you here?" she addressed the fledgling, her arm twitched, about to raise and beckon the bird to come down, fearing it would fall otherwise.

"Do it," Egon urged. "Give him a reason to come closer to you."

She looked around, searching for a knight responsible for the falcon, but there was no one in sight except for her and Egon.

"It must be searching for its owner," she muttered, her eyes futilely scanning the area around the hill once more.

"You're right, He is searching for his owner," Egon said, his eyes squinting with a hidden meaning beneath the bright sunlight.

"We must find its owner," she repeated cautiously. "The feathers suggest it's a young falcon, although its size is quite impressive," she observed, her gaze fixed on the bird's graceful flight, memories of a young Kannen resurfacing in her mind. "It's truly beautiful," she whispered.

"Yes, beautiful. He shares that with his owner," Egon's remark was heavy with implications.

Adela looked at him with curious eyes. "...What are you implying?"

"..."

The surrounding spring murmurs filled the silence that stretched between them. 

"...I'm not its owner."

"I believe he has the right to choose, don't you think?" Egon replied.

She hugged herself tightly, feeling the absence of Kannen's presence on her arm. A bittersweet ache tugged at her heart, longing for the familiar weight and warmth of her beloved companion.

"...Don't say that. It's not right for me to want it to choose me," 

Egon took a step closer, looming above her. "What's not right is for you to deny him the choice."

She regarded him with a pained expression, uncertainty flickering in her eyes.

"What if he was yours from the beginning and has now found his way back to you? Will you deny him his return?" 

In a rare moment of relinquishing control, she raised her arm daringly, not breaking eye contact with the magnificent creature that didn't belong to her. Her body tensed with anticipation, ready for impact. And then, it happened—the falcon descended until it landed clumsily on her arm, a rush of nostalgia took over her. It was a moment reminiscent of when Kannen was much smaller, a time long before she had lost him.

Her heart nearly leapt out of her chest as she beheld the falcon's beauty, its eyes a luminous yellow, a striking contrast against what would surely become a deep, coal-colored feathers.

"He is yours, Adelaide," Egon's voice broke through her thoughts.

"Mine?" her voice brimmed with awe.

"Yes," he replied, his tone saturated with melancholy. "Yours. Can't you perceive it?"

Egon's eyes overflowed with a profound sense of belonging to the woman standing before him.

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